Introduction:

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Nas Academy Solana Course, a bootcamp designed to explore the modern web technology known as Web3. As a full-stack software engineer with a keen interest in the latest advancements, I was eager to delve into this new world and evaluate its potential. In this blog post, I will share my background, discuss my experience throughout the course, highlight the valuable knowledge gained, and provide insights on what could be improved.

Background and Motivation:

With over three years of experience as a software engineer working on web2 projects, I was eager to expand my horizons and dive into the realm of Web3. The opportunity to learn from the best in the field motivated me to join the Nas Academy Solana Course. Having witnessed the impressive work produced by Nas Academy, I was confident that this bootcamp would provide an enriching experience.

Experience at Nas Academy:

My journey at Nas Academy began with an engaging speaker session before the start of my cohort. There, I had the pleasure of meeting the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Nas crew. Their vibrant energy and passion for the subject instantly captivated me, setting the stage for an exciting learning experience. The course itself was led by James, an exceptional teacher and engineer who provided valuable insights into Solana development. Through his guidance, I learned not only about Solana but also about debugging techniques and other essential skills.

Furthermore, the presence of Giorgio, an amazing support system for the students, with his infectious energy, was a dedicated support system throughout the course. Always available to help students when they encountered challenges, he played a pivotal role in creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Her commitment to ensuring everyone's success was truly commendable.

and A.J. though not directly involved in technical aspects, contributed significantly to the smooth functioning of the course. She was responsible for organizing the sessions, managing logistics, and uploading the session recordings. Her efforts behind the scenes ensured that everything ran seamlessly, allowing participants to focus on the learning experience without any distractions.

Key Takeaways:

Throughout the Nas Academy Solana Course, I acquired a comprehensive understanding of Solana and its potential applications. From developing front-end applications that interacted with existing Solana programs, to creating fungible tokens, NFTs, and candy machines, I gained hands-on experience in building decentralized applications. Moreover, I learned how to write my own programs using vanilla Rust and the Anchor framework, and successfully deployed them on the Solana blockchain. The course also enlightened me about the fundamental concepts of Web3 and reinforced my belief that it represents the future of the internet.

Favorite Aspects of the Course:

One of the standout features of the Nas Academy Solana Course was its exceptional organization and professionalism. The sessions were conducted punctually, with a perfect balance between pace and interactivity. I appreciated that there was ample time to ask questions and learn from the best in the field. Additionally, the offline course material provided was incredibly informative, enriching the overall learning experience.

Suggestions for Improvement:

While the course offered a well-rounded learning experience, one aspect that I would have appreciated is the inclusion of code reviews. As someone who greatly values feedback on my code, I believe that incorporating a few additional weeks at the end of the course for a capstone project, where participants can receive expert reviews on their code, would have been a valuable addition.

Conclusion:

My time at Nas Academy Solana Course was a remarkable journey into the world of Web3. The course instructors, James, Jorgie, and A.J., provided exceptional guidance and support, making the learning experience enjoyable and enlightening. I gained in-depth knowledge of Solana development, learned essential debugging techniques, and explored the concept of Web3 as the future of the internet. Although I would have appreciated the opportunity for code reviews, I highly recommend this bootcamp to anyone interested in immersing themselves in the exciting world of Web3.