This implementation is still very much a work in progress. It can be used for testing, but __it should not be used for real funds__.
## Project Status
We do our best to identify and fix problems, and implement missing features.
Any help testing the implementation, reporting bugs, or helping with outstanding issues is very welcome.
[![Build Status][travis-ci]][travis-ci-link]
Don't hesitate to reach out to us on IRC at [#lightning-dev @ freenode.net](http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=%23lightning-dev), [#c-lightning @ freenode.net](http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=%23c-lightning),
[![Pull Requests Welcome][prs]][prs-link]
or on the implementation-specific mailing list [c-lightning@lists.ozlabs.org](https://lists.ozlabs.org/listinfo/c-lightning),
[![Irc][IRC]][IRC-link]
or on the Lightning Network-wide mailing list [lightning-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org](https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev).
c-lightning currently only works on Linux (and possibly Mac OS with some tweaking), and requires a locally running `bitcoind` (version 0.15 or above) that is fully caught up with the network you're testing on. Pruning (prune=n option in bitcoin.conf) is not currently supported.
c-lightning currently only works on Linux (and possibly Mac OS with some
tweaking), and requires a locally running `bitcoind` (version 0.15 or
above) that is fully caught up with the network you're testing on.
Pruning (prune=n option in bitcoin.conf) is not currently supported.
### Installation
### Installation
Please refer to the [installation documentation](doc/INSTALL.md) for detailed instructions.
Please refer to the [installation documentation](doc/INSTALL.md) for
detailed instructions.
For the impatient here's the gist of it for Ubuntu and Debian:
For the impatient here's the gist of it for Ubuntu and Debian:
```
```
@ -45,19 +72,23 @@ sudo docker run \
-p 9735:9735 \
-p 9735:9735 \
cdecker/lightningd:latest
cdecker/lightningd:latest
```
```
### Starting `lightningd`
### Starting `lightningd`
In order to start `lightningd` you will need to have a local `bitcoind` node running in either testnet or regtest mode:
In order to start `lightningd` you will need to have a local `bitcoind`
node running in either testnet or regtest mode:
```
```
bitcoind -daemon -testnet
bitcoind -daemon -testnet
```
```
Wait until `bitcoind` has synchronized with the testnet network. In case you use regtest, make sure you generate at least 432 blocks to activate SegWit.
Wait until `bitcoind` has synchronized with the testnet network.
In case you use regtest, make sure you generate at least 432 blocks to
activate SegWit.
Make sure that you do not have `walletbroadcast=0` in your
Make sure that you do not have `walletbroadcast=0` in your
`~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf`, or you may run into trouble. Notice that
`~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.conf`, or you may run into trouble.
currently pruned nodes are not supported and may result in
Notice that currently pruned nodes are not supported and may result in
`lightningd` being unable to synchronize with the blockchain.
`lightningd` being unable to synchronize with the blockchain.
You can start `lightningd` with the following command:
You can start `lightningd` with the following command:
This opens a connection and, on top of that connection, then opens a channel.
This opens a connection and, on top of that connection, then opens
The funding transaction needs 1 confirmations in order for the channel to be usable, and 6 to be broadcast for others to use.
a channel.
You can check the status of the channel using `cli/lightning-cli listpeers`, which after 3 confirmations (1 on testnet) should say that `state` is `CHANNELD_NORMAL`; after 6 confirmations you can use `cli/lightning-cli listchannels` to verify that the `public` field is now `true`.
The funding transaction needs 1 confirmations in order for the channel
to be usable, and 6 to be broadcast for others to use.
You can check the status of the channel using `cli/lightning-cli
listpeers`, which after 3 confirmations (1 on testnet) should say
that `state` is `CHANNELD_NORMAL`; after 6 confirmations you can use
`cli/lightning-cli listchannels` to verify that the `public` field is now
`true`.
### Different states
### Different states
* `GOSSIPING` means that you are connected to a peer but there is no
* `GOSSIPING` means that you are connected to a peer but there is no
payment channel yet.
payment channel yet.
