Solana is a high-performance blockchain that supports smart contracts programmed with languages like Rust, C++, and C, offering fast, cost-effective, and scalable transactions. It utilizes a Byzantine Fault Tolerant consensus mechanism enhanced by Proof of History, a cryptographic innovation that sequences events verifiably, enabling parallel processing of transactions. Unlike traditional EVM-based blockchains, Solana separates smart contract logic from state, using read-only programs and external accounts to manage data. This structure allows for efficient development and deployment of decentralized applications (dApps). The article provides a comprehensive guide to building and deploying a simple "hello world" smart contract on Solana's Devnet, including steps for setting up the development environment, writing and deploying the contract, and using a client to interact with it. It also explores advanced applications like integrating Chainlink Price Feeds to access real-time market data, illustrating Solana's potential for creating robust DeFi solutions with enhanced transaction speed and data reliability.