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Developer Tools

Poseidon (TypeScript-to-Anchor Transpiler)

A transpiler that allows developers to write Solana programs in TypeScript and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Poseidon maps TypeScript classes and decorators to Anchor's program structure, account definitions, and constraints, lowering the barrier to entry for TypeScript developers. The generated Rust code can be further customized before compilation to SBF. Suitable for prototyping and learning Solana program development.

IDposeidon-transpiler
Plain meaning

Plain meaning

Start with the shortest useful explanation before going deeper.

A transpiler that allows developers to write Solana programs in TypeScript and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Poseidon maps TypeScript classes and decorators to Anchor's program structure, account definitions, and constraints, lowering the barrier to entry for TypeScript developers. The generated Rust code can be further customized before compilation to SBF. Suitable for prototyping and learning Solana program development.

Mental model

Mental model

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Think of it as a tool or abstraction that removes friction from shipping on Solana.

Technical context

Technical context

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Anchor, local validators, explorers, SDKs, and testing workflows.

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Why builders care

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Poseidon (TypeScript-to-Anchor Transpiler) (poseidon-transpiler)
Category: Developer Tools
Definition: A transpiler that allows developers to write Solana programs in TypeScript and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Poseidon maps TypeScript classes and decorators to Anchor's program structure, account definitions, and constraints, lowering the barrier to entry for TypeScript developers. The generated Rust code can be further customized before compilation to SBF. Suitable for prototyping and learning Solana program development.
Related: Anchor Framework, Seahorse (Python → Anchor), TypeScript
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Concept graph

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Branch

Anchor Framework

The most popular framework for building Solana programs in Rust. Anchor provides macros (#[program], #[account], #[derive(Accounts)]) that auto-generate boilerplate for account validation, serialization, discriminators, and error handling. It includes a CLI (anchor init/build/test/deploy), IDL generation, and TypeScript client generation. Reduces program code by ~80% compared to native development.

ProgramIDL (Interface Definition Language)
Open term
Branch

Seahorse (Python → Anchor)

A Python-to-Anchor transpiler that lets developers write Solana programs in Python syntax and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Seahorse supports a subset of Python with Solana-specific decorators. It lowers the barrier to entry for Python developers but may lag behind Anchor features. Suitable for learning and prototyping.

Open term
Branch

TypeScript

A statically typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. TypeScript adds type annotations, interfaces, generics, and enums to catch errors at compile time. It is the standard language for Solana client-side development—wallet adapters, dApp frontends, test suites, and SDK interactions (web3.js, Anchor client) are typically written in TypeScript.

Solana Web3.jsJavaScript
Open term
Next concepts to explore

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Developer Tools

Anchor Framework

The most popular framework for building Solana programs in Rust. Anchor provides macros (#[program], #[account], #[derive(Accounts)]) that auto-generate boilerplate for account validation, serialization, discriminators, and error handling. It includes a CLI (anchor init/build/test/deploy), IDL generation, and TypeScript client generation. Reduces program code by ~80% compared to native development.

Open term
Developer Tools

Seahorse (Python → Anchor)

A Python-to-Anchor transpiler that lets developers write Solana programs in Python syntax and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Seahorse supports a subset of Python with Solana-specific decorators. It lowers the barrier to entry for Python developers but may lag behind Anchor features. Suitable for learning and prototyping.

Open term
Programming Fundamentals

TypeScript

A statically typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. TypeScript adds type annotations, interfaces, generics, and enums to catch errors at compile time. It is the standard language for Solana client-side development—wallet adapters, dApp frontends, test suites, and SDK interactions (web3.js, Anchor client) are typically written in TypeScript.

Open term
Developer Tools

Program Test Framework (solana-program-test)

Solana's built-in testing framework that spins up a lightweight BanksClient runtime to execute programs in an isolated environment without a full validator. Supports adding programs, setting account state, advancing slots/time, and processing transactions. The foundation for most Solana program integration tests.

Open term
Commonly confused with

Terms nearby in vocabulary, acronym, or conceptual neighborhood.

