إعداد Hardhat

Hardhat is a development environment for Ethereum that helps you compile, test, deploy, and debug smart contracts.

• Written in JavaScript/TypeScript and run with Node.js.
• Ships with a built-in local Ethereum network.
• Has a rich plugin ecosystem (ethers, waffle, gas reporter).

It is the most popular alternative to Truffle and Foundry for JS-centric teams.

Before installing Hardhat you need Node.js (LTS recommended) and a package manager such as npm or yarn.

Check your versions to make sure the toolchain is ready:

Hardhat targets Node.js LTS releases, so avoid odd-numbered experimental versions.

Each Hardhat project lives in its own directory with a local package.json. Start by creating and initializing the folder:

This package.json will track Hardhat and your other dev dependencies.

Install Hardhat as a dev dependency so it is not bundled into production:

Installing locally (not globally) pins the exact version per project, which keeps builds reproducible across machines and CI.

Run the Hardhat init wizard to scaffold a starter project:

You can choose a JavaScript or TypeScript project, or an empty config. The wizard creates sample contracts, tests, and a config file.

A typical Hardhat project layout looks like this:

• contracts/ — your Solidity source files.
• scripts/ — deployment and automation scripts.
• test/ — Mocha/Chai test files.
• hardhat.config.js — central configuration.
• artifacts/ and cache/ — generated build output.

The hardhat.config.js file is the heart of your setup. A minimal config just exports the Solidity version:

You will later extend it with networks, plugins, and compiler settings.

The Hardhat Toolbox bundles the most common plugins in one package:

• ethers.js integration.
• Chai matchers for assertions.
• Gas reporter and coverage.
• Etherscan verification.

Hardhat exposes its functionality through tasks. List all available tasks with:

Common built-in tasks include compile, test, node, and clean. You always run them via npx to use the local install.

Add a simple contract under contracts/Greeter.sol:

The public state variable automatically gets a getter you can call after deployment.

Generated folders should not be committed. Create a .gitignore:

Keeping .env ignored protects secrets like private keys and RPC URLs from leaking into version control.

Test your understanding of Hardhat project setup.

You set up a Hardhat project from scratch.

• Hardhat is a Node.js-based Ethereum dev environment.
• npx hardhat init scaffolds contracts, scripts, tests, and config.
• hardhat.config.js defines Solidity version, networks, and plugins.
• The Toolbox bundles ethers, Chai matchers, gas reporting, and verification.
• Ignore node_modules, artifacts, cache, and .env in Git.