---
title: "Getting Started with GenLayer"
description: "Start building on GenLayer: write Intelligent Contracts in Python, develop dApps with the JS and Python SDKs, and deploy to Studio, testnet, or localnet."
source: https://docs.genlayer.com/developers
last_updated: 2026-06-11
---

# Getting Started with GenLayer

This guide helps developers build, deploy, and integrate Intelligent Contracts on GenLayer.

## Start with Skills (Recommended)

The fastest path from zero to deployed contract is the [GenLayer Skills](https://skills.genlayer.com/) plugin for Claude Code. The `genlayer-dev` skill scaffolds a project, runs the linter and direct-mode tests, deploys to testnet, and walks you through the SDKs interactively.

```bash copy
claude /plugin marketplace add genlayerlabs/skills
claude /plugin install genlayer-dev@genlayerlabs
```

Then run `claude /genlayer-dev` (or just ask Claude what to do next). The skill bundles the same workflows documented on this site — it just runs them for you.

> **Note:**
> Prefer to set things up manually or read the references first? The cards below cover every topic in depth, and the [Tooling Setup](/developers/intelligent-contracts/tooling-setup) page describes the manual install path.

## Reference

 
**Intelligent Contracts:**

  - [🌟 Introduction](/developers/intelligent-contracts/introduction)
  - [⚙ Tooling Setup](/developers/intelligent-contracts/tooling-setup)
  - [📦 First Contract](/developers/intelligent-contracts/your-first-contract)
  - [📝 Types](/developers/intelligent-contracts/types)
  - [💾 Storage](/developers/intelligent-contracts/storage)
  - [🏛️ First Intelligent Contract](/developers/intelligent-contracts/your-first-intelligent-contract)
  - [⚖️ Equivalence Principle](/developers/intelligent-contracts/equivalence-principle)
  - [🔍 Debugging](/developers/intelligent-contracts/debugging)
  - [🚨 Error Handling](/developers/intelligent-contracts/error-handling)
  - [✍️ Crafting Prompts](/developers/intelligent-contracts/crafting-prompts)
  - [⚡ Advanced Features](/developers/intelligent-contracts/advanced-features/contract-to-contract-interaction)
  - [🔒 Security and Best Practices](/developers/intelligent-contracts/security-and-best-practices/prompt-injection)
  - [📚 Examples](/developers/intelligent-contracts/examples/storage)
  - [🛠️ Tools](/developers/intelligent-contracts/tools/genlayer-cli)
  - [💡 Ideas](/developers/intelligent-contracts/ideas)

**Decentralized Applications:**

  - [🏗️ Architecture](/developers/decentralized-applications/architecture-overview)
  - [🔧 DApp Development](/developers/decentralized-applications/dapp-development-workflow)
  - [💻 GenLayer JS](/developers/decentralized-applications/genlayer-js)
  - [📊 Reading Data](/developers/decentralized-applications/reading-data)
  - [✍️ Writing Data](/developers/decentralized-applications/writing-data)
  - [🔍 Querying](/developers/decentralized-applications/querying-a-transaction)
  - [🧪 Testing](/developers/decentralized-applications/testing)
  - [🔥 Project Boilerplate](/developers/decentralized-applications/project-boilerplate)