Best way to get a list of all transactions involving an external address?

[🏰 TradeFortress 🏰]

What is the best way (preferably with JSON-RPC API calls) to get a list of all transactions that are received or sent to a particular address? It is not in the local wallet.

I think this can be done by looping through all transactions and having a separate database, but hopefully there is a better way...

[kjj]

That's pretty much it.

Of course, if you keep good notes, you only have to do it once, and then keep it updated.  Or you can use one of the several sites on the internet that provide public access to their notes.

[drakahn]

http://blockchain.info/address/$bitcoin_address?format=json
would that work?

[grau]

The bitsofproof implementation of the protocol features and API to direct query of an aggregate account statement for a list of addresses.
The account statement is a historical balance of any date you choose plus spends receives thereafter up to recent block downloaded.

The query is supported by either indices of the relational database if you use that option or by secondary hash table on addresses if you use the  leveledb storage option.

This is one of the RMI calls to the server with below API.
https://github.com/bitsofproof/supernode-api/blob/master/src/main/java/com/bitsofproof/supernode/api/BCSAPIDirect.java

Remember that this is not yet production quality (it works quite well, just not sufficiently tested to claim that). I would be interested in usability and design feedback.