What is Blockchain Technology? Step-by-step Guide For Beginner

Last Updated on 3 years ago by Imarticus Learning

Data-driven industries will take the Blockchain-Route to enhance data usage, storage and issues like transparency, trust, cryptography and more. Blockchain is an alternative providing decentralization of data which otherwise was maintained by the central server. Older servers were limited both by storage capacity and use of it. The present method of using Cloud servers is both expensive and hard to scale.

Step-by-step Guide of Blockchains For Beginners.

The Blockchain:

The technology of blockchains has a digitally maintained ledger of incorruptible and difficult to renege on financial and economic transactions recorded on shared and closely monitored decentralized P to P networks.

Blockchain technology works on a series of blocks of information hash-tagged together such that each block contains a hash-tag sequence of the previous block.

The unique solution of each block or transaction is verified across all nodes in real-time to check for authenticity. Only then is the new block coupled to the chain and thus enable the irrefutable history of transactions across the decentralized network.

The blocks and chains are unalterable and immutable. Any attempt to change is immediately picked up by peer nodes and users of the system. It is a very difficult task to achieve since the blockchains are encrypted uniquely and any change in one block will be reflected in all subsequent blocks.

How Blockchain functions:

Blockchains guarantee record security since the math solution for each record is verifiable and the decentralized network is monitored by users every second. The distributed node system offers a verifiable solution across all interconnected nodes of a PC network of thousands of users.

Further, the lack of a central monitoring system means the network is easily accessible. Originating with the success of the BitCoin the blockchain technology has gained popularity since it avoids duplication, fraudulent records and maintains a strict verified chronological order that is technically immutable.

The ledgers are distributed and use cryptography to generate unique digital signatures, which contain the previous unit code and depend on trust between transacting parties to provide the key to the record. Many digital transactions, financial records, and cryptos like Ethereum, BitCoins etc mean the cash in digital form can have only one transacting owner and no record can be duplicated.

Basic Blockchain features:

  • Chronological verifiable time-logs mean that the Blockchain technology ensures the creation of duplicates of the ledger across its multiple users on a peer-peer network.
  • Immutable records which are time-stamped cannot be tampered with, erased or edited. Any changes to the record would be in conflict with copies of the users and thus it creates a secure transaction where more than half the users would have to change the record in the same manner and the same time.
  • No intermediaries are present as it uses miner nodes competing to sole an algorithmic issue. The miner with the first solution broadcasts the encrypted answer to the peer network, which is multiple user-reviewed and approved, providing a completely private transaction or a block in full view of an ever-watching peer chain of blocks network. Since the previous and next blocks carry linking information a chain is born which is cryptographically unhackable. Trust, transparency and record-keeping are superb.
  • Miners are ever watchful as they are benefitted by a fee or as in the case of Bitcoins addition to the number of coins held.

Benefits accrued:

Besides transparency and simplicity of using the technology, it also offers excellent features like

  • The database is absolute, true, decentralized and devoid of confusion. 
  • The entire database is rapidly updated in real-time with time-logs and stamps capturing system information as and when it occurs.
  • Completely secure and private transactions are facilitated through user access being restricted on the peer-peer network. 

Limitations:
The entire technology is young, promising, and evolving. Sensitive data protection like personal details of clients, claim records in insurance and such, needs a cautious approach.

Security features of blockchain technology:

Blockchains, as indicated above, make the transaction real-time and secure. It is set to eliminate any middleman or authority interfering in the transaction. Thus they provide transparency, security, decentralization and irrefutable immutable records of each transaction.

On a concluding note, blockchain technology is one of the most potential technologies today that is bound to impact most fields of our daily lives. The blockchain technology tutorial taught in the immersive course at Imarticus Learning can help you make a career in this emerging field where the demand is booming and payouts are generous and skill-based.

What is Agile Scrum? Agile Scrum Master Tutorial Guide for Beginner

Last Updated on 4 years ago by Imarticus Learning

Are you a tech geek and have heard of terms like scrum, agile, sprints, backlogs and more? Well, these terms have become a part of the language of floors with cross-functional teams. Let’s explore the agile scrum tutorial to be able to better understand how prioritizing and efficient backlogging can help use Agile Scrum values to resolve complicated issues and hurdles in achieving productivity through rapid release cycles.

Agile Scrum master tutorial guide for beginner

This step-by-step tutorial will help you understand these following topics.

  • Basics of Agile.
  • Fundamentals of Scrum.
  • Scrum features.
  • The persons in Scrum Framework.
  • Implementing a basic framework in Scrum.
  • Why use Agile Process.
  • Why iteration is needed.

What are Scrum and Agile?

Though the terms are used together scrum and agile have an important differentiator. Agile is described in its manifesto and is the complete method-set applicable to team collaboration, cross-functionality, self-organization and more. Scrum, on the other hand, is used to execute Agile. Just as a recipe embodies the diet-plan, so also scrum embodies Agile and hence the terms are often interchangeable.

What are the Scrum features?

Scrum can effectively quicken the process and time taken to achieve the desired results. This is so because Scrum values help not just developers, but also the other teams like DevOps, marketing, production and everyone who uses the methodology and framework.

The Scrum Agile Roles:

The roles that are normally used are those of the Agile-expert/coach, ScrumMaster, Scrum product-owner, Scrum-developer, etc. Mainly it is team-work of Scrum members where all are equally communicative, collaborative and contributive within the Scrum framework.

Scrum Methodology:

The normal flow of the Scrum methodology is as below.

  • The SPO/Product-Owner is client facing and is the final authority to bring 100% user requirements and product parameters to the team.
  • The SPO defines Backlog and how it is prioritized.
  • The time-boxed Sprint sets the framework to enable the team task of completing all tasks related to the backlog within the preset-time framework.
  • Teams huddle together in Daily Scrums to review their daily progress and targets.
  • The Retrospective forms the Review-Meet to assess the results of the Sprint and use the learning for the new Sprint.

While learning the principles is easy it is the efficient practices of Scrum that take time to learn and practice.

How to implement a basic framework in Scrum:

  • The Scrum website provides a downloadable file in PDF format to help define the framework.
  • Learn all about your role as an SM and as the unofficial Project Manager especially about conflict resolution, hurdle removals and ego-clashes in teams. Scrum team members are equals striving to achieve a common goal and hence cannot afford ego clashes and team conflicts.
  • Backlog creation is an important task leading to proper prioritization of the project. Though this is initially incomplete the SPO adds details and client requirements to enable clarity and progress with the backlog.
  • The Sprint is where the team will decide on how to work on the prioritized backlog tasks within the allocated time-frame.
  • In the next stage, the Scrum team members execute their tasks in a self-organized manner where you may need to play the enabler, hurdle remover and constant supervisor of the Daily Scrum progress. This is where what each member did yesterday and what they will do today is of utmost importance to review.
  • The Retrospective is meant for feedback, review, testing and evaluation on how to move forward and improve the upcoming sprint.
  • The Sprint ends and the next sprint will begin with a new backlog item.

In parting, the transparent Agile Scrum methodology breaks the entire project into achievable products that are viable and executed in short Sprints. Due to progress being constantly reviewed this means frequent changes, evaluation and testing.

Rather than spend on one complete project that becomes unviable later, it is a very attractive feature of Scrum that smaller market-ready products are frequently released, providing for feedback incorporation and iteration. Thus Scrum enables efficiency in production and anytime iteration in a product lifecycle.

An efficient Scrum Master can be either self-taught or use a CSM Course from a reputed institute like Imarticus Learning to learn Agile Scrum practices and earn his CSM certification. All the best in Scrum learning!