devnet

Devnet is a term used in information technology to denote a development network—a sandbox environment that mirrors production systems closely enough to be useful for building and testing software, but is isolated from live environments. Devnets enable developers to experiment with new features, integrations, and infrastructure changes without impacting end users or production data.

Characteristics commonly associated with devnets include realistic APIs and data, access to services that resemble production, and the ability to reset, clone, or seed the environment. They are typically ephemeral, with automated provisioning and governance that supports rapid iteration and testing of deployment pipelines and automation scripts. Access is controlled and sometimes limited to approved users or certain organizations.

In blockchain ecosystems, devnets are commonly used to test smart contracts, token flows, and network changes before releasing to a public testnet or mainnet. For example, Solana operates a devnet alongside its testnet and mainnet. Tokens on a devnet are generally not real value, distributed via faucets, and can be created and discarded to simulate usage and edge cases. The concept is similar in other blockchains, where developers deploy and test without risking mainnet funds or data.

In corporate vendor ecosystems, DevNet is a brand name used by Cisco and others to designate developer programs and sandboxes offering APIs, documentation, sample code, and certification paths. These programs provide learning resources, sandboxes for practicing with network equipment and cloud services, and community support.