These entries are easy to mix up when you are reading quickly, prompting an LLM, or onboarding into a new layer of Solana.

Developer Toolsanchor-init

anchor init / anchor build / anchor test

Anchor CLI commands for project lifecycle. `anchor init <name>` scaffolds a new project (program, tests, Anchor.toml). `anchor build` compiles to SBF and generates the IDL. `anchor test` builds, starts a local validator, deploys, and runs Mocha/Jest tests. `anchor deploy` deploys to the configured cluster. `anchor verify` checks deployed bytecode.

Open term
Developer Toolsanchor-v031

Anchor v0.31

A major release (March 2025) of the Anchor framework introducing custom discriminators (overriding the default 8-byte discriminator to save transaction space), LazyAccount for on-demand deserialization to reduce compute costs, and stack memory optimizations for init constraints. Positioned as a major milestone on the roadmap toward v1.0.

AliasAnchor 0.31.0
Open term
Developer Toolsanchor-account-macro

#[account] Macro (Anchor)

The Anchor macro applied to structs to define on-chain account data layouts. `#[account]` auto-derives Borsh serialization, adds an 8-byte discriminator prefix (SHA-256 of 'account:<Name>'), and implements space calculation. Optional attributes: `#[account(zero_copy)]` for zero-copy deserialization of large accounts.

Open term
Related terms

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Developer Toolsanchor

Anchor Framework

The most popular framework for building Solana programs in Rust. Anchor provides macros (#[program], #[account], #[derive(Accounts)]) that auto-generate boilerplate for account validation, serialization, discriminators, and error handling. It includes a CLI (anchor init/build/test/deploy), IDL generation, and TypeScript client generation. Reduces program code by ~80% compared to native development.

Open term
Developer Toolsseahorse

Seahorse (Python → Anchor)

A Python-to-Anchor transpiler that lets developers write Solana programs in Python syntax and compiles them to Rust/Anchor code. Seahorse supports a subset of Python with Solana-specific decorators. It lowers the barrier to entry for Python developers but may lag behind Anchor features. Suitable for learning and prototyping.

Open term
Programming Fundamentalstypescript

TypeScript

A statically typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript. TypeScript adds type annotations, interfaces, generics, and enums to catch errors at compile time. It is the standard language for Solana client-side development—wallet adapters, dApp frontends, test suites, and SDK interactions (web3.js, Anchor client) are typically written in TypeScript.

Open term
More in category

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These entries live beside the current term and help the page feel like part of a larger knowledge graph instead of a dead end.

Developer Tools

Anchor Framework

The most popular framework for building Solana programs in Rust. Anchor provides macros (#[program], #[account], #[derive(Accounts)]) that auto-generate boilerplate for account validation, serialization, discriminators, and error handling. It includes a CLI (anchor init/build/test/deploy), IDL generation, and TypeScript client generation. Reduces program code by ~80% compared to native development.

Open term
Developer Tools

#[account] Macro (Anchor)

The Anchor macro applied to structs to define on-chain account data layouts. `#[account]` auto-derives Borsh serialization, adds an 8-byte discriminator prefix (SHA-256 of 'account:<Name>'), and implements space calculation. Optional attributes: `#[account(zero_copy)]` for zero-copy deserialization of large accounts.

Open term
Developer Tools

#[derive(Accounts)] (Anchor)

The Anchor macro that defines the accounts struct for an instruction. Each field specifies an account with validation constraints. Account types include: `Account<'info, T>` (deserialized), `Signer<'info>` (must sign), `Program<'info, T>` (program reference), `SystemAccount<'info>`, and `UncheckedAccount<'info>` (no validation, use carefully).

Open term
Developer Tools

Anchor Constraints

Declarative validation rules on Anchor account fields. Key constraints: `#[account(mut)]` (writable), `#[account(init, payer=x, space=n)]` (create), `#[account(seeds=[...], bump)]` (PDA validation), `#[account(has_one=field)]` (field equality), `#[account(constraint = expr)]` (custom boolean), `#[account(close=target)]` (close and reclaim rent).

Open term