solana-dev
This AI agent skill provides comprehensive guidance for end-to-end Solana development, including dApp UI, wallet integration, on-chain Anchor/Pinocchio programs, testing, and security, following opinionated stack decisions.
About this skill
This AI agent skill serves as a comprehensive playbook for developing on the Solana blockchain. It enables AI agents to assist with a wide array of tasks, from front-end dApp development using React and Next.js, handling wallet connections and transaction flows, to intricate on-chain program development with Anchor or Pinocchio. The skill guides the agent through generating typed client SDKs, setting up local testing environments with tools like LiteSVM, Mollusk, or Surfpool, and implementing security best practices. Key use cases for this skill include initiating new Solana dApp projects, writing and debugging complex on-chain programs, managing wallet connections, deploying applications to devnet, and upgrading or migrating Solana CLI and Anchor versions. It specifically addresses common development hurdles such as toolchain setup, dependency conflicts, and GLIBC errors, making it a powerful resource for streamlining the development process. The skill is opinionated, favoring a "framework-kit first" approach for UI development using `@solana/client` and `@solana/react-hooks`, and `@solana/kit` for client-side SDKs. It also dictates that `@solana/web3-compat` should only be used at legacy integration boundaries. This standardization ensures that AI-assisted development adheres to a consistent, recommended Solana ecosystem stack, thereby promoting efficiency, maintainability, and security in the resulting applications.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/solana-development/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How solana-dev Compares
| Feature / Agent | solana-dev | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | multi | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | hard | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
This AI agent skill provides comprehensive guidance for end-to-end Solana development, including dApp UI, wallet integration, on-chain Anchor/Pinocchio programs, testing, and security, following opinionated stack decisions.
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is compatible with multi.
How difficult is it to install?
The installation complexity is rated as hard. You can find the installation instructions above.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Solana Development Skill (framework-kit-first) ## What this Skill is for Use this Skill when the user asks for: - Solana dApp UI work (React / Next.js) - Wallet connection + signing flows - Transaction building / sending / confirmation UX - On-chain program development (Anchor or Pinocchio) - Client SDK generation (typed program clients) - Local testing (LiteSVM, Mollusk, Surfpool) - Security hardening and audit-style reviews - Confidential transfers (Token-2022 ZK extension) - **Toolchain setup, version mismatches, GLIBC errors, dependency conflicts** - **Upgrading Anchor/Solana CLI versions, migration between versions** ## Default stack decisions (opinionated) 1) **UI: framework-kit first** - Use `@solana/client` + `@solana/react-hooks`. - Prefer Wallet Standard discovery/connect via the framework-kit client. 2) **SDK: @solana/kit first** - Prefer Kit types (`Address`, `Signer`, transaction message APIs, codecs). - Prefer `@solana-program/*` instruction builders over hand-rolled instruction data. 3) **Legacy compatibility: web3.js only at boundaries** - If you must integrate a library that expects web3.js objects (`PublicKey`, `Transaction`, `Connection`), use `@solana/web3-compat` as the boundary adapter. - Do not let web3.js types leak across the entire app; contain them to adapter modules. 4) **Programs** - Default: Anchor (fast iteration, IDL generation, mature tooling). - Performance/footprint: Pinocchio when you need CU optimization, minimal binary size, zero dependencies, or fine-grained control over parsing/allocations. 5) **Testing** - Default: LiteSVM or Mollusk for unit tests (fast feedback, runs in-process). - Use Surfpool for integration tests against realistic cluster state (mainnet/devnet) locally. - Use solana-test-validator only when you need specific RPC behaviors not emulated by LiteSVM. ## Operating procedure (how to execute tasks) When solving a Solana task: ### 1. Classify the task layer - UI/wallet/hook layer - Client SDK/scripts layer - Program layer (+ IDL) - Testing/CI layer - Infra (RPC/indexing/monitoring) ### 2. Pick the right building blocks - UI: framework-kit patterns. - Scripts/backends: @solana/kit directly. - Legacy library present: introduce a web3-compat adapter boundary. - High-performance programs: Pinocchio over Anchor. ### 3. Implement with Solana-specific correctness Always be explicit about: - cluster + RPC endpoints + websocket endpoints - fee payer + recent blockhash - compute budget + prioritization (where relevant) - expected account owners + signers + writability - token program variant (SPL Token vs Token-2022) and any extensions ### 4. Add tests - Unit test: LiteSVM or Mollusk. - Integration test: Surfpool. - For "wallet UX", add mocked hook/provider tests where appropriate. ### 5. Deliverables expectations When you implement changes, provide: - exact files changed + diffs (or patch-style output) - commands to install/build/test - a short "risk notes" section for anything touching signing/fees/CPIs/token transfers ## Progressive disclosure (read when needed) - UI + wallet + hooks: [frontend-framework-kit.md](references/frontend-framework-kit.md) - Kit ↔ web3.js boundary: [kit-web3-interop.md](references/kit-web3-interop.md) - Anchor programs: [programs-anchor.md](references/programs-anchor.md) - Pinocchio programs: [programs-pinocchio.md](references/programs-pinocchio.md) - Testing strategy: [testing.md](references/testing.md) - IDLs + codegen: [idl-codegen.md](references/idl-codegen.md) - Payments: [payments.md](references/payments.md) - Confidential transfers: [confidential-transfers.md](references/confidential-transfers.md) - Security checklist: [security.md](references/security.md) - Reference links: [resources.md](references/resources.md) - **Version compatibility:** [compatibility-matrix.md](references/compatibility-matrix.md) - **Common errors & fixes:** [common-errors.md](references/common-errors.md) - **Surfpool (local network):** [surfpool.md](references/surfpool.md) - **Surfpool cheatcodes:** [surfpool-cheatcodes.md](references/surfpool-cheatcodes.md)