Blueprint is an open-source smart contract development environment for the TON blockchain, built for developers who prefer to write, test and deploy contracts from the command line. It is free under the MIT license and is designed to build on Windows, though you should confirm that on the releases page before you start. Before you commit any time to it, know this: Blueprint is deprecated. Its maintainers recommend Acton instead, and pull requests are no longer accepted, so problems should be reported through the issue tracker rather than fixed through code contributions.
If you are starting a new TON project today, treat Blueprint as a learning tool or a codebase to maintain rather than a long-term foundation. Developers who already have Blueprint projects can keep working with them, but should plan a migration. Readers coming from Ethereum or Solana will find that core concepts carry over, even though the tooling is different.
What Is a Smart Contract Development Environment?
A smart contract development environment bundles the tools you need to write code that runs on a blockchain. Instead of installing a compiler, a test runner, a local chain and deployment scripts separately, you get them wired together in one project.
This matters because smart contracts are hard to fix after release. Once deployed, code is usually immutable or costly to change, so developers rely on repeatable tests before anything touches a live network. A local, isolated chain lets you check edge cases quickly and without spending real funds.
Blueprint follows this model for the TON blockchain. Its real value is the glue: templates, scripts and a consistent command line that make the same steps reproducible across projects and across team members who work on the same code.
Who Blueprint Was Built For
Blueprint suits developers who are comfortable in a terminal and already know JavaScript or TypeScript. The project's stack is built on those languages, so a web developer moving into Web3 will recognize most of the project layout and tooling conventions.
Typical users include a solo developer testing a first TON contract, a small team that wants every member to run the same build and test commands, and someone maintaining an existing Blueprint codebase. If you prefer a graphical editor, you will likely pair the project with an IDE of your choice.
If your work centers on a different chain, look elsewhere. Blueprint is focused on TON, so its templates and deployment flow do not carry over to Ethereum or Solana projects, even though the general workflow of writing, testing and deploying feels familiar.
Key Terms: Testnet, Mainnet and Wallets Explained
Testnet is a practice network that mirrors a live blockchain but uses tokens with no real value. Mainnet is the live network where deployed contracts interact with real assets. Blueprint supports deploying to both, and the usual habit is to test on testnet first and move to mainnet only after the results are clean.
A wallet holds the keys that sign transactions. Deployment requires a signature, which is why the wallet you choose matters as much as the tool you build with. Wallet apps also show the fees a transaction will cost, which is useful when you compare testnet and mainnet behavior.
Fees, sometimes called gas, pay for processing a transaction. They change with network conditions, so check the figures in your wallet before each deployment rather than relying on numbers from older tutorials.
Key features
Project scaffolding in one command
A complete build, test and deploy loop
Deployment with your own wallet
Fast in-process test chain
Supported coins
Blueprint is built for smart contracts on the TON blockchain. Deployment runs to both testnet and mainnet, and the deployment step can use any wallet you prefer, with Tonkeeper named as the example.
How to install Blueprint on Windows
- 1
Install Node.js with npm
Download Node.js from its official website and run the installer with the default options. npm is bundled with Node.js, so no separate installation is needed. Open a new terminal window afterward so the commands are available on your path.
- 2
Get the Blueprint project
Review the source code at github.com/ton-community/blueprint and use its GitHub Releases page to find the current version. Stick to the official GitHub repository, read the release notes, and look for a published checksum or signature before you run anything from the download.
-
Create a project from the template
In a terminal, run npm create ton@latest and follow the prompts to choose a template. The command generates a project folder with contracts, scripts and tests ready to run, and you can then build and test from inside that folder.
System requirements
- Windows with a command-line terminal such as PowerShell or Windows Terminal
- Node.js with npm, since Blueprint is a command-line tool set up and run through npm
- A compatible wallet app such as Tonkeeper for signing testnet or mainnet deployments
How to use Blueprint
Blueprint works best when you follow the same sequence on every project. The steps below assume you have already installed Node.js and created a project from the template.
