DirectEd x CATS Hackathon Aiken Development Workshops
Self-paced Cardano smart contract curriculum combining narrative lessons, runnable Aiken validators, and end-to-end reference DApps.
October 2025
About This Project
A modular workshop series that distills the live DirectEd x CATS sessions into a GitHub-first learning path. Each module pairs guidance in modules/ with runnable validators in workshop-examples/, while larger case studies—like the NFT minting flow and the vesting DApp—demonstrate how to take Aiken scripts from theory to production-grade architectures.
Learners can follow the syllabus at their own pace, compile contracts locally, and trace every step from UTxO fundamentals to full DApp deployment. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical Cardano concepts and practical smart contract development.
The workshop series serves as both a learning resource for hackathon participants and a reference implementation for developers building on Cardano, with complete examples ranging from basic validators to complex state-machine contracts.
Key Features
Narrative syllabus (COURSE.md) that orients learners before each sprint
Hands-on module flow: overview → guided build → challenge with stretch goals
Validator library covering spending, minting, and state-machine contracts
NFT minting workshop with CLI walk-throughs for Modules M002 and M006
Vesting reference app combining Next.js UI and matching Aiken smart contracts
Supplementary deployment docs for real-world rollout
Technology Stack
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