How to Use OpenZeppelin Contracts for a Beginner ERC-20 Token Project?

General
1

Hi OpenZeppelin Community,

I’m new to Solidity and want to create a simple ERC-20 token using OpenZeppelin Contracts for a personal project (~100 test transactions). I’m struggling with setup and deployment.

Setup: Hardhat, OpenZeppelin Contracts v5.1, local testnet.
Steps Tried:

  • Installed OpenZeppelin Contracts via npm; imported ERC20.sol.
  • Wrote a basic token contract; got compilation errors (missing imports).
  • Deployed to local testnet; token doesn’t show in wallet.

Questions:

  • What’s the best way to set up an ERC-20 token contract for beginners?
  • How do I fix compilation errors with OpenZeppelin imports?
  • Any tips for testing token deployment locally?

Thanks for your guidance!

2

I use Ganache & Truffle for deploying contracts locally!

1 Like
3

Thanks for suggesting Ganache and Truffle! I tried setting them up for my ERC-20 project, but I’m still hitting compilation errors with OpenZeppelin imports. Any tips on configuring Truffle to work smoothly with OpenZeppelin Contracts v5.1? Also, how do you test token deployment in Ganache?

Best,
David James | Founder of The Yes No Button

1 Like
4

Maybe you can use OpenZeppelin Wizard to create an ERC20 quickly.

As for missing imports, try to install the dependency and check the import path.

As for testing locally, I think you can check the Hardhat doc: https://hardhat.org/hardhat-runner/docs/guides/test-contracts

5

Maybe you can have a look at this: OpenZeppelin Contracts MCP: AI‑Powered Smart Contract Development

1 Like
6

To create a beginner ERC-20 token using OpenZeppelin, first install the library with npm install @openzeppelin/contracts. Then, create a simple token contract like this:

import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";

contract MyToken is ERC20 {
    constructor(uint256 initialSupply) ERC20("MyToken", "MTK") {
        _mint(msg.sender, initialSupply);
    }
}

}

Deploy using Hardhat or Remix. OpenZeppelin ensures your token follows the ERC-20 standard and is secure.

If you're doing mobile app development, you can integrate your token into a React Native or Flutter app using ethers.js or web3.js, and connect wallets via WalletConnect or MetaMask Mobile.