About
Chaincode Labs is a Bitcoin research and development center based in New York City. We focus on the development of the bitcoin network and adjacent technologies. A critical part of our work is creating a space for those seeking a solid foundation with which to contribute to the bitcoin ecosystem.
Since 2016, our residency program has helped to train and develop the next generation of Bitcoin and Lightning protocol and application engineers. In the past few years, we have shifted out efforts to bitcoin FOSS education more accessible by shifting our programs online.
Start your career in bitcoin foss
If you aspire to have professional freedom, work on something that will impact the lives of countless people across the world, write code that will span generations, and collaborate with some of the most gifted devs to solve some of the hardest technical problems, then this program is for you.
Contributing to bitcoin FOSS (BOSS) can feel lonely and intimidating. This three-month program is designed to provide the professional feedback necessary to get you off of BOSS 0.
Chaincode curates each cohort, arranges curriculum, and provides ongoing support throughout the program. You will be expected to prep for a minimum of 10 hours per week. Outside of the first week, there are no scheduled calls. This program will be taught and mentored by BOSS contributors that have stood in your shoes. Throughout the week, there will be async chat discussions and support. If you are willing to do the work, we'll give you what you need to get to where you want to go.
Kick Start - 1 Month
A code heavy month of bitcoin and lightning
- Week 0: RPC Scavenger Hunt
- Week 1: Build a wallet
- Week 2: Wallet management
- Week 3: P2P & Mining
- Week 4: Lightning
The Rest - 2 Months
Build your proof of work
- Bring a proof of concept to life
- Explore the BOSS ecosystem
- Meet BOSS maintainers
- Choose a BOSS project and provide value
- Get coaching on the next step
Change your life
Start your career in bitcoin FOSS
If you are serious about a career in Bitcoin and Lightning FOSS, we strongly encourage you to apply. While a baseline level of code proficiency is required, we welcome all backgrounds and technical experiences. Participants will be expected to work in C++ or Rust regardless of prior experience. (If you don't know any of these languages, but are eager to learn, YOU SHOULD STILL APPLY. We'll give you the resources to level up!)
- As with all of our educational initiatives, there is NO COST associated with this program.
- Complete the application by DECEMBER 31, 2024.
- If you are a good fit, we'll ask you to complete an exercise.
- The program begins the week of January 13th and runs until April 11th, 2025.
2024 BOSS alum
The Chaincode Online Seminars
(Cohorts on hold, please use self-paced curriculum)
Once a week for 90 minutes, meet with fellow developers, challenge yourself, and receive guidance from current contributors. Weekly prep will take anywhere from 4-6 hours.
Groups will have anywhere from 10-25 participants with rotating discussion groups of 3-5. Participants share a dedicated channel on the Chaincode Learning Slack workspace and those who complete the program are invited to our seminar alum community.
Chaincode curates each cohort, arranges guest speakers, and provides ongoing support throughout the seminar. We do not provide moderators for small group discussions, but assign deputies to ensure an enriching experience. We expect everyone to attend every week. Participants are allotted one absence during the program. If you are absent a second time, we ask you withdraw from the group. We are happy to welcome you back in the future.
Bitcoin Protocol Development
A six week program. Prior to start, participants should read Mastering Bitcoin.
Week 1: Welcome to Bitcoin Protocol Development
Week 2: Segwit
Week 3: Mining & Network Block Propagation
Week 4: P2P
Week 5: Script & Wallets
Week 6: Bitcoin Philosophy Workshop
Lightning Network
A six week program (the sixth week is asynchronous).
Week 1: LN History, Payment Channels, and HTLCs
Week 2: How the Layers of Lightning Fit Together
Week 3: Lightning Routing
Week 4: Limitations
Week 5: The Future of Lightning
Week 6: Asynchronous Coding Practical
Resources
Self Paced Seminars
Our seminar materials are available for anyone to use with readings and discussion questions on various Bitcoin and Lightning topics
Bitcoin Protocol Development Curriculum
A comprehensive resource for Bitcoin protocol developers
Lightning Protocol Development Curriculum
A comprehensive resource for Lightning protocol developers