Use of Blockchain Smart Contracts in Software Engineering: A Systematic Mapping

Abstract

A smart contract is one of the safest mechanisms in the form of computerized and authorized legitimate commitment between two parties. This form of securing commitments has been gaining popularity on the last years in a variety of fields. However, and maybe because of its relative novelty, there is not a clear understanding of its possibilities. This study is aimed to cover the usage, benefits and challenges on the use of Blockchain Smart Contracts in Software Engineering in the form of a Systematic mapping. The most common use of the smart contracts is to work as a digital code that plays the role of a mediator, which removes human intervention. The availability of professionals in this area is a reported challenge along with the client’s trust on usability with respect to security. Besides, this paper identifies various difficulties that have not been yet addressed by existing methodologies. As a consequence of our findings, more practical use of this system can open doors for further research.