A surge in demand for decentralized applications has been contributing to a steady rise in dApp development companies in recent years. High on emotions and full of motivation, these enthusiastic entities, companies, individuals go all in and launch dApps. However, it’s often noted that such rushed launches can lead to some critical mistakes.
Oftentimes, entities and organizations looking to integrate dApps in their workings tend to ignore the sheer importance of strategic planning, smart architecture and working with the right dApp development company.
That is why, in this blog, we will take you on a journey wherein you will learn about the key missteps that you must avoid along with the tips to build scalable, secure and user-ready dApps and much more.
Mistake 1: Ignoring user experience and onboarding
DApps are being built on a big scale today. However, they are a hard nut to crack. As often as not, many dApps are in fact too complex or wallet-first. This creates friction for many non-technical users as they face problems in navigating their way around.
One of the major aspects of a dApp that is ignored is its UI/UX. The technical side of a dApp is usually the center of the focus, and as a result, UI/UX takes a back seat. In the long run, this really hinders user experience and subsequently, user onboarding.
Some tips to overcome this problem are; social logins (making authentication easier), wallet abstraction (allowing for using smart contracts as account) and focusing on simplified interfaces. When the technicalities of a dApp and the interface are in sync, it is exactly where dApp developers and design-thinking expertise can add value.
Mistake 2: Choosing the wrong blockchain or tech stack
Gas fees pose a big challenge to blockchain development. While networks and chains with high gas fees promise swift and steady transactions, it could get really costly. Individuals, developers and companies initially rush into Ethereum or L1s without evaluation gas fees and scalability. Some time in and they start to understand the problems. Before they go into resolving them, sometimes it is too late and their plan ends up backfiring.
The truth is that a one-size-fits-all chain has not been launched yet. Each chain today has a specialized use case. For example, Solana is great for speed, Polygon for low fees and Substrate for custom L1s.
Therefore, experts recommend consulting with experts before committing to a chain. If you are for enterprise blockchain development, even then consulting with blockchain development experts is very crucial.
Mistake 3: Weak or incomplete smart contract testing
This mistake made in blockchain development also happens to be one of the most expensive mistakes. This is about untested or poorly tested smart contracts. It’s solvable; however, it requires rigorous testing including:
- Unit tests → small and isolated tests that verify individual pieces of code
- Stimulated attacks → stimulated malicious attacks to test the robustness
- Edge-case logic→- code that handles unusual or extreme input values yet maintains stability
Most of these functionalities exist because of frameworks like Hardhat and Foundry. They are key to ensuring that smart contract testing is not incomplete or weak. Additionally, each dApp development company should follow formal security review processes to ensure that the smart contracts they have coded are established and almost free from anomalies.
Mistake 4: No real tokenomics or governance plan
There are so many projects that launch a token without any clarity on its role, utility or governance mode. This is the classic case of prioritizing a token over the product. Your hero is your product and the value of your token depends on the success of the product. This is something that is forgotten by most enterprises and individuals in the process.
Once you crack the product, you can focus on the token and tokenomics are critical for long-term sustainability and user retention and there are multiple factors at play when it comes to tokenomics. Token supply, distribution, utility and incentives are some of the key players.
Mistake 5: Neglecting post-launch support and updates
The last mistake that is common, yet avoidable, is neglecting post-launch support and updates. Most of the focus goes to the launching of the product. Once that happens, everyone starts to relax. The thing is that post-launch is just as important as pre-launch. Most dApps fail to iterate, maintain or update post-launch.
The reality is that it is a process. Smart contracts may very well need more upgrades, front-end may need performance tuning and UI fixes, etc. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is an entire science behind it all which is so casually rendered less important by developers.
Developers usually forget that they can opt for blockchain development services in terms of monitoring, patching and scaling. In fact, when you choose a provider, ensure that it is a partner and not just a contractor.
Conclusion
There are some key mistakes that almost everyone makes but they are avoidable. These mistakes are poor UX, wrong chain, insecure contracts, rushed token models and a lack of support.
The truth is that success in dApp development is the right balance of smart planning, strong execution and long-term support. Additionally, it is the right collaboration with a trusted dApp development partner that can really help avoid these pitfalls.
FAQs
What is dApp development?
The process of creating decentralized applications that run on blockchain networks and operate using smart contracts.
How much does it cost to build a dApp?
It may cost anywhere between $10,000 adn $200,000.
What is an example of a dApp?
Uniswap, a decentralized exchange, is a great example.
