Welcome to the exciting world of Catena, a distributed database that combines the robustness of SQL with the innovative technology of the blockchain! In this article, we will take you through the steps necessary to build and run Catena on both macOS and Linux platforms.

Understanding Catena: The Basics

Imagine a bustling city where each building represents data and every street acts as a secure, trustless connection between these buildings. Now, instead of relying on a central authority to manage traffic and allow the movement of goods, every building (or node) communicates directly with one another using a shared ledger—this is the blockchain. Catena adheres to this model, enabling distributed SQL transactions while ensuring modifications and permissions are accurately implemented.

Building Catena on Your System

For macOS Users

Building Catena on macOS only requires a modern version of XCode. Follow these steps:

• Clone the Catena repository:

git clone https://github.com/pixelspark/catena.git

• Navigate into the cloned directory:

cd catena

• Build the project:

swift build

• If you prefer using XCode, generate a project file:

swift package generate-xcodeproj

For Linux Users

The process is similar on Linux, but you need to ensure that Swift 4 is installed along with several dependencies:

• Install the required packages:

apt install clang build-essential libicu-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev openssl libssl-dev

• Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/pixelspark/catena.git

• Navigate and build:

cd catena

swift build

Building with Docker

If you struggle with local installations, Docker is here to save the day!

• Pull the latest Catena image:

docker pull pixelspark/catena

• Run the Docker container:

docker run -p 8338:8338 -p 8339:8339 pixelspark/catena [ARGS]

Running Catena

To start using Catena, you can run it natively by using:

..build/debug/Catena -p 8338 -m -i -s my seed string

• The -i flag initializes a new chain.
• The -s option allows you to specify a unique seed for your blockchain.
• For multi-peer connection, use the -j flag.

Using Catena

Web Client

Access your blockchain’s web interface via port 8338. You can interact with the WebSocket service here.

SQL Interface

Catena’s SQL interface operates on port 8339, where you can connect using PostgreSQL:

psql -h localhost -p 8339 -U random

Your username and password are generated during the initialization of the chain.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during the installation or running of Catena, consider the following:

• Check your Swift installation and ensure it’s available in your PATH.
• Ensure that all dependencies are installed as per the requirements for your OS.
• For Docker issues, ensure that the ports used inside the container match those outside.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.