NEAR Tutorial, Part 0

Intro

Why am I writing this tutorial? This year (2021) I participated in js13kgames, my third year, and because I like trying new things I gave the decentralized category a go. I managed to get something running in the nick of time, they even gave me a prize. So now thanks to Sasha from Human Guild reaching out to me, I'm learning everything I want to know about how to use NEAR with HTML5 games and writing a series of tutorials in the process.

Set up enviroment, focus on Windows

Skip this if you're already set up.

The first thing you need to do to get started is set up all those horrible command line tools, if you already have those set up feel free to skip ahead.

First set up Ubuntu: Run power shell as administrator, use the tutorial for windows subsystem for linux WSL2, if you've got an older version of windows it will be more difficult, but there's a link in that tutorial for that.

Once you have Ubuntu installed you have to set up a username/password.

Then install and update everything!!!

        sudo apt update

What is apt? sudo?

        sudo apt install nodejs
        nodejs -v (Should be version 12 or higher)
        sudo apt install npm 
        npm -v 
    

If your Ubuntu is using a version lower than 12 then you should use nvm to change the version.Link

You should also install yarn to make the NEAR boiler plate code run:

Yarn install guide

Optional yarn starter guide

Set up NEAR tools

Testnet account set up tutorial

Install NEAR CLI (command line interface): tutorial

        npm install -g near-cli
        near login
        

Login should open in another window, so you can login with your testnet account

Try out NEAR cli (command line interface)

NEAR cli is a command line interface that call the methods you write for your contracts, docs

Try this command:

near view hello-world-contract.testnet hello 

Let's break that down:

• near -> near-cli (command line interface)
• view -> view only function
• hello-world-contract -> account of the contract (Each contract can contain multiple functions)
• hello -> name of function you're calling

Command line commands

Some basic command line commands you'll need:

• ls -> Lists everything in the folder
• cd -> go into a folder
• mkdir -> make a new directory
• sudo -> give me super powers like a root user
• Extra commands: (https://linuxconfig.org/linux-commands-cheat-sheet)

Next tutorial

So you should be all set up to start now...