PAPI-Intro Feedback

[hippiestank]

After completing the "Polkadot-API: An Introduction to Multichain" tutorial on dotcodeschool.com, I have taken some time to write down a few (hopefully constructive) thoughts. Rather than submitting an issue for each chapter, I have included feedback for each here, except for a large typo, which was submitted separately.

Background: Basic understanding of Blockchain development, new to JS/TS Time Spent on Tutorial: 3 hours

"Initialize a Basic Typescript Project"

• Bun was very simple to install
• Description of files included in structure is helpful

"Lets PAPI This"

• I appreciated getting an outline of the tutorial and what we will be doing with PAPI
• Introduces the idea of a Smoldot Provider, which never gets explored (I imagine this is a work in progress)

"Codegen & 'adding' chains"

• Good background info
• The example of adding the "postinstall" script to package.json is helpful
• Description of why to use -n vs -w options is unclear and could be built upon a little more (known vs unknown chains?)

"Connection Process"

• Nice, simple
• Seeing the client interface here led to better understanding than viewing on papi.how
• Lingering question: Does the provider "wrap" instructions to/from the client/RPC?

"Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Endpoints"

• If getChainSpecData() is not for production use, what other options are there?
• Using console.log to "peek into the methods exposed by the client" was a good step, and a reminder that tools like that exist.

"Create and Implement printChainInfo Function"

• The verbage used to help create functions in the TODOs is very well done

"Some specifics around PAPI are needed"

• No notes on first run through

"PEOPLE System Chain"

• Seeing how to dig into the details of a value is super helpful

"Collectives System Chain"

• Interesting and fun Chain to use
• Showing how to structure everything to successfully map over an array of entries fire

Overall, I think this was a very good Introduction to PAPI on a basic level. Everything works, and it's possible to get results with minimal understanding of the topics.

I think the structure of typedApi calls could be developed a little more, maybe including how Pallets and their methods relate, along with how to find that information. I was unable to find a repository for either of the System Chains, and would be curious to know where they were. I think being able to dive into the docs and look at the pallets is helpful.

It is difficult to view answers outside of a Fullscreen. A final example of the finished index.ts would be nice.

If I had started my journey into dApp development with this tutorial, the client/provider relationship would have made more sense, faster. After doing the tutorial, I now have examples of digging into the details of a value, and mapping over an array of entries to come back to.

I hope this helps.

-hippiestank

[wirednkod]

Thank you so much for the feedback. This is very helpful