This article covers the release of electrumsv-node 0.0.23. The ElectrumSV node project is one that we use daily in our development work on ElectrumSV. It provides pre-compiled builds of the latest Bitcoin SV node software, that we use both for experimentation and to test changes that are made to the wallet. But why aren't you running your own local node to do your own experimentation and testing? Now you can.
You can download the executable node files from our node project web site. But make sure you verify your downloads. Alternately, you can install our Python packages and operate nodes using Python function calls.
What has changed in this release?
The main changes in this release have been listed below. If you don’t want to know the details, just read the titles.
Bitcoin SV v1.0.8
Version 1.0.8 of the Bitcoin SV node project was recently released. Ideally we release an update of this project as soon as we can with the new version of the node software, but keep in mind that our primary priority is focusing on the ElectrumSV wallet software.
Both our Python packages and our archives of executable files should be available with this new release of the Bitcoin SV node software.
Our pre-built Windows node executables.
Our pre-built MacOS node executables.
Note that only 64 bit executables are provided because it is 2021, and additionally Linux executables are not provided because the Bitcoin SV developers already provide them.
Documentation
We have written documentation telling you how to obtain, install and use the our node builds. Like the documentation for the ElectrumSV wallet, this is hosted on the wonderful Read the Docs web site.
Using our Python packages
The documentation goes into detail about how to install our Python packages.
A guide to installing the Python packages.
Once you have installed the Python packages, the documentation then covers how to start a node and make RPC calls to it. Then it proceeds to extend that to starting two nodes, making them aware of each other and sharing blocks between them.
Running a node and making RPC calls.
Using our prebuilt executables
The documentation goes into detail about how to verify your downloads are authentic. For that matter it might be quite difficult to even download them, Windows Defender, Google Chrome and other applications all warn about files recognised as bitcoin node applications. The problem is that these are placed onto users computers covertly, and used to mine cryptocurrencies. This is something that you, our user, and us the provider of these builds will have to work around together.
Verify your downloads.
Once you have obtained the executables for your platform, the documentation then covers how to start a node and make RPC calls to it. Then it proceeds to extend that to starting two nodes, making them aware of each other and sharing blocks between them.
Running a node and making RPC calls.
These are just the simplest things you can do with the node software at your finger tips. Think about experimenting with the non-final mempool, or custom script variations. No need to wait for blocks to be mined, you can mine your own as often as you need.