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README.md: A few more details about what we're doing.
Signed-off-by: Rusty Russell <rusty@rustcorp.com.au>
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README.md
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Strawman protocol for lightning channels.
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# Lightning Protocol Reference Implementation
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The wire protocol is documented in [lightning.proto](lightning.proto)
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In this repository we're developing a reference implementation of
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(a [protobuf](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/)
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bitcoin lightning (see:
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definition file).
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[http://lightning.network](http://lightning.network) which proposed
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the original "lightning network").
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There are command line utilities to create and process various packets
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The first step was to develop a wire protocol for nodes to talk to
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in [test-cli](test-cli/HOWTO-USE.md).
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each other. The wire protocol is documented in
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[lightning.proto](lightning.proto) (a
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[protobuf](https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/) definition
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file). There are command line utilities to create and process various
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packets in [test-cli](test-cli/HOWTO-USE.md).
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It requires features not currently in bitcoin, so it runs on top of
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The second step is to create a daemon which uses that protocol to
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the sidechain [Elements Alpha](https://github.com/ElementsProject/elements)
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communicate with others to set up channels and make simple payments.
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This also involves monitoring the blockchain for transactions. This
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is where development is currently occurring.
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This is very much a testbed and work in progress; expect All The
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Later steps will enhance the protocol to network individual daemons,
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Things to change, all the time.
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advertize their IP addresses, publish routes and fees, and use that
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information to pay specific nodes. These details are currently being
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hashed out on the [mailing list](https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/lightning-dev) and the IRC channel [#lightning-dev](https://botbot.me/freenode/lightning-dev/) on Freenode.
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Cheers,
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The protocol requires features not currently in bitcoin, so by default
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it runs on top of the sidechain [Elements
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Alpha](https://github.com/ElementsProject/elements). It can be tested
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with bitcoin (on testnet) with OP_NOP substitution, at the top level
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Makefile.
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Final note: This is very much a testbed and work in progress; expect
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All The Things to change, all the time.
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Welcome aboard!
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Rusty.
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Rusty.
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