Either/or program, when initiated, will run the blockchain.
Correct. The orange icon will run the blockchain on mainnet, and the other one is purposefully to run the
testnet blockchain.
It is not necessary to run both programs simultaneously.
Yes.
If you need the "Node Window" you run that program. If you don't you run the other.
Buy why not one program with an optional node window? Most confusing. Thank you! [/size]
Nope, basically, AFAIK both program actually is the same program it just configured to run on a different network. Since testnet is mainly used for testing, the node windows may be activated by default, while on the main net, you have to manually set a configuration to enable it.
Ah vv181, after exploring further the menus on the Orange (real) blockchain, I have now discovered that the node tabs appear there as well.
But are these REAL node tabs or TEST node tabs? (Meanwhile, I have exited the test chain and that is history for me at the moment).
I have a single purpose: run the blockchain.
YOU may have a single purpose, but many people that run Bitcoin Core have additional purposes. Many of them want to create software that will interact with the Bitcoin network to create or receive transactions, explore the blockchain, create blocks for the purpose of mining, or to store data in the blockchain. Testnet allows THOSE individuals to test out their creations without risking real value. What they NEED is a way to run the EXACT same software BUT without any risk if they make a mistake or have a bug in their creation. The software that runs with that green icon provides this ability.
Many thanks for explaining. My single purpose is not exclusionary to other purposes. It is a goal I am trying to meet. Perhaps, in future, I will have a reason to use the test blockchain. Besides, the context for my single purpose was limited to the set of "run orange or green," not blockchain in general.
Thanks. I don't understand your answer. I have a single purpose: run the blockchain. You have not clarified the function of each related to running the blockchain.
Perhaps what you don't understand is that there are
many block chains.
Not only are there many different altcoins, each with its own block chain, but the Bitcoin project itself also has many block chains. The additional Bitcoin block chains are used only for testing the software.
The block chain that you want to use is the "mainnet" chain. Use the orange icon. The green icon uses a block chain whose purpose is for testing the software.
Thank you, odolvlobo. I understand that the BTC blockchain, implemented after Satoshi's white paper is open source and licensed under MIT. Thus, any wannabe coder with chops can code an altcoin blockchain by accessing the original souce code and altering that source code as s(he)/they deem fit and code and implement its own blockchain as long as it cites the licensure and has no proprietary components (decentralization).
I almost made a Freudian slip and instead of saying "blockchain" wanted to write "blokechain" as if any bloke can create a blockchain. Problem is, you create blockchain XYZ named cryptocurrency ABC, how are you going to get BTC folks to move on over? A blockchain is nothing without real people cooperating to run hundreds of thousands of millions of verification nodes.
Re: BTC, thank you for distinguishing mainet chain from testnet chain. That helps.
[moderator's note: consecutive posts merged]
