Deploy a Contract

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Prerequisites

• Node.js 16+
• Familiarity with Ethereum development
• A wallet with testnet tokens (see testnet chain details)

​

Contract Preparation

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.28;

contract SimpleStorage {
    string private storedData;
    address public owner;
    
    event DataStored(string data, address indexed by);
    event OwnershipTransferred(address indexed previousOwner, address indexed newOwner);
    
    constructor(string memory initialData) {
        storedData = initialData;
        owner = msg.sender;
        emit DataStored(initialData, msg.sender);
    }
    
    modifier onlyOwner() {
        require(msg.sender == owner, "Only owner can perform this action");
        _;
    }
    
    function setData(string memory data) public onlyOwner {
        storedData = data;
        emit DataStored(data, msg.sender);
    }
    
    function getData() public view returns (string memory) {
        return storedData;
    }
    
    function transferOwnership(address newOwner) public onlyOwner {
        require(newOwner != address(0), "New owner cannot be zero address");
        emit OwnershipTransferred(owner, newOwner);
        owner = newOwner;
    }
}

​

Deploy with Foundry

1. Install Foundry:
   curl -L https://foundry.paradigm.xyz | bash
   
   You may have to source your .bashrc or .zshrc file
2. Set up a new Foundry project:
   foundryup
   forge init my-plasma-project
   cd my-plasma-project
   
3. Update foundry.toml with Plasma testnet settings:
   [profile.default]
   src = "src"
   out = "out"
   libs = ["lib"]
   solc_version = "0.8.28"
   optimizer = true
   optimizer_runs = 200
   
   [rpc_endpoints]
   plasma_testnet = "https://testnet-rpc.plasma.to"
   
4. Create a .env file in your project root:
   PRIVATE_KEY=your_private_key_here
   RPC_URL=https://testnet-rpc.plasma.to
   
5. Load the environment variables:
   source .env
   
6. Save the contract code as src/SimpleStorage.sol, then deploy:
   forge create src/SimpleStorage.sol:SimpleStorage \
       --rpc-url $RPC_URL \
       --private-key $PRIVATE_KEY \
       --constructor-args "Hello, Plasma!"
   
   Foundry will output the deployment transaction hash and contract address:
   [⠊] Compiling...
   [⠢] Compiling 1 files with Solc 0.8.28
   [⠆] Solc 0.8.28 finished in 124.81ms
   Compiler run successful!
   Warning: Dry run enabled, not broadcasting transaction
   
   Contract: SimpleStorage
   Transaction: {
     "from": "0xbd828f7679656f8f830b89611c933017442f2ebf",
     "to": null,
     "maxFeePerGas": "0xf",
     "maxPriorityFeePerGas": "0x1",
     "gas": "0x69f18",
   
   [...]
   
7. Test your deployed contract using Foundry’s cast tool. First, read the stored data:
   cast call 0x742d35Cc6610C7532C8582d4C371Acb1D5f44D7F \
       "getData()" \
       --rpc-url $RPC_URL
   
8. Then update the data and read it again:
   # Update the stored data.
   cast send 0x742d35Cc6610C7532C8582d4C371Acb1D5f44D7F \
       "setData(string)" "Updated from Foundry" \
       --private-key $PRIVATE_KEY \
       --rpc-url $RPC_URL
   
   # Read the stored data again.
   cast call 0x742d35Cc6610C7532C8582d4C371Acb1D5f44D7F \
       "getData()" \
       --rpc-url $RPC_URL
   
   This should output something like:
   blockHash            0x68fbd2aaf1de9c577869056ca634f2103fa1695673a94d8c049d0b78d3733aac
   blockNumber          1200423
   contractAddress
   cumulativeGasUsed    21712
   effectiveGasPrice    8
   from                 0xBd828F7679656F8f830b89611C933017442F2EbF
   gasUsed              21712
   logs                 []
   logsBloom            0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
   root
   status               1 (success)
   transactionHash      0xcf5b1fcc8d19f7cf7992f6e6a8b3ade74e07afbd0da0b9fce26bda4c9503a12b
   transactionIndex     0
   type                 2
   blobGasPrice
   blobGasUsed
   to                   0x742D35Cc6610c7532C8582D4C371aCb1D5F44D7F
   0x
   

​

Deploy with Hardhat

1. Make sure you have the following:

• Node.js 20+ (required for modern Hardhat compatibility)
• Familiarity with Ethereum development
• A wallet with testnet tokens (see testnet chain details)

