readmes

README

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-Electrum - a lightweight Bitcoin client and its server
-
-Licence: GNU GPL v3
-Author: thomasv@gitorious
-Language: Python
-
-Main features:
-
-Client:
- * The client uses a deterministic wallet; if the wallet is lost, it can be recovered from its passphrase.
- * The client does not download the Bitcoin blockchain; it requests that information from the server
- * The client does not send its private keys to the server.
- * The client does not need to open a port, it simply polls the server for updates.
-
-Server:
- * The server uses a patched version of the Bitcoin daemon that can forward transactions, and bitcoin-abe
- * The server code is open source. Anyone can run a server, removing single points of failure concerns.
- * The server knows which set of Bitcoin addresses belong to the same wallet, which might raise concerns about anonymity. 
-However, it should be possible to write clients capable of using several servers.
-
-----------------------------------------------------------
-INSTALLATION
-
-Client:  
-1. install python-ecdsa and pycrypto:
-   * sudo easy_install ecdsa
-   * sudo easy_install pycrypto
-2. run the client:
-   python electrum
-
-Server:
-
-1. patch and recompile the bitcoin daemon - bitcoinrpc.diff
-2. install bitcoin-abe : https://github.com/jtobey/bitcoin-abe
-3. install bitcoinrpc : https://gitorious.org/python-bitcoin
-     patch it too, see bitcoinrpc_connection.py.diff
-4. launch the server:  python server.py

client/README

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+Electrum - lightweight Bitcoin client
+
+Licence: GNU GPL v3
+Author: thomasv@gitorious
+Language: Python
+
+Features:
+
+* Encrypted wallet: the file that contains your bitcoins is protected with a password. You are protected from thieves.
+* Deterministic key generation: If you lose your wallet, you can recover it from its seed. You are protected from your own mistakes.
+* No blockchain download: the client requests blockchain information from a server. No delays, always up-to-date.
+* Transactions are signed locally: Your private keys are not shared with the server. You do not have to trust the server with your money.
+* Privacy: The server does not know you, it does not store user accounts. You are not tied to a particular server.
+* No single point of failure: The server code is open source, anyone can run a server.
+* Firewall friendly: The client does not need to open a port, it simply polls the server for updates.
+* Open Source: Anyone can audit the code.
+* Python. Very compact code, easy to contribute.
+
+
+
+INSTALL
+
+You need install pygtk, python-ecdsa and pycrypto
+
+* sudo easy_install ecdsa
+* sudo easy_install pycrypto
+
+
+RUN
+
+python electrum.py
+
+if arguments are passed in the line arguments, Electrum will run in text mode.
+example:
+
+python electrum.py balance

server/README

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+Electrum - server for the Electrum client
+
+Licence: GNU GPL v3
+Author: thomasv@gitorious
+Language: Python
+
+Features: 
+
+* The server uses a patched version of the Bitcoin daemon that can
+forward transactions, and bitcoin-abe * The server code is open
+source. Anyone can run a server, removing single points of failure
+concerns.
+
+* The server knows which set of Bitcoin addresses belong to the same
+wallet, which might raise concerns about anonymity. However, it should
+be possible to write clients capable of using several servers.
+
+
+INSTALL
+
+1. patch and recompile the bitcoin daemon - bitcoinrpc.diff
+2. install bitcoin-abe : https://github.com/jtobey/bitcoin-abe
+3. install bitcoinrpc : https://gitorious.org/python-bitcoin
+     patch it too, see bitcoinrpc_connection.py.diff
+4. launch the server:  nohup python -u server.py > /var/log/electrum.log &
+
+5. if you have a webserver, you can use electrum.php to forward http requests to the server