Creating a Local Bitcoin Testnet / Regtest - Programming Bitcoin

UPDATE: a few specifics have changed, see below for up-to-date commands

In this video we create a local bitcoin testnet within a docker container. Then we'll connect to our testnet from Bitcoin-Qt on our desktop (host) machine.

Here's the docker box we're going to use: https://github.com/freewil/bitcoin-te...

Essentially, run:

docker pull freewil/bitcoin-testnet-box
docker run -t -i --name bitcoind -P -p 49020:19000 freewil/bitcoin-testnet-box
make start

Now we'll have a local testnet we can use for test transactions.

Tips: 1FfxymRtVTJbqtFg5ZK9p16mABVFCjqg6J

------------------

It's been a few years since I recorded this and the commands for `freewil/bitcoin-testnet-box` have changed.

Checkout https://github.com/freewil/bitcoin-te... for the latest instructions on how to run that Docker box.
Make sure you expose port 19000, too: `docker run -t -i -p 19000:19000 -p 19001:19001 -p 19011:19011 freewil/bitcoin-testnet-box`
Instead of using bitcoind at 9:31, use: `bitcoin-cli -datadir=1 stop`
To tail the log run: `tail -f 1/regtest/debug.log`
To run BitcoinQT: `/Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/Bitcoin-Qt -regtest -dnsseed=0 -connect=0.0.0.0:19000 -datadir=./localnet/ -splash=0` - note the different port and using regtest instead of testnet mode
Now use bitcoin-cli for most functions instead of bitcoind
E.g. `bitcoin-cli -datadir=1 listaccounts`
Show less