1. Verify Node.js version:
   node --version
   
   If you’re using Node.js 18 or below, upgrade to Node.js 20+:
   # Using nvm (recommended)
   nvm install 20
   nvm use 20
   
   # Or using NodeSource repository (Ubuntu/Debian)
   curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
   sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
   
2. Initialize a new Hardhat project:
   mkdir my-plasma-hardhat-project
   cd my-plasma-hardhat-project
   npm init -y
   npm install --save-dev hardhat@latest @nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox@latest
   npm install dotenv@latest ethers@latest
   npx hardhat init
   
   If you encounter compatibility issues, check the Hardhat documentation for the latest supported versions.
   Choose Create a JavaScript project when prompted.
3. Update hardhat.config.js:
   require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox");
   require("dotenv").config();
   
   /** @type import('hardhat/config').HardhatUserConfig */
   module.exports = {
     solidity: {
       version: "0.8.28",
       settings: {
         optimizer: {
           enabled: true,
           runs: 200
         }
       }
     },
     networks: {
       plasmaTestnet: {
         url: process.env.RPC_URL,
         chainId: 9746,
         accounts: [process.env.PRIVATE_KEY],
         gasPrice: 1000000000, // 1 gwei
       }
     },
     etherscan: {
       apiKey: {
         plasmaTestnet: process.env.ETHERSCAN_API_KEY
       },
       customChains: [
         {
           network: "plasmaTestnet",
           chainId: 9746,
           urls: {
             apiURL: "https://testnet.plasmascan.to/api",
             browserURL: "https://testnet.plasmascan.to/"
           }
         }
       ]
     }
   };
   
4. Create a .env file in your project root:
   PRIVATE_KEY=your_private_key_here
   RPC_URL=https://testnet-rpc.plasma.to
   ETHERSCAN_API_KEY=your_api_key_for_verification
   
5. Create scripts directory and deployment script:
   mkdir scripts
   
6. Create scripts/deploy.js:
   const { ethers } = require("hardhat");
   
   async function main() {
     // Get the contract factory
     const SimpleStorage = await ethers.getContractFactory("SimpleStorage");
   
     console.log("Deploying SimpleStorage contract...");
   
     // Deploy the contract with constructor arguments
     const simpleStorage = await SimpleStorage.deploy("Hello, Plasma from Hardhat!");
   
     // Wait for deployment to complete
     await simpleStorage.waitForDeployment();
   
     const contractAddress = await simpleStorage.getAddress();
     console.log("SimpleStorage deployed to:", contractAddress);
     console.log("Transaction hash:", simpleStorage.deploymentTransaction().hash);
   
     // Wait a few blocks for the transaction to be included
     console.log("Waiting for block confirmations...");
     await simpleStorage.deploymentTransaction().wait(5);
   
     console.log("✅ Deployment completed successfully!");
   }
   
   main()
     .then(() => process.exit(0))
     .catch((error) => {
       console.error(error);
       process.exit(1);
     });
   
7. Save the contract code as contracts/SimpleStorage.sol, then deploy:
   npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.js --network plasmaTestnet
   
8. You’re done!

​

Deploy with Ethers.js

1. Create a new project:
   mkdir my-plasma-ethers-project
   cd my-plasma-ethers-project
   npm init -y
   npm install ethers dotenv solc
   
2. Create a .env file in your project root:
   PRIVATE_KEY=<your_private_key_here>
   RPC_URL=https://testnet-rpc.plasma.to
   ETHERSCAN_API_KEY=your_api_key_for_verification
   
3. Create compile.js to compile your Solidity contract:
   const fs = require('fs');
   const solc = require('solc');
   require('dotenv').config();
   
   // Read the contract source code.
   const contractSource = fs.readFileSync('SimpleStorage.sol', 'utf8');
   
   // Prepare the input for the Solidity compiler.
   const input = {
     language: 'Solidity',
     sources: {
       'SimpleStorage.sol': {
         content: contractSource,
       },
     },
     settings: {
       outputSelection: {
         '*': {
           '*': ['*'],
         },
       },
       optimizer: {
         enabled: true,
         runs: 200,
       },
     },
   };
   
   // Compile the contract.
   const output = JSON.parse(solc.compile(JSON.stringify(input)));
   
   // Check for compilation errors.
   if (output.errors) {
     output.errors.forEach((error) => {
       console.error(error.formattedMessage);
     });
   }
   
   // Extract the contract data.
   const contract = output.contracts['SimpleStorage.sol']['SimpleStorage'];
   const abi = contract.abi;
   const bytecode = contract.evm.bytecode.object;
   
   // Save compilation artifacts.
   fs.writeFileSync('SimpleStorage.json', JSON.stringify({
     abi: abi,
     bytecode: bytecode
   }, null, 2));
   
   console.log('Contract compiled successfully!');
   
4. Save your contract as SimpleStorage.sol, then compile:
   node compile.js
   
   This should output:
   Contract compiled successfully!
   
