Are you looking to harness the power of the Cardano blockchain using Python? PyCardano is a lightweight library that allows developers to create and sign transactions without needing external tools. This article will guide you through the installation process, provide examples to get started, and troubleshoot common issues.

What is PyCardano?

PyCardano is a Python library designed specifically for the Cardano blockchain. Developed to simplify the process of creating and signing transactions, it allows developers to write DApps using pure Python without relying on third-party tools like cardano-cli and cardano-serialization-lib. Its current focus is on supporting off-chain code and testing for Plutus DApps, with aspirations to evolve into a full Cardano node client in the future.

Features of PyCardano

• Shelly address support
• Transaction builder capabilities
• Multifaceted transaction signing
• Multi-asset management
• Chain backend integration
• Fee calculation and UTxO selection
• Support for native tokens and scripts
• Staking certificates and rewards
• HD Wallet functionality

Installation Guide

Installing PyCardano is straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Run the command to install using pip:

pip install pycardano

Creating Transactions with PyCardano

Let’s dive into an example that illustrates how to create and sign a transaction. Think of PyCardano as a chef in a kitchen. The transaction builder is like the chef’s tools, and the cooking ingredients are the inputs and outputs you need for a delicious transaction.

Below is a code snippet showcasing how to build a transaction:

from blockfrost import ApiUrls
from pycardano import *

# Use testnet
network = Network.TESTNET

# Read keys to memory
psk = PaymentSigningKey.load(payment.skey)
ssk = StakeSigningKey.load(stake.skey)
pvk = PaymentVerificationKey.from_signing_key(psk)
svk = StakeVerificationKey.from_signing_key(ssk)

# Derive an address
address = Address(pvk.hash(), svk.hash(), network)

# Create a BlockFrost chain context
context = BlockFrostChainContext(your_blockfrost_project_id, base_url=ApiUrls.preprod.value)

# Create a transaction builder
builder = TransactionBuilder(context)

# Specify the input address
builder.add_input_address(address)

# Retrieve UTxOs from the address
utxos = context.utxos(address)

# Adding input to transaction
builder.add_input(utxos[0])

# Create outputs to send to addresses
builder.add_output(TransactionOutput(Address.from_primitive(addr_test1vrm9x2zsux7va6w892g38tvchnzahvcd9tykqf3ygnmwtaqyfg52x), 
Value.from_primitive([1500000, bytes.fromhex("57fca08abbaddee36da742a839f7d83a7e1d2419f1507fcbf3916522"): b"CHOC": 2000])))

# Create final signed transaction
signed_tx = builder.build_and_sign([psk], change_address=address)

# Submit the signed transaction
context.submit_tx(signed_tx)

In this recipe, the chef gathers ingredients (keys, UTxOs), prepares the transaction (using a builder), and completes the dish (submits the transaction).

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during installation or while running your transactions, consider the following troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure that you have all dependencies installed. If you are using Poetry to manage dependencies, run poetry install inside your project directory.
• Check your network settings and make sure you are connected to the correct Cardano testnet or mainnet.
• Review the keys for correct loading; ensure your payment.skey and stake.skey files are present and contain valid data.
• If you experience runtime errors, verify whether the UTxOs are accessible and available at the defined address.

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Conclusion

PyCardano simplifies the interaction with the Cardano blockchain using Python. With its easy setup and powerful functionality, developers can create and sign transactions with ease. Keep exploring through the documentation and consider contributing to the project as it grows.

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