Understanding the software engineering challenges in blockchain technology: A systematic literature review

Abstract: Blockchain technology has gained significant interest during the previous years and, to some extent, is accredited as a universal solution to enabling online transactions between unknown parties without the need for a central authority. However, as we have yet to see widespread blockchain adoption in government or industrial settings, the question arises: What are the technical challenges hindering blockchain adoption? To this end, a systematic literature review is conducted on 29 academic papers researching software engineering challenges in blockchaintechnology. Initially, the papers are inductively analysed to elucidate and identify the challenges frequently discussed in academic literature. Furthermore, a theoretical framework is produced by drawing from the models mainly used in traditional software development, followed by deductive analysis to map out the software engineering activities related to the challenges. Twenty-four challenges are identified, with 12 relating to smart contracts, 11 to blockchain, and 1 to decentralised applications. The most frequently addressed software engineering activity is design, followed by testing.