5. Create deploy.js:
   const { ethers } = require('ethers');
   const fs = require('fs');
   require('dotenv').config();
   
   async function deploy() {
     // Set up provider and wallet.
     const provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(process.env.RPC_URL);
     const wallet = new ethers.Wallet(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY, provider);
     
     console.log('Deploying from account:', wallet.address);
     
     // Check account balance.
     const balance = await provider.getBalance(wallet.address);
     console.log('Account balance:', ethers.formatEther(balance), 'XPL');
     
     // Load compiled contract.
     const contractData = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('SimpleStorage.json', 'utf8'));
     
     // Create contract factory.
     const factory = new ethers.ContractFactory(
       contractData.abi,
       contractData.bytecode,
       wallet
     );
     
     // Deploy the contract.
     console.log('Deploying contract...');
     const contract = await factory.deploy("Hello, Plasma from Ethers.js!", {
       gasLimit: 500000, // Set a reasonable gas limit.
       gasPrice: ethers.parseUnits('1', 'gwei'), // 1 gwei gas price.
     });
     
     // Wait for deployment.
     await contract.waitForDeployment();
     
     const contractAddress = await contract.getAddress();
     console.log('Contract deployed to:', contractAddress);
     console.log('Transaction hash:', contract.deploymentTransaction().hash);
     
     // Save deployment info.
     const deploymentInfo = {
       contractAddress: contractAddress,
       transactionHash: contract.deploymentTransaction().hash,
       deployer: wallet.address,
       network: 'plasmaTestnet',
       timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
     };
     
     fs.writeFileSync('deployment.json', JSON.stringify(deploymentInfo, null, 2));
     
     return contract;
   }
   
   async function interact(contract) {
     console.log('\nInteracting with deployed contract...');
     
     // Read initial data.
     const initialData = await contract.getData();
     console.log('Initial data:', initialData);
     
     // Update data.
     const updateTx = await contract.setData("Updated via Ethers.js");
     await updateTx.wait();
     console.log('Data updated. Transaction hash:', updateTx.hash);
     
     // Read updated data.
     const updatedData = await contract.getData();
     console.log('Updated data:', updatedData);
     
     // Get owner.
     const owner = await contract.owner();
     console.log('Contract owner:', owner);
   }
   
   // Main execution.
   deploy()
     .then(async (contract) => {
       await interact(contract);
       console.log('\nDeployment and interaction completed successfully!');
     })
     .catch((error) => {
       console.error('Error:', error);
       process.exit(1);
     });
   
6. Run the deployment script:
   node deploy.js
   
   This should output something like:
   Deploying from account: 0xBd828F7679656F8f830b89611C933017442F2EbF
   Account balance: 98539.897261933991888304 XPL
   Deploying contract...
   Contract deployed to: 0xf298A2A7BC526F9228B8C422D38f3c2E0D15449F
   Transaction hash: 0x3d16cc55b9148bac9ac20981d9748a0fc89861c6beb92a2f869bb09b75f685b2
   
   Interacting with deployed contract...
   Initial data: Hello, Plasma from Ethers.js!
   Data updated. Transaction hash: 0xe3328862ece5d0ca4ca84d25c4130d6749ec872c24bf76eea23dfa8c50c22505
   Updated data: Updated via Ethers.js
   Contract owner: 0xBd828F7679656F8f830b89611C933017442F2EbF
   
   Deployment and interaction completed successfully!
   

​

Verify Deployment

​

Troubleshooting

​

ES Module Compatibility Issues

1. Node.js version is too old: Upgrade to Node.js 20+ as mentioned in prerequisites
2. Dependency version mismatch: If upgrading Node.js isn’t possible, you can downgrade the problematic dependency:
   npm install micro-eth-signer@0.10.0
   

​

Node.js Version Warnings

WARNING: You are currently using Node.js v18.19.1, which is not supported by Hardhat

​

Insufficient Funds

Error: insufficient funds for intrinsic transaction cost

​

Wrong Network Configuration

Error: network with chainId "1" doesn't match the configured chainId "9746"

​

Gas Estimation Failure

Error: cannot estimate gas

// In your deploy script
const simpleStorage = await SimpleStorage.deploy("Hello, Plasma from Hardhat!", {
  gasLimit: 500000
});