DEV Community

Cover image for PyVax: Smart contracts in Python - Our Avalanche team1 Hackathon Journey
Shashwat Shukla
Shashwat Shukla

Posted on

PyVax: Smart contracts in Python - Our Avalanche team1 Hackathon Journey

#python #hackathon #avalanche #ai

🚀 The Birth of an Idea

"What if Python developers could write smart contracts without learning Solidity?"

This simple question sparked what would become PyVax - a revolutionary Python-to-EVM transpiler that bridges the gap between Web2 and Web3 development. During the recent Avalanche Team1 hackathon, our team MECH X4 embarked on a mission to democratize blockchain development for millions of Python developers worldwide.

💡 The Problem We're Solving

The blockchain developer shortage is real. While there are over 15 million Python developers globally, only a fraction can write smart contracts because they're locked behind Solidity's steep learning curve. Even AI tools struggle with Solidity, often generating buggy, insecure code.

We saw an opportunity: What if we could let developers write smart contracts in Python and automatically transpile them to EVM bytecode?

🛠️ What We Built

PyVax isn't just another CLI tool - it's a complete ecosystem for Python smart contract development:

🔧 Core PyVax CLI

Our flagship command-line interface that transforms Python code into production-ready smart contracts:

  • Python-to-EVM Transpiler: Advanced AST parser that converts Python syntax into optimized EVM bytecode
  • Avalanche C-Chain Integration: Native support for both Fuji testnet and mainnet deployment
  • Secure Wallet Management: PBKDF2 encryption with enterprise-grade security
  • Gas Optimization: Automatic gas estimation with 20% safety buffers
  • Rich Developer Experience: Beautiful console output and comprehensive error handling

🌐 PyVax Ecosystem

  • PyVax.xyz: Interactive web platform with playground and documentation
  • PyVax AI Pro: GPT-powered assistant that generates Python smart contracts from natural language
  • Template Library: Community-driven collection of reusable Python smart contract templates

🏗️ Technical Deep Dive

The Magic Behind Python-to-EVM Transpilation

Our transpiler consists of three core components:

  1. PythonASTAnalyzer: Parses Python code into Abstract Syntax Trees, identifying state variables, functions, and decorators
  2. EVMBytecodeGenerator: Converts analyzed Python logic into EVM opcodes and bytecode
  3. PythonContractTranspiler: Coordinates the entire process while generating ABI definitions

Writing Smart Contracts in Python

With PyVax, smart contract development feels natural for Python developers:

from avax_cli.py_contracts import PySmartContract class SimpleToken(PySmartContract): def __init__(self): super().__init__() self.total_supply = self.state_var("total_supply", 1000000) self.balances = self.state_var("balances", {}) @public_function def transfer(self, to: str, amount: int): sender = self.msg_sender() self.require(self.balances[sender] >= amount, "Insufficient balance") self.balances[sender] -= amount self.balances[to] += amount self.event("Transfer", sender, to, amount) @view_function def balance_of(self, user: str) -> int: return self.balances.get(user, 0)
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

EVM Compatibility

PyVax targets Avalanche's Cancun-compatible C-Chain, supporting:

  • All standard EVM opcodes (PUSH, POP, SSTORE, SLOAD, etc.)
  • Advanced control flow with conditional jumps
  • Function dispatching with standard 4-byte selectors
  • Complete ABI compatibility with Ethereum ecosystem tools

👥 Meet Team MECH X4

Our diverse team brought together complementary skills:

🧠 Punit Pal - The Architect

"The mastermind behind PyVax's technical foundation"

  • Conceived the original idea and led technical implementation
  • Built the entire Python-to-EVM transpiler from scratch
  • Designed the frontend at pyvax.xyz
  • Coordinated the live demonstration during pitch rounds

📊 Shashwat Shukla - The Presenter

"The voice that brought our vision to life"

  • Created architectural flowcharts explaining the transpilation process
  • Delivered the final pitch presentation to judges
  • Expertly explained AST parsing concepts to technical audiences
  • Provided the dominant voice during the demo

🎨 Mannu Singh - The Designer

"The creative force behind our user experience"

