Huff
Huff is a low-level, domain-specific programming language designed for writing highly optimized smart contracts on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It provides minimal abstractions, allowing developers to write EVM bytecode directly with a macro-like syntax for gas efficiency and fine-grained control. Unlike higher-level languages like Solidity, Huff focuses on raw performance and is often used for critical contract components where gas costs must be minimized.
Developers should learn Huff when building smart contracts that require maximum gas efficiency, such as in DeFi protocols, layer-2 solutions, or high-frequency trading systems on Ethereum. It is particularly useful for writing core logic like cryptographic operations or state management where every gas unit matters, though it is not recommended for general contract development due to its complexity and lack of safety features compared to Solidity.