> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.icb.network/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.icb.network/build-on-icb-network/hardhat.md).

# HardHat

          This section will guide you through deploying the Counter smart contract on the ICB Network using [Hardhat](https://hardhat.org/).

          Hardhat is a powerful development environment for Ethereum and EVM-compatible blockchains like **ICB**. It offers a robust framework for compiling, testing, deploying, and debugging smart contracts. With features like a built-in local Ethereum network, Solidity stack traces, and seamless plugin integration (e.g., with Ethers.js and OpenZeppelin), Hardhat simplifies the entire smart contract development workflow.

## Objectives

By the end of this tutorial, you should be able to do the following:

* Set up Hardhat for the **ICB Network**
* Create a simple Counter smart contract
* Compile the smart contract for deployment on **ICB**
* Deploy the Counter contract to the **ICB Mainnet** and **Testnet**
* Interact with the deployed contract using Hardhat scripts

          This tutorial will help you understand the end-to-end workflow of building and deploying smart contracts on an EVM-compatible blockchain like **ICB**.