Learning Paths

This document provides structured learning paths for completing the FHEVM Bootcamp Curriculum. Choose the path that best fits your schedule, experience level, and goals.

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Primary Path: 4-Week Bootcamp (Recommended)

Total Hours: ~63 hours
Weekly Commitment: ~16 hours/week
Format: Cohort-based or self-paced with weekly deadlines This is the standard program structure designed for the Zama Developer Program.

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Week 1: Foundation & Operations (Modules 00-04, ~12h)

Learning Objectives:

• Set up fhEVM development environment
• Understand FHE theory, TFHE, and the fhEVM architecture
• Master all encrypted types (ebool, euint8-256, eaddress)
• Perform arithmetic, bitwise, comparison, and shift operations on encrypted data

Modules: Prerequisites → Intro to FHE → Development Setup → Encrypted Types → Operations Homework: Encrypted Calculator — build a contract performing all FHE operations with tests. Milestone: Environment working. Can write contracts with encrypted types and all FHE operations.

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Week 2: Core Patterns (Modules 05-09, ~14h)

Learning Objectives:

• Implement ACL permissions (FHE.allow, FHE.allowThis)
• Handle encrypted user inputs with FHE.fromExternal + inputProof
• Implement decryption patterns (makePubliclyDecryptable, userDecrypt)
• Use FHE.select for conditional logic without branching
• Generate on-chain encrypted randomness

Modules: Access Control → Encrypted Inputs → Decryption → Conditional Logic → Randomness Homework: Encrypted Vault with Access Control — deposit/withdraw with limits, ACL sharing, randomness. Milestone: Can build complete encrypted workflows: input → process → conditional → output.

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Week 3: Applications & Testing (Modules 10-14, ~18h)

Learning Objectives:

• Integrate fhEVM contracts with React frontend using @zama-fhe/relayer-sdk
• Build a confidential ERC-20 token (ERC-7984 pattern)
• Implement encrypted voting with tally reveal
• Design sealed-bid auctions with FHE comparisons
• Test FHE contracts with mock environment and fhevm helpers

Modules: Frontend Integration → Confidential ERC-20 → Voting → Auction → Testing & Debugging Homework: Confidential Token + Voting System — two contracts working together with 15+ tests. Milestone: Can build, test, and deploy complete confidential dApps.

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Week 4: Mastery & Capstone (Modules 15-19, ~19h)

Learning Objectives:

• Optimize gas costs for FHE operations
• Apply security best practices (no-revert, input validation, rate limiting)
• Implement advanced patterns (state machines, registries, cross-contract FHE)
• Build confidential DeFi primitives (lending, order books)
• Design and implement a complete Confidential DAO

Modules: Gas Optimization → Security → Advanced Patterns → Confidential DeFi → Capstone DAO Homework: Capstone Confidential DAO — governance tokens + voting + treasury, 20+ tests, security audit. Milestone: Can architect, build, optimize, and secure production-grade FHE applications.

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Path Overview

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Path 1: Intensive (1.5 Weeks / 7 Days)

Total Hours: ~63 hours
Daily Commitment: ~9 hours (with breaks)
Daily Schedule: 9:00 AM — 7:00 PM (with 1-hour lunch + one 30-minute break) This path is designed for instructor-led bootcamp cohorts or highly motivated individuals who can dedicate 7 full days.

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Day 1: Foundation (Monday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Development environment working. First contract deployed.

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Day 2: Core Concepts (Tuesday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Understand all encrypted operations. ACL system mastered.

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Day 3: Core Development (Wednesday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Full understanding of input/output pipeline. Conditional logic patterns mastered.

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Day 4: Integration & Token (Thursday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Can build full-stack FHE dApps. Working confidential ERC-20 implementation.

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Day 5: Application Modules (Friday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Two complete FHE application contracts built and tested.

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Day 6: Advanced Topics (Monday)

End-of-day checkpoint: FHE testing and debugging mastered. Gas optimization skills gained.

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Day 7: Expert Topics & Capstone (Tuesday)

End-of-day checkpoint: Exposure to all advanced and expert modules. Capstone project started.

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Path 2: Part-Time (6 Weeks)

Total Hours: ~63 hours
Weekly Commitment: ~11 hours/week
Suggested Schedule: 2 hours on weekday evenings (Mon-Thu) + 4 hours on weekends This path is designed for working professionals who can dedicate evenings and weekends to the bootcamp.

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Week 1: Foundation

Week 1 Total: 12 hours

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Week 2: Core Development

Week 2 Total: 11 hours

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Week 3: Integration & Token

Week 3 Total: 11 hours

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Week 4: Application Modules

Week 4 Total: 11 hours

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Week 5: Advanced Topics

Week 5 Total: 10 hours

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Week 6: Expert DeFi & Capstone

Week 6 Total: 12 hours

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Path 3: Self-Paced

Total Hours: ~63 hours
Suggested Duration: 8-14 weeks
Minimum Weekly Commitment: 5 hours This path is for independent learners who want to work through the material at their own speed.

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Phase A: Foundation (Weeks 1-2)

Goal: Understand FHE theory and get a working development environment. Phase A Total: 9 hours

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Phase B: Core Concepts (Weeks 3-4)

Goal: Master operations, ACL, encrypted inputs, decryption, and conditional logic. Phase B Total: 15 hours

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Phase C: Integration & Token (Weeks 5-6)

Goal: Understand randomness, frontend integration, and build a complete confidential token. Phase C Total: 9 hours

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Phase D: Applications (Weeks 7-8)

Goal: Build real-world FHE applications and learn testing/debugging. Phase D Total: 11 hours

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Phase E: Advanced Topics (Weeks 9-10)

Goal: Master gas optimization, security, and advanced design patterns. Phase E Total: 10 hours

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Phase F: Expert DeFi (Weeks 11-12)

Goal: Build confidential DeFi applications. Phase F Total: 4 hours

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Phase G: Capstone (Weeks 13-14)

Goal: Design and implement a Confidential DAO. Phase G Total: 5 hours

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