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diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..283c83625a --- /dev/null +++ b/README.rst @@ -0,0 +1,108 @@ +Bitcoin-qt: Qt4 based GUI replacement for Bitcoin +================================================= + +**Warning** **Warning** **Warning** + +Alpha version! I'm using this client myself on the production network, and I haven't noticed any glitches, but remember: always backup your wallet. +Testing on the testnet is recommended. + +This has been implemented: + +- qmake / QtCreator project (.pro) + +- Compatibility with Linux (both GNOME and KDE), MacOSX and Windows + +- All functionality of the original client, including taskbar icon/menu + +- Splash screen + +- Tabbed interface + +- Overview page with current balance, unconfirmed balance, and such + +- Better transaction list with status icons, real-time filtering and a context menu + +- Asks for confirmation before sending coins, for your own safety + +- CSV export of transactions and address book (for Excel bookkeeping) + +- Shows alternative icon when connected to testnet, so you never accidentally send real coins during testing + +- Shows a progress bar on initial block download, so that you don't have to wonder how many blocks it needs to download to be up to date + +- Sendmany support, send to multiple recipients at the same time + +- Multiple unit support, can show subdivided bitcoins (uBTC, mBTC) for users that like large numbers + +- Support for English, German and Dutch languages + +- Address books and transaction table can be sorted by any column + +- Accepts "bitcoin:" URLs from browsers through drag and drop + +This has to be done: + +- Start at system start + +- Support more languages + +Build instructions +=================== + +Debian +------- + +First, make sure that the required packages for Qt4 development of your +distribution are installed, for Debian and Ubuntu these are: + +:: + + apt-get install qt4-qmake libqt4-dev build-essential libboost-dev libboost-system-dev \ + libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-program-options-dev libboost-thread-dev \ + libssl-dev libdb4.8++-dev + +then execute the following: + +:: + + qmake + make + +Alternatively, install Qt Creator and open the `bitcoin-qt.pro` file. + +An executable named `bitcoin-qt` will be built. + + +Windows +-------- + +Windows build instructions: + +- Download the `QT Windows SDK`_ and install it. You don't need the Symbian stuff, just the desktop Qt. + +- Download and extract the `dependencies archive`_ [#]_, or compile openssl, boost and dbcxx yourself. + +- Copy the contents of the folder "deps" to "X:\\QtSDK\\mingw", replace X:\\ with the location where you installed the Qt SDK. Make sure that the contents of "deps\\include" end up in the current "include" directory. + +- Open the .pro file in QT creator and build as normal (ctrl-B) + +.. _`QT Windows SDK`: http://qt.nokia.com/downloads/sdk-windows-cpp +.. _`dependencies archive`: http://download.visucore.com/bitcoin/qtgui_deps_1.zip +.. [#] PGP signature: http://download.visucore.com/bitcoin/qtgui_deps_1.zip.sig (signed with RSA key ID `610945D0`_) +.. _`610945D0`: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x610945D0 + +Berkely DB version warning +========================== + +A warning for people using the *static binary* version of Bitcoin on a Linux/UNIX-ish system (tl;dr: **Berkely DB databases are not forward compatible**). + +The static binary version of Bitcoin is linked against libdb4.7 or libdb4.8 (see also `this Debian issue`_). + +Now the nasty thing is that databases from 5.X are not compatible with 4.X. + +If the globally installed development package of Berkely DB installed on your system is 5.X, any source you +build yourself will be linked against that. The first time you run with a 5.X version the database will be upgraded, +and 4.X cannot open the new format. This means that you cannot go back to the old statically linked version without +significant hassle! + +.. _`this Debian issue`: http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=621425 |