Learn Brownie - 10 Code Examples & CST Typing Practice Test
Brownie is an open-source Python-based framework for Ethereum smart contract development, testing, and deployment. It integrates with Ethereum networks and provides a full-featured environment for building decentralized applications (dApps).
View all 10 Brownie code examples →
Learn BROWNIE with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 24, 2025
Explain
Brownie allows developers to write, test, and deploy smart contracts in Python using the Solidity language.
It integrates with Ethereum test networks, mainnet, and local blockchain simulations like Ganache.
Brownie supports automated testing, contract interaction, and scripts for deployment.
Core Features
Solidity smart contract compilation and deployment
Contract ABI and address management
Transaction simulation and gas estimation
Event and state monitoring for contracts
Testing framework with fixtures, assertions, and coverage reports
Basic Concepts Overview
Contract: Solidity code compiled and deployed to Ethereum
Account: wallet used to sign transactions
Transaction: interaction with a smart contract or Ether transfer
Event: blockchain signals emitted by contracts
Network: Ethereum chain (local, testnet, mainnet) where contracts are deployed
Project Structure
contracts/ - Solidity smart contract files
scripts/ - deployment and interaction scripts
tests/ - Python test files using pytest
build/ - compiled contracts and ABI files
reports/ - test coverage and gas usage reports
Building Workflow
Create a new Brownie project: `brownie init`
Write smart contracts in `contracts/` folder
Compile contracts: `brownie compile`
Write tests in `tests/` folder using pytest
Deploy contracts using scripts in `scripts/` folder
Difficulty Use Cases
Beginner: deploy simple contracts to local network
Intermediate: write automated tests with fixtures
Advanced: deploy to testnet/mainnet with scripts
Expert: interact with DeFi protocols programmatically
Enterprise: integrate blockchain contracts with production backends
Comparisons
Brownie vs Hardhat: Python vs JavaScript ecosystem
Brownie vs Truffle: Modern Python features vs legacy JS tooling
Brownie vs Foundry: Brownie uses Python, Foundry uses Rust/Forge
Brownie vs Remix IDE: IDE for rapid prototyping vs full Python workflow
Brownie vs Web3.py: Web3.py is library, Brownie is full framework
Versioning Timeline
2018 - Initial release by Matt Lockyer
2019 - Added advanced testing and deployment scripts
2020 - Improved network management and console features
2022 - Enhanced support for EVM-compatible chains
2025 - Latest version with improved Python 3.11 compatibility and DeFi/NFT features
Glossary
Brownie: Python-based Ethereum framework
Contract: Solidity code deployed on blockchain
Account: wallet for signing transactions
Transaction: interaction with blockchain
Event: emitted signal from contract
Frequently Asked Questions about Brownie
What is Brownie?
Brownie is an open-source Python-based framework for Ethereum smart contract development, testing, and deployment. It integrates with Ethereum networks and provides a full-featured environment for building decentralized applications (dApps).
What are the primary use cases for Brownie?
Writing Ethereum smart contracts in Solidity. Testing contracts using Python-based frameworks. Deploying contracts to Ethereum testnets or mainnet. Automating interaction with deployed contracts. Integrating blockchain contracts with Python backend scripts
What are the strengths of Brownie?
Pythonic workflow makes blockchain development more accessible. Strong testing ecosystem with pytest. Easy deployment to multiple Ethereum networks. Good documentation and community support. Supports both local and remote Ethereum nodes
What are the limitations of Brownie?
Limited support for non-Ethereum blockchains. Primarily focused on Python developers. Requires familiarity with Solidity for contract writing. Complex DeFi protocols may require advanced configurations. Smaller ecosystem compared to JavaScript frameworks like Hardhat or Truffle
How can I practice Brownie typing speed?
CodeSpeedTest offers 10+ real Brownie code examples for typing practice. You can measure your WPM, track accuracy, and improve your coding speed with guided exercises.