- Open a terminal inside your project folder and confirm the scripts and configuration files were generated correctly.
- Open the contract source files in your code editor and review the starter code before changing anything.
- Write or edit your contract logic, keeping each change small so failures are easy to trace.
- Write tests that describe the behavior you expect, then run them against the in-process test chain.
- Fix any failing tests and repeat until the results are consistent across several runs.
- Deploy to testnet first, approve the transaction in your wallet, and check the deployed contract address.
- Only after the testnet results match your expectations, repeat the deployment on mainnet with a fresh review of the code.
Pros & cons
- Creates a working project with a single npm command
- Local in-process test chain gives quick feedback during development
- Deployment works with popular TON wallets such as Tonkeeper
- Open source under the MIT license, so the code is free to read and modify
- Focused scope makes it easy to learn the TON contract workflow
- Deprecated, and pull requests are no longer accepted
- Recommended successor Acton means a migration for long-term projects
- Command-line workflow may not suit developers who prefer a graphical IDE
- Requires Node.js and npm setup before the first project can run
Is Blueprint safe?
Blueprint is deprecated, and that is the first safety issue. Its maintainers no longer accept pull requests and recommend Acton, so use it for learning or for maintaining existing code, and plan a move before you handle anything of real value. Get the source only from the official GitHub repository, review it before running it, and check the release tag along with any published checksum or signature. Because deployment involves your wallet, never enter a seed phrase on third-party websites, in chat messages, or into a script you did not write yourself. Test on testnet first, and check the latest version on the official website before you install.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ton-community/blueprint. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Blueprint is narrower than most tools in this catalog. Foundry covers the Ethereum Virtual Machine ecosystem with a command-line toolkit for compiling, testing and deploying. Anchor targets Solana programs, and Remix Desktop offers a visual IDE for Solidity. Tenderly CLI works after deployment, helping you debug and monitor transactions on live networks.
Blueprint's advantage is its TON-specific template and the in-process test chain built into its workflow. Its drawback is the deprecated status, which makes Acton the more future-proof choice for new work. Choose the tool that matches your blockchain first, then decide which interface suits you best.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- v0.47.1
- Last update
- 29 Sept 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/ton-community/blueprint
Frequently asked questions
No. The project is deprecated, its maintainers recommend Acton instead, and pull requests are not accepted. You can still read the code, use it for existing projects or study its structure, but new development is better started with the recommended successor.
Yes. Blueprint is open source under the MIT license, so you can use, copy, modify and distribute it, including in commercial work, as long as you keep the license notice. There is no price to pay for the program itself.
It is designed to build for Windows, and you can run it from PowerShell or Windows Terminal once Node.js and npm are installed. Because the project is deprecated, check the GitHub Releases page to confirm that the build you plan to use works on your machine.
It can be, if you take basic precautions. The code is public for review, but because the project is deprecated, treat it as a development tool rather than a long-term base for anything that holds real funds. Keep your wallet credentials private at all times.
Blueprint is used to create, test and deploy smart contracts for the TON blockchain. A developer runs one command to scaffold a project, writes contract code, tests it on a local in-process chain, and then deploys to testnet or mainnet using a wallet.
The project recommends Acton as its successor, so start there for new TON work. If you build on other chains, compare Foundry for Ethereum-style contracts, Anchor for Solana programs, or Remix Desktop for a visual Solidity IDE. Pick the tool that matches your blockchain before your editor preference.
Verdict
Blueprint is a clear, focused tool for TON smart contract development, with a simple template command, a fast local test chain and wallet-based deployment. For new projects, its deprecated status outweighs those strengths. Use it to learn the TON workflow, maintain an existing codebase or study how the project is structured, and move to Acton for anything you start now. Whatever you choose, test on testnet thoroughly before any mainnet deployment and confirm the latest release on the official website.