Building Ethereum from Source: Specifying a Stable Build
The official Ethereum source code repository can be downloaded directly from GitHub. However, building a full-fledged blockchain from scratch requires more than just uploading code. One of the common problems when trying to build Ethereum from source code is finding “bugs” associated with preliminary test builds.
When you try to run bitcoind getinfo in a stable build, you will most likely see an error message indicating that this is a preliminary test build. This can be annoying, especially if you want to get the latest development version of Ethereum. But fear not, as there are steps you can take to specify a stable build when building Ethereum from source.
Why precompiling is important
Prebuilds serve as a testing ground for Ethereum developers and researchers before releasing a new version of the software. These builds usually include features that will be included in future releases, but are not yet fully tested or stabilized. By using preliminary test builds, you can get valuable information about code behavior and identify potential problems before they are fixed.
Definition of a stable build
To install a stable build when building Ethereum from source, follow these steps:
- Download the correct branch: Make sure you have downloaded the latest stable version of the Ethereum repository from GitHub. You can check for updates on the [GitHub page](
- Choose the correct configuration: Use the
--configoption to specify a build configuration that is more stable than the default configuration. For example:
* bitcoind --config=stability:mainnet
This will set the build to use the default network configuration, which is generally considered more stable.
- Set Branch: Specify the branch you want to use when building Ethereum from source. A list of available branches can be found on GitHub.
Example build command
Here is an example of a command that downloads the latest stable version of the Ethereum repository and specifies the mainnet configuration with the stability branch:
git clone
cd core-block
bitcoind --config=stability:mainnet
Completing the build
Once you’ve specified the stable build, you can run bitcoind getinfo to check if it’s using the correct configuration:
bitcoin getinfo | grep errors
An error message should appear indicating that this is a preliminary test build. To fix this problem, simply run the command again specifying the stable build.
By following these steps and specifying a stable build when building Ethereum from source, you can be sure that your development environment is accurate and reflects the latest code changes. Remember that you should always exercise caution when working with pre-release versions, as they may contain new risks or security vulnerabilities.
