Rusty Russell
9 years ago
1 changed files with 29 additions and 11 deletions
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Strawman protocol for lightning channels. |
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# Lightning Protocol Reference Implementation |
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The wire protocol is documented in [lightning.proto](lightning.proto) |
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(a [protobuf](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/) |
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definition file). |
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In this repository we're developing a reference implementation of |
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bitcoin lightning (see: |
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[http://lightning.network](http://lightning.network) which proposed |
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the original "lightning network"). |
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There are command line utilities to create and process various packets |
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in [test-cli](test-cli/HOWTO-USE.md). |
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The first step was to develop a wire protocol for nodes to talk to |
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each other. The wire protocol is documented in |
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[lightning.proto](lightning.proto) (a |
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[protobuf](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/) definition |
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file). There are command line utilities to create and process various |
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packets in [test-cli](test-cli/HOWTO-USE.md). |
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It requires features not currently in bitcoin, so it runs on top of |
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the sidechain [Elements Alpha](https://github.com/ElementsProject/elements) |
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The second step is to create a daemon which uses that protocol to |
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communicate with others to set up channels and make simple payments. |
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This also involves monitoring the blockchain for transactions. This |
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is where development is currently occurring. |
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This is very much a testbed and work in progress; expect All The |
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Things to change, all the time. |
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Later steps will enhance the protocol to network individual daemons, |
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advertize their IP addresses, publish routes and fees, and use that |
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information to pay specific nodes. These details are currently being |
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hashed out on the [mailing list](https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev) and the IRC channel [#lightning-dev](https://botbot.me/freenode/lightning-dev/) on Freenode. |
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Cheers, |
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The protocol requires features not currently in bitcoin, so by default |
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it runs on top of the sidechain [Elements |
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Alpha](https://github.com/ElementsProject/elements). It can be tested |
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with bitcoin (on testnet) with OP_NOP substitution, at the top level |
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Makefile. |
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|
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Final note: This is very much a testbed and work in progress; expect |
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All The Things to change, all the time. |
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Welcome aboard! |
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|
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Rusty. |
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