* `OPENINGD` means that `lightning_openingd` is negotiating channel opening.
* `OPENINGD` means that `lightning_openingd` is negotiating channel
* `CHANNELD_AWAITING_LOCKIN` means that `lightning_channeld` is waiting until
opening.
the minimum number of confirmation on the channel funding transaction.
* `CHANNELD_AWAITING_LOCKIN` means that `lightning_channeld` is waiting
until the minimum number of confirmation on the channel funding
transaction.
* `CHANNELD_NORMAL` means your channel is operating normally.
* `CHANNELD_NORMAL` means your channel is operating normally.
* `CHANNELD_SHUTTING_DOWN` means one or both sides have asked to shut down the
* `CHANNELD_SHUTTING_DOWN` means one or both sides have asked to shut
channel, and we're waiting for existing HTLCs to clear.
down the channel, and we're waiting for existing HTLCs to clear.
* `CLOSINGD_SIGEXCHANGE` means we're trying to negotiate the fee for the mutual close transaction.
* `CLOSINGD_SIGEXCHANGE` means we're trying to negotiate the fee for
the mutual close transaction.
* `CLOSINGD_COMPLETE` means we've broadcast our mutual close
* `CLOSINGD_COMPLETE` means we've broadcast our mutual close
transaction (which spends the funding transaction) , but haven't seen it in a block yet.
transaction (which spends the funding transaction) , but haven't seen
it in a block yet.
* `FUNDING_SPEND_SEEN` means we've seen the funding transaction spent.
* `FUNDING_SPEND_SEEN` means we've seen the funding transaction spent.
* `ONCHAIN` means that the `lightning_onchaind` is tracking the onchain closing of the channel.
* `ONCHAIN` means that the `lightning_onchaind` is tracking the onchain
closing of the channel.
All these states have more information about what's going on in the
All these states have more information about what's going on in the
`status` field in `listpeers`.
`status` field in `listpeers`.
@ -133,28 +175,42 @@ All these states have more information about what's going on in the
### Sending and receiving payments
### Sending and receiving payments
Payments in Lightning are invoice based.
Payments in Lightning are invoice based.
The recipient creates an invoice with the expected `<amount>` in millisatoshi (or `"any"` for a donation), a unique `<label>` and a `<description>` the payer will see:
The recipient creates an invoice with the expected `<amount>` in
millisatoshi (or `"any"` for a donation), a unique `<label>` and a
This returns some internal details, and a standard invoice string called `bolt11` (named after the [BOLT #11 lightning spec](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lightning-rfc/blob/master/11-payment-encoding.md)).
This returns some internal details, and a standard invoice
string called `bolt11` (named after the [BOLT #11 lightning
spec][BOLT11]).
The sender can feed this `bolt11` string to the `decodepay` command to see what it is, and pay it simply using the `pay` command:
The sender can feed this `bolt11` string to the `decodepay` command to
see what it is, and pay it simply using the `pay` command:
```
```
cli/lightning-cli pay <bolt11>
cli/lightning-cli pay <bolt11>
```
```
Note that there are lower-level interfaces (and more options to these interfaces) for more sophisticated use.
Note that there are lower-level interfaces (and more options to these
interfaces) for more sophisticated use.
## Configuration File
## Configuration File
lightningd can be configured either by passing options via the command line, or via a configuration file. Command line options will always override the values in the configuration file.
lightningd can be configured either by passing options via the command
line, or via a configuration file.
Command line options will always override the values in the configuration
file.
To use a configuration file, create a file named "config" within your
".lightning" directory. Usually this will be ~/.lightning/config
To use a configuration file, create a file named "config" within your ".lightning" directory. Usually this will be ~/.lightning/config
Configuration options are set using a key=value pair on each line of
the file, for example:
Configuration options are set using a key=value pair on each line of the file, for example:
```
```
alias=SLEEPYDRAGON
alias=SLEEPYDRAGON
rgb=008000
rgb=008000
@ -182,4 +238,5 @@ JSON-RPC interface is documented in the following manual pages: