Should there be a GUI for Bitcoin core?

[danda]

uh yeah, shutting down the app, renaming files, restart.  cross fingers you didn't screw up.   Just to switch wallets.    A feature that even smartphone wallets have been offering for years.

Use of multiple wallets is necessary to separate funds and maintain/enhance privacy.  It's a shame and a privacy problem that bitcoin core software does not provide this feature.

my biggest complaint with bitcoin core is that it does not support multiple wallets.

So here I have to download the entire blockchain just for the thing to work, and then if I want to use more than one wallet, I must download it for each one, plus waste additional resources on validation, bandwidth, etc.  such a waste.

Or you just move your wallet file to a different location, start Core, create a new wallet and move that one as well once you are done.

[Amph]

I feel like we are missing the core point of this discussion which is: I would use bitcoin if Bitcoin Wallet was easy to use.
And the answer is simple - there are secure and good wallets which are easy to use, has simple layout: prime example Electrum which focus on speed and simplicity.
You don't have to use Bitcoin Core at all and you don't have to use online wallets either.

what is exactly difficult to use about core? as i see it it's pretty simple, you don't even need to put the fee it's all automatic

all the other stuff are straightforward, put address amount and you're done...

[btcltccoins]

GUI for Bitcoin core is not a good option. You can get others wallets if you need GUI option.
The people comfortable with Bitcoin Core should remain as it is for  them.

[LMGTFY]

I feel like we are missing the core point of this discussion which is: I would use bitcoin if Bitcoin Wallet was easy to use.
And the answer is simple - there are secure and good wallets which are easy to use, has simple layout: prime example Electrum which focus on speed and simplicity.
You don't have to use Bitcoin Core at all and you don't have to use online wallets either.

what is exactly difficult to use about core? as i see it it's pretty simple, you don't even need to put the fee it's all automatic

all the other stuff are straightforward, put address amount and you're done...

@make: Agreed, but people often want "the official" version - I've tried to recommend Mycellium before, only to be told "I don't want some third-party app, I want the official app". That seems silly to me (I use paper wallets, Armory and Mycellium) but does make sense - they're potentially risking a substantial sum on a piece of unknown software - using the "official" version isn't that silly in that context. (And it means we can focus on convincing them that Bitcoin is awesome instead of trying to convince them that ${UNOFFICIAL_BTC_CLIENT} is awesome).

@Amph: pretty simple for you and me. Other posters in the thread have pointed out why this isn't relevant: you and I are completely unqualified as newbie users

[Amph]

I feel like we are missing the core point of this discussion which is: I would use bitcoin if Bitcoin Wallet was easy to use.
And the answer is simple - there are secure and good wallets which are easy to use, has simple layout: prime example Electrum which focus on speed and simplicity.
You don't have to use Bitcoin Core at all and you don't have to use online wallets either.

what is exactly difficult to use about core? as i see it it's pretty simple, you don't even need to put the fee it's all automatic

all the other stuff are straightforward, put address amount and you're done...

@Amph: pretty simple for you and me. Other posters in the thread have pointed out why this isn't relevant: you and I are completely unqualified as newbie users

i know but they always say it's difficult that it's difficult this, but what the hell it's exactly difficult on bitcoin core, we need to know so it can be improved for those guys

if they can tell us what is the real difficult part, something can be done to improve the average joe experience, but simply say "it's difficult", will not lead us to anything

[LMGTFY]

I feel like we are missing the core point of this discussion which is: I would use bitcoin if Bitcoin Wallet was easy to use.
And the answer is simple - there are secure and good wallets which are easy to use, has simple layout: prime example Electrum which focus on speed and simplicity.
You don't have to use Bitcoin Core at all and you don't have to use online wallets either.

what is exactly difficult to use about core? as i see it it's pretty simple, you don't even need to put the fee it's all automatic

all the other stuff are straightforward, put address amount and you're done...

@Amph: pretty simple for you and me. Other posters in the thread have pointed out why this isn't relevant: you and I are completely unqualified as newbie users

i know but they always say it's difficult that it's difficult this, but what the hell it's exactly difficult on bitcoin core, we need to know so it can be improved for those guys

if they can tell us what is the real difficult part, something can be done to improve the average joe experience, but simply say "it's difficult", will not lead us to anything

Well, yeah. That's why my advice to the OP was to record their friend's frustrations. But we do need to communicate that, not simply our annoyance that someone doesn't find the GUI as intuitive as we do. I've got to be honest, if I was in the OP's position I'd hesitate before raising it on BCT - the OP should be applauded IMO.

