How to Install Blockbook for Dogecoin Testnet

Nov 19, 2023

What is Blockbook?

Blockbook is a back-end service for Trezor Suite, But we can use it as a dogecoin explorer and api service.
Blockbook is OpenSource and actively maintained.
The Github repo address is: https://github.com/trezor/blockbook

Install and Run

To install Blockbook, you will need to use Linux Debian version 11 (Bullseye) or later.
Blockbook is a complex software that utilizes Docker for compilation, so you need to install Docker.
For instructions on how to install Docker, you can refer to the following URL:
https://docs.docker.com/install/linux/docker-ce/debian/.
Then use git to obtain the source code:
git clone https://github.com/trezor/blockbook
Go to blockbook directory and run:
make all-dogecoin_testnet
This will take a considerable amount of time.
Go to blockbook/build directory and run:
sudo apt install ./backend-dogecoin-testnet_*.deb
Fix The Bug!
While writing this document, I discovered a bug. In the file /opt/coins/nodes/dogecoin_testnet/dogecoin_testnet.conf, the line [test] needs to be removed. Otherwise, the rpcport will not take effect, causing Blockbook to be unable to connect to the backend. so the config file looks like this:
```
daemon=1
server=1
testnet=1
nolisten=1
rpcuser=rpc
rpcpassword=rpcp

txindex=1

zmqpubhashtx=tcp://127.0.0.1:48338
zmqpubhashblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:48338

rpcworkqueue=1100
maxmempool=2000
dbcache=1000
# generated from additional_params
discover=0
rpcthreads=16
upnp=0
whitelist=127.0.0.1

rpcport=18038
```
Now you can start synchronizing with the network:
sudo systemctl start backend-dogecoin-testnet.service
check the status of Dogecoind synchronizing:
sudo tail -f /opt/coins/data/dogecoin_testnet/backend/testnet3/debug.log
If the blockchain is fully synchronized, you can start installing your Blockbook.
Go to the directory blockbook/build and run:
sudo apt install ./blockbook-dogecoin-testnet_*.deb
Run Blockbook:
sudo systemctl start blockbook-dogecoin-testnet
Check the status of Blockbook synchronizing:
tail -f /opt/coins/blockbook/dogecoin_testnet/logs/blockbook.INFO

How to access Blockbook service?

You can access the explorer using the url: https://127.0.0.1:19138/
You can access the api using the url: https://127.0.0.1:19138/api/v2/

Important:

Blockbook uses a self-signed certificate.
It is necessary to go to the address in your browser, confirm the certificate, and then add the address to your wallet.
If you use curl, you can add -k param, like this:
curl -k https://127.0.0.1:19138/api/v2/