Aptos Move L1 Development

Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain built on Move, the language originally developed for Meta's Diem project. It achieves high throughput via Block-STM, a parallel execution engine that processes transactions optimistically and re-executes on conflicts. Smart contracts are called modules, and data is stored as resources at account addresses in a global storage model.

What You Probably Got Wrong

AI agents trained on Sui Move or Solidity make critical errors when generating Aptos Move code. Fix these first.

• Aptos Move uses global storage, NOT Sui's object model — Resources are stored at addresses using moveto, movefrom, borrowglobal, and borrowglobalmut. There is no object::ObjectID or sui::object::UID. When you want to store data, you moveto<T>(signer, resource) to place it at the signer's address. To read it, you borrow_global<T>(address).

• Resource accounts are NOT regular accounts — A resource account is a special account with no private key, controlled by its creating module. You create one with account::createresourceaccount(origin, seed). The module publishes to the resource account's address. This is how protocols deploy immutable, admin-less contracts.

• Token V1 is deprecated — use Token V2 (Digital Assets) — The aptostoken module (V1) is legacy. Use aptostoken_objects (V2), which uses the Move Object model. V2 tokens are stored as objects at their own addresses, not in a creator's TokenStore. Collections and tokens are first-class objects.

• @aptos-labs/ts-sdk replaces the old aptos package — The npm package aptos is deprecated. Use @aptos-labs/ts-sdk. The entry point is new Aptos(new AptosConfig({ network: Network.MAINNET })). Do not import from aptos.

• Coin standard is NOT ERC-20 — Aptos uses aptos_framework::coin with generics. A coin type is Coin<CoinType> where CoinType is a phantom type parameter defined by the deploying module. There is no approval/allowance pattern — coins are moved directly.

• signer is not msg.sender — In Aptos Move, the signer is passed as a function parameter. A function must explicitly accept &signer to access the caller's address and perform operations on their account. Use signer::address_of(account) to get the address.

• View functions are explicit — You must annotate functions with #[view] to make them callable off-chain without a transaction. They cannot modify state. They are called via the /view API endpoint, not through transaction submission.

• u256 exists but u64 is standard for amounts — Unlike Solidity's uint256 default, Aptos uses u64 for coin amounts and most counters. u256 exists but is rarely used. APT has 8 decimals (not 18). 1 APT = 100,000,000 octas.

Chain Configuration

Mainnet

RPC Endpoints

Block Explorers

Testnet

Devnet

Quick Start

Install Aptos CLI

# macOS
brew install aptos

# Linux / manual
curl -fsSL "https://aptos.dev/scripts/install_cli.py" | python3

# Verify
aptos --version

Create a New Move Project

# Initialize a new Move package
aptos move init --name my_module

# Project structure:
# my_module/
# ├── Move.toml
# └── sources/
#     └── my_module.move

Move.toml Configuration

[package]
name = "my_module"
version = "0.1.0"

[addresses]
my_addr = "_"

[dependencies]
AptosFramework = { git = "https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-core.git", subdir = "aptos-move/framework/aptos-framework", rev = "mainnet" }
AptosTokenObjects = { git = "https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-core.git", subdir = "aptos-move/framework/aptos-token-objects", rev = "mainnet" }

TypeScript SDK Setup

npm install @aptos-labs/ts-sdk

import { Aptos, AptosConfig, Network } from "@aptos-labs/ts-sdk";

const config = new AptosConfig({ network: Network.MAINNET });
const aptos = new Aptos(config);

Move Module Development

Module Structure

module my_addr::counter {
    use std::signer;

    struct Counter has key {
        value: u64,
    }

    /// Initialize a counter resource at the signer's address
    public entry fun initialize(account: &signer) {
        let counter = Counter { value: 0 };
        move_to(account, counter);
    }

    /// Increment the counter stored at the signer's address
    public entry fun increment(account: &signer) acquires Counter {
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        let counter = borrow_global_mut<Counter>(addr);
        counter.value = counter.value + 1;
    }

