## Reference implementation of NEAR Protocol
[![CI][ci-badge]][ci-url]
![Stable Status][stable-release]
![Prerelease Status][prerelease]
[![codecov][codecov-badge]][codecov-url]
[![Discord chat][discord-badge]][discord-url]
[![Twitter][twitter-badge]][twitter-url]
[![Telegram Group][telegram-badge]][telegram-url]
[ci-badge]: https://img.shields.io/github/check-runs/near/nearcore/master?label=CI
[ci-url]: https://github.com/near/nearcore/actions
[stable-release]: https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/nearprotocol/nearcore?label=stable
[prerelease]: https://img.shields.io/github/v/release/nearprotocol/nearcore?include_prereleases&label=prerelease
[codecov-badge]: https://codecov.io/gh/near/nearcore/branch/master/graph/badge.svg
[codecov-url]: https://codecov.io/gh/near/nearcore
[discord-badge]: https://img.shields.io/discord/490367152054992913.svg
[discord-url]: https://discord.com/invite/nearprotocol
[twitter-badge]: https://img.shields.io/twitter/follow/NEARProtocol
[twitter-url]: https://x.com/NEARProtocol
[telegram-badge]: https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/Patrolavia/telegram-badge@8fe3382b3fd3a1c533ba270e608035a27e430c2e/chat.svg
[telegram-url]: https://t.me/cryptonear
## About NEAR
NEAR's purpose is to enable community-driven innovation to benefit people around the world.
To achieve this purpose, *NEAR* provides a developer platform where developers and entrepreneurs can create apps that put users back in control of their data and assets, which is the foundation of ["Open Web" movement][open-web-url].
One of the components of *NEAR* is the NEAR Protocol, an infrastructure for server-less applications and smart contracts powered by a blockchain.
NEAR Protocol is built to deliver usability and scalability of modern PaaS like Firebase at fraction of the prices that blockchains like Ethereum charge.
Overall, *NEAR* provides a wide range of tools for developers to easily build applications:
- [JS Client library][js-api] to connect to NEAR Protocol from your applications.
- [Rust][rust-sdk] and [JavaScript/TypeScript][js-sdk] SDKs to write smart contracts and stateful server-less functions.
- [Several essential repositories](https://github.com/near/dx) to guide you in building across Near's Open Web Platform.
- [Numerous examples][examples-url] with links to hack on them right inside your browser.
- [Lots of documentation][docs-url], with [Tutorials][tutorials-url] and [API docs][api-docs-url].
- [NEAR Protocol formal specification][nomicon-io], and [docs for nearcore developers][nomicon-io].
[open-web-url]: https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/10/1301496/
[js-api]: https://github.com/near/near-api-js
[rust-sdk]: https://github.com/near/near-sdk-rs
[js-sdk]: https://github.com/near/near-sdk-js
[examples-url]: https://github.com/near-examples
[docs-url]: https://docs.near.org
[tutorials-url]: https://docs.near.org/tutorials/welcome
[api-docs-url]: https://docs.near.org/api/rpc/introduction
[nomicon-io]: https://nomicon.io
## Join the Network
To learn how to become a validator, checkout [documentation](https://near-nodes.io/validator/staking-and-delegation).
## Contributing
The workflow and details of setup to contribute are described in [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md), and security policy is described in [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md).
To propose new protocol changes or standards use [Specification & Standards repository](https://github.com/nearprotocol/NEPs).
## Getting in Touch
We use Zulip for semi-synchronous technical discussion, feel free to chime in:
https://near.zulipchat.com/
For non-technical discussion and overall direction of the project, see our Discourse forum:
https://gov.near.org