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 seven panes;

• Transact (Top left): For making transactions
• Owned Accounts (Middle left): List of your Ethereum addresses
• Log (Bottom): Displays details about the activity of your client
• Blocks & Transactions (Middle): List of all blocks on the network. If they contain transactions, these will be listed below the block#
• All Accounts (Top right): List of all known accounts that contain 'ether' on the network
• Network (Middle right): Shows a list of all the nodes you are connected to
• Pending (Bottom right): All the transactions on the network that have not been included in a block

The statusbar at the bottom of AlethZero shows your total account balance, number of peers and some information about the block chain size and difficulty

Interaction with AlethZero happens on the toolbar along the top; the 'Connect' button is used to begin the network subsystem and start listening for connections. To make your first connection into the network, 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.

In case you don't have the address of a friend to send them, you can create new addresses by clicking the 'Create' from the Tools-menu - 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 - 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!