Introduction
Build powerful apps, secured by Bitcoin.
Hello, Builders 👋
Stacks is a fast, low-cost, builder-friendly layer 2 network on Bitcoin. It’s built on Bitcoin, inheriting Bitcoin’s battle-tested security. By jumping into our docs, you’re joining the Stacks builder community that’s bringing a global onchain economy to Bitcoin.
If you're here on this page, hopefully you've already gotten a good sense of what Stacks' purpose is, if not, head to the Learn section. Or if you're still on the edge of why you should build with Stacks, head to Why Build with Stacks.
How to use these docs
The Stacks documentation is organized into a set of top-level sections, each aligned to a distinct stage of a developer’s journey—from learning core concepts to building applications and operating infrastructure.
How does the Stacks network actually work? The Learn section focuses on building a strong academic foundation. It explains how Stacks functions as a Bitcoin layer 2, providing clarity and context around the network’s design and mechanics.
Topics include Proof of Transfer (PoX), Bitcoin finality, block production, the transaction lifecycle, and more. If you want a deep understanding of how Stacks anchors to Bitcoin and why it works the way it does, this is the best place to start.
How do you build on Stacks? This section is for experienced developers, but are new to Stacks, who are in the exploratory phase of understanding the general workflow of building apps on Stacks. These guides focus on accomplishing specific tasks—writing contracts, integrating wallets, working with sBTC or USDC—without extensive explainers.
It includes curated quick starts for smart contract development with Clarinet and frontend development with Stacks.js, along with step-by-step guides covering common use cases such as integrating sBTC, onboarding users, working with price oracles, and more.
How do you run Stacks infrastructure? The Operate section is designed for node operators and infrastructure providers. It covers how to run and manage Stacks nodes, signers, and miners.
If you’re responsible for operating or maintaining Stacks-related infrastructure, this section contains the resources you’ll need.
Where do you look up technical details? The Reference section contains authoritative technical documentation for Stacks devtools and APIs. This includes function and type definitions for Clarity and Stacks.js, API endpoint schemas, and interactive API playgrounds.
If you’re an experienced Stacks developer looking to quickly reference a specific method, type, or API response, this section is built for fast lookup and precision.
Looking for a more guided, lesson-oriented experience? The Tutorials section is designed for complete beginner developers who want structured, long-form lessons rather than quick answers.
These tutorials provide step-by-step walkthroughs alongside in-depth explanations of the underlying concepts. The goal isn’t just to help you complete a task, but to help you understand why things work the way they do as you build.
If you’re a complete beginner and prefer a classroom-style, concept-driven learning experience—this section is the best place to start.
Pick your learning path
We all have different styles of learning. If you've already got a good concept of web3 fundamentals and want to get a quick taste of what the DevEx is like on Stacks, then check out the Developer Quickstart. Or find the path that clicks for you — and if bandwidth allows, tackle them all!
Who should use what
Completely new to building with Stacks
Learning smart contract development
Preferring a structured, guided course that shows you every step to build full-stack apps
Wanting to integrate sBTC in your app
Launching a token
Interested in security / auditing / grants
Curious about current use cases
Searching for a complete list of devtools
Still got questions?
We know, it's a lot. But we, along with our large community, are always more than welcome to help you throughout your journey with Stacks.
Stacks Discord: Connect with other developers and our team
Stacks Forum: Ask questions and share projects
Stacks Twitter: Follow us on Twitter and ask us questions there
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