Introduction

Matrix IDE is an integrated development environment for Matrix mainchain smart contracts. It allows users to develop,compile, deploy and interact with smart contracts online using our website.

Address

Mainnet: http://ide.matrix.io

Testnet: http://testnet.matrix.io:8088

Interface layout

Icon Panel: Click icons in the Icon Panel to decide which plug-ins to show in the Side Panel
Side Panel: A graphical user interface to show the functions of each icon
Main Panel: Users can edit files in the Main Panel
Terminal: The result of interactions is shown in the Terminal.

Icon Panel

The Icon Panel contains File Explorer, Solidity Compiler, Deploy and Run Transactions and Tool.

File Explorer

The File Explorer shows files saved in the local storage. It contains two contract files and one Matrix address conversion library tool.

Click the plus sign on the top left to create a new Solidity contract file. Name the file test.sol in the dialogue box that pops up.

Click OK. A file named hello.sol should appear in the browser directory inside the File Explorer of the panel on the left hand side, and a new empty space should pop up in the middle where you can edit the new file. We will learn some simple Solidity codes as we go on.

Add local files

Select files from your local storage and add them to your IDE Explorer storage.

Editor

The Editor is a panel for editing codes.

Select the new hello.sol file and enter a simple contract code.

Above is an example of the most basic form of a contract. It contains only one echo( ) method, which can be used to convert a string to its original form.

Terminal

The Terminal shows the result of executing a contract or running a static analysis.

Compiler

In the Compiler, click the drop-down box to select the correct version of Solidity Compiler.

Click Begin Compiling to convert selected code file (or files) in the Matrix IDE Compiler, like the hello.sol file shown here.
If compiling is completed without any errors, you will see the contract file name Hello in the drop-down box of the Compiler.

Deploy and Run Transactions

You can deploy a compiled contract or run a deployed contract using the options boxes in the Deploy and Run Transactions panel.

There are three Environment options: JavaScript VM, Plugin or aiman Provider.

JavaScript VM is a virtual machine supporting JavaScript that functions within your explorer, so that you don’t have to worry about Masternode configuration or the possibility of losing your ERC-20 tokens when learning or test-running your prototype.
If you already have mango plug-in inserted in your explorer, use the injected aiman object.
If you have your own Masternode, you may select aiman Provider to connect the IDE to your Masternode. However, please note that if your Masternode is connected to the mainnet, every transaction you make will incur costs.

Launching a demo contract

Select Hello in the options box as shown in the screenshot above. You will find compiled contract lists contained in this option.
Click Deploy to launch the selected contract transaction. After mining, the newly created demo contract will be added, which may take a few seconds’ time. Please note that if specific parametres are requested in the constructor, you need to set the parametres first.
Use At Address to visit deployed contracts, in this case, the selected demo contract. Currently there is no safety check function available, so please take extra care to make sure the address is a trusted one.