56 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
56 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
# Command-Line Interface (CLI)
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The `lighthouse` binary provides all necessary Ethereum 2.0 functionality. It
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has two primary sub-commands:
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- `$ lighthouse beacon_node`: the largest and most fundamental component which connects to
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the p2p network, processes messages and tracks the head of the beacon
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chain.
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- `$ lighthouse validator_client`: a lightweight but important component which loads a validators private
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key and signs messages using a `beacon_node` as a source-of-truth.
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There are also some ancillary binaries like `lcli` and `account_manager`, but
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these are primarily for testing.
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> **Note:** documentation sometimes uses `$ lighthouse bn` and `$ lighthouse
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> vc` instead of the long-form `beacon_node` and `validator_client`. These
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> commands are valid on the CLI too.
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## Installation
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Typical users may install `lighthouse` to `CARGO_HOME` with `cargo install
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--path lighthouse` from the root of the repository. See ["Configuring the
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`PATH` environment variable"](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install) for more
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information.
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For developers, we recommend building Lighthouse using the `$ cargo build --release
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--bin lighthouse` command and executing binaries from the
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`<lighthouse-repository>/target/release` directory. This is more ergonomic when
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modifying and rebuilding regularly.
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## Documentation
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Each binary supports the `--help` flag, this is the best source of
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documentation.
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```bash
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$ lighthouse beacon_node --help
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```
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```bash
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$ lighthouse validator_client --help
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```
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## Creating a new database/testnet
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Lighthouse should run out-of-the box and connect to the current testnet
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maintained by Sigma Prime.
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However, for developers, testnets can be created by following the instructions
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outlined in [testnets](./testnets.md). The steps listed here will create a
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local database specified to a new testnet.
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## Resuming from an existing database
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Once a database/testnet has been created, it can be resumed by running `$ lighthouse bn`.
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