[ANNOUNCE] Bitcoinista -- Simple Python wallet for iOS

[christianlundkvist]

Github URL: https://github.com/christianlundkvist/bitcoinista
Blog post: http://whatdoesthequantsay.com/2014/04/18/introducing_bitcoinista/

Hi all,

I'd like to announce Bitcoinista, a Python wallet targeted for iOS based on Vitalik's pybitcointools. The idea is to run the wallet application inside a sandboxed Python environment app such as Pythonista on an iPhone or iPad. As long as Apple allows these kinds of Python environment apps in the App Store it will be possible to run bitcoin wallets like Bitcoinista.

Bitcoinista is meant for spending small amounts of bitcoin on the go and it has a simple text-based UI. Communication with the network is done using the pybitcointools functions, that means blockchain.info APIs with a fallback on blockr.io and eligius if blockchain.info is down.

Your private key never leaves your device and is also encrypted using AES.

Features

• Runs on iOS, no jailbreak needed.
• Quickly spend using a scanned QR code.
• Private key encrypted with AES and never leaves device.
• Ability to import your own private key in WIF format for spending from paper wallet etc.

Video demonstrating spending from bitcoin URI scanned from QR code:

http://youtu.be/JBRK0YJYMck

Video showing how to install and set up Bitcoinista:

http://youtu.be/Q2e3sX3Lkn0

If you're already a Pythonista fan and user, feel free to install Bitcoinista by following the directions on the github page. If you don't have Pythonista you can buy it for $6.99 in the App Store (Note: I'm not affiliated with Pythonista in any way, I'm just a fan).

If you're not ready to pull the trigger on Pythonista you can install Bitcoinista on your desktop in the same way (run installer.py) and play around with it there. I've also tested that Bitcoinista works with the app Python 2.7 for iOS although this app does not support the clipboard so only manual transactions work. If you find any other Python environment apps that Bitcoinista works with let me know.

For more information, see the github README at

https://github.com/christianlundkvist/bitcoinista

and the introductory blog post at

http://whatdoesthequantsay.com/2014/04/18/introducing_bitcoinista/

Please try it out, your feedback is greatly appreciated!

[christianlundkvist]

Hi all,

Bitcoinista has been updated to version 0.2. This version includes

• Full testnet support. Play around without risking real coins.
• Now supports sending to P2SH addresses.

I originally created Bitcoinista as a way for me to get around Apples bitcoin blockade. Now that the blockade has been lifted it's awesome to see so many cool native wallets in the App Store! Even with so many great wallets out there, Bitcoinista might still be of interest to you if you:

• Prefer interpreted code instead of a compiled binary for transparency.
• Enjoy a retro text base interface.
• Are curious to see what your wallet software is doing under the hood.

Enjoy version 0.2!