EVM

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is the core component of the Ethereum blockchain, responsible for executing smart contracts and managing the state of the network. It acts as a decentralized computer, maintaining a global state and executing program instructions defined in smart contracts. Key features include:

• State Machine: Executes transactions and changes the blockchain state.

• Deterministic Execution: Given the same input, it will always produce the same output.

• Isolated Execution: Executes code in a sandboxed environment.

References:

• Ethereum Yellow Paper: The authoritative technical document that defines the EVM and its operational mechanisms.

Learning Resources

Tutorials and Guides

• EVM Playground: An interactive platform for experimenting with EVM opcodes and bytecode. It provides detailed explanations and visualizations of how EVM executes opcodes.

  • Accessing Constant Variables: Learn how to define and use constant variables in EVM. Link

  • Function Parameters from Calldata: Understand how to access function parameters using calldata. Link

  • Testing Macros in EVM.codes: Build and test functions using raw EVM bytecode. Link

  • General EVM Playground: Link

EVM Cheatsheet: A comprehensive guide detailing EVM architecture, functionalities, and operational mechanisms. It covers:

• EVM Architecture: Stack, memory, storage, and instruction set.

• Bytecode and Opcodes: Detailed explanations of EVM bytecode and commonly used opcodes.

• Memory vs. Storage: Differences and use cases.

• Gas and Gas Management: Understanding gas costs and optimization techniques.

• Link: EVM Cheatsheet

Academic Research

• Smart Contract Decompilation: Learn how to decompile EVM bytecode back into high-level languages like Solidity. Tools like Mythril, Ethersplay, or Porosity are used for this purpose.

  • Mythril: Link
  • Ethersplay: Link
  • Porosity: Link
• EVM Execution Model: Explore how EVM executes opcodes, manages memory and storage, and handles transactions.

  • Link: Ethereum Yellow Paper

Tools for EVM Development

• EVM From Scratch: A project that guides you through implementing your own EVM in various programming languages. It helps in understanding the core mechanics of EVM.

  • Link: EVM From Scratch
• EVM Puzzles: A collection of interactive puzzles designed to help you practice and understand EVM operations.

  • Link: EVM Puzzles

Community and Discussion

• EVM Learning Manual: A curated list of resources for learning EVM, maintained by the blockchain community.

  • Link: EVM Learning Manual
• Stack Overflow: A platform where you can find answers to common EVM-related questions and participate in discussions.

  • Link: Stack Overflow - EVM Tag

Practical Examples and Use Cases

• Contract Address Generation: Learn how contract addresses are generated using sender address and nonce.

  • Link: Contract Address Generation
• Bytecode Decompilation: Understand the process of converting bytecode into opcodes and reconstructing high-level code.

  • Link: Mythril Documentation
• Storage Management: Explore how EVM handles storage variables, including writing to and reading from storage slots.

  • Link: Solidity Documentation - Storage

References

• EVM Playground: https://evm.codes
• EVM Cheatsheet: https://github.com/pylaugh/evm-cheatsheet
• EVM From Scratch: https://github.com/w1nt3r-eth/evm-from-scratch
• EVM Puzzles: https://github.com/fvictorio/evm-puzzles
• EVM Learning Manual: https://learnblockchain.cn/article/4800
• Stack Overflow - EVM Tag: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/evm
• Contract Address Generation: https://ethereum.stackexchange.com/questions/760/how-is-the-address-of-an-ethereum-contract-computed
• Mythril Documentation: https://mythril.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
• Solidity Documentation - Storage: https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/v0.8.17/internals/layout_in_storage.html