English is a free, open-source collection of lessons on writing smart contracts in FunC for The Open Network (TON), aimed at developers who want a structured path into TON development. Each lesson is written in Markdown and comes with its own code, so you can read the theory and run the examples side by side.
Before you start, note the project status: the last code update was made on January 21, 2024, more than two years ago, so some tooling details may have moved on. The lessons were first written in Russian and are being translated into English step by step, so some material may still be unfinished. The course remains useful as a reference for FunC fundamentals and for reading TON contract code.
What Is English in the TON Learning Path
English is a lesson series, not an application you install and run. Its purpose is to teach the reader how to write smart contracts in FunC for The Open Network, the blockchain known as TON. The material is organized into folders, and each folder holds Markdown lessons that explain one topic at a time.
The approach is practical. A lesson introduces an idea, such as how a contract receives messages or how it stores data, and then points to code that demonstrates it. Reading and running the code together is what builds real understanding, so the course works best when you treat each lesson as an exercise rather than a passive article.
Because the lessons are plain text, they are easy to search, print, or keep in a personal notes repository. Many learners also return to them after finishing, using a specific pattern as a reference when it appears in their own project. That reference value gives the material a long shelf life, even though the code itself has not been updated recently.
Who Should Learn FunC With This Course
The course suits people who already understand basic programming and want to move into blockchain development. A web developer who knows JavaScript or Python, for example, will recognize many general ideas, even though FunC works differently from those languages. A student comparing career options in blockchain can also use the lessons to test whether smart contract work fits their interests.
It is also useful for Russian-speaking learners who want material that started in their language. Because the English version is being added gradually, bilingual readers can compare both versions as they become available and use each one to check the other.
This course is less suitable for people who want a finished product or a polished interface. It assumes you will write, compile, and test code yourself. If your goal is to launch a token quickly, a no-code platform or higher-level tooling may be a more direct route, and this course is better as a foundation for understanding what those tools do underneath.
How Smart Contracts Work on The Open Network
A smart contract is a program stored on a blockchain that runs when it receives a message or transaction. Unlike a normal application on your computer, it does not run on your machine; the network executes it, and every node must reach the same result. This is why contract code has to be precise and predictable.
On TON, contracts are typically written in FunC, a language designed for this environment, and then compiled into code the network can run. Contracts keep their state in persistent storage and communicate by sending messages to each other. Understanding that message-driven model is often the hardest part for newcomers coming from traditional web or desktop programming.
In practice, a contract might handle a simple transfer rule, track a counter, or manage a small piece of logic that other contracts depend on. Working through small examples lets you see how state, messages, and fees fit together before you attempt anything with real value.
Key features
Lessons in Markdown
Code for every lesson
Gradual English translation
How to install English on Windows
- 1
Open the official repository
Go to the project's GitHub repository at https://github.com/romanovichim/TonFunClessons_Eng. Download only from the official GitHub repository, and avoid mirror sites that repackage the lessons, because you cannot easily verify whether their copies match the original.
- 2
Get a local copy
Use the Code button on the repository page to download a ZIP archive, or clone the repository with Git if you already have it installed. If the project publishes a release package on the GitHub Releases page, you can use that instead. Extract the files to a folder you can find easily, such as Documents.
-
Open the lessons
Open the lesson folders in a text editor or a Markdown viewer and begin with the first lesson. There is no separate setup wizard to run, so the course is ready to read as soon as the files are extracted.
How to use English
Work through the course in order, because each lesson builds on the concepts introduced before it. Skipping ahead usually leaves gaps that are hard to fill later, especially around message handling and contract storage.
- Open the first lesson folder and read its Markdown file from start to finish without writing code yet.
- Open the code file attached to the same lesson in your editor.
- Compare the code with the explanation and note which lines correspond to each concept.
- Write the code yourself in a separate working folder instead of copying it directly, since typing it reveals details that reading does not.
- Build and test the contract on a TON test network before using it with any real value.
- Move to the next lesson only after the previous code behaves as the text describes.
- Return to earlier lessons when a later topic depends on them.
Keep a short log of the errors you run into. Repeated errors usually point to a concept worth rereading, and the log becomes a useful personal checklist when you start your own project.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with no price barrier to studying the material
- Lessons are paired with code, so theory and practice stay together
- Markdown files are easy to read offline and to track with Git
- Focused on a specific stack: FunC on The Open Network
- Structured in folders that show the intended learning order
- The last code update was made on January 21, 2024, more than two years ago
- The English translation is incomplete and progressing step by step
- It is a set of lesson files rather than an interactive application
- Less suited to readers who want a quick, guided tour with visual feedback
Is English safe?
English is a set of lesson files rather than a wallet or a tool that holds funds, but it still comes from an open repository, so handle it with care. Get it only from the official GitHub repository linked above, and avoid copies on third-party sites. If you download an archive, compare its SHA-256 hash with one the publisher provides, when that is available, and review the commit history for unexpected changes. The last update dates from January 2024, so check the repository's current state and the latest version on the official website before relying on it. Never enter a seed phrase on a third-party website while following tutorials, and test any contract on a TON test network before it touches real funds.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/romanovichim/TonFunClessons_Eng. 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
The similar programs in this catalog mostly serve other niches. PSBT Commander is a Rust-based tool for creating Bitcoin PSBTs, Subzero keeps a Bitcoin reserve offline, and Randomx is a proof-of-work algorithm. English is a learning resource rather than software you run to manage coins or data. If you want to see how blockchain tools are built in practice, the PowerShell Algorand Module and PSBT Commander show how different ecosystems approach development. For a first step into smart contract code, English is the closer fit, while the other entries serve operators and experienced users.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 21 Jan 2024
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/romanovichim/TonFunClessons_Eng
Frequently asked questions
Yes. English is listed as free and open source, so there is no purchase price for the lessons. Because it is distributed through GitHub, you can download, read, and study the material at no cost. Check the license file in the repository for the exact terms on reusing the code and text, since open source licenses differ in what they allow.
It is safe to use when you get it from the official GitHub repository and treat the code with normal caution. Avoid third-party copies, compare checksums when a publisher provides them, and never enter a seed phrase on a website while following a tutorial. The safety section explains these steps in more detail.
The project is listed as supported on Windows. Its lessons are plain Markdown files, so they open in any text editor or Markdown viewer on Windows, and the code files open in a standard code editor. Whether you need extra tooling to compile the FunC examples depends on each lesson.
The last code update was made on January 21, 2024, more than two years before this page was written. Translation into English is ongoing, so the material may still change. Check the repository's commit history for recent activity before you plan a long study path.
Basic programming familiarity helps a lot, because the lessons move from concepts to code. Readers who know any structured language will find the logic easier to follow. Start with the first lesson, and if a concept is unclear, reread the earlier material before moving on.
FunC is a programming language used to write smart contracts for The Open Network (TON). Smart contracts are programs that run on a blockchain and respond to incoming messages. The lessons teach the language through short examples that you can read and run yourself.
The code is provided for learning, and reuse rights depend on the license in the repository. Read that license before copying examples into a product. Even when reuse is allowed, review every contract yourself before deploying it, because a tutorial example may not cover every edge case.
Verdict
English suits developers who want a free, structured introduction to FunC for TON and are comfortable working from Markdown files and code rather than a polished interface. The last update came in January 2024, and the English translation is still in progress, so treat the course as a foundation to build on rather than a complete, current reference. Pair the lessons with official TON documentation and test everything on a test network. Beginners who commit to working through the lessons in order will get the most out of it.