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The Algorand Codex

Pure Proof-of-Stake.
Instant Finality. Post-Quantum.

17 modules. One real project. Every command narrated. Every error explained. Master Algorand's unique consensus, ASAs, AVM smart contracts, and the world's first on-chain post-quantum signatures (Falcon-1024 via the falcon_verify opcode) — and leave with a portfolio project and the lore.

17 Modules
~6 Hours
40+ Error Recoveries
1 Real Project
Start Free Trial → View Curriculum ↓
Why Algorand

Why practitioners choose Algorand

○
Instant finality, zero forks

Algorand's Pure Proof-of-Stake means transactions are final the moment they're confirmed. No reorgs, no waiting for confirmations. Build with certainty.

⊛
AVM v12 — built for the post-quantum era

The Algorand Virtual Machine supports Algorand Python (via Puya), PyTeal, and — since September 2025 — the falcon_verify opcode for on-chain post-quantum signature verification. Atomic transfers, rekeying, and box storage round out a primitive set designed for real applications.

★
Native asset creation

Algorand Standard Assets (ASAs) are first-class protocol objects — not smart contracts. Create fungible tokens, NFTs, and security tokens without writing a single line of contract code.

⬢
First mainnet post-quantum L1

On 2025-11-03 Algorand became the first major L1 to execute a quantum-resistant transaction on mainnet using NIST FN-DSA Falcon-1024. Google Quantum AI cited Algorand 32× in their March 2026 whitepaper; Coinbase named Algorand the most quantum-prepared L1 in April 2026.

Curriculum

Every module builds toward one real product

You don't do isolated exercises. From Module 00 to Module 16, you build a complete Algorand application — culminating in Module 13's post-quantum-signed transaction, a capability no other major L1 codex can teach honestly. By the end, you'll have a production-ready project and the lore to back it up.

00
Environment Setup + Day 0 Quick Win
Get your Algorand development environment running and submit your first transaction in minutes.
15 min

What You'll Learn

  • Prerequisites and toolchain setup
  • Algorand sandbox configuration
  • Your first transaction

What You'll Do

  • Install Algorand SDK
  • Connect to sandbox
  • Submit a payment transaction
01
Consensus — Pure Proof of Stake
VRF-based leader selection, instant finality, and why Algorand can never fork.
theoryconsensusPPoSFREE
30 min

What You'll Learn

  • Pure Proof-of-Stake consensus
  • Verifiable Random Functions (VRF)
  • Why Algorand achieves instant finality

What You'll Do

  • Build mental model of PPoS
  • Compare to PoW and DPoS
02
Run Your Local Node
Algorand sandbox in Docker. Watch consensus happen. Query node status.
26 min

What You'll Learn

  • Algorand node architecture
  • Sandbox vs TestNet vs MainNet

What You'll Do

  • Run local sandbox node
  • Query node status and health
  • BREAK IT — misconfigured node
03
Accounts and Wallets
Ed25519 keypairs, funding, minimum balance requirements.
26 min

What You'll Learn

  • Ed25519 key generation
  • Minimum balance requirement (0.1 ALGO)
  • Account creation vs activation

What You'll Do

  • Generate accounts
  • Fund from faucet
  • BREAK IT — underfunded account
04
Account State and Balances
Account info, opt-in mechanics, and minimum balance increases.
27 min

What You'll Learn

  • Account state structure
  • Opt-in mechanics for ASAs
  • Minimum balance computation

What You'll Do

  • Query account info
  • Track balance changes
05
Transactions — Full Lifecycle
Build, sign, submit, and confirm. Every transaction type explained.
27 min

What You'll Learn

  • Transaction lifecycle
  • All transaction types
  • Group transactions and atomic transfers

What You'll Do

  • Send payment transaction
  • BREAK IT — insufficient funds
06
Algorand Standard Assets (ASA)
Create, configure, and manage fungible and non-fungible tokens as first-class protocol objects.
28 min

What You'll Learn

  • ASA creation and configuration
  • Manager, reserve, freeze, clawback roles
  • Opt-in and opt-out mechanics

What You'll Do

  • Create a fungible token
  • Transfer and freeze assets
  • BREAK IT — transfer without opt-in
07
Atomic Transfers
Group transactions that either all succeed or all fail. The foundation for trustless swaps.
28 min

