TronBox vs Truffle

This guide compares TronBox and Truffle for developers familiar with Truffle who want to understand the similarities and differences.

Command Mapping

From Truffle to TronBox

Great news for Truffle developers: commands are nearly identical!

Task	Truffle	TronBox	Notes
Initialize	truffle init	tronbox init	✅ Same
Compile	truffle compile	tronbox compile	✅ Same
Deploy	truffle migrate --network <name>	tronbox migrate --network <name>	✅ Same
Test	truffle test --network <name>	tronbox test --network <name>	✅ Same
Unbox	truffle unbox <box-name>	tronbox unbox <box-name>	✅ Same

The main difference: Replace web3 with tronWeb in your scripts and tests.

Configuration Comparison

From Truffle Config to TronBox Config

Truffle Configuration (truffle-config.js):

JavaScript

module.exports = {
  networks: {
    development: {
      host: '127.0.0.1',
      port: 8545,
      network_id: '*',
      gas: 6721975,
      gasPrice: 20000000000
    },
    mainnet: {
      provider: () =>
        new HDWalletProvider(process.env.MNEMONIC, `https://mainnet.infura.io/v3/${process.env.INFURA_KEY}`),
      network_id: 1,
      gas: 5500000,
      gasPrice: 20000000000
    }
  },
  compilers: {
    solc: {
      version: '0.8.6'
    }
  }
};

TronBox Configuration (tronbox-config.js):

JavaScript

module.exports = {
  networks: {
    development: {
      // Supports both privateKey and mnemonic
      privateKey: process.env.PRIVATE_KEY,
      // Or use mnemonic:
      // mnemonic: process.env.MNEMONIC,
      feeLimit: 1e8, // ⚠️ Replaces gas + gasPrice
      fullHost: 'http://127.0.0.1:9090', // ⚠️ Single endpoint, not host + port
      network_id: '9'
    },
    mainnet: {
      privateKey: process.env.PRIVATE_KEY,
      feeLimit: 1e8,
      fullHost: 'https://api.trongrid.io', // ⚠️ TRON mainnet endpoint
      network_id: '1'
    }
  },
  compilers: {
    solc: {
      version: '0.8.6' // ⚠️ TVM Solidity version
    }
  }
};

Key differences:

• 🔑 Authentication: Supports privateKey or mnemonic.
• 🌐 Endpoint: Uses fullHost (single URL) instead of separate host + port.
• ⚡ Resources: Uses feeLimit (replaces gas + gasPrice).
• 💱 Units: TRON uses sun for amounts (1 TRX = 1,000,000 sun).

Blockchain Interaction Library

From Web3.js to TronWeb

Web3.js pattern you know:

JavaScript

const { Web3 } = require('web3');
const web3 = new Web3('http://localhost:8545');

// Add account
const account = web3.eth.accounts.privateKeyToAccount(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY);
web3.eth.accounts.wallet.add(account);
web3.defaultAccount = account.address;

// Deploy contract
const contract = new web3.eth.Contract(abi);
const instance = await contract
  .deploy({
    data: bytecode,
    arguments: [arg1, arg2]
  })
  .send({ gas: 1500000 });

// Call function
const result = await instance.methods.getValue().call();

// Send transaction
await instance.methods.setValue(42).send({ gas: 1500000 });

TronWeb equivalent:

JavaScript

const { TronWeb } = require('tronweb');
const tronWeb = new TronWeb({
  fullHost: 'http://127.0.0.1:9090',
  privateKey: process.env.PRIVATE_KEY
});

// Deploy contract
const contract = await tronWeb.contract().new({
  abi: abi,
  bytecode: bytecode,
  feeLimit: 1e8,
  parameters: [arg1, arg2]
});

// Call function
const result = await contract.getValue().call();

// Send transaction
await contract.setValue(42).send({
  feeLimit: 1e8
});

Key differences:

• 🔑 Private key: set on the TronWeb instance.
• 🧭 Sender: no need to set defaultAccount.
• ⚡ Fees: use feeLimit (replaces gas + gasPrice).
• 📮 Addresses: Base58 (T...) instead of 0x....

Testing Comparison

Truffle to TronBox Testing

Great news: Your test structure remains the same!

JavaScript

// Both Truffle and TronBox use this pattern
const MyContract = artifacts.require('MyContract');

contract('MyContract', accounts => {
  let instance;

  beforeEach(async () => {
    instance = await MyContract.new();
  });

  it('should pass test', async () => {
    // Test code here
    const result = await instance.getValue();
    assert.equal(result, expectedValue);
  });
});

Only change needed: Replace web3 calls with tronWeb:

JavaScript

// Truffle
const balance = await web3.eth.getBalance(accounts[0]);
const block = await web3.eth.getBlock('latest');

// TronBox
const balance = await tronWeb.trx.getBalance(accounts[0]);
const block = await tronWeb.trx.getCurrentBlock();

Common Pitfalls & Solutions

For Truffle Developers

Issue	Cause	Solution
"Invalid address"	Using 0x... format	Use TRON Base58 addresses (T...)
"Out of energy"	Insufficient feeLimit	Increase feeLimit to 1e8 or higher
Tests fail with web3	web3 not compatible	Replace with tronWeb
Migration fails	Wrong network config	Check fullHost

Quick Reference: Code Snippets

Contract Deployment

JavaScript

// Truffle
const instance = await MyContract.new(arg1, arg2);

// TronBox
const instance = await MyContract.new(arg1, arg2); // ✅ Same!

Reading Contract State

JavaScript

// Truffle
const value = await instance.getValue();

// TronBox
const value = await instance.getValue(); // ✅ Same!

Sending Transactions

JavaScript

// Truffle
await instance.setValue(42);

// TronBox
await instance.setValue(42); // ✅ Same!

Summary

For Truffle Developers

What stays the same:

• ✅ Project structure
• ✅ Command patterns
• ✅ Migration workflow
• ✅ Test structure

What changes:

• ⚠️ web3 → tronWeb
• ⚠️ Config file name and network params
• ⚠️ Address format (0x... → T...)
• ⚠️ Units (wei/ether → sun/TRX)

Your advantage: Minimal learning curve, almost identical workflow!

Next Steps

1. Install TronBox: npm install -g tronbox
2. Try a quick start: tronbox init
3. Get testnet TRX: Visit Nile faucet
4. Deploy your first contract: tronbox migrate --network nile
5. Explore TronWeb: Practice unit conversion and basic API usage
6. Migrate a real project: Follow the migration workflows in the next guide

Welcome to TRON development! 🚀