Running Bitcoin on a Command-Line-Only System

As a developer interested in exploring alternative cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, running a full node client may be an attractive option. However, traditional Bitcoin clients are not designed to function entirely within a command-line interface (CLI). In this article, we’ll explore the process of running a full Bitcoin client on a command-line-only system, specifically using Amazon EC2.

Why run Bitcoin on a CLI?

Running Bitcoin in a CLI allows developers to:

• Test and develop: Test new features or optimize existing ones without compromising security.

• Optimize for performance: Run the full node with reduced overhead, resulting in improved performance.

• Explore alternative cryptocurrencies: Experiment with Ethereum as an alternative blockchain.

Prerequisites

To run Bitcoin on a CLI system, you’ll need:

• Bitcoin source code: Obtain the latest Bitcoin source code from [

• EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine): Install an EVM-compatible virtual machine to run Ethereum on top of Bitcoin.

• Amazon EC2: Create or select an Amazon EC2 instance with sufficient resources ( CPU, memory, storage).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a step-by-step guide to running Bitcoin in a CLI system:

1. Set up your environment

Clone the Bitcoin source code

git clone  bitcoin

cd bitcoin



Change into the cloned directory

cd bitcoin

2. Compile EVM (optional)

If you want to run Ethereum on top of Bitcoin, compile EVM:

Compile EVM (for Ethereum)

make evm

3. Install a CLI-based node manager

A popular option is the [Bitcoin Node Manager]( This tool provides a simple way to run multiple nodes in a CLI environment.

Clone the Bitcoin Node Manager repository

git clone  node-manager



Change into the cloned directory

cd node-manager

4. Run the main Bitcoin client

Now you can run the main Bitcoin client using:

Compile and install the main Bitcoin client

make

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install bitcoin-qt



Start the main Bitcoin client in CLI mode

./bitcoin --daemon-cli

5. Configure EVM (if running Ethereum)

To run Ethereum on top of Bitcoin, configure EVM by creating a new file .evm/contracts.json with your custom contract definitions:

{

    "type": "contract",

    "source": {

        "@includes": ["

        "version": "1.0"

    },

    "configurations": [

        {

            "name": "mainnet",

            "rpcUrl": "

            "ethAccount": "0x..."

        }

    ]

}

This configuration points to the main Ethereum node ( RPC URL) and sets up a custom contract with an account (using the ethAccount field).

6. Run your Bitcoin client in CLI mode

Finally, run your Bitcoin client using:

Compile and install your custom Bitcoin client

make

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install bitcoin-cli



Start the main Bitcoin client in CLI mode

./bitcoin-cli --config=.evm/contracts.json --node-url=

With these instructions, you should be able to run a full Bitcoin client on a command-line-only system using Amazon EC2. Note that this setup may not provide the same level of security as running in the GUI mode.

Conclusion

Running Bitcoin on a CLI-only system allows developers to test and optimize their cryptocurrency projects with reduced overhead.

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