CRYPTOCURRENCY

Ethereum: Deploying a contract via create2 returns a null address

Posted on by wear

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Ethereum Contract Deployment Issues: create2 Returns Zero Address

In the realm of Ethereum smart contracts, deploying and executing functions is a crucial part of building decentralized applications. One common issue that can arise when using the create2 deployment function is returning a zero address.

Recently, we encountered this problem while trying to deploy our NFT Implementation contract through the create2 method. Our implementation was simple: it just executed an ERC721 contract on top of another smart contract.

In this article, we’ll delve into the issues that led us to this problem and explore solutions for overcoming them.

The Problem: create2 Returns Zero Address

When using create2, the deployment function attempts to create a new contract instance from the provided arguments. However, if an issue arises during contract creation, such as a smart contract not being deployed correctly or an invalid memory layout, the create2 function will return a zero address.

In our case, the issue was that we were passing incorrect arguments to the ERC721 constructor, which resulted in the contract’s memory layout being corrupted. As a result, when create2 attempted to create the contract instance, it returned a zero address, leading to a reversion error.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

  • Verify the contract arguments: Double-check that you’re passing the correct arguments to the ERC721 constructor. In our case, we were missing a required count argument.

  • Use debugging tools: Utilize debugging tools like Truffle’s console or the Web3.js debugger to inspect the contract instance’s memory layout and verify its state.

  • Check for smart contract deployment errors: Use smart contract deployment tools like Truffle Suite or Hardhat to inspect the deployed contract’s metadata, such as its bytecode, source code, and other relevant details.

Solutions

To overcome the issue of returning a zero address with create2, try the following solutions:

Solution 1: Verify Contract Arguments

If you suspect that your contract arguments are incorrect, verify them by passing the same arguments to the ERC721 constructor. You can do this using Truffle’s console or Web3.js debugger.

// In your ERC721 function


const NFTImplementation = artifacts.require("NFTImplementation");




function deploy() {


  const nftImplementationAddress = await NFTImplementation.deployed();


  // Verify contract arguments are correct


  assert.equal(nftImplementationAddress, "0x..."); // Replace with actual value


  return nftImplementationAddress;


}

Solution 2: Use Debugging Tools

If you’re using Truffle or Web3.js to deploy and interact with contracts, utilize debugging tools like the console or a debugger. These tools can help you identify issues that might be causing create2 to return a zero address.

Solution 3: Check for Smart Contract Deployment Errors

Use smart contract deployment tools to inspect the deployed contract’s metadata, such as its bytecode, source code, and other relevant details. You may need to perform additional steps or configurations to resolve any issues that lead to a reversion error.

By following these solutions and troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of create2 returning a zero address and successfully deploy your NFT Implementation contract.

Example Use Case

Here’s an example of how you might modify your deployment script to include verification and debugging:

“`javascript

const { ethers } = require(“ethers”);

async function deploy() {

try {

const nftImplementationAddress = await NFTImplementation.deployed();

// Verify contract arguments are correct

assert.equal(nftImplementationAddress, “0x…

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