Get Started¶
The following sections provide practical recipes for building parachains on Polkadot—each focused on specific development scenarios with step-by-step, hands-on examples.
Quick Start Guides¶
Quick start guides help developers set up and interact with the Polkadot parachain ecosystem using various tools and frameworks.
| Tutorial | Tools | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Set Up the Parachain Template | Polkadot SDK | Learn how to set up and run the Polkadot SDK Parachain Template locally |
| Launch a Local Parachain | Zombienet, Chopsticks | Set up a local development environment for testing |
| Connect to Polkadot | Polkadot.js, Substrate Connect | Connect your application to Polkadot networks |
| Fork an Existing Parachain | Chopsticks | Create a local fork of a live parachain for testing |
Launch a Simple Parachain¶
Learn the fundamentals of launching and deploying a parachain to the Polkadot network.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Set Up the Parachain Template | Polkadot SDK |
| Deploy to Polkadot | Step-by-step tutorial to deploying your parachain to Polkadot |
| Obtain Coretime | Learn how to acquire blockspace using Polkadot's coretime model (RegionX) |
Customize Your Runtime¶
Build custom functionality for your parachain by composing and creating pallets.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Add Existing Pallets to the Runtime | Integrate pre-built pallets from the FRAME ecosystem |
| Add Multiple Instances of a Pallet | Configure and use multiple instances of the same pallet |
| Add Smart Contract Functionality | Enable smart contract capabilities using Contracts or EVM pallets |
Pallet Development¶
Deep dive into creating and managing custom pallets for your parachain.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Create a Custom Pallet | Build a pallet from scratch with custom logic |
| Mock Your Runtime | Set up a mock runtime environment for testing |
| Pallet Unit Testing | Write comprehensive tests for your pallet logic |
| Add Your Custom Pallet to the Runtime | Integrate your custom pallet into your parachain runtime |
| Benchmark the Custom Pallet | Measure and optimize pallet performance with benchmarking |
Testing¶
Test your parachain in various environments before production deployment.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Fork a Parachain | Use Chopsticks to create a local fork for testing |
| Run a Parachain Network | Launch a complete parachain test network with Zombienet |
Runtime Upgrades and Maintenance¶
Manage your parachain's lifecycle with forkless upgrades and maintenance operations.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Runtime Upgrades | Perform forkless runtime upgrades via governance |
| Storage Migrations | Safely migrate storage when updating runtime logic |
| Unlock Parachains | Understand parachain lifecycle and unlock mechanisms |
Interoperability¶
Configure your parachain for cross-chain communication using XCM (Cross-Consensus Messaging).
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Open HRMP Channels Between Parachains | Establish communication channels with other parachains |
| Open HRMP Channels with System Parachains | Connect with Asset Hub and other system parachains |
Integrations¶
Integrate your parachain with essential ecosystem tools and services.
| Tutorial | Description |
|---|---|
| Wallets | Integrate wallet support for user interactions |
| Indexers | Set up indexing solutions for querying blockchain data |
| Oracles | Connect your parachain to off-chain data sources |
Additional Resources¶
| Created: September 30, 2025