awesome-blockchains
A collection about awesome blockchains - open distributed public databases w/ crypto hashes incl. git ;-). Blockchains are the new tulips :tulip::tulip::tulip:. Distributed is the new centralized.
A curated learning guide that explains how blockchains actually work under the hood, with runnable code examples in Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Java, and Go, plus tutorials, books, and a plain-English FAQ.
This repository is a curated collection of blockchain learning materials, tutorials, and working code examples aimed at developers who want to understand how blockchains actually work rather than just hype around them. It takes a skeptical but educational tone, comparing blockchain speculation to the Dutch tulip mania of the 1600s while still treating the underlying technology as worth understanding.
The project includes a frequently asked questions section that explains core concepts plainly. A blockchain is described as a distributed database made of linked records, where each record contains a timestamp, the previous record's cryptographic fingerprint (hash), and the new data, so altering any past record would break the chain of fingerprints and be detectable. The FAQ also explains hash functions, Merkle trees (a data structure that lets you verify large sets of data efficiently using hashes), and the relationship between blockchains and Git: the project notes that every Git branch is technically a blockchain, since commits chain together using the same hash-linking approach.
The centerpiece is a set of DIY blockchain implementations in several programming languages: Python, Ruby, JavaScript, Java, and Go. Each section links to tutorials and source code showing how to build a minimal blockchain from scratch, typically in under a few hundred lines. These are meant as learning exercises, not production software. The Ruby examples in this repository itself demonstrate building blocks with transaction data and chaining them together.
Beyond code, the collection links to blockchain-related articles, recommended books, and lightweight crypto hash libraries that can be added to other projects. There is also a section on using Git as a content-addressable store and on public blockchain datasets for research.
The repository is maintained by the Open Blockchains organization and accepts contributions. It does not promote any specific cryptocurrency or investment. The full list of resources is longer than what was shown.
Where it fits
- Build a minimal blockchain from scratch in your preferred language using the included tutorial code examples
- Understand how hash chaining, Merkle trees, and tamper detection work through plain-English explanations and runnable code
- Find curated books and articles on blockchain fundamentals without getting drawn into cryptocurrency speculation
- Explore the relationship between Git commit history and blockchain design using the project's Git-as-blockchain notes