Bitcoin-like Server Project

Overview

This project implements a simplified Bitcoin-like server, designed to simulate key aspects of the Bitcoin network. The project consists of a central WebSocket server and multiple miner servers. Each miner maintains its own transaction pool, mines blocks at regular intervals, and interacts with the central server to receive new transactions.

Architecture

The project consists of the following components:

1. Central Server (centralServer.js)

   • Acts as the central hub for broadcasting transactions to all connected miners.
   • Manages WebSocket connections and ensures that all miners receive the latest transactions.
   • Facilitates decentralized block mining by keeping miners in sync with the transaction pool.

2. Miner Server (minerServer.js)

   • Each miner operates independently, maintaining its own transaction pool.
   • Mines blocks at a fixed interval (e.g., every 30 seconds).
   • Interacts with the central server to receive new transactions and broadcast mined blocks.

3. Blockchain Utilities (blockchainUtils.js)

   • Contains utility functions for blockchain operations, including block creation, transaction handling, and validation.
   • Ensures consistent and reliable blockchain functionality across all servers.

Usage

Use the fund-wallets.txt file to view the initial accounts created to send transactions.

API Endpoints

The following APIs are exposed via an Express server:

• Send Transaction: Allows sending transactions to a recipient.

  • Endpoint: POST /sendTransaction
  • Request Body:
    • recipient (string): The recipient's address (40 characters).
    • amount (number): The amount to send (must be greater than 0).
    • privateKey (string): The private key for signing the transaction (64 characters).
  • Response: Transaction processed if successful, with error messages for invalid inputs.

• Get Balances: Retrieves the balance of all accounts.

  • Endpoint: GET /getBalances
  • Response: A JSON object containing all account balances.

• Get Block Height: Retrieves the current block height of the blockchain.

  • Endpoint: GET /getBlockHeight
  • Response: A JSON object with the current block height.

• Get Balance: Retrieves the balance of a specific address.

  • Endpoint: GET /getBalance/:address
  • Response: A JSON object with the balance of the specified address.

Running the Servers

To run the project, follow these steps:

1. Start the Central Server:

   node centralServer.js
   

2. Start the Miner Servers:

   node minerServer.js

3. Access the API Endpoints:

   • Send transactions to the central server using the provided APIs.
   • View the balances of all accounts using the /getBalances endpoint.
   • Monitor the block height using the /getBlockHeight endpoint.