The regtest is a separate blockchain from the Stacks mainnet analogous to a development environnment. Similar to the testnet, it's a network used by developers to test their apps, smart contracts, or changes to the protocol in a production-like environment. However, it differs by producing a new BTC and STX block every two minutes, making it much more suitable for rapid development. The regtest is reset frequently.
The regtest is a separate blockchain from the Stacks mainnet analogous to a development environnment. Similar to the testnet, it's a network used by developers to test their apps, smart contracts, or changes to the protocol in a production-like environment. However, it differs by producing a new BTC and STX block every two minutes, making it much more suitable for rapid development. The regtest is reset more regularly than testnet.
The regtest faucet provides you with free Stacks Token (STX) to test with. These are not the same as STX on mainnet and have no value. You can get STX from the faucet on the [Stacks Explorer Sandbox](https://explorer.stacks.co/sandbox?chain=regtest), or using the [API](https://blockstack.github.io/stacks-blockchain-api/#tag/Faucets).
The regtest faucet provides you with free Stacks Token (STX) to test with. These are not the same as STX on mainnet and have no value. You can get STX from the faucet on the [Stacks Explorer Sandbox](https://explorer.stacks.co/sandbox/faucet?chain=testnet), or using the [API](https://blockstack.github.io/stacks-blockchain-api/#tag/Faucets).
To get STX tokens from within the Explorer Sandbox, navigate to the "Faucet" tab and click on "Request STX" button. If you would like to get enough STX tokens to try out [Stacking](/understand-stacks/stacking), you should click on "I want to stack".
The Explorer does not yet list `regtest` as an available network by default. Before requesting STX tokens from the Explorer, you'll have to first add the `regtest` network to the Explorer by selecting Network, then "Add a network" in the top right. The URL of the regtest API is `[https://stacks-node-api.regtest.stacks.co](https://stacks-node-api.regtest.stacks.co)`
Once completed, navigate to the "Faucet" tab from the link above and click on "Request STX" button. If you would like to get enough STX tokens to try out [Stacking](/understand-stacks/stacking), you should click on "I want to stack".
> The Explorer Sandbox requires you to login with a Secret Key
> The Explorer Sandbox requires you to login with a Secret Key
-> Note: The Stacks 2.0 regtest is similar to the testnet, however BTC and STX blocks are produced at a much faster rate at 1 block every 2 minutes. Making it ideal for rapid development.
-> Note: The Stacks 2.0 regtest is similar to the testnet, however BTC and STX blocks are produced at a much faster rate at 1 block every 2 minutes. Making it ideal for rapid development.
-> **Warning:** There is an [open issue](https://github.com/blockstack/stacks-blockchain/issues/2596) to address degraded performance when syncing a stacks-node with the regtest network. Until this issue is closed, syncing a node on the regtest network may take longer than syncing a testnet or mainnet node. If only using the [regtest API](https://stacks-node-api.regtest.stacks.co/extended/v1/status), this issue should not affect you.
This tutorial will walk you through the following steps:
This tutorial will walk you through the following steps:
The testnet is a separate blockchain from the Stacks mainnet analogous to a staging environnment. It's a network used by developers to test their apps, smart contracts, or changes to the protocol in a production-like environment.
The testnet is a separate blockchain from the Stacks mainnet analogous to a staging environnment. It's a network used by developers to test their apps, smart contracts, or changes to the protocol in a production-like environment.
It produces blocks at roughly the same rate as mainnet; about 1 block every 10 minutes on average. The Stacks testnet is rarely reset.
The testnet faucet provides you with free Stacks Token (STX) to test with. These are not the same as STX on mainnet and have no value. You can get STX from the faucet on the [Stacks Explorer Sandbox](https://explorer.stacks.co/sandbox?chain=testnet), or using the [API](https://blockstack.github.io/stacks-blockchain-api/#tag/Faucets).
The testnet faucet provides you with free Stacks Token (STX) to test with. These are not the same as STX on mainnet and have no value. You can get STX from the faucet on the [Stacks Explorer Sandbox](https://explorer.stacks.co/sandbox/faucet?chain=testnet), or using the [API](https://blockstack.github.io/stacks-blockchain-api/#tag/Faucets).
To get STX tokens from within the Explorer Sandbox, navigate to the "Faucet" tab and click on "Request STX" button. If you would like to get enough STX tokens to try out [Stacking](/understand-stacks/stacking), you should click on "I want to stack".
To get STX tokens from within the Explorer Sandbox, navigate to the "Faucet" tab and click on "Request STX" button. If you would like to get enough STX tokens to try out [Stacking](/understand-stacks/stacking), you should click on "I want to stack".
CharlieC3
4 years ago
Patrick Gray