How to create site like blockchain.info ?

[btctousd81]

Hi, all.,

i would like to create site like blockchain.info

which will show all the transaction details happening on BTC network.

are there any guides on where should i start ?

I am good at PHP , mytsql, html, css, javascript , jquery.

Thanks for your time.

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[mindrust]

Do you want to create it from scratch? If so, i don't think that's a one man job. Even if it was, it is clearly not a job for your abilities. I would open a topic in the market section and look for a web developer if i were you. Nobody will share this information for free.

[AT101ET]

May I ask why you'd like to create such a site? Is it for a new coin or are you just looking to create another block explorer? There are already a handful of block explorers for Bitcoin. If you're looking at it from a business perspective then the market is pretty much saturated as it is.

[0xfff]

There are plenty of open source block explorers that you can use. Just search on github for one. If you want something that has support for wallets that may be harder to do.

[nemgun]

Such sites are easy to do as long as you know how to integrate Bitcoin, let me give you some clues :

- You need solid servers (not only one)
- You need several daemons (One won't be enough)
- You need to create the external API
- Creating a web Wallet
- You must know how to manage server Loads
- You must know how to manage the servers/Daemons failover
- You need a lot of PHP and Javascript
- You must choose your environment wisely

Now some clues on how to do it :

Maybe MySql isn't your best option here, a nosql database should work better as they usually natively support JSON encoding, which will help you a lot with the design, data recovery from the database, API responses ...

You must think about security when working with the WebWallet as many of them can be hacked. Usually, a seed phrase with a temporar storage is ok, or you can create some unique variable, and attribute it as an ID for your users, but you shall not use the daemons to generate the keys, instead, use JS libraries to generate some keypairs, and then compute the private key from the hash used for user ID to process payments and manage wallet addresses.

You have to think about what API to offer, they will have to be limited to a certain amount of calls/hour, because else, people will abuse it, you can monetize on this point but if you want to have chances to earn from it, you must offer a clear API with many functionalities.
You must also provide REST API and websocket API, with a full documentation. Other kind of services are considered as Extras like blockchain.info's RPC API.
You should also focus on providing different products for each kind of user, like a development API for Devs with advanced Features and calls.
A merchant API with account management for their customers, easy send/Receive methods, and cheap fees for TXs (you can group them)
A common API like getting an address informations, Fees of a transaction ...

This is why this project isn't a one man project, you need a lot of hands to help you, i don't doubt that you are able to do it.

[avatar_kiyoshi]

You means create your own block explorer? Try this: https://github.com/iquidus/explorer
If you want to create your own coin block explorer, it will be useful.
But if you want to create duplicate blockchain.info don't waste your energy.

[Joel_Jantsen]

Appreciate the lengthy post but you're not 100% accurate.Let me clarify on a few topics.

Such sites are easy to do as long as you know how to integrate Bitcoin, let me give you some clues :

No,this isn't just about bitcoins.You should probably know in's and out's of blockchain.

- Creating a web Wallet

Why ? If he's just hinting at starting a block explorer ,he doesn't necessarily need to create a wallet.

- You must know how to manage server Loads

AWS's load balancers of Nginx pretty much takes care of that.Can be automated,not something to worry about.

Maybe MySql isn't your best option here, a nosql database should work better as they usually natively support JSON encoding, which will help you a lot with the design, data recovery from the database, API responses ...

JSON RPC,in short terms.

[nemgun]

Appreciate the lengthy post but you're not 100% accurate.Let me clarify on a few topics.

Such sites are easy to do as long as you know how to integrate Bitcoin, let me give you some clues :

No,this isn't just about bitcoins.You should probably know in's and out's of blockchain.

- Creating a web Wallet

Why ? If he's just hinting at starting a block explorer ,he doesn't necessarily need to create a wallet.

- You must know how to manage server Loads

AWS's load balancers of Nginx pretty much takes care of that.Can be automated,not something to worry about.

Maybe MySql isn't your best option here, a nosql database should work better as they usually natively support JSON encoding, which will help you a lot with the design, data recovery from the database, API responses ...

JSON RPC,in short terms.

He said a copy of blockchain.info, i gave just "clues" and tried to make my post as clear as possible, even for non experienced users.

