# Building Smart Contracts

Libre meets developers where they are at. There is no need to learn a new language as Libre supports building in almost all modern and popular programming languages including C++, Typescript, Rust, Go, and Python.

## Full Turing-Complete WASM Smart Contracts

Libre's smart contract layer is built on WebAssembly (WASM), providing a full Turing-complete environment that enables developers to create complex, sophisticated applications. This is a significant advantage over other Bitcoin-focused platforms which typically offer limited or no smart contract capabilities.

With Libre's WASM implementation:

* Execute any computable function or logic
* Develop complex financial applications
* Create custom token standards
* Build decentralized applications with rich functionality
* Implement advanced cryptographic operations

## Interacting with Bitcoin on Libre

One of Libre's most powerful features is the ability to interact with Bitcoin in two distinct ways through smart contracts:

### 1. Unwrapped BTC (Vault System)

Smart contracts can interact with Bitcoin held in the CrossLink vault system without requiring the BTC to be wrapped as a token. This enables:

* Direct collateralization of BTC for lending applications
* Automated vault management
* Liquidation protection mechanisms
* Real-time BTC collateral monitoring
* Withdrawal approval logic based on complex conditions

### 2. Wrapped BTC (Fast BTC)

Smart contracts can also interact with BTC that has been wrapped as a token on Libre, providing:

* Faster transaction processing
* Lower fees for frequent operations
* Simplified integration with other DeFi applications
* Token swaps and trading functionality
* Advanced programmable escrow mechanisms

This dual approach gives developers unprecedented flexibility in how they incorporate Bitcoin into their applications, choosing the method that best suits their specific use case.

## Development Tools

There are online several online IDEs you can use to build on Libre Chain - so you do not have to install any software locally to get started.

For example, any Antelope-based tools will work with Libre, for example:

* [Rust Smart Contract Development Kit](https://github.com/uuosio/rscdk)
* [Python Smart Contract Development Kit](https://github.com/uuosio/pscdk)
* [Typescript Web IDE](https://protonide.com/)
* [AssemblyScript Smart Contract Development Kit](https://github.com/uuosio/ascdk)
* [Go Smart Contract Development Kit](https://github.com/uuosio/gscdk)

You can build smart contracts following this [collection of examples](https://github.com/blockmatic/antelope-contracts-list). Please start on Testnet - where the validators can help you with getting resources and access to the public API servers.