Tools
A curated list of tools that Bitcoin developers use daily for development, testing, debugging, and analysis.
Node & Network
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Core | Reference full node implementation | github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin |
| btcd | Alternative full node in Go | github.com/btcsuite/btcd |
| Nigiri | Docker-based Bitcoin/Lightning/Liquid dev environment | github.com/vulpemventures/nigiri |
| Polar | One-click Lightning Network dev environment | lightningpolar.com |
| Bitcoin Signet | Centralized test network (more reliable than testnet) | Built into Bitcoin Core |
Block Explorers
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mempool.space | Open-source explorer with mempool visualization | mempool.space / GitHub |
| Blockstream Explorer | Clean explorer with Liquid support | blockstream.info |
| OXT | Privacy-focused chain analysis | oxt.me |
| Esplora | Blockstream's open-source explorer backend | github.com/Blockstream/esplora |
Libraries & SDKs
| Tool | Language | Focus | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BDK | Rust (+ bindings) | Wallet development | bitcoindevkit.org |
| LDK | Rust (+ bindings) | Lightning integration | lightningdevkit.org |
| bitcoinjs-lib | JavaScript | Transaction construction | github.com/bitcoinjs/bitcoinjs-lib |
| python-bitcoinlib | Python | Protocol operations | github.com/petertodd/python-bitcoinlib |
| rust-bitcoin | Rust | Core data structures | github.com/rust-bitcoin/rust-bitcoin |
| rust-miniscript | Rust | Spending policies | github.com/rust-bitcoin/rust-miniscript |
Wallet Tools
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrow Wallet | Desktop wallet with advanced features (coin control, PSBT) | sparrowwallet.com |
| HWI | Hardware Wallet Interface for Bitcoin Core | github.com/bitcoin-core/HWI |
| Specter Desktop | Multisig coordination with hardware wallets | github.com/cryptoadvance/specter-desktop |
Payment Processing
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| BTCPay Server | Self-hosted payment processor | btcpayserver.org |
| LNbits | Lightning-based accounting and extensions | lnbits.com |
| Boltz | Non-custodial submarine swap service | boltz.exchange |
Testing & Debugging
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Core test framework | Python functional tests | Included in Bitcoin Core |
| bitcoin-cli | Command-line RPC interface | Included in Bitcoin Core |
| Miniscript Playground | Test Miniscript policies in browser | bitcoin.sipa.be/miniscript |
| Script Debugger | Step through Bitcoin Script execution | siminchen.github.io/bitcoinIDE |
| Brink Faucet | Testnet/Signet faucet | faucet.brink.dev |
Analysis & Monitoring
| Tool | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Clark Moody Dashboard | Real-time Bitcoin network stats | bitcoin.clarkmoody.com |
| Grafana + Prometheus | Node monitoring dashboards | Various setups |
| Fork Monitor | Detects chain forks and stale blocks | forkmonitor.info |
| Transactionfee.info | Fee estimation and analysis | transactionfee.info |
Development Environment
Quick Setup with Nigiri
# Install Nigiri (Docker required)
curl https://getnigiri.vulpemventures.com | bash
# Start a regtest environment (Bitcoin + Electrs + Esplora)
nigiri start
# Mine blocks
nigiri rpc generatetoaddress 1 $(nigiri rpc getnewaddress)
# Stop
nigiri stop
Quick Setup with Polar
Download from lightningpolar.com and create a network with a few clicks — includes Bitcoin Core nodes, LND, CLN, and Eclair with a visual graph interface.