fuellabs/sway

Analysis updated 2026-06-20

★ 61,710RustAudience · developerComplexity · 4/5Setup · hard

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Sway))
    What it does
      Smart contract language
      Fuel blockchain only
      Rust-inspired safety
    Toolchain
      Forc compiler
      Standard library
      Sway Book docs
    Use cases
      Token contracts
      Decentralized exchange
      On-chain logic
    Tech stack
      Rust compiler
      Fuel VM bytecode
      Cargo install

mindmap root((Sway)) What it does Smart contract language Fuel blockchain only Rust-inspired safety Toolchain Forc compiler Standard library Sway Book docs Use cases Token contracts Decentralized exchange On-chain logic Tech stack Rust compiler Fuel VM bytecode Cargo install

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Write a token contract on the Fuel blockchain using Rust-like syntax with compile-time safety guarantees.

USE CASE 2

Build a decentralized exchange or automated market maker using Sway's smart contract abstractions.

USE CASE 3

Use the Forc toolchain to compile, test, and deploy Sway programs to the Fuel testnet or mainnet.

What is it built with?

RustSwayFuel VMCargo

How does it compare?

	fuellabs/sway	farion1231/cc-switch	rust-lang/rustlings
Stars	61,710	61,103	62,716
Language	Rust	Rust	Rust
Setup difficulty	hard	moderate	easy
Complexity	4/5	3/5	1/5
Audience	developer	developer	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires Rust and Cargo installed, targets Fuel blockchain specifically, not deployable to Ethereum or other networks.

In plain English

Sway is a programming language purpose-built for writing smart contracts on the Fuel blockchain. A smart contract is a program that runs on a blockchain and automatically executes when certain conditions are met, like a vending machine that accepts a coin and releases a product without needing a person to operate it. The problem Sway addresses is that existing smart contract languages have safety and developer-experience limitations, and Fuel needed a language that could take full advantage of its own high-performance blockchain architecture. Sway is heavily inspired by Rust, borrowing its syntax, type system, and approach to safety. Like Rust, it aims to catch errors at compile time before the code is ever deployed, reducing the risk of costly bugs in live contracts. It comes with its own toolchain called Forc (Fuel Orchestrator), which handles compiling, testing, and deploying Sway programs. The language includes a standard library, and the project also provides extensive documentation through the Sway Book. You would use Sway if you are building decentralized applications on the Fuel network, for example, writing a token contract, a decentralized exchange, or any other on-chain logic. It is not a general-purpose language and is specifically designed for the Fuel blockchain environment. The tech stack is Rust used to build the Sway compiler itself, Sway code you write compiles to Fuel VM bytecode for deployment on the Fuel blockchain. Installation is through Rust's Cargo package manager.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

Help me write a simple token contract in Sway for the Fuel blockchain with mint, transfer, and balance functions.

Prompt 2

I'm coming from Solidity, show me how Sway's ownership model and type system differ from Solidity smart contracts.

Prompt 3

Set up a Sway project with Forc, write a basic counter contract, and deploy it to the Fuel testnet step by step.

Prompt 4

Explain the Fuel VM execution model and how Sway compiles to bytecode for deployment on the Fuel network.

Prompt 5

What does the Sway standard library provide, and how do I import and use it in a smart contract?

Frequently asked questions

What is sway?

Sway is a Rust-inspired programming language for writing smart contracts on the Fuel blockchain, with its own compiler toolchain called Forc that handles building, testing, and deploying on-chain programs.

What language is sway written in?

Mainly Rust. The stack also includes Rust, Sway, Fuel VM.

How hard is sway to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is sway for?

Mainly developer.

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