prysm

Go implementation of Ethereum proof of stake

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go-ethereum

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lodestar

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Quick Overview

Prysm is an open-source Ethereum 2.0 client implementation written in Go. It is developed by Prysmatic Labs and aims to provide a robust, secure, and efficient solution for participating in the Ethereum 2.0 network as a validator or node operator.

Pros

Written in Go, offering good performance and cross-platform compatibility
Active development and strong community support
Comprehensive documentation and guides for users
Implements the latest Ethereum 2.0 specifications and features

Cons

Relatively complex setup process for non-technical users
Resource-intensive, requiring significant hardware resources for optimal performance
Potential for bugs or vulnerabilities due to the evolving nature of Ethereum 2.0
Dependency on external services for certain features (e.g., block explorers)

Getting Started

To get started with Prysm, follow these steps:

Install Go (version 1.16 or later)

Clone the Prysm repository:

git clone https://github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm
cd prysm

Build the Prysm binaries:
```
go build ./...
```

Generate a new validator key:

./prysm.sh validator accounts create --wallet-dir=/path/to/wallet

Start the beacon node:
```
./prysm.sh beacon-chain
```

Start the validator client:

./prysm.sh validator --wallet-dir=/path/to/wallet

For more detailed instructions and configuration options, refer to the official Prysm documentation.

Competitor Comparisons

go-ethereum

47,370

Go implementation of the Ethereum protocol

Pros of go-ethereum

More established and widely adopted Ethereum implementation
Extensive documentation and community support
Broader functionality, including full node and light client support

Cons of go-ethereum

Larger codebase, potentially more complex to navigate
Slower to implement new Ethereum upgrades compared to Prysm
Higher resource requirements for running a full node

Code Comparison

go-ethereum (consensus engine):

func (ethash *Ethash) Seal(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, block *types.Block, results chan<- *types.Block, stop <-chan struct{}) error {
    // Sealing implementation
}

Prysm (beacon chain):

func (s *Service) Start() {
    s.stateNotifier.StateFeed().Send(&feed.Event{
        Type: statefeed.Initialized,
        Data: &statefeed.InitializedData{
            StartTime: s.genesisTime,
        },
    })
}

The code snippets show different aspects of each project. go-ethereum focuses on the consensus engine for Ethereum 1.0, while Prysm implements the beacon chain for Ethereum 2.0. This reflects the different purposes and architectures of the two projects.

lighthouse

2,911

Ethereum consensus client in Rust

Pros of Lighthouse

Written in Rust, offering memory safety and performance benefits
Modular architecture allows for easier customization and component reuse
Supports advanced features like weak subjectivity sync

Cons of Lighthouse

Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Prysm
Less extensive documentation for developers and users
Fewer third-party integrations and tools available

Code Comparison

Lighthouse (Rust):

pub fn process_attestation(
    state: &mut BeaconState<T>,
    attestation: &Attestation<T>,
    verify_signatures: bool,
) -> Result<(), AttestationProcessingError> {
    // Implementation details
}

Prysm (Go):

func ProcessAttestation(
    ctx context.Context,
    state *stateTrie.BeaconState,
    att *ethpb.Attestation,
) (*stateTrie.BeaconState, error) {
    // Implementation details
}

Both implementations handle attestation processing, but Lighthouse's Rust code leverages strong typing and error handling, while Prysm's Go code uses context and custom types for state management.

lodestar

1,137

🌟 TypeScript Implementation of Ethereum Consensus

Pros of Lodestar

Written in TypeScript, offering better type safety and easier integration with web-based applications
Modular architecture allows for easier customization and component reuse
Lightweight and efficient, suitable for resource-constrained environments

Cons of Lodestar

Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Prysm
Less battle-tested in production environments
May have fewer advanced features and optimizations

Code Comparison

Lodestar (TypeScript):

import {BeaconChain, Config} from "@chainsafe/lodestar-chain";
import {createBeaconConfig} from "@chainsafe/lodestar-config";

const config = createBeaconConfig(Config);
const chain = new BeaconChain({config});

Prysm (Go):

import (
    "github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm/beacon-chain/blockchain"
    "github.com/prysmaticlabs/prysm/config/params"
)

cfg := params.BeaconConfig()
chain := blockchain.NewService(ctx, &blockchain.Config{})

Both repositories are Ethereum 2.0 clients, but they differ in their implementation languages and design philosophies. Lodestar's TypeScript-based approach offers advantages in web integration and type safety, while Prysm's Go implementation may provide better performance in certain scenarios. The choice between them depends on specific project requirements and developer preferences.

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README

Prysm: An Ethereum Consensus Implementation Written in Go

This is the core repository for Prysm, a Golang implementation of the Ethereum Consensus specification, developed by Offchain Labs. See the Changelog for details of the latest releases and upcoming breaking changes.

Getting Started

A detailed set of installation and usage instructions as well as breakdowns of each individual component are available in the official documentation portal. If you still have questions, feel free to stop by our Discord.

Staking on Mainnet

To participate in staking, you can join the official eth2 launchpad. The launchpad is the only recommended way to become a validator on mainnet. You can explore validator rewards/penalties via Bitfly's block explorer: beaconcha.in, and follow the latest blocks added to the chain on beaconscan.

Contributing

Branches

Prysm maintains two permanent branches:

master: This points to the latest stable release. It is ideal for most users.
develop: This is used for development, it contains the latest PRs. Developers should base their PRs on this branch.

Guide

Want to get involved? Check out our Contribution Guide to learn more!

License

GNU General Public License v3.0

Legal Disclaimer

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