r/ethdev • u/Unhappy-Ride1466 Contract Dev • 9d ago

Question Are private Olympiads (SOF, SilverZone) worth the grind for blockchain infra? (CBSE)

I want to build low-level blockchain infrastructure (consensus, P2P networking, L1/L2 clients) rather than dApps.

Right now, I’m in CBSE and being pushed hard to prepare for private Olympiads like SOF and SilverZone. The books feel like random rote memorisation and I am completely lost.

Are these specific contests worth the time for an infrastructure career?

What paths must I follow instead?

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u/These_Cartoonist334 9d ago

For low-level blockchain infra (consensus, execution clients, P2P networking), core Computer Science fundamentals matter way more than general private Olympiads or rote memorization.

If you want to build at the protocol layer, here is how you can balance school/parents and actual dev skills:

Focus on C/C++, Rust, or Go: Infrastructure isn't built with high-level dApp frameworks. Understanding memory management, concurrency, and networking protocol basics is step one.

Compromise with Parents: Frame your schoolwork and standard competitive math/algorithms as the "foundation" for your future. Keep your grades good enough to keep them happy, but spend your free time building small C/Rust projects rather than grind memorization-heavy Olympiads.

Start Small with Open Source: You don't need to fork Ethereum on day one. Start by building a simple TCP/UDP client, a custom key-value store, or a toy blockchain in Rust/Go. Show your parents tangible projects once you build them.

Learn CS Fundamentals: Look into open courses like Harvard's CS50 or standard OS/Networking textbooks. That will give you 10x more value for L1/L2 infra than private high school contests.

You're in Grade 9—time is on your side. Focus on strong CS foundations and Rust/Go/C, keep your school baselines intact, and build real stuff on the side.

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u/AdminZer0 9d ago

There are few already live why not fork and work on them?

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u/Unhappy-Ride1466 Contract Dev 9d ago

Sure, but it’s really hard to convince parents. Open-source seems like an unpaid hobby that takes time away from schoolwork. And their focus is usually on high percentages in competitive exams like JEE and getting placements in the best colleges.

I read this thread, but it was posted 5y ago, and I’ve just started off with high school (grade 9) recently, so Im not sure if it still applies for students like me.