Compile cpp-ethereum and solidity on Arch Linux

The example shows how to compile the current github version (as of 05 April 2016) of C++ version of ethereum, i.e., cpp-ethereum, on Arch Linux.

Dependencies

Before proceeding with the compilation, the following packages are required:

# from Arch official repositories
sudo pacman -Sy git base-devel cmake leveldb libmicrohttpd

Compilation: cpp-ethereum

# clone webthree-umbrella repository 
git clone --recursive https://github.com/ethereum/cpp-ethereum.git

# enter the folder after cloning its github repository
cd cpp-ethereum

# make a build folder and enter into it
mkdir -p build && cd build

#make sure ../cpp-ethereum/build/libs has the files: libbinaryen.a, libmpir.a
#copy these files from ../cpp-ethereum/build/deps/libs64 to ../cpp-ethereum/build/deps/lib
cp -r deps/lib64/libbinaryen.a deps/lib/
cp -r deps/lib64/libmpir.a deps/lib/

# create build files and specify Ethereum installation folder
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/eth

# compile the source code
make

# alternatively it is possible to specify number of compilation threads
# for example to use 4 threads execute make as follows:
# make -j 4

# install the resulting binaries, shared libraries and header files into /opt
sudo make install

Compilation: solidity

# go to your homefolder if still in ~/cpp-ethereum/build
cd ~

# clone webthree-umbrella repository 
git clone --recursive https://github.com/ethereum/solidity.git

# enter the folder after cloning its github repository
cd solidity

# make a build folder and enter into it
mkdir -p build && cd build

# create build files and specify Ethereum installation folder
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/eth

# compile the source code
make

# alternatively it is possible to specify number of compilation threads
# for example to use 4 threads execute make as follows:
# make -j 4

# install the resulting binaries, shared libraries and header files into /opt
sudo make install

After compilation and istallation of the cpp-ethereum and solidity, the /opt/eth should look as follows:

/opt/eth/
├── bin
│   ├── eth
│   ├── ethminer
│   ├── ethvm
│   ├── lllc
│   └── solc
└── lib
    ├── liblll.so
    ├── libsoldevcore.so
    ├── libsolevmasm.so
    └── libsolidity.so

Synchronize into Ropsten Revival testnet

To synchronize into Ropsten Revival testnet network, the following command can be used. It is presented as an bash alias that can be added you your .bashrc for easier use:

/opt/eth/bin/eth -j --rpccorsdomain "*" --ropsten --pin -t 1 --unsafe-transactions --peerset "required:20c9ad97c081d63397d7b685a412227a40e23c8bdc6688c6f37e97cfbc22d2b4d1db1510d8f61e6a8866ad7f0e17c02b14182d37ea7c3c8b9c2683aeb6b733a1@52.169.14.227:30303 required:6ce05930c72abc632c58e2e4324f7c7ea478cec0ed4fa2528982cf34483094e9cbc9216e7aa349691242576d552a2a56aaeae426c5303ded677ce455ba1acd9d@13.84.180.240:30303" --rpccorsdomain "http://127.0.0.1:8080" -a "0xdf9f93fe406920ae5335021b3fc016de3ab7070e" 

--unsafe-transactions don't need to be used for synchrnonization. But later its easier to make test transactions using geth console. When using mist wallet, it does not matter.

-j --rpccorsdomain "*" are for working local copy of browser-solidity.

-a "0xdf9f93fe406920ae5335021b3fc016de3ab7070e" is my coinbase address. You should replace it with yours when you create your first ropsten ether account.

-t 1 sets number of mining threads

--rpccorsdomain "http://127.0.0.1:8080" is for when using browser-solidity. Without this there might be CORS problems connectin to your cpp-ethereum node.

Install geth

cpp-ethereum does not provide console interface. To interact with the eth node, geth JavaScript console can be used.

sudo pacman -S geth

To connect to eth node:

#in terminal 1: start eth node using eth alias created above
ethtestnet

#in terminal 2: 
geth attach

Once connected can execute eth.syncing or eth.blockNumber to check current synchronization status.

> eth.syncing
{
  currentBlock: 682915,
  highestBlock: 688999,
  startingBlock: 682603
}
> eth.blockNumber
683452

When fully sunced, mining can be started:

miner.start(1); // number in parenthesis does not matter.

Check mining hashrate:

> eth.mining
true
> eth.hashrate
56937
> 

Check if we mined something, i.e., check coinbase balance:

> web3.fromWei(eth.getBalance(eth.coinbase))
51.7183586

Other examples

Other examples can be found on github. Please know that some of the examples/repositories are not finished and may not work as intended.

How can you help?

Constructive criticism, code and website edits are always good. They can be made through github.