SolScript vs Anchor: Solidity vs Rust for Solana

SolScript and Anchor are both tools for building Solana programs. SolScript uses Solidity syntax and compiles to Anchor/Rust code. Anchor is the native Rust framework. Here's how they compare.

Key Takeaways

SolScript is best for Ethereum developers who want to build on Solana using familiar Solidity syntax.
Anchor is best for Rust developers who want full control over their Solana programs.
SolScript generates Anchor code, so the output is fully compatible and equally performant.
SolScript handles PDA derivation, account validation, and boilerplate automatically.

Feature Comparison

Feature	SolScript	Anchor
Language	Solidity	Rust
Learning curve (ETH devs)	Minimal	Steep
Learning curve (Rust devs)	Medium	Minimal
PDA handling	Automatic	Manual (macros)
Account validation	Automatic	Derive macros
Boilerplate	Low	Medium
Output	Rust/Anchor or BPF	BPF
Browser compiler	Yes (WASM)	No
Ecosystem maturity	Beta	Production
Auditable code	Yes (generated Rust)	Yes (native Rust)

Code Comparison: Counter Contract

The same counter contract written in SolScript vs Anchor. Notice the difference in verbosity and boilerplate.

SolScript (Solidity syntax)

counter.sol

contract Counter {
    uint256 public count;
    address public owner;

    event Incremented(address by, uint256 newValue);
    error Unauthorized();

    modifier onlyOwner() {
        if (msg.sender != owner) revert Unauthorized();
        _;
    }

    constructor() {
        owner = msg.sender;
    }

    function increment() public {
        count += 1;
        emit Incremented(msg.sender, count);
    }

    function reset() public onlyOwner {
        count = 0;
    }
}

Anchor (Rust)

counter.rs

use anchor_lang::prelude::*;

declare_id!("...");

#[program]
pub mod counter {
    use super::*;

    pub fn initialize(ctx: Context<Initialize>) -> Result<()> {
        let counter = &mut ctx.accounts.counter;
        counter.count = 0;
        counter.owner = ctx.accounts.signer.key();
        Ok(())
    }

    pub fn increment(ctx: Context<Increment>) -> Result<()> {
        let counter = &mut ctx.accounts.counter;
        counter.count += 1;
        emit!(Incremented {
            by: ctx.accounts.signer.key(),
            new_value: counter.count,
        });
        Ok(())
    }

    pub fn reset(ctx: Context<Reset>) -> Result<()> {
        let counter = &mut ctx.accounts.counter;
        require!(counter.owner == ctx.accounts.signer.key(),
            CounterError::Unauthorized);
        counter.count = 0;
        Ok(())
    }
}

#[derive(Accounts)]
pub struct Initialize<'info> {
    #[account(init, payer = signer, space = 8 + 8 + 32)]
    pub counter: Account<'info, Counter>,
    #[account(mut)]
    pub signer: Signer<'info>,
    pub system_program: Program<'info, System>,
}
// ... more account structs, events, errors

When to Choose Each

Choose SolScript When

Your team has Solidity/Ethereum experience
You want rapid prototyping with less boilerplate
You're migrating contracts from Ethereum to Solana
You want automatic PDA and account handling
You need a browser-based development environment

Choose Anchor When

Your team is proficient in Rust
You need the most mature Solana tooling
You want direct control over every aspect of the program
You're building complex DeFi protocols at scale
You need access to the full Anchor ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SolScript and Anchor? ▼

SolScript lets you write Solana contracts in Solidity syntax, then compiles them to Anchor/Rust code. Anchor requires writing Rust directly. SolScript is ideal for developers coming from Ethereum who want to build on Solana without learning Rust.

Is SolScript as performant as Anchor? ▼

Yes. SolScript generates standard Anchor/Rust code, so the compiled output has identical performance. The generated code is auditable and can be modified before deployment.

Can I use SolScript with existing Anchor projects? ▼

SolScript generates standalone Anchor programs. You can use the generated Rust code alongside existing Anchor projects, or integrate SolScript-compiled programs with Anchor frontends using standard Solana SDKs.

Do I need to know Rust to use SolScript? ▼

No. SolScript handles the Solidity-to-Rust compilation automatically. However, understanding the generated Anchor code is helpful for advanced debugging and optimization.

Which should I choose for a new Solana project? ▼

Choose SolScript if your team has Solidity experience and wants rapid development. Choose Anchor directly if your team knows Rust and wants full control over the program code.

Try SolScript in the Playground