# Contract development overview (https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/overview/content.md)



How to build, test, deploy, and debug TON smart contracts. This section covers the recommended toolchain, editor support, reusable techniques, and the legacy TypeScript environment.

<Callout type="caution" title="The Web IDE is retired">
  The Web IDE at `ide.ton.org` has been retired and is no longer available. Develop locally with the [Acton toolchain](#toolchain) and one of the [editor plugins](#ides-and-editor-plugins) below.
</Callout>

## Toolchain [#toolchain]

[Tolk](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/tolk/overview/content.md) is the recommended language for TON smart contracts. [Acton ↗️](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/acton/content.md) is the recommended all-in-one toolchain for the entire contract development lifecycle, including building, testing, and deploying Tolk contracts.

<Callout type="note" title="External documentation">
  [Acton ↗️](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/acton/content.md) documentation is hosted and updated externally.
</Callout>

## IDEs and editor plugins [#ides-and-editor-plugins]

Add support for the Acton toolchain, Tolk language, and intermediate TON languages to a local editor:

* [VS Code and forks](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/ide/vscode/content.md) — extension for VS Code, VSCodium, Cursor, Windsurf, and other VS Code-based editors
* [JetBrains IDEs](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/ide/jetbrains/content.md) — plugin for IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, CLion, PyCharm, and other JetBrains IDEs

## Techniques [#techniques]

Focused how-to guides for common smart contract tasks:

* [Signing and signature verification](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/signing/content.md)
* [Contract sharding](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/contract-sharding/content.md)
* [Security](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/security/content.md)
* [Gas optimization](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/gas/content.md)
* [On-chain jetton processing](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/on-chain-jetton-processing/content.md)
* [Using on-chain libraries](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/using-on-chain-libraries/content.md)
* [Random number generation](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/random/content.md)
* [Contract upgrades](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/upgrades/content.md)
* [Vanity addresses](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/vanity/content.md)
* [Zero-knowledge proofs](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/zero-knowledge/content.md)
* [Groth16 examples](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/techniques/groth16-examples/content.md)

## Blueprint (legacy) [#blueprint-legacy]

[Blueprint](https://docs-op93jxul6-ton-core-docs.vercel.app/llms/contract-dev/blueprint/overview/content.md) is a legacy TypeScript environment that is still supported for older projects.