| **`geth`** | Our main Ethereum CLI client. It is the entry point into the Ethereum network (main-, test- or private net), capable of running as a full node (default), archive node (retaining all historical state) or a light node (retrieving data live). It can be used by other processes as a gateway into the Ethereum network via JSON RPC endpoints exposed on top of HTTP, WebSocket and/or IPC transports. `geth --help` and the [CLI page](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/interface/command-line-options) for command line options. |
| **`geth`** | Our main Ethereum CLI client. It is the entry point into the Ethereum network (main-, test- or private net), capable of running as a full node (default), archive node (retaining all historical state) or a light node (retrieving data live). It can be used by other processes as a gateway into the Ethereum network via JSON RPC endpoints exposed on top of HTTP, WebSocket and/or IPC transports. `geth --help` and the [CLI page](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/interface/command-line-options) for command line options. |
| `clef` | Stand-alone signing tool, which can be used as a backend signer for `geth`. |
| `clef` | Stand-alone signing tool, which can be used as a backend signer for `geth`. |
| `devp2p` | Utilities to interact with nodes on the networking layer, without running a full blockchain. |
| `devp2p` | Utilities to interact with nodes on the networking layer, without running a full blockchain. |
| `abigen` | Source code generator to convert Ethereum contract definitions into easy to use, compile-time type-safe Go packages. It operates on plain [Ethereum contract ABIs](https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/develop/abi-spec.html) with expanded functionality if the contract bytecode is also available. However, it also accepts Solidity source files, making development much more streamlined. Please see our [Native DApps](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/dapp/native-bindings) page for details. |
| `abigen` | Source code generator to convert Ethereum contract definitions into easy-to-use, compile-time type-safe Go packages. It operates on plain [Ethereum contract ABIs](https://docs.soliditylang.org/en/develop/abi-spec.html) with expanded functionality if the contract bytecode is also available. However, it also accepts Solidity source files, making development much more streamlined. Please see our [Native DApps](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/dapp/native-bindings) page for details. |
| `bootnode` | Stripped down version of our Ethereum client implementation that only takes part in the network node discovery protocol, but does not run any of the higher level application protocols. It can be used as a lightweight bootstrap node to aid in finding peers in private networks. |
| `bootnode` | Stripped down version of our Ethereum client implementation that only takes part in the network node discovery protocol, but does not run any of the higher level application protocols. It can be used as a lightweight bootstrap node to aid in finding peers in private networks. |
| `evm` | Developer utility version of the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) that is capable of running bytecode snippets within a configurable environment and execution mode. Its purpose is to allow isolated, fine-grained debugging of EVM opcodes (e.g. `evm --code 60ff60ff --debug run`). |
| `evm` | Developer utility version of the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) that is capable of running bytecode snippets within a configurable environment and execution mode. Its purpose is to allow isolated, fine-grained debugging of EVM opcodes (e.g. `evm --code 60ff60ff --debug run`). |
| `rlpdump` | Developer utility tool to convert binary RLP ([Recursive Length Prefix](https://ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/data-structures-and-encoding/rlp)) dumps (data encoding used by the Ethereum protocol both network as well as consensus wise) to user-friendlier hierarchical representation (e.g. `rlpdump --hex CE0183FFFFFFC4C304050583616263`). |
| `rlpdump` | Developer utility tool to convert binary RLP ([Recursive Length Prefix](https://ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/data-structures-and-encoding/rlp)) dumps (data encoding used by the Ethereum protocol both network as well as consensus wise) to user-friendlier hierarchical representation (e.g. `rlpdump --hex CE0183FFFFFFC4C304050583616263`). |
@ -65,14 +65,14 @@ Recommended:
* Fast CPU with 4+ cores
* Fast CPU with 4+ cores
* 16GB+ RAM
* 16GB+ RAM
* High Performance SSD with at least 1TB free space
* High-performance SSD with at least 1TB of free space
* 25+ MBit/sec download Internet service
* 25+ MBit/sec download Internet service
### Full node on the main Ethereum network
### Full node on the main Ethereum network
By far the most common scenario is people wanting to simply interact with the Ethereum
By far the most common scenario is people wanting to simply interact with the Ethereum
network: create accounts; transfer funds; deploy and interact with contracts. For this
network: create accounts; transfer funds; deploy and interact with contracts. For this
particular use-case the user doesn't care about years-old historical data, so we can
particular use case, the user doesn't care about years-old historical data, so we can
sync quickly to the current state of the network. To do so:
sync quickly to the current state of the network. To do so:
```shell
```shell
@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ This command will:
* Start `geth` in snap sync mode (default, can be changed with the `--syncmode` flag),
* Start `geth` in snap sync mode (default, can be changed with the `--syncmode` flag),
causing it to download more data in exchange for avoiding processing the entire history
causing it to download more data in exchange for avoiding processing the entire history
of the Ethereum network, which is very CPU intensive.