Knowing in's and out's ? what do you mean ?

Yes, usual block explorers doesn't provide WebWallet services, but as he asked for something like blockchain.info, WebWallet is mandotory.

AWS, yes, for who ever can afford to pay for them, especially during development phase.

No, JSON RPC is a communication protocole, i am talking about the database to use in order to store the blockchain locally, because you can't ask for the daemons to provide you with data each time a user needs to see them. Using an SQL database (MySQL, MariaDB) isn't really compliant with bitcoin's RPC protocole because of the JSON format, so it is better to use a NO-SQL database http://nosql-database.org/ in order to get and store the database informations quickly and easily. Bitcoin uses leveldb, you can do the same, or use couchDB for example.

Joel, i don't want to provide too much informations nor go with technical datas, the post is meant for every user, from newbie to experienced, as experienced users will easily know what i am talking about (like you), and newbies have enough to google the keywords.

[btctousd81]

Do you want to create it from scratch? If so, i don't think that's a one man job. Even if it was, it is clearly not a job for your abilities. I would open a topic in the market section and look for a web developer if i were you. Nobody will share this information for free.

thanks for your reply.

what coding skills does this type of site requires ?

i read, btc creates a ledger on each PC so if i could read that file and load it in db , i guess, i can go from there.

[btctousd81]

May I ask why you'd like to create such a site? Is it for a new coin or are you just looking to create another block explorer? There are already a handful of block explorers for Bitcoin. If you're looking at it from a business perspective then the market is pretty much saturated as it is.

i am looking to create BTC block explorer, from a business perspective.
i didnt know there are others too ..

Thanks though. ill see which one is more popular and has less competition .

[btctousd81]

There are plenty of open source block explorers that you can use. Just search on github for one. If you want something that has support for wallets that may be harder to do.

at initial level, i am just trying to start blockchain information site, no members area, no wallet management.

thanks , this is very constructive , ill look in github for BTC block explorers.

[jaceefrost]

May I ask why you'd like to create such a site? Is it for a new coin or are you just looking to create another block explorer? There are already a handful of block explorers for Bitcoin. If you're looking at it from a business perspective then the market is pretty much saturated as it is.

i am looking to create BTC block explorer, from a business perspective.
i didnt know there are others too ..

Thanks though. ill see which one is more popular and has less competition .

You can find several codes for block explorer in github.
 https://github.com/bitcoin-blockexplorer
the php of the old blockchain explorer is also available in there. If you are planning to make a new block explorer I think you'll get more users for it if you create one for an altcoin because there are already tons of block explorer for btc. or you can make one that has more feature and more advance if you want to have an advantage for other competitors.

[nemgun]

May I ask why you'd like to create such a site? Is it for a new coin or are you just looking to create another block explorer? There are already a handful of block explorers for Bitcoin. If you're looking at it from a business perspective then the market is pretty much saturated as it is.

i am looking to create BTC block explorer, from a business perspective.
i didnt know there are others too ..

Thanks though. ill see which one is more popular and has less competition .

You can find several codes for block explorer in github.
 https://github.com/bitcoin-blockexplorer
the php of the old blockchain explorer is also available in there. If you are planning to make a new block explorer I think you'll get more users for it if you create one for an altcoin because there are already tons of block explorer for btc. or you can make one that has more feature and more advance if you want to have an advantage for other competitors.

I don't think that he needs these, actually it is very easy to do, use this in a page :

Code:

// JS file

 var infos;
$.get('https://btc.blockr.io/api/v1/block/raw/last', function(data){
	console.log(data.data);
  infos = data.data;
  $("#container").append("<table></table>");
$("#container table").append("<tr id='tr0'></tr>");
$("#container table").append("<tr id='tr1'></tr>");
  for (var detail in infos){
    if(infos.hasOwnProperty(detail)){
      $("#container table #tr0").append("<th>"+ detail + "</th>");
      if(typeof(infos[detail]) !== "string"){
      	console.log('is');
      	$("#container table #tr1").append("<td>"+ infos.tx[0] +"</td>");
      }else{
      $("#container table #tr1").append("<td>"+ infos[detail] +"</td>");
      }
    };
  };
});

Code:

//HTML with the basic html tags and using jquery

<div id="container">

</div>

Code:

// Some css

#container{
 height: 100%;
 width: 100%;
}
tr{
  margin-left:5px;
}
table,tr,td,th{
  border: 1px solid black;
}

Now you have a block explorer using blockr API for blockchain infos, this snippet gets the last block, and the first transaction, i disabled the others because there is too much, you can use this process to start and deploy your own, else, you will just copy paste a website.

