Forem: Carlos Prada

100 Days of Solana: Week 2

Carlos Prada — Sat, 09 May 2026 16:24:42 +0000

Two weeks into the #100DaysOfSolana challenge, and I’m finding that the most valuable part of this journey isn't just the code I'm writing, but the perspective I'm gaining.

From User to Developer: My Backstory

I’ve been a user of the Solana ecosystem since 2021—long before I ever typed my first line of code. In fact, Solana is one of the main reasons I started programming in the first place.

The ease of use and the near-instant transaction settlement were phenomenal then, and they still are today. It sparked a genuine curiosity that shifted me from just using the tech to wanting to build with it.

The `@solana/kit`

Coming into the second week, one of my biggest takeaways has been working with the @solana/kit. Knowing that a whole kit is written to implement blockchain functionality easily is a game-changer for someone coming from a web dev background. It makes the integration feel intuitive rather than overwhelming.

Why Slow and Steady Wins the Race

The format of this challenge—taking things slow and guided from a web developer's perspective—has been incredibly beneficial for my understanding of real-world implementation.

When you first start with Solana, the temptation is to jump straight in with:
npm create solana-dapp@latest

While that tool is powerful, it’s often too much in one go. For a learner, it generates a massive boilerplate that can hide the underlying logic. Plus, managing the multiple vulnerabilities that often come from installing a whole premade project with heavy dependencies can be a major distraction.

Looking Ahead

I am genuinely grateful for this specific format. It allows me to build a solid foundation without getting lost in the noise of complex scaffolding.

I’m excited to keep learning and pushing forward until I can create something entirely my own utilizing blockchain technology.

See you all in Week 3! 🚀

From Script to Browser: Migrating My First Custom Solana Keypair

Carlos Prada — Mon, 04 May 2026 01:17:53 +0000

What I Did

I used a simple JavaScript script and the @solana/kit library to programmatically generate a new keypair, saved the secret key to a local .json file, and then wrote a second script to extract that seed so I could manually import it into my Phantom wallet extension for devnet testing.

What Surprised Me

The biggest shift from Web2 was realizing that my "identity" is just a cryptographic string of numbers; once I had that secret key, I could "teleport" my wallet from a raw JSON file on my hard drive directly into a browser extension instantly—no passwords or recovery emails required.

What’s Next

Now that I’ve mastered the "manual" side of key management, I’m looking forward to building a small frontend that allows users to connect their own wallets and sign transactions via the Wallet Adapter.

Note on Security:

While this was an incredible learning experience to see how keypairs actually function, remember that storing unencrypted private keys in a .json file is high-risk! This wallet is strictly for devnet experimentation.

100DaysOfSolana @solana_devs

The Identity Crisis How blockchain improves your life

Carlos Prada — Sat, 02 May 2026 15:48:37 +0000

We’ve all worried that someone could steal our identity just by getting a hand on our personal info. Honestly? That threat isn't going away. Social engineering is a menace to society, especially in a world where information moves at the speed of a click.
Blockchain offers a fix to some of these problems. I say some because no solution is perfect, especially for an issue this messy. But by using specific mechanisms on the Solana blockchain, we can shrink the surface area of what can go wrong.

It limits the attack vectors to one. There—you can stop reading now if you want.

Why Web2 is Getting Weird

Still here? Good. Let's talk about how keypairs make life easier. Have you tried to log into anything lately? It’s a mess.

Input your password.

“Wait, please provide a 2FA code.”
“Now approve the sign-in from your phone.”
“But I don’t have my phone on me!”
“Too bad. Access denied.”

And don’t even get me started on the mountain of paperwork banks and governments want just so you can use your own money. Cryptographic keypair authentication is just... easier.

The "Mom" Test

You’ve seen this technology in action. It’s what lets your mom access her Google or Apple account with a thumbprint or a face scan. You don’t have to hunt for the password she lost (the one she swears she
told you, but definitely didn't).

The mechanism is simple:
Public Key: A code you share with the world. It says, "Hey, this is me!"
Private Key: A code you share with no one. It’s the mathematical proof that says, "It really is me, and here’s the signature to prove it."

Boom. That’s it. You don't need to be a "big brain" cryptographer to use it; you just need to know how it's stored.

The Big Tech Trap vs. The Solana Way

This is where Solana shines. In the "Passkey" world of Big Tech, your private keys are often synced to the cloud. That means a massive corporation technically holds the keys to your kingdom. For a Netflix account? Fine. For your house title or your life savings? Maybe you don't want a cloud company in the middle of that.

On Solana, you are the absolute owner of that private key.

True Custody: You can write your key on a piece of paper and lock it in a safe. It becomes physically impossible to impersonate you unless someone literally steals that paper.
Censorship Resistant: Big Tech can block, censor, or ban you from their "secure" systems whenever they feel like it. Solana is ideology-agnostic. The blockchain doesn't care who you are; if the signature is valid, the gate opens.

One Key to Rule Them All

We need to unify protocols for ease of use, but decentralize the processing for security. Solana provides the high throughput and scalability to actually make this dream a reality for millions of people.

So, next time you use one of those "magic" keypair methods, ask yourself: Who really owns this key, and how is it being processed?