Hedera Developers: Comparing Options For JSON RPC Relay Setup

HomeNews* Developers working with smart contracts on Hedera must choose an appropriate JSON RPC relay setup.

• Options include using a local node, running a personal JSON RPC relay, or leveraging third-party service providers.
• Each method has specific advantages and disadvantages depending on project needs and stage of development.
• Paid third-party services offer convenience but may introduce ongoing costs and less control.
• Choosing the right setup can streamline development, testing, and production workflows. Developers building smart contracts on the Hedera network face a key decision about how to connect to the platform using a JSON RPC relay. This relay allows users to deploy, query, and interact with smart contracts on the network. The main approaches include running a local development node, setting up a custom relay, or subscribing to a third-party service.

• Advertisement - Figures from official documentation explain that a Hedera Local Node offers developers a self-contained environment ideal for testing and debugging. This setup enables isolated tests and fast smart contract deployment, operating up to 10 times quicker than using the public testnet. It comes preconfigured for ease of use and allows unlimited test transactions.

The article notes the limits of a local node, explaining it is not intended for production use. It cannot fully replicate real network conditions or scale dynamically. For those moving toward production environments or requiring more control, the option to run a personal JSON RPC relay offers custom configuration and the flexibility to connect across different Hedera networks. However, this route demands dedicated setup, ongoing infrastructure management, and monitoring.

Third-party relay services, as listed in Hedera‘s documentation, remove the need for developers to manage their own infrastructure. These offerings provide quick setup and often include service guarantees for uptime. The report cautions, though, that such services come with recurring fees and less operational control. There can be risks of downtime or traffic congestion, depending on the provider’s reliability.

For those testing or experimenting, Hashio is a free relay maintained by Hashgraph. It is recommended for development usage only, as network load can make it less reliable for production.

The article concludes that selecting an approach depends on project needs. Developers may start with a local node for isolated development, migrate to their own relay as they near production, or use a third-party service for maximum convenience and minimal maintenance. Combining different methods at various stages can help teams efficiently build and deploy smart contracts on Hedera.

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