# Marlowe in a nutshell **URL:** \ **Category:** Smart Contracts\ **Tags:** marlowe\ **Created:** [30 November 2020 14:54 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703 "2020-11-30T14:54:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adatainment](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/user_avatar/forum.cardano.org/adatainment/32/81481_2.png) [@adatainment](https://forum.cardano.org/u/adatainment)\ **Post date:** [30 November 2020 14:54 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/1 "2020-11-30T14:54:43Z")
Marlowe is a small language, with a handful of constructs that, for each contract, describe behavior involving a fixed, finite set of _roles_. - A running contract can make a _payment_ to a role or to a public key. - In a complementary way, a contract can _wait_ for an _action_ by one of the roles, such as a _deposit_ of currency, or a _choice_ from a set of options. Crucially, a contract cannot wait indefinitely: if no action has been initiated by a given time (the _timeout_ ), then the contract will continue with another behavior, such as refunding any funds in the contract. - Depending on the current state of a contract, it may _make a choice_ between two future courses of action, which are themselves contracts. - When no more actions are required, the contract will close, and any remaining currency in the contract will be refunded. When a contract is run, the _roles_ it involves are fulfilled by _participants_ , which are identities on the blockchain. This model allows a role to be transferred during contract execution, so that roles in a running contract can be _traded_ . Each role is represented by a _token_ on the chain, and transferring this transfers the ability to perform the role’s actions. Taking this further, we can represent a single role with _multiple_ tokens, thus allowing the role to be shared: this could be termed being ‘securitized’. Read more about the Marlowe system, the playground, oracles, Actus smart contracts in this article: [https://iohk.io/en/blog/posts/2020/10/13/actus-financial-smart-contracts-in-marlowe/](https://iohk.io/en/blog/posts/2020/10/13/actus-financial-smart-contracts-in-marlowe/) Dive into Marlowe research papers here: > **[Efficient static analysis of Marlowe contracts - IOHK Research](https://iohk.io/en/research/library/papers/efficient-static-analysis-of-marlowe-contracts/)** > > Efficient static analysis of Marlowe contracts, , October/2020 > **[Marlowe: implementing and analysing financial contracts on blockchain - IOHK...](https://iohk.io/en/research/library/papers/marloweimplementing-and-analysing-financial-contracts-on-blockchain/)** > > Marlowe: implementing and analysing financial contracts on blockchain, , February/2020 > **[Marlowe: financial contracts on blockchain - IOHK Research](https://iohk.io/en/research/library/papers/marlowefinancial-contracts-on-blockchain/)** > > Marlowe: financial contracts on blockchain, , November/2018 Resources and tools: [https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-resources-and-tools-playground-tutorials-documentation/42704/2](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-resources-and-tools-playground-tutorials-documentation/42704/2) ---
**Author:** ![abdumail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@abdumail](https://forum.cardano.org/u/abdumail)\ **Post date:** [15 December 2020 15:12 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/2 "2020-12-15T15:12:43Z")
Thanks for nutshell intro of Marlowe. I am keen to dive into Marlowe. Though, not with programming background, I am confident this will be easy to learn and practice for me, being a banker, and Marlowe being DSL. Where to start with abc of Marlowe, please guide. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![simonthompson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@simonthompson](https://forum.cardano.org/u/simonthompson)\ **Post date:** [15 December 2020 15:25 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/3 "2020-12-15T15:25:24Z")
Can I suggest that you take a look at this [series of videos](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqu19-ygE4ofUgGpslOs5zCr9Z6zCMibq)? ---
**Author:** ![abdumail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@abdumail](https://forum.cardano.org/u/abdumail)\ **Post date:** [15 December 2020 16:06 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/4 "2020-12-15T16:06:23Z")
Thanks for sending this link. I have earlier seen one of Simon Thompson videos on Youtube. That’s how I got attracted to Marlowe. I have subscribed to the channel and will see all videos starting with O. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![adatainment](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/user_avatar/forum.cardano.org/adatainment/32/81481_2.png) [@adatainment](https://forum.cardano.org/u/adatainment)\ **Post date:** [15 December 2020 18:25 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/5 "2020-12-15T18:25:34Z")
In addition to what Simon wrote, this thread contains all resources, tutorials, playgrounds to start: [Marlowe resources and tools (playground, tutorials, documentation)](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-resources-and-tools-playground-tutorials-documentation/42704) ---
**Author:** ![abdumail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e99b99/32.png) [@abdumail](https://forum.cardano.org/u/abdumail)\ **Post date:** [16 December 2020 07:18 UTC](https://forum.cardano.org/t/marlowe-in-a-nutshell/42703/6 "2020-12-16T07:18:25Z")
Many thanks. I have noted all the info and also subscribed to Telegram. Journey starts. **Mohammed AbdulKhader**