Module Overview
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Mental Models | Build intuition for how Canton works |
| Development Stack | Understand the tools and technologies |
| How Canton Differs | See what makes Canton unique |
Why This Module Matters
Canton is not just another blockchain with different syntax. It represents a fundamentally different approach to distributed ledgers:- Privacy is native, not bolted on
- Consensus is targeted, not global
- State is distributed, not replicated
- Authorization is declared, not coded
Core Insights
Privacy First
On most blockchains, you build an application and then try to add privacy. On Canton, you start with privacy and choose what to reveal and whom to reveal it to.No Global State
There is no single “blockchain” you can query for all information. Each party has their own view of the ledger.| Traditional View | Canton Reality |
|---|---|
| ”Query the blockchain” | Query your data from your validator |
| ”Total supply” | Only visible if the application exposes it via an API |
| ”All transactions” | Your transactions only |
Immutable Everything
Contracts don’t change. When you “update” a contract, you archive the old one and create a new one. This isn’t a limitation—it’s the foundation of privacy and integrity guarantees.Explicit Authorization
You declare what each party can do at compile time, and the protocol enforces it. Unlike traditional systems where you check caller identity at runtime, Canton’s authorization is structural.Prerequisites Check
Before proceeding, you should:- Understand what Canton is (Five-Minute Overview)
- Know the basic components (Core Concepts)
- Have programming experience (any language)
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this module, you’ll understand:- How to think about Canton’s privacy model
- The relationship between parties, validators, and synchronizers
- How transactions flow through the system
- What tools you’ll use for development
Learning Path
Mental Models
Build intuition for Canton’s approach to distributed ledgers.
Development Stack
Understand the tools and technologies you’ll use.
- Module 2: If you have Ethereum/blockchain experience
- Daml Documentation: If you’re ready to start writing Daml