Using AlethZero

AlethZero is the C++/Qt proof-of-concept Ethereum graphical client.

It can be used to connect the global Ethereum test network (by simply running it and clicking 'Connect', followed by 'OK'), but can also be used to connect to a local test network.

AlethZero has four panes; the first showing the peers it is currently connected to, the second showing the accounts and their balances currently in the test network. The third shows the pending transactions on the network and the fourth shows the full block chain, along with all of the transactions within it. The latter three are blank when you being AlethZero for the first time, since there are no blocks nor transactions.

The bottom of AlethZero shows your account balance and address, and over to the right some information about the block chain size, difficulty and number of peers.

Interaction with AlethZero happens on the toolbar along the top; the 'Net' button is used to being the network subsystem and start listening for connections. To make your first connection into the network, you should click connect and enter the details of the peer you wish to connect to, or, if you want to connect to the global test network, leave it as it is and click OK.

You can send funds (once you have some!) by entering the amount of funds to send, an appropriate fee and the address to which you wish to send them. Once this is done, clicking Send will package that transaction up and put it into the transaction queue (the third pane).

In case you don't have the address of a friend to send them, you can create new addresses by clicking the Create button - this will give you a new address along with the secret key that allows you to sign transactions. AlethZero doesn't currently (easily) allow you to change your client's address (i.e. that from which you send funds), but we'll be folding this in soon.

To enlarge the block chain and "set in stone" transactions, people must mine in Ethereum. In AlethZero you can do this simply by clicking the 'Mine' button. After a while (it could take a long time!), you should see blocks appearing in the fourth column - these have been "mined" and will be sent to any peers that are connected. If they mine one first, you'll see it listed in the column.

That's it - happy mining!