# Polkadot SDK's Minimal Template > This is a minimal template for creating a blockchain based on Polkadot SDK. > > This template is automatically updated after releases in the main [Polkadot SDK monorepo](https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk).

• 🤏 This template is a minimal (in terms of complexity and the number of components) template for building a blockchain node.

• 🔧 Its runtime is configured with a single custom pallet as a starting point, and a handful of ready-made pallets such as a Balances pallet.

• 👤 The template has no consensus configured - it is best for experimenting with a single node network.

Template Structure

A Polkadot SDK based project such as this one consists of:

• 💿 a Node - the binary application.
• 🧮 the Runtime - the core logic of the blockchain.
• 🎨 the Pallets - from which the runtime is constructed.

Getting Started

• 🦀 The template is using the Rust language.

• 👉 Check the Rust installation instructions for your system.

• 🛠️ Depending on your operating system and Rust version, there might be additional packages required to compile this template - please take note of the Rust compiler output.

Build

🔨 Use the following command to build the node without launching it:

cargo build --release

🐳 Alternatively, build the docker image:

docker build . -t polkadot-sdk-minimal-template

Single-Node Development Chain

👤 The following command starts a single-node development chain:

./target/release/minimal-template-node --dev

# docker version:
docker run --rm polkadot-sdk-minimal-template --dev

Development chains:

• 🧹 Do not persist the state.
• 💰 Are pre-configured with a genesis state that includes several pre-funded development accounts.
• 🧑‍⚖️ One development account (ALICE) is used as sudo accounts.

Connect with the Polkadot-JS Apps Front-End

• 🌐 You can interact with your local node using the hosted version of the Polkadot/Substrate Portal.

• 🪐 A hosted version is also available on IPFS.

• 🧑‍🔧 You can also find the source code and instructions for hosting your own instance in the polkadot-js/apps repository.

Contributing

• 🔄 This template is automatically updated after releases in the main Polkadot SDK monorepo.

• ➡️ Any pull requests should be directed to this source.

• 😇 Please refer to the monorepo's contribution guidelines and Code of Conduct.

Getting Help

• 🧑‍🏫 To learn about Polkadot in general, Polkadot.network website is a good starting point.

• 🧑‍🔧 For technical introduction, here are the Polkadot SDK documentation resources.

• 👥 Additionally, there are GitHub issues and Substrate StackExchange.