Bitcoin version 0.3.13.05 (svn revision 168) adds the -testnet option to bitcoin/bitcoind, for testing or experimentation with worthless bitcoins on the TEST payment network.
This version is compatible with my old compile-time test network patch. Stuff you aught to know as you run this:
- A -testnet bitcoin will use the same bitcoin.conf file as regular bitcoin (unless overridden with the -conf= switch).
- The -testnet data directory is a "testnet" subdirectory in the regular data directory.
- A -testnet bitcoin listens for connections on ports 8333/8332, just like regular bitcoin, so you cannot run both -testnet and regular bitcoin at the same time on one machine.
- You can get play bitcoins from the TEST faucet at https://freebitcoins.appspot.com/TEST/
- testnet bitcoin addresses will not work on the regular bitcoin network, so it is impossible to accidently try to send real bitcoins to test address. However, regular bitcoin addresses are valid testnet addresses; it is possible to try to send testnet bitcoins to a regular bitcoin address (they will effectively be lost if you do that).
This will be very useful for anybody creating a web-based bitcoin service. You should be able to run bitcoind with the -testnet switch and no code changes to test your service with pretend, instead of real, bitcoins.
