# use-ink/ink

Polkadot's ink! to write smart contracts.

Repository: https://github.com/use-ink/ink
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/use-ink-ink
Homepage: https://use.ink
Language: Rust
License: Apache-2.0
License Family: permissive
Topics: smart-contracts, webassembly, wasm, substrate, domain-specific-language, blockchain, rust, kusama, polkadot
Last push: 2026-03-25T22:17:43+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 67/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 74, release rhythm 40, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2823, "days_push": 161, "days_rel": 637, "gap_med": 5, "n_releases_24m": 2}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1455, forks 476 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:46.824479+00:00)

## What it is
ink! is a Rust-based embedded domain-specific language (eDSL) for writing smart contracts that run on Polkadot SDK-based blockchains via the pallet-revive module. Contracts compile to RISC-V bytecode executed by PolkaVM, with optional Solidity ABI compatibility for Ethereum tooling like MetaMask and Hardhat.

## Use cases
- write smart contracts in rust for polkadot
- build defi or nft contracts on parachains
- deploy contracts compatible with metamask and hardhat
- compile contracts to risc-v bytecode for polkavm
- test smart contracts end-to-end on substrate chains
- create cross-chain applications in the polkadot ecosystem

## When to choose
- you are building or maintaining contracts on existing Polkadot parachains that already run ink! contracts
- you need Rust's safety guarantees with Solidity ABI interoperability on a pallet-revive chain

## When to avoid
- you are starting a new project, since ink! is officially discontinued as of January 2026 with no further maintenance
- you want a smart contract language with an active community and long-term support, where Solidity is a safer choice

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: abandoned
- function: programming-language, compiler, testing, e2e-testing
- domain: blockchain, programming-languages, developer-tools
- platform: rust, wasm, cross-platform
- tags: smart-contracts, polkadot, substrate, edsl, polkavm, risc-v, solidity-interop, domain-specific-language, discontinued, cryptocurrency

## Member repositories
- use-ink/ink (main) score 67

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:46.824479+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T04:35:40.533726+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/use-ink/ink (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:46.824479+00:00, sha 2d5cffbcebb4)
  - homepage: https://use.ink (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.043436+00:00, sha 51b232b4132f)
  - site_page: https://use.ink/docs/v6 (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.046061+00:00, sha 850c08548686)
  - site_page: https://use.ink/about (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.048453+00:00, sha 1b982f8d3d76)
  - site_page: https://use.ink/docs/v6/solidity-interop/use-ink-with-solidity-abi (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.050558+00:00, sha 39a77cf041a1)
  - site_page: https://use.ink/docs/v6/background/why-riscv-and-polkavm-for-smart-contracts (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.053017+00:00, sha 3efd47b92988)
  - site_page: https://use.ink/docs/v6/faq (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.055292+00:00, sha 5e2f5339616e)
  - registry_crates: https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/ink (fetched 2026-08-29T11:44:54.057683+00:00, sha e39229eb40dc)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.