Installation

## Ciara's Notes

I've added some here but needs finishing probs

Before learning how to create Aztec smart contracts, we must first install some tools we will use in the development process:

• Aztec Tools:
  • aztec: to manage infrastructure subsystems (sandbox, sequencer, prover, pxe, etc) and provides utility commands to interact with the network
  • aztec-nargo: aztec's build of nargo, the noir compiler toolchain.
  • aztec-postprocess-contract: post processing tool for Aztec contracts (transpilation and verification key generation).
  • aztec-up: to upgrade the aztec toolchain to the latest, or specific versions.
  • aztec-wallet - for interacting with the aztec network
• Noir Language Support extension: This make it easier to develop Aztec smart contracts, which are written in Noir, by providing syntax highlighting, error detection and go-to definitions.

Prerequisites

• Node.js version v22.15.x (lts/jod), and backwards compatible from version 20. You can use nvm to help manage node versions.

• Docker

Install Aztec Tools

1. Docker needs to be running in order to install the sandbox.

2. To install the above tools, run the following command:

bash -i <(curl -s https://install.aztec.network)

3. Check the tools have installed correctly

aztec --version

Noir VSCode Extension

Install the Noir Language Support extension to get syntax highlighting, syntax error detection and go-to definitions for your Aztec contracts.

Once the extension is installed, check your nargo binary by hovering over Nargo in the status bar on the bottom right of the application window. Click to choose the path to aztec-nargo (or regular nargo, if you have that installed).

You can print the path of your aztec-nargo executable by running:

which aztec-nargo

To specify a custom nargo executable, go to the VSCode settings and search for "noir", or click extension settings on the noir-lang LSP plugin. Update the Noir: Nargo Path field to point to your desired aztec-nargo executable.

## Creating an Aztec.nr Project