Question 1

How do I compile a Starknet contract using Cairo?

Accepted Answer

Use the starknet-compile command with the project path and output file; for single files, add --single-file flag. This compiles to Sierra ContractClass, and you can further compile to CASM with starknet-sierra-compile, as detailed in the README.

Question 2

What's the difference between Cairo and Solidity for smart contracts?

Accepted Answer

Cairo is designed for provable computation with cryptographic proofs, ideal for Starknet's scalability, while Solidity is more established for Ethereum but lacks built-in proof capabilities. Cairo's Rust-based compiler offers performance benefits but has a steeper learning curve.

Question 3

How to set up a Cairo development environment?

Accepted Answer

Install Rust, set it to stable with rustup, and update. Then, use cargo commands to compile and run Cairo files, as shown in the prerequisites section. Testing can be done with cairo-test for unit tests during development.

Question 4

Can Cairo be used for non-blockchain applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Cairo is Turing-complete for general computation and can be used for any provable program. However, its tooling is optimized for Starknet, so other use cases might require custom setup and lack community support.

Question 5

What are Sierra and CASM in Cairo compilation?

Accepted Answer

Sierra is an intermediate representation, and CASM is Cairo assembly. The compiler first compiles Cairo to Sierra, then to CASM, enabling optimization and execution, as shown in the compilation commands for both general and Starknet-specific code.

Question 6

How do I run tests in Cairo?

Accepted Answer

Use the cairo-test runner provided in the project. The README points to specific documentation for running tests, allowing unit testing of Cairo code during development to ensure correctness before deployment.

cairo

What is cairo?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions