Bitcoin Forum

     
N.B. The purpose of my question is informational; my "problem" is of not understanding.

I have just begun to run a full node on Windows 11 in order to support the blockchain. It is a bit confusing that there are two programs rather than  one consolidation.
The first, an orange icon, Bitcoin Core (64 bit); the second, a green icon, Bitcoin Core (testnet, 64 bit).

Both programs are the SAME in that they can be initiated and exited independently. Both programs include one window; have the ability to "create a new wallet,"; and have the tabs Overview, Send, Receive, Transactions.

Both programs are DIFFERENT in that only the green icon Bitcoin Core (testnet, 64 bit) adds a "Node Window" which includes the tabs Information, Console, Network Traffic, Peers.

Instead of asking questions, I'm going to tell what I think is true. Please correct where I am wrong and/or add information that you think would be helpful.

Here it is:

Either/or program, when initiated, will run the blockchain. It is not necessary to run both programs simultaneously.  If you need the "Node Window" you run that program. If you don't you run the other.

Buy why not one program with an optional node window? Most confusing. Thank you!  

Two different networks. Real one and test net, for playing with mining, protocols etc.

Both run blockchain, but the blockchains they run are different.
The green one is on testnet, with intentionally worthless test coins.
The orange one runs on main net, the actual blockchain that matters, where the money is, where all Bitcoin transactions are stored.

Correct. The orange icon will run the blockchain on mainnet, and the other one is purposefully to run the testnet (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Testnet#Differences) blockchain.

Yes.

Nope, basically, AFAIK both program actually is the same program it just configured to run on a different network. Since testnet is mainly used for testing, the node windows may be activated by default, while on the main net, you have to manually set a configuration to enable it.

Please post normally.

And the simple answer is: run the orange, ignore the green.

You nailed it NeuroticFish! This is exactly what I needed to know! Your fish may be neurotic but you certainly are not . . .

YOU may have a single purpose, but many people that run Bitcoin Core have additional purposes.  Many of them want to create software that will interact with the Bitcoin network to create or receive transactions, explore the blockchain, create blocks for the purpose of mining, or to store data in the blockchain.  Testnet allows THOSE individuals to test out their creations without risking real value. What they NEED is a way to run the EXACT same software BUT without any risk if they make a mistake or have a bug in their creation.  The software that runs with that green icon provides this ability.

Perhaps what you don't understand is that there are many block chains.

Not only are there many different altcoins, each with its own block chain, but the Bitcoin project itself also has many block chains. The additional Bitcoin block chains are used only for testing the software.

The block chain that you want to use is the "mainnet" chain. Use the orange icon. The green icon uses a block chain whose purpose is for testing the software.

Ah vv181, after exploring further the menus on the Orange (real) blockchain, I have now discovered that the node tabs appear there as well.
But are these REAL node tabs or TEST node tabs? (Meanwhile, I have exited the test chain and that is history for me at the moment).

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Many thanks for explaining. My single purpose is not exclusionary to other purposes. It is a goal I am trying to meet. Perhaps, in future, I will have a reason to use the test blockchain. Besides, the context for my single purpose was limited to the set of "run orange or green," not blockchain in general.

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Thank you, odolvlobo. I understand that the BTC blockchain, implemented after Satoshi's white paper is open source and licensed under MIT. Thus, any wannabe coder with chops can code an altcoin blockchain by accessing the original souce code and altering that source code as s(he)/they deem fit and code and implement its own blockchain as long as it cites the licensure and has no proprietary components (decentralization).

I almost made a Freudian slip and instead of saying "blockchain" wanted to write "blokechain" as if any bloke can create a blockchain. Problem is, you create blockchain XYZ named cryptocurrency ABC, how are you going to get BTC folks to move on over? A blockchain is nothing without real people cooperating to run hundreds of thousands of millions of verification nodes.

Re: BTC, thank you for distinguishing mainet chain from testnet chain. That helps.

[moderator's note: consecutive posts merged]

People don't have to "move on" to a new project for it to become successful. Take bitcoin itself for example, people didn't move from traditional financial system to decentralized bitcoin network. Instead bitcoin offered them an additional useful option that they could use globally.
It is the same for any altcoin, if they provide any valid utility people will use them alongside bitcoin and fiat. But that's a big "if" though since so far we've been mostly disappointed.

Summarily, in Bitcoin there are many networks;

• Main net which is the money network.
• Test net which is the network where people make technical tests.
• Reg test which is a local network, a user can create for their own, again to make technical tests.
• Sig net which is another testing network, different in character from test net.

What you're looking is the main net.