[Jet Cash]

@make: Agreed, but people often want "the official" version - I've tried to recommend Mycellium before, only to be told "I don't want some third-party app, I want the official app". That seems silly to me (I use paper wallets, Armory and Mycellium) but does make sense - they're potentially risking a substantial sum on a piece of unknown software - using the "official" version isn't that silly in that context. (And it means we can focus on convincing them that Bitcoin is awesome instead of trying to convince them that ${UNOFFICIAL_BTC_CLIENT} is awesome).

@Amph: pretty simple for you and me. Other posters in the thread have pointed out why this isn't relevant: you and I are completely unqualified as newbie users

That sums it up - I won't use 3rd party wallets for the same reason that I don't give my credit card to other people to look after.

The guy isn't my friend, he's just a guy who expressed an interest in Bitcoin in McDonalds. I'll probably never see him again. He represents some potential users of Bitcoin, and if Bitcoin wants to expand, these types of opinions should be considered. I rebuilt the gearbox on my Lotus, does that mean that anyone driving a car needs to know how to repair a gearbox?

[LCSociety]

what ? Bitcoin core do have a GUI  and it's not hard or complex to use at all .

True

But for the technophobes out there, Bitcoin Core's UI does need to be much more simple than it currently is

[Astrali]

hi - i just registered to leave some words here, just because i am quite new to bitcoin and decided to get a full node wallet.

as i am Computer user for Ages (started with DOS) and would not call myself the default noob i am still confused with the bitcoin core gui and what to do ..

When i start bitcoin core and go to the menu theres an Option to show my addresses to receive payments (there was 1 present and i created a second one).

now theres also the Option to "receive payments" which will generate a new address (i already understood why) but i need to declare the value incoming on this address .. for me this is confusing!

i got 2 unused addresses to receive an amount of Money without defining an amount and a menu where i Need to set the value .. whats the sense?

Would be happy to learn more

Greetings - Astrali

[Joel_Jantsen]

Very good question.I'd like to answer it in the following ways :

► Why there shouldn't be a GUI for core ?
As much as I love user friendly interface applications,I hate the fact I belong to that part of the crowd for whom the technical aspects and codes don't matter .Dumber side of the society ? I may call it ,because I want to be cool as other kids too!Even I like tinkering with bits here and there!Like Linus Torvalds says,he doesn't like GUI at all ,programmers don't like things easy.I'm a programmer and I'm sure its okay to say,most of the people comfortable with core are programmers too!Which makes GUI the least of their concerns to worry about when they're other challenges to solve.On the brighter side,there are always other fancy web wallets for the general crowd which raise the security concerns.To face that ,either general crowd has to get used to the technical side of the core or always live in a fear that the coins are not safe.Why ? Its a technical revolution,be a part of the greater good!

► Why there should be a GUI for core ?
Core can be tagged as the safest bitcoin wallet where not even a satoshi moves without your permission.Speaking of which,you can customize your own needs.A bit harder for every tom dick in the town to understand but does what it needs to.Matter of fact, every tom,dick and harry in the town needs bitcoins to get shit done which makes it important for them to use Core ,can't rely on the fraud blokes running a shithole called exchanges right ? Core should be home for their coins too.Tom won't join a bitcoin university to learn Core,neither he has enough time or skills to self learn by himself.This proposes a need of a beautiful GUI with 5 simple clicks you're ready to go.

[achow101]

hi - i just registered to leave some words here, just because i am quite new to bitcoin and decided to get a full node wallet.

as i am Computer user for Ages (started with DOS) and would not call myself the default noob i am still confused with the bitcoin core gui and what to do ..

When i start bitcoin core and go to the menu theres an Option to show my addresses to receive payments (there was 1 present and i created a second one).

This is where you get your receiving addresses.

now theres also the Option to "receive payments" which will generate a new address (i already understood why) but i need to declare the value incoming on this address .. for me this is confusing!

That is for the BIP70 Payment Requests, which are files that you can send to someone and their wallet will automatically understand the file and send you the right amount. The original goal was to use these payment requests to deprecate the traditional address stuff, but it didn't really catch on.

[Astrali]

When i start bitcoin core and go to the menu theres an Option to show my addresses to receive payments (there was 1 present and i created a second one).

