Solana Development with JavaScript: Complete 2026 Guide

Building on Solana has never been more accessible for JavaScript developers. With the release of @solana/web3.js 2.0 in November 2024 and the introduction of gill, developers have powerful tools for creating high-performance blockchain applications.

This guide covers the modern Solana JavaScript ecosystem and helps you choose the right tools for your project.

The Solana JavaScript Ecosystem in 2026

Solana offers multiple JavaScript/TypeScript libraries for different use cases:

@solana/web3.js 2.0

The official SDK received a major overhaul with version 2.0:

• Tree-shakable: Import only what you need, drastically reducing bundle sizes
• Zero dependencies: No external packages required
• 10x faster crypto: Native cryptography APIs for keypair generation and signing
• Modern JavaScript: BigInt support, standard crypto types

import { createSolanaRpc, address, lamports } from "@solana/web3.js";

const rpc = createSolanaRpc("https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com");
const balance = await rpc.getBalance(address("...")).send();
console.log(`Balance: ${balance.value} lamports`);

gill - The New Alternative

gill is built on top of the Anza libraries (the same ones powering web3.js 2.0) but with quality-of-life improvements:

• Lightweight and tree-shakable
• Works in Node, browsers, and React Native
• Simplified API for common operations
• Better TypeScript inference

import { getBalance } from "gill";

const balance = await getBalance("mainnet", "wallet-address");

Legacy @solana/web3.js (v1.x)

The original library is now considered legacy but remains widely used. If you have existing code, you can lock to v1.x:

npm install @solana/web3.js@1

Core Concepts for Solana Development

Accounts and Programs

Unlike Ethereum, Solana separates code (Programs) from data (Accounts):

• Programs are stateless executable code
• Accounts store data and SOL
• Programs can only modify accounts they own

Transactions and Instructions

Every Solana transaction contains one or more instructions:

import { 
  createTransaction,
  createTransactionMessage,
  appendTransactionMessageInstruction,
  setTransactionMessageLifetimeUsingBlockhash
} from "@solana/web3.js";

const message = createTransactionMessage({ version: 0 });
// Add instructions, set blockhash, sign, send...

RPC Connections

Choose your RPC endpoint wisely:

Provider	Free Tier	Best For
Helius	100k req/day	Production apps
QuickNode	Limited	Enterprise
Alchemy	300M CU/month	High volume
Public RPC	Unlimited	Testing only

Migration from web3.js v1 to v2

The v2 SDK uses a functional approach instead of classes:

// v1 (legacy)
const connection = new Connection("https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com");
const balance = await connection.getBalance(publicKey);

// v2 (modern)
const rpc = createSolanaRpc("https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com");
const balance = await rpc.getBalance(address).send();

Development Environment Setup

Prerequisites

# Install Solana CLI
sh -c "$(curl -sSfL https://release.anza.xyz/stable/install)"

# Verify installation
solana --version

# Create a new project
mkdir my-solana-app && cd my-solana-app
npm init -y
npm install @solana/web3.js

Local Development

Use the local validator for testing:

solana-test-validator

Then connect to http://localhost:8899 in your code.

Best Practices

1. Use TypeScript: The SDK has excellent type definitions
2. Handle errors gracefully: Network requests can fail
3. Implement retry logic: Solana can drop transactions during congestion
4. Use priority fees: Especially for time-sensitive transactions
5. Test on devnet first: Free SOL from faucets

Related Resources

Preparing for a Solana developer role? Check our Solana Interview Questions for common technical questions.

Building trading applications? See our Solana Trading Bot Guide for DeFi and arbitrage strategies.

Conclusion

The Solana JavaScript ecosystem has matured significantly. Whether you choose @solana/web3.js 2.0 for its official support or gill for developer experience, you have excellent options for building fast, scalable blockchain applications.