Client

A client in the Aleo network is a node that serves blockchain data and interacts with the network without participating in consensus or block production. Clients play a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing access to blockchain data and facilitating user interactions with the network.

Key features of an Aleo client:

Data Retrieval: Clients can fetch and serve blockchain data, including blocks, transactions, and state information, to users and applications.
Transaction Submission: Users can submit new transactions to the network through client nodes.
Network Interaction: Clients maintain connections with other nodes to stay updated with the latest blockchain state.
Lightweight Operation: Compared to validators and provers, clients have lower hardware requirements, making them more accessible to run.
API Access: Many clients expose REST APIs, allowing developers to build applications that interact with the Aleo network.

To run an Aleo client node:

Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements:
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 (LTS), macOS Sonoma or later, Windows 11 or later
- CPU: 32-cores
- RAM: 32GB of memory
- Storage: 300GB of disk space (PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVME SSD or better)
- Network: 100Mbps of upload and download bandwidth
Install snarkOS following the instructions in the Build Guide.
Start the client node by running:
```
./run-client.sh
```
Or use the following command for more control:
```
snarkos start --client
```

By running a client node, you contribute to the decentralization and robustness of the Aleo network while gaining direct access to its data and functionality.