    /// Read the counter value at any address
    #[view]
    public fun get_count(addr: address): u64 acquires Counter {
        borrow_global<Counter>(addr).value
    }
}

Key Move Concepts

Global Storage Operations

// Store a resource at signer's address (signer must not already have one)
move_to<T>(signer, resource);

// Remove and return a resource from an address
let resource = move_from<T>(addr);

// Immutable reference to resource at address
let ref = borrow_global<T>(addr);

// Mutable reference to resource at address
let ref_mut = borrow_global_mut<T>(addr);

// Check if a resource exists at address
let exists = exists<T>(addr);

Abilities

// has copy — value can be copied
// has drop — value can be dropped (destroyed implicitly)
// has store — value can be stored inside another struct
// has key — value can be stored as a top-level resource in global storage

struct Coin has store {
    value: u64,
}

struct CoinStore has key {
    coin: Coin,
}

Access Control Pattern

module my_addr::admin {
    use std::signer;

    struct AdminConfig has key {
        admin: address,
    }

    const E_NOT_ADMIN: u64 = 1;
    const E_ALREADY_INITIALIZED: u64 = 2;

    public entry fun initialize(account: &signer) {
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        assert!(!exists<AdminConfig>(addr), E_ALREADY_INITIALIZED);
        move_to(account, AdminConfig { admin: addr });
    }

    public entry fun admin_only_action(account: &signer, config_addr: address) acquires AdminConfig {
        let config = borrow_global<AdminConfig>(config_addr);
        assert!(signer::address_of(account) == config.admin, E_NOT_ADMIN);
        // perform privileged action
    }
}

Events

module my_addr::events_example {
    use aptos_framework::event;

    #[event]
    struct TransferEvent has drop, store {
        from: address,
        to: address,
        amount: u64,
    }

    public entry fun transfer(from: &signer, to: address, amount: u64) {
        // ... transfer logic ...
        event::emit(TransferEvent {
            from: signer::address_of(from),
            to,
            amount,
        });
    }
}

Resource Accounts

module my_addr::resource_account_example {
    use std::signer;
    use aptos_framework::account;
    use aptos_framework::resource_account;

    struct ModuleData has key {
        resource_signer_cap: account::SignerCapability,
    }

    /// Called once during module publication to a resource account.
    /// The resource account's signer capability is stored for later use.
    fun init_module(resource_signer: &signer) {
        let resource_signer_cap = resource_account::retrieve_resource_account_cap(
            resource_signer,
            @source_addr
        );
        move_to(resource_signer, ModuleData {
            resource_signer_cap,
        });
    }

    /// Use the stored signer capability to act as the resource account
    public entry fun do_something(caller: &signer) acquires ModuleData {
        let module_data = borrow_global<ModuleData>(@my_addr);
        let resource_signer = account::create_signer_with_capability(
            &module_data.resource_signer_cap
        );
        // resource_signer can now sign transactions on behalf of the resource account
    }
}

Coin Standard

Creating a Custom Coin

module my_addr::my_coin {
    use std::signer;
    use std::string;
    use aptos_framework::coin;

    /// Phantom type marker for the coin — defines the coin type globally
    struct MyCoin {}

    struct CoinCapabilities has key {
        burn_cap: coin::BurnCapability<MyCoin>,
        freeze_cap: coin::FreezeCapability<MyCoin>,
        mint_cap: coin::MintCapability<MyCoin>,
    }

    const E_NOT_ADMIN: u64 = 1;

    public entry fun initialize(account: &signer) {
        let (burn_cap, freeze_cap, mint_cap) = coin::initialize<MyCoin>(
            account,
            string::utf8(b"My Coin"),
            string::utf8(b"MYC"),
            8, // decimals
            true, // monitor_supply
        );
        move_to(account, CoinCapabilities {
            burn_cap,
            freeze_cap,
            mint_cap,
        });
    }