This is where you get your receiving addresses.

now theres also the Option to "receive payments" which will generate a new address (i already understood why) but i need to declare the value incoming on this address .. for me this is confusing!

That is for the BIP70 Payment Requests, which are files that you can send to someone and their wallet will automatically understand the file and send you the right amount. The original goal was to use these payment requests to deprecate the traditional address stuff, but it didn't really catch on.

This was an excellent answer

so i am fine to generate a new address and use it to receive coins.

let me add another noobish question (offtopic)
How can i proof this payment (and address) is mine?

Somehow the blockchain stores where money comes from and where it goes to. But how can you tell "this address is mine"?

I think thats all for me to start in bitcoin universe right now

Greetings Astrali

[achow101]

let me add another noobish question (offtopic)
How can i proof this payment (and address) is mine?

Somehow the blockchain stores where money comes from and where it goes to. But how can you tell "this address is mine"?

I think thats all for me to start in bitcoin universe right now

Greetings Astrali

By virtue of having the private key. Whoever has the private key owns the address.  Everyone else can only know who owns an address because that person has the private key and can produce a valid signature for its corresponding address. If someone were to steal the private key, then that person would also own the address even if he really didn't. There is no way to tell. This is why you should always keep your private keys safe and never reveal them.

[Bitcoinpro]

let me add another noobish question (offtopic)
How can i proof this payment (and address) is mine?

Somehow the blockchain stores where money comes from and where it goes to. But how can you tell "this address is mine"?

I think thats all for me to start in bitcoin universe right now

Greetings Astrali

By virtue of having the private key. Whoever has the private key owns the address.  Everyone else can only know who owns an address because that person has the private key and can produce a valid signature for its corresponding address. If someone were to steal the private key, then that person would also own the address even if he really didn't. There is no way to tell. This is why you should always keep your private keys safe and never reveal them.

You can sign something with the private address

this is like a hash that proves u own the private address

but it can't be deciphered into the private address

but u could also just buy this of someone else and

pretend u made it

[bitcoineverything]

Bitcoin core has a GUI and for me, it is the simplest and the easiest type. Maybe that
person is just looking for something he is used to.
Bitcoin core's GUI can still be improved.

[Dinki]

I read somewhere that you can send bitcoins for free if you set up your own node and that you need about 8GB memory with 250GB disk space to do this.

Is there a light weight version of bitcoin core that can be used for sending coins?

[achow101]

I read somewhere that you can send bitcoins for free if you set up your own node and that you need about 8GB memory with 250GB disk space to do this.

You can always send Bitcoin without a transaction fee. That just means that it your transaction is unlikely to confirm quickly.

Running your own node does not make a different with that unless you have specially programmed/configured your node and are solo mining. You still have to pay transaction fees in order to have transactions confirm quickly, regardless of your wallet.

Is there a light weight version of bitcoin core that can be used for sending coins?

You can enable pruning. Pruning will still have to download the entire blockchain, but it will only store the most recent part of it. Since it works on a rolling basis, you should, at most, use only a few Gb on pruning's default settings.

[knightkon]

what ? Bitcoin core do have a GUI  and it's not hard or complex to use at all .

I do not know as much about the way that Bitcoin is set up and I know that bitcoin does have a GUI and it is very easy to understand as ^^^ said.  I am thinking that the guy you were speaking to does not know much about bitcoin at all if he does not think that the transactions are secure or if he thinks that it is to complicated to use.  You might want to be able to educate people like him.  When someone who does not know speaks like they do know, it hurts the rest of us.

[yayayo]

what ? Bitcoin core do have a GUI  and it's not hard or complex to use at all .

Well I don't have a problem using it, and I quite like the layout. But this guy seemed to think that there were too many options, and no icons to simplify things. I was thinking of the user who has trouble moving around on YouTube, but could be a Bitcoin user. Maybe we should discourage them then.

If the guy is unwilling/unable to learn/understand how to use Bitcoin core he should not make any financial decisions besides buying groceries. It is not advisable to recommend Bitcoin use to people who score that low in intelligence. If they feel that a simple graphical user interface like that of Bitcoin Core is "too complex", Bitcoin in general will be "too complex" for them as well.

It may sound quite harsh, but the number of technology users who have no clue what they are doing when clicking on some fancy buttons is increasing at an alarming rate. These people are the perfect victims for all kinds of privacy intrusion and fraud.

ya.ya.yo!