What You'll Learn

  • Atomic transfer mechanics
  • Group ID computation
  • Use cases: swaps, escrow, payments

What You'll Do

  • Build atomic swap
  • BREAK IT — partial group submission
08
Smart Contracts — Algorand Python + Puya + AVM v12
Algorand Python (Puya v5.8.1) is the modern smart-contract path — Beaker is deprecated. Compile, deploy, and call ARC-4 ABI methods.
29 min

What You'll Learn

  • AVM v12 architecture and execution model
  • Algorand Python compiled via Puya (replaces deprecated Beaker)
  • ARC-4 ABI methods + application lifecycle

What You'll Do

  • Deploy your first smart contract
  • Call application methods with typed args
  • BREAK IT — opcode budget exceeded
09
Rekeying — Flexible Authorization
Change an account's authorized signer without changing its address. Unique to Algorand.
29 min

What You'll Learn

  • Rekeying mechanics
  • Key rotation patterns
  • Security implications

What You'll Do

  • Rekey an account
  • Sign with new key
  • BREAK IT — sign with old key after rekey
10
Box Storage
Scalable on-chain storage for smart contracts. Store arbitrary data beyond global and local state.
30 min

What You'll Learn

  • Box storage vs global/local state
  • Cost model and MBR implications
  • CRUD operations on boxes

What You'll Do

  • Create and manage boxes
  • Store structured data on-chain
11
Inner Transactions
Smart contracts that call other smart contracts. Composability on Algorand.
30 min

What You'll Learn

  • Inner transaction mechanics
  • Composability patterns
  • Budget pooling across inner calls

What You'll Do

  • Build contract-to-contract calls
  • Compose multiple operations atomically
12
State Proofs
Falcon-signed cryptographic proofs of Algorand history. The 2022 origin of post-quantum on Algorand — the foundation Module 13 builds on.
31 min

What You'll Learn

  • State Proof architecture
  • Falcon signatures for cross-chain trust
  • Where state proofs end and falcon_verify begins

What You'll Do

  • Query state proofs
  • Verify Algorand state on another chain
13
Post-Quantum Signatures — Falcon-1024 + falcon_verify
The module no other major L1 codex can teach honestly. Verify NIST FN-DSA Falcon-1024 signatures on-chain via AVM v12's falcon_verify opcode (live since go-algorand v4.3.0, Sept 2025).
NEWpost-quantumFalcon-1024AVM v12
45 min

What You'll Learn

  • NIST FN-DSA / Falcon-1024 fundamentals (lattice math, not curve math)
  • The three layers of PQ on Algorand: state proofs (2022), falcon_verify opcode (Sept 2025), first mainnet PQ transaction (Nov 2025)
  • The honest gap: VRF consensus is not yet post-quantum
  • Trade-offs: 1280-byte signatures vs ed25519's 64 bytes

What You'll Do

  • Generate Falcon-1024 keypair (via Algorand Foundation's falcon-signatures repo)
  • Write an Algorand Python contract that calls falcon_verify
  • Deploy, call with valid + invalid signatures
  • BREAK IT — flip a byte, watch lattice math reject it
14
ARC Token Standards
ARC-3, ARC-19, ARC-69, ARC-72, and ARC-200. The standard ecosystem for Algorand tokens.
31 min

What You'll Learn

  • ARC standard landscape (ARC-3, 19, 69 NFT metadata; ARC-72 SCC NFTs; ARC-200 SCC tokens)
  • Application binary interface: ARC-4 + ARC-56

What You'll Do

  • Implement ARC-compliant tokens
  • Add metadata to ASAs (off-chain, mutable, on-chain variants)
15
Production Key Management
Hot/warm/cold key architecture, multisig, rekeying, and security best practices for production.
32 min

What You'll Learn

  • Key management hierarchy
  • Multisig + rekeying composition
  • Production security patterns

What You'll Do

  • Set up multisig account
  • Rotate keys via rekey
16
Internals — How the Ledger Works
Block structure, Merkle trees, vFuture blockheaders, and connecting to TestNet and MainNet.
32 min

What You'll Learn

  • Ledger internals and block structure (incl. SHA-512 PQ resiliency since v4.3.0)
  • Merkle tree verification
  • MainNet deployment best practices

What You'll Do

  • Inspect block data
  • Connect to TestNet then MainNet
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