Running the Testnet

Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you already installed the pyethapp, if not see the Getting Started Page.

Introduction

Using a testnet, allows users to access a network w/o having to have real Ethers. It is therefore also practical to use for contract-testing/developing purposes. Lastly the main advantage the testnet has over it's own private chain, is that one does not have to mine to get transactions and contracts on the chain. Usually there are already a few nodes in the network doing this for you w/o having hefty mining power. So you still can start mining and will get some Ether every now and then even on a mortal machine.

Getting started

To access the testnet, called Morden, use the option --profile morden. Additionally you need to specify a data directory in which you want to store the state of the Morden testnet using the option --datadir '../pyethapp/state'. Where 'state' is the newly created state folder for the Morden testnet.

An example call would look like this:

pyethapp --profile morden --data-dir '/home/user/Ethereum/pyethapp/state' run

After you did that you will automatically sync with the testnet. This step takes some time, so go ahead grab some coffee.

Account Management

Creating an account

Unlocking an account

Get some Ether

Sending a Transaction

Creating a Contract

Interacting with the Client using web3.js

Interacting with the Client using JSON-RPC-API