  • Designed the frontend user interface and experience
  • Structured our pitch deck with compelling problem-solution narrative
  • Provided crucial motivation and encouragement during the first-time pitch experience
  • Ensured our presentation had maximum impact

🤖 Rounak Soni - The Innovator

"The AI visionary who enhanced our platform"

  • Contributed PyVax AI Pro - natural language to smart contract generation
  • Refined the overall project structure and pitch flow
  • Led content creation and video documentation
  • Captured the entire development and presentation process on film

🏆 Hackathon Results & Judge Feedback

While results are still pending, the judge feedback was incredibly encouraging:

🎯 What Resonated

  • Addresses Real Pain Points: One judge specifically mentioned how AI-generated Solidity/Rust code is "full of bugs and errors" - PyVax's Python approach could be a game-changer
  • Outstanding Concept: The idea was called "so outstanding" with potential far beyond a typical hackathon project
  • Technical Innovation: Our Python AST parser implementation impressed technical evaluators

📚 Areas for Growth

  • Documentation Depth: Need more comprehensive technical documentation for developer adoption
  • Codebase Explanation: Better articulation of the transpiler's internal workings
  • AST Parser Comparison: Deeper technical knowledge about Python vs Solidity AST parsing differences

🚀 Future Opportunities

  • Superteam Grants: Judges recommended applying for grants due to the project's potential
  • Cross-Chain Expansion: Solana ecosystem lacks Python-to-SVM bytecode compilation
  • Upcoming Hackathons: ETH Global Delhi 2025 and beyond as continued growth opportunities

🔮 The Road Ahead

PyVax is more than a hackathon project - it's the beginning of a new era in blockchain development:

Immediate Goals

  • Comprehensive documentation and developer guides
  • Enhanced AST parser with advanced Python feature support
  • Community-driven template library expansion
  • Security audit and enterprise-grade hardening

Long-term Vision

  • Cross-Chain Compatibility: Expanding to Solana, Polygon, and other blockchain ecosystems
  • IDE Integration: VS Code extension with syntax highlighting and real-time compilation
  • Enterprise Adoption: Tools and frameworks for large-scale blockchain development teams
  • Educational Platform: Comprehensive courses for Web2 developers entering Web3

💻 Try PyVax Today

Ready to write your first Python smart contract?

Quick Start 

# Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/ShahiTechnovation/pyvax-cli # Install dependencies pip install -r requirements.txt pip install -e . # Initialize your first project avax-cli init my_first_contract # Compile and deploy avax-cli compile avax-cli deploy SimpleStorage
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Explore the Ecosystem

🎬 Watch PyVax in Action

See how PyVax transforms Python code into deployed smart contracts in under 60 seconds:

"Compare that to 7 months and 10 hours you need to deploy and debug Solidity. It's so easy to write smart contracts." - Shashwat Shukla, PyVax Demo

🤝 Join the Revolution

PyVax represents more than just a development tool - it's a movement to democratize blockchain development. We're building the bridge that will bring millions of Python developers into Web3.

Whether you're a:

  • Python Developer curious about blockchain
  • Web3 Builder frustrated with Solidity's complexity
  • Entrepreneur looking for faster smart contract development
  • Investor seeking the next big developer tools platform

PyVax has something for you.

📬 Get Involved

The hackathon may be over, but our journey is just beginning. Here's how you can be part of PyVax's future:

  • ⭐ Star our GitHub repository to show support
  • 🐛 Report bugs and suggest improvements
  • 💡 Contribute templates to our community library
  • 📢 Spread the word to Python developer communities
  • 💼 Reach out for collaboration and partnership opportunities

PyVax: Where Python meets blockchain. Where Web2 developers become Web3 builders. Where the future of decentralized applications begins.

Ready to write your first Python smart contract? The revolution starts with a single line of code.

Team MECH X4 Contact:

  • Punit Pal: @punitpal
  • Shashwat Shukla: Project Architect & Technical Lead
  • Mannu Singh: Frontend & UX Design
  • Rounak Soni: AI Innovation & Content Strategy

Built with ❤️ for the Python community during Avalanche Team1 Hackathon(Kolkata) 2025

Top comments (0)