> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hedera-0c6e0218-dependabot-github-actions-step-security-har.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Welcome to Hedera — let’s build the future
## Hello Future: Apex Hackathon
The Hedera Hello Future Apex Hackathon brings together new and experienced builders worldwide to collaborate and compete virtually.
## AI Studio on Hedera
## Learn the Basics
Start your journey with the public Hedera network by learning the basics — from understanding the network’s architecture to who’s building next-generation applications, you’ll have a proper foundation to start building.
Understand the basics of Hedera network node types, developer services & API, governance, \$HBAR, and more by reading this introduction to Hedera.
Hedera is an open-source, public, proof-of-stake network. Hedera network
services offer low & fixed fees,10k TPS, and instant transaction finality.
Dive into the technical core concepts of Hedera. Learn everything from how
accounts are created to scheduling transactions and querying on-ledger data.
From permissionless web3 startups and NFT projects to Fortune 500 companies, take a look into who's choosing Hedera to build their next-generation application.
## Getting Started
Follow the step-by-step guides in the [Getting Started series](/hedera/getting-started-hedera-native-developers) to start developing on the Hedera network today. The series offers personalized developer learning paths to help you understand the essentials and start building web3 applications.
Create and fund your Hedera Testnet account using the Hedera developer portal, faucet, or HashPack wallet.
This is the developer learning path for Hedera-native developers and
developers new to web3 and Hedera.
This is the learning path for smart contract developers with experience deploying Solidity smart contracts.
## Build Your First Decentralized Application (DApp)
Learn to use Hedera network services and build your first dApp with step-by-step tutorials, or dive into the interactive [Hedera Developer Playground](https://portal.hedera.com/playground) for a hands-on coding experience.
Create a Solidity Smart Contract that interacts with the Hedera Token Service, bringing full programmability into your token-based application.
Service to create fungible tokens that map to [ERC-20 standards](https://docs.hedera.com/guides/core-concepts/smart-contracts/supported-erc-token-standards) and scale to 10,000+ TPS.
Use the Hedera Token Service to create non-fungible tokens that map to [ERC-721 standards](https://docs.hedera.com/guides/core-concepts/smart-contracts/supported-erc-token-standards) and scale to 10,000+ TPS.
Use the Hedera Consensus Service as a decentralized message bus to write immutable, verifiable, and consensus timestamped data at 10k+ TPS and \$0.0001 per message.
Use the interactive Hedera Developer Playground to follow guided examples or experiment with Hedera SDKs in a hands-on coding environment.
Use the interactive Hedera Contract Builder to follow guided examples in a
hands-on coding environment.
## Hedera Network Services
Learn about the suite of network services offered on Hedera and how each can be used to build decentralized applications.
An EVM-based smart contract service. Build and deploy contracts using Solidity or port over an existing smart contract with ease.
Configure, mint, and manage native fungible and non-fungible tokens or using
ERC-20 & 721 standards on the Hedera network.
Incorporate scalable, real-time, auditable logs of events with consensus
timestamps into any web2 or permissionless web3 application.
Hedera File Service is a decentralized file storage platform that allows users to securely store and access files on a distributed network of computers using hash as a file identifier.
## EVM-Compatible Tools
Continue utilizing familiar Ethereum development tools such as Web3.js, Truffle, Ethers, Hardhat, and Foundry to build on Hedera using the [JSON-RPC Relay](/hedera/core-concepts/smart-contracts/json-rpc-relay). As an Ethereum developer, your workflow does not have to change.
Create an ECDSA account that works with JSON-RPC to use EVM-compatible tooling, libraries, and wallets.
Add a Hedera network to Metamask using the [Hashio](http://hashio.io/)
implementation of the JSON-RPC Relay. Sign transactions and queries to test
your Hedera-powered application.
Integrate Hedera into Ethers, web3.js, Truffle, or Hardhat for building,
debugging, and deploying your smart contract applications on the Hedera
network.
JSON-RPC makes it easy for existing EVM-based libraries, dev tools, and wallets to work effortlessly on Hedera.
## Developer Tools and Integrations
Explore various developer tools and resources on Hedera that help make building and maintaining your decentralized application even easier.
Visualizations & APIs for historical network data, including account & token details, transactions, tokens, contracts, topics, and schedules.
Onboard users into your application with ease. Wallets on Hedera offer
transaction signing, management of HBAR, NFTs, and fungible tokens.
HashPort is a public utility that facilitates the bi-directional movement of
digital assets between public networks in a quick, secure, and cost-effective
way.
Use Open Zeppelin’s Defender Admin, Relay, and Sentinels for administrative,
security, and monitoring functionality for Smart Contracts on Hedera.
Learn how to set up your own Hedera local network, including consensus & mirror nodes, using Docker.
## Contributing
Whether you’re fixing bugs, enhancing features, or improving documentation, your contributions are important — let’s build something great together!
Please read our [contributing guide](https://github.com/hashgraph/.github/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) to see how you can get involved.
## Code of Conduct
This project is governed by the [Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct](https://github.com/hashgraph/.github/blob/main/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md). By participating, you are expected to uphold this code of conduct.
## License