of the Ethereum network, which is very CPU intensive.
* Start up `geth`'s built-in interactive [JavaScript console](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/interface/javascript-console),
* Start the built-in interactive [JavaScript console](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/interface/javascript-console),
(via the trailing `console` subcommand) through which you can interact using [`web3` methods](https://github.com/ChainSafe/web3.js/blob/0.20.7/DOCUMENTATION.md)
(via the trailing `console` subcommand) through which you can interact using [`web3` methods](https://github.com/ChainSafe/web3.js/blob/0.20.7/DOCUMENTATION.md)
(note: the `web3` version bundled within `geth` is very old, and not up to date with official docs),
(note: the `web3` version bundled within `geth` is very old, and not up to date with official docs),
as well as `geth`'s own [management APIs](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/rpc/server).
as well as `geth`'s own [management APIs](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/rpc/server).
This tool is optional and if you leave it out you can always attach to an already running
This tool is optional and if you leave it out you can always attach it to an already running
`geth` instance with `geth attach`.
`geth` instance with `geth attach`.
### A Full node on the Görli test network
### A Full node on the Görli test network
@ -102,12 +102,12 @@ the main network, but with play-Ether only.
$ geth --goerli console
$ geth --goerli console
```
```
The `console` subcommand has the exact same meaning as above and they are equally
The `console` subcommand has the same meaning as above and is equally
useful on the testnet too. Please, see above for their explanations if you've skipped here.
useful on the testnet too.
Specifying the `--goerli` flag, however, will reconfigure your `geth` instance a bit:
Specifying the `--goerli` flag, however, will reconfigure your `geth` instance a bit:
* Instead of connecting the main Ethereum network, the client will connect to the Görli
* Instead of connecting to the main Ethereum network, the client will connect to the Görli
test network, which uses different P2P bootnodes, different network IDs and genesis
test network, which uses different P2P bootnodes, different network IDs and genesis
states.
states.
* Instead of using the default data directory (`~/.ethereum` on Linux for example), `geth`
* Instead of using the default data directory (`~/.ethereum` on Linux for example), `geth`
@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ Specifying the `--goerli` flag, however, will reconfigure your `geth` instance a
`geth attach <datadir>/goerli/geth.ipc`. Windows users are not affected by
`geth attach <datadir>/goerli/geth.ipc`. Windows users are not affected by
this.
this.
*Note: Although there are some internal protective measures to prevent transactions from
*Note: Although some internal protective measures prevent transactions from
crossing over between the main network and test network, you should make sure to always
crossing over between the main network and test network, you should always
use separate accounts for play-money and real-money. Unless you manually move
use separate accounts for play and real money. Unless you manually move
accounts, `geth` will by default correctly separate the two networks and will not make any
accounts, `geth` will by default correctly separate the two networks and will not make any
accounts available between them.*
accounts available between them.*
@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ configuration file via:
$ geth --config /path/to/your_config.toml
$ geth --config /path/to/your_config.toml
```
```
To get an idea how the file should look like you can use the `dumpconfig` subcommand to
To get an idea of how the file should look like you can use the `dumpconfig` subcommand to