dApp templates
Building apps on Polkadot is relatively easy, but getting started can be challenging. Setting up the development environment requires configuring multiple tools including indexers, compilers, and wallet connectors, which can be time-consuming for newcomers. Templates help you get up and running quickly by providing pre-configured environments and tools. This saves hours of setup time and is perfect for developers who learn by doing.
Below are templates for both PVM (Solidity) and native Substrate implementations.
Template Comparison
| Template | Framework | Blockchain Integration | Indexer | Wallet Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| create-nft-app (PVM) | Next.js | Wagmi + Foundry | Blockscout | Multiple (Reown AppKit) | NFT-focused dApps (Solidity) |
| create-nft-app (PAPI) | Next.js | PAPI + smoldot | KodaDot stick | Multiple (Talisman connect) | NFT-focused dApps (NFTs pallet) |
| create-polkadot-dapp (PVM) | React | Ethers.js | - | MetaMask | General dApps (Solidity) |
| create-polkadot-dapp (PAPI) | React | ReactiveDOT + PAPI | - | Multiple (DOTConnect) | General dApps (Substrate pallets) |
create-nft-app
NFT-specific templates by NFTMozaic. These templates solve the complexity of NFT development by providing:
- Pre-configured environment for creating, compiling to PVM bytecode, and deploying smart contracts
- Easy-to-use methods for creating and managing native NFTs
- Indexer integration for querying large amounts of data from both native NFTs and ERC-721 contracts
- Integration with widely used wallets
Install:
PVM (Solidity)
A full-stack NFT dApp template built with Next.js, Wagmi, and Foundry for Polkadot. This template provides a complete solution for creating, minting, and viewing NFTs on PolkaVM using Ethereum-compatible tooling.
Key Features:
- Next.js
- Wagmi for Ethereum wallet integration and React hooks
- Reown AppKit (former WalletConnect) for seamless Polkadot wallet connectivity
- Foundry-Polkadot for smart contract development, configured for
resolccompiler - BlockScout API for indexer data querying
- Built-in NFT collection viewing and minting functionality
Usage:
npm create nft-app@latest my-app
This template bridges Ethereum development experience with Polkadot's ecosystem, providing developers with familiar tools (Foundry, Wagmi) and built-in configuration and examples on NFT minting and querying both off-chain and on-chain.
PAPI (NFTs pallet)
Coming soon.
create-polkadot-dapp
General-purpose templates by Parity.
Install:
PVM (Solidity)
A monorepo template for developing Solidity smart contracts on Asset Hub with a React frontend. This template enables Ethereum-compatible smart contract development on Polkadot using PolkaVM.
Key Features:
- React frontend with Tailwind CSS for styling
- MetaMask integration for wallet management
- Ethers.js for blockchain interactions
Usage:
npx create-polkadot-dapp
# Select the react-solidity template
This template provides a seamless development experience for Ethereum developers to build on Polkadot while maintaining familiar tooling and development patterns.
PAPI (Substrate)
A React frontend template using PAPI with ReactiveDOT and dotconnect for chain and wallet interactions. This template is good for applications focused on Polkadot pallets, including the NFTs pallet.
Key Features:
- React frontend with Tailwind CSS for styling
- Vite for development tooling
- ReactiveDOT as a convenient layer over PAPI
- DOTConnect as a wallet connector
Usage:
npx create-polkadot-dapp
The template connects to multiple chains simultaneously and provides a solid foundation for building applications using Polkadot pallets, including any application requiring NFT functionality on Polkadot.