Understanding Bitcoin Core API Calls Locally with Bitcoinlib in Python

As you delve into the world of cryptocurrency development, understanding how to interact with Bitcoin’s decentralized network becomes crucial. In this article, we’ll explore the local network aspects of calling the Bitcoin Core API via bitcoinlib in Python. We’ll also use a simplified example that leverages multiple web sockets.

What is Bitcoin Core?

Bitcoin Core is the main software package for Bitcoin, responsible for managing the entire Bitcoin network. It provides an interface to interact with the network, allowing users to send and receive transactions, verify block contents, and more.

Bitcoinlib in Python: A Simple Introduction

bitcoinlib is a Python library that provides a simple interface to the Bitcoin Core API. It allows developers to perform various tasks, such as sending transactions, querying block data, and checking wallet balances.

Using Multiple Web Sockets with Bitcoinlib

To illustrate how bitcoinlib can be used locally on the network, we’ll create a simplified example that demonstrates multiple web sockets. This will help us understand how to handle concurrent requests and manage the local network aspects of our application.

Setting up the Environment

Before we begin, ensure you have:

• Python 3.x installed

• bitcoinlib library installed (pip install bitcoinlib)

• A Bitcoin wallet (e.g., Ledger or Trezor) set up with a connected seed phrase

Example Code: Local Network Aspects of Bitcoin Core API Calls

import socket

import threading

from bitcoinlib import BitcoinCore, Wallet







Create a local WebSocket server on port 8888

def local_socket_server():

    s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

    host = '127.0.0.1'

    port=8888


    
Bind the socket to the host and port

    s.bind((host, port))


    
Listen for incoming connections

    s.listen(5)


    print(f"Server listening on {host}:{port}")


    whileTrue:

        client_socket, address = s.accept()

        print(f"Connection from {address} established")


        def handle_client():

            bc = BitcoinCore()

            wallet = Wallet()


            
Send a simple message to the client

            client_socket.sendall(b"Hello, client!")


            
Receive responses from the client

            response = client_socket.recv(1024)

            print(f"Received response: {response.decode()}")


        
Run in separate thread for concurrent requests

        threading.Thread(target=handle_client).start()



Create a local WebSocket client on port 8888

def local_socket_client():

    s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)

    host = '127.0.0.1'

    port=8888


    
Connect to the server

    s.connect((host, port))


    
Send a message to the server

    s.sendall(b"Hello, server!")


    
Receive responses from the server

    response = s.recv(1024)

    print(f"Received response: {response.decode()}")



Run both threads concurrently using asyncio

import asyncio


async def main():

    await local_socket_server()

    await local_socket_client()


asyncio.run(main())

Local Network Aspects and Concurrency

In this example:

• We create two separate threads, one for each WebSocket connection.

• Each thread runs in a separate process and uses the asyncio library to manage concurrent requests.

• The server listens for incoming connections on port 8888, while the client establishes a separate connection to the server.

By using multiple web sockets with bitcoinlib, we can perform local network calls concurrently, demonstrating how to handle concurrent requests efficiently in a distributed environment like Bitcoin’s decentralized network.