Alright, settle in, kids, it’s time to get nerdy with Bitcoin! 🧐 If you thought the world of Bitcoin was just for suit-and-tie types or those overly serious tech bros, think again! This is a guide that takes you through the joys of Bitcoin right from the command line.

That’s right, no flashy interfaces, no cute pop-ups, just pure, unadulterated command-line magic! The masterminds behind this guide are Christopher Allen (AKA the guy who helps make security sexy) and Shannon Appelcline (AKA the wizard of blockchain development).

These heroes, like the Bart and Milhouse of the open-source world, have made it their mission to help you become the Homer Simpson of Bitcoin programming: a little rough around the edges but powerful as heck when it matters. So, grab your coffee (or cola — no judgment), and let’s dive into learning how to play with Bitcoin in its purest, most powerful form. After all, who needs all those shiny wallets when you can be a command-line Bitcoin King? 🙌

Why the Command Line? Isn’t That Just for Nerds?🤓

The command line might seem as ancient as Mr. Burns, but it’s actually where you get total control over Bitcoin. With command line skills, you can manage transactions, inspect blocks, and even build and test apps, straight from the Bitcoin Matrix. And no, you don’t need a Ph.D. in computer science or to be as smart as Lisa! Just a few basic commands like `cd`, `ls`, and `mkdir` are enough to get started. For everything else? The course has your back.

Getting Ready: Gear Up for Some Command Line Magic

Think of this as Springfield’s version of a coding dojo.

Here’s the setup:

1. Bitcoin Core: Install this to get a full node running. Bitcoin Core is the real deal — it’s where all blocks, transactions, and wallet data live.

2. Terminal: The terminal is where you’ll be typing commands. You can even practice calling up Bart’s prank numbers on Moe’s Tavern… but for now, we’ll focus on Bitcoin.

The Basics: Your First Bitcoin Commands

01 — Get Your Wallet Address

bitcoin-cli getnewaddress

Congrats, you’ve just created a new Bitcoin address! Perfect for sending or receiving Bitcoin, and all without any middlemen.

02 — Check Your Wallet Balance

bitcoin-cli getbalance

Want to know if you’ve stacked enough sats to buy the whole Springfield nuclear plant? This command will let you know exactly how much you have.

03 — Send Bitcoin the Hacker Way

bitcoin-cli sendtoaddress <address> <amount>

Now we’re getting into the serious stuff. You can use this to send Bitcoin to another address. Just be sure you’re not sending it to that scammer who “promises” double your Bitcoin!

Exploring Blockchain 📜

Want to see all the transactions in a block? Just pull it up with the command line!

04 — Dive Into Blocks

bitcoin-cli getblock <blockhash>

This lets you see the inner workings of a block in Bitcoin — transactions, size, timestamp. Imagine being able to look into Homer’s mind, only way cooler!

05 — Transaction Breakdown

bitcoin-cli getrawtransaction <txid> 1

Wondering where a specific transaction went? Use this command to look at all the details. It’s like an audit trail but ten times more fun because it’s Bitcoin!

Advanced Moves 🎩

Lightning Network Calls ⚡

When you’re ready, you can also get hands-on with Lightning Network commands! This lets you send microtransactions super-fast without waiting for confirmations. Think of it as instant tips at Moe’s Tavern or making micro-donations to support Lisa’s sax solos.

Time to Show Off! 🎉

06 — Generate a Seed Phrase 🌱

bitcoin-cli generateseed

This command helps create a seed phrase, a unique set of words that holds your wallet info. If Homer can remember “DonutsForever2024,” you can remember these words to access your wallet anytime.

07 — Create a New Wallet 👜

bitcoin-cli createwallet “walletname”

Set up a new wallet in seconds. Now you’re ready to securely store and access your Bitcoin stash.

08 — Backup Your Wallet 🛡️

bitcoin-cli backupwallet ~/backup/wallet.dat

Backing up your wallet means you won’t lose everything if your computer crashes. This is like saving Moe’s prank list for future generations.

Final Words: Command Line for Real Bitcoiners 🏴‍☠️

The command line is pure Bitcoin power in your hands. Once you’ve got the basics, you’ll be able to handle Bitcoin like a pro, inspect the blockchain, and even build apps for it. This course has all you need, step-by-step, so you don’t have to be a tech genius or nuclear physicist to keep up. It’s like letting Bart loose with superpowers, only now those powers let you move through the blockchain.

So get cracking, Springfield, and learn the command line!

Tips are welcome

Bitcoin Native Segwit: bc1qmlcc9qdkcrzeph0tnnrpf7qk27f5l74897zpq9

Lightning Network: satoshiplanet@stacker.news // satoshiplanet@zbd.gg

Ordinals, Runes, and BRC-20 tokens : bc1pg0d9knv65g0qwzak4t4dcumgce7xvqv6e4d36m8t7mtap6epr9vqmerqz5

Stacks NFTs & SIP-10 tokens: SPNQYZ5G9SWH5639C6GEMNMXJH48ETV34D8SMCVA

Thanks for reading, sat!