    public entry fun mint(
        account: &signer,
        to: address,
        amount: u64,
    ) acquires CoinCapabilities {
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        let caps = borrow_global<CoinCapabilities>(addr);
        let coins = coin::mint(amount, &caps.mint_cap);
        coin::deposit(to, coins);
    }

    public entry fun burn(
        account: &signer,
        amount: u64,
    ) acquires CoinCapabilities {
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        let caps = borrow_global<CoinCapabilities>(addr);
        let coins = coin::withdraw<MyCoin>(account, amount);
        coin::burn(coins, &caps.burn_cap);
    }
}

Registering for a Coin

// Before receiving any coin type, an account must register for it
public entry fun register_coin<CoinType>(account: &signer) {
    coin::register<CoinType>(account);
}

Token V2 — Digital Assets

Creating a Collection and Token

module my_addr::nft {
    use std::signer;
    use std::string::{Self, String};
    use std::option;
    use aptos_token_objects::collection;
    use aptos_token_objects::token;

    struct TokenRefs has key {
        burn_ref: token::BurnRef,
        transfer_ref: option::Option<object::TransferRef>,
        mutator_ref: token::MutatorRef,
    }

    public entry fun create_collection(creator: &signer) {
        collection::create_unlimited_collection(
            creator,
            string::utf8(b"Collection description"),
            string::utf8(b"My Collection"),
            option::none(), // no royalty
            string::utf8(b"https://example.com/collection"),
        );
    }

    public entry fun mint_token(creator: &signer) {
        let constructor_ref = token::create_named_token(
            creator,
            string::utf8(b"My Collection"),
            string::utf8(b"Token description"),
            string::utf8(b"Token #1"),
            option::none(), // no royalty
            string::utf8(b"https://example.com/token/1"),
        );

        let token_signer = object::generate_signer(&constructor_ref);
        let burn_ref = token::generate_burn_ref(&constructor_ref);
        let mutator_ref = token::generate_mutator_ref(&constructor_ref);

        move_to(&token_signer, TokenRefs {
            burn_ref,
            transfer_ref: option::none(),
            mutator_ref,
        });
    }
}

TypeScript SDK (@aptos-labs/ts-sdk)

Client Initialization

import {
  Aptos,
  AptosConfig,
  Network,
  Account,
  Ed25519PrivateKey,
  AccountAddress,
} from "@aptos-labs/ts-sdk";

// Mainnet
const aptos = new Aptos(new AptosConfig({ network: Network.MAINNET }));

// Testnet
const aptosTestnet = new Aptos(new AptosConfig({ network: Network.TESTNET }));

// Custom node
const aptosCustom = new Aptos(
  new AptosConfig({
    fullnode: "https://my-node.example.com/v1",
    indexer: "https://my-indexer.example.com/v1/graphql",
  })
);

Account Management

// Generate a new account
const account = Account.generate();
console.log("Address:", account.accountAddress.toString());
console.log("Private key:", account.privateKey.toString());

// From existing private key
const privateKey = new Ed25519PrivateKey("0x...");
const existingAccount = Account.fromPrivateKey({ privateKey });

// Fund on testnet
const aptosTestnet = new Aptos(new AptosConfig({ network: Network.TESTNET }));
await aptosTestnet.fundAccount({
  accountAddress: account.accountAddress,
  amount: 100_000_000, // 1 APT = 100,000,000 octas
});

Transfer APT

async function transferAPT(
  aptos: Aptos,
  sender: Account,
  recipientAddress: string,
  amountOctas: number
): Promise<string> {
  const transaction = await aptos.transaction.build.simple({
    sender: sender.accountAddress,
    data: {
      function: "0x1::aptos_account::transfer",
      functionArguments: [AccountAddress.from(recipientAddress), amountOctas],
    },
  });

  const pendingTx = await aptos.signAndSubmitTransaction({
    signer: sender,
    transaction,
  });

  const committedTx = await aptos.waitForTransaction({
    transactionHash: pendingTx.hash,
  });

  return committedTx.hash;
}

View Functions

async function getBalance(aptos: Aptos, address: string): Promise<bigint> {
  const result = await aptos.view({
    payload: {
      function: "0x1::coin::balance",
      typeArguments: ["0x1::aptos_coin::AptosCoin"],
      functionArguments: [AccountAddress.from(address)],
    },
  });
  return BigInt(result[0] as string);
}

