We want to set up a block explorer type application on a server node and wanted feedback from anyone who has done something similiar.
What we plan to do is:
+ run a bitcoind on a nice, quick, well connected server (or two).
+ also run a block explorer type app on the same node.
+ add in a REST interface to the server to provide things like:
+ given an address, what are the transactions ?
+ given a master public key, what was the date of the first HD address that is on the blockchain ?
This isn't the sort of thing a bitcoind can do via RPC (to my knowledge). The bitcoind would have a blank wallet for security reasons.
What software is there available that can give 'block explorer' type info ?
(Just ignore the specifics of the REST interface - we are expecting to have to write that)
I know of:
+ ABE
+ Electrum server
+ there are closed solutions like blockchain.info and Jan Moller's bitcoinspinner/ mycelium backend but we are looking for something open source.
Java would be prefered but we are flexible as to the language.
If you have done something similiar (or tried and ran into difficulties) your feedback would be very useful.
Cheers,
Jim
p.s. You can probably guess that it we are doing this as a part of the MultiBit HD development. :-)
Abe already has an api call to fetch unspent outputs of an address.