[witsie]

hi .. this may be correct question on right place ... if we want to implement new paradigm in money
namely, we have fiats and cryptos, logically, we need now divine money, one coilchain .info would fit
we can not mine blocks as cryptos do nor mine gold as fiats did, we only can generate money with coils
as for me people are coils, we can do it on universal level, not decentralized but off center, closer to god

[bje98f]

You need bitcoin core installed on the server to interact with the blockchain.  In Ubuntu it should be:

sudo apt-get install bitcoind

This installs bitcoin daemon.  To interact with the daemon, I recommend using easybitcoin:

https://github.com/aceat64/EasyBitcoin-PHP

you can then interact with the daemon using examples shown on page above.

API Calls you can make:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Original_Bitcoin_client/API_calls_list

note that Bitcoin daemon will automatically download the blockchain, this will hog alot of cpu and network while it downloads, you need around 120-140 gb volume for the blockchain right now.

[Patatas]

You need bitcoin core installed on the server to interact with the blockchain.  In Ubuntu it should be:

sudo apt-get install bitcoind

This installs bitcoin daemon.  To interact with the daemon, I recommend using easybitcoin:

https://github.com/aceat64/EasyBitcoin-PHP

you can then interact with the daemon using examples shown on page above.

API Calls you can make:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Original_Bitcoin_client/API_calls_list

note that Bitcoin daemon will automatically download the bl ockchain, this will hog alot of cpu and network while it downloads, you need around 120-140 gb volume for the blockchain right now.

That is not how blockchsin.info works.What you have described is the more complex and the original way to make any bitcoin based apps.Blockchain.info doesn't work on that.They use bitcoin.js or coin.js not sure about the names but they are JavaScript based libraries which simplify making blockchain wallets and explorer easier.The simpler way but less secure .If you read through their documentation ,it's quite simple.

[Initscri]

There are many drag and drop website builders you can use, some of them are available for free like those on http://www.webbuildersguide.com/free-website-builders/. Also it is possible to find all pros and cons of the most popular web builders there. Personally I've been building a site by means of Wix. It offers a large amount of templates and a mobile optimized version of my site. Hope it helps!

A drag and drop builder will not work for this type of site.

As a programmer for 9+ years, I always advise people to pick a project (such as this), and go with it, learning through the process.

If you have experience with LAMP stack technologies (as you mentioned) feel free to give it a shot. I'd definitely recommend leveraging frameworks both on both the frontend & backend (such as Laravel, Ember, etc).

Just be aware though: This will take a massive amount of time, and you may learn things 50% in the project that may make you scratch the entire project & start from new. Keep in mind about security... creating a site like blockchain.info shouldn't be taken lightly. If you accidentally leave a security exploit, keep in mind eventually IT will be found. It's happened to other online wallets before.

If you aren't 100% confident in your abilities as a developer, I'd recommend tackling a smaller bitcoin related site first. Maybe try making a faucet, or something more simple before tackling something as large as a online wallet/blockchain viewer.

Regardless, good luck! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

[vit05]

May I ask why you'd like to create such a site? Is it for a new coin or are you just looking to create another block explorer? There are already a handful of block explorers for Bitcoin. If you're looking at it from a business perspective then the market is pretty much saturated as it is.

i am looking to create BTC block explorer, from a business perspective.
i didnt know there are others too ..

Thanks though. ill see which one is more popular and has less competition .

There is a big list of others block Explorers. Including the one that was created by theymos, Block Explorer, on November, 2010.

Here is a list with others that you could use as inspiration.

https://www.blocktrail.com/BTC

https://explorer.coinpayments.net/

https://bitcoinchain.com/block_explorer/

https://btc.com/

https://chain.localbitcoins.com/

https://www.blocktrail.com/BTC

https://live.blockcypher.com/

http://chainflyer.bitflyer.jp/