Read Account Resources

async function getCoinStore(aptos: Aptos, address: string) {
  return aptos.getAccountResource({
    accountAddress: AccountAddress.from(address),
    resourceType: "0x1::coin::CoinStore<0x1::aptos_coin::AptosCoin>",
  });
}

Multi-Agent Transactions

// Multi-agent: multiple signers for one transaction
async function multiAgentTransfer(
  aptos: Aptos,
  sender: Account,
  secondSigner: Account
) {
  const transaction = await aptos.transaction.build.multiAgent({
    sender: sender.accountAddress,
    secondarySignerAddresses: [secondSigner.accountAddress],
    data: {
      function: "0xmodule::my_module::multi_signer_action",
      functionArguments: [],
    },
  });

  const senderAuth = aptos.transaction.sign({
    signer: sender,
    transaction,
  });

  const secondAuth = aptos.transaction.sign({
    signer: secondSigner,
    transaction,
  });

  const pendingTx = await aptos.transaction.submit.multiAgent({
    transaction,
    senderAuthenticator: senderAuth,
    additionalSignersAuthenticators: [secondAuth],
  });

  return aptos.waitForTransaction({ transactionHash: pendingTx.hash });
}

Gas Estimation

async function estimateGas(aptos: Aptos, sender: Account) {
  const transaction = await aptos.transaction.build.simple({
    sender: sender.accountAddress,
    data: {
      function: "0x1::aptos_account::transfer",
      functionArguments: [
        AccountAddress.from("0xrecipient"),
        100_000_000,
      ],
    },
  });

  // Simulate to get gas estimate
  const simulation = await aptos.transaction.simulate.simple({
    signerPublicKey: sender.publicKey,
    transaction,
  });

  const gasUsed = BigInt(simulation[0].gas_used);
  const gasUnitPrice = BigInt(simulation[0].gas_unit_price);
  const totalCost = gasUsed * gasUnitPrice;

  return { gasUsed, gasUnitPrice, totalCost };
}

Compile and Deploy

Compile Module

# Compile
aptos move compile --named-addresses my_addr=default

# Run tests
aptos move test --named-addresses my_addr=default

# Publish to testnet (requires funded account)
aptos move publish --named-addresses my_addr=default --profile testnet

CLI Account Setup

# Initialize a new profile (generates keypair, funds on devnet/testnet)
aptos init --profile testnet --network testnet

# Initialize with existing private key
aptos init --profile mainnet --private-key 0x... --network mainnet

# Check account balance
aptos account balance --profile testnet

See examples/deploy-module/ for full SDK deployment code.

Testing Move Modules

#[test_only]
module my_addr::counter_tests {
    use std::signer;
    use my_addr::counter;

    #[test(account = @0x1)]
    fun test_initialize(account: &signer) {
        counter::initialize(account);
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        assert!(counter::get_count(addr) == 0, 0);
    }

    #[test(account = @0x1)]
    fun test_increment(account: &signer) {
        counter::initialize(account);
        counter::increment(account);
        let addr = signer::address_of(account);
        assert!(counter::get_count(addr) == 1, 0);
    }

    #[test(account = @0x1)]
    #[expected_failure(abort_code = 0x60001, location = aptos_framework::account)]
    fun test_double_initialize(account: &signer) {
        counter::initialize(account);
        counter::initialize(account); // should fail: resource already exists
    }
}

Block-STM Parallel Execution

Aptos uses Block-STM for optimistic parallel execution. Transactions within a block execute concurrently. If two transactions conflict (read/write to the same resource), one is re-executed.

What This Means for Developers

• Independent transactions run in parallel — Transactions touching different accounts or resources execute simultaneously.
• Contention on hot resources serializes execution — If your contract uses a single global counter that every transaction increments, Block-STM will detect the conflict and serialize those transactions. Performance degrades to sequential.
• Design for parallelism — Use per-user resources instead of global state when possible. Example: instead of a global TotalDeposits counter, track deposits per-user and aggregate off-chain.

Anti-Pattern: Global Hot Resource

// BAD: Every deposit transaction conflicts on the same resource
struct GlobalState has key {
    total_deposits: u64,
}

public entry fun deposit(account: &signer, amount: u64) acquires GlobalState {
    let state = borrow_global_mut<GlobalState>(@module_addr);
    state.total_deposits = state.total_deposits + amount;
    // every deposit serializes here
}

Pattern: Per-User State

// GOOD: Each user's deposit is independent — parallel-friendly
struct UserDeposit has key {
    amount: u64,
}

public entry fun deposit(account: &signer, amount: u64) acquires UserDeposit {
    let addr = signer::address_of(account);
    if (exists<UserDeposit>(addr)) {
        let deposit = borrow_global_mut<UserDeposit>(addr);
        deposit.amount = deposit.amount + amount;
    } else {
        move_to(account, UserDeposit { amount });
    };
}

Move Object Model

The Move Object model (used by Token V2) creates objects at deterministic addresses. Objects are distinct from resources stored at user addresses.

module my_addr::object_example {
    use aptos_framework::object::{Self, Object, ConstructorRef};
    use std::signer;

    struct MyObject has key {
        value: u64,
    }

    /// Create a named object at a deterministic address
    public entry fun create(creator: &signer) {
        let constructor_ref = object::create_named_object(
            creator,
            b"my_object_seed",
        );
        let object_signer = object::generate_signer(&constructor_ref);
        move_to(&object_signer, MyObject { value: 42 });
    }

    /// Transfer ownership of an object
    public entry fun transfer_object(
        owner: &signer,
        obj: Object<MyObject>,
        to: address,
    ) {
        object::transfer(owner, obj, to);
    }

    #[view]
    public fun get_value(obj: Object<MyObject>): u64 acquires MyObject {
        let obj_addr = object::object_address(&obj);
        borrow_global<MyObject>(obj_addr).value
    }
}

Common Patterns

Table Storage (Key-Value Map)

use aptos_std::table::{Self, Table};

struct Registry has key {
    entries: Table<address, u64>,
}

public entry fun add_entry(account: &signer, key: address, value: u64) acquires Registry {
    let registry = borrow_global_mut<Registry>(signer::address_of(account));
    table::upsert(&mut registry.entries, key, value);
}

#[view]
public fun get_entry(registry_addr: address, key: address): u64 acquires Registry {
    let registry = borrow_global<Registry>(registry_addr);
    *table::borrow(&registry.entries, key)
}

Timestamp

use aptos_framework::timestamp;

public fun is_expired(deadline: u64): bool {
    timestamp::now_seconds() > deadline
}

Indexer and GraphQL

Aptos provides a GraphQL indexer for querying historical data, events, and token ownership.

Key tables: currenttokenownershipsv2 (NFT ownership), currenttokendatasv2 (token metadata), coinactivities (transfer history), accounttransactions (transaction history).

See examples/read-resources/ for full GraphQL query patterns.

Reference Links

• Official Docs: https://aptos.dev
• Move Language Reference: https://aptos.dev/en/build/smart-contracts/book
• TypeScript SDK: https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-ts-sdk
• Framework Source: https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-core/tree/main/aptos-move/framework
• Token V2 Standard: https://aptos.dev/en/build/smart-contracts/digital-asset
• Move Prover: https://aptos.dev/en/build/smart-contracts/prover

Last verified: 2025-12-01