Welcome to the streamlined guide on setting up the Hermes IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) relayer, a vital tool for communicating between different blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem. Whether you are a seasoned developer or a curious beginner, this guide will help you understand how to effectively use this powerful library built in Rust.

What is Hermes?

Hermes is a Rust implementation of an Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) relayer, enabling seamless communication between blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem. The Hermes project is composed of several key components (or crates) that allow you to manage different aspects of blockchain communication efficiently.

Key Components of Hermes

• [ibc-relayer]: Provides an implementation of the IBC relayer as a library.
• [ibc-relayer-cli]: A command-line interface (CLI) that wraps the ibc-relayer library.
• [ibc-chain-registry]: Functions to fetch data from the chain registry and automatically generate chain configuration for Hermes.
• [ibc-telemetry]: Gathers telemetry data and exposes it through a Prometheus endpoint.
• [ibc-relayer-rest]: Provides a REST API to inspect the state of the relayer.
• [ibc-test-framework]: Infrastructure for writing end-to-end tests, including relayer and Cosmos full nodes.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have Rust installed, specifically version 1.76.0 or later. If you don’t have Rust installed, you can visit the Rust installation page for instructions.

Setting Up Hermes

Follow these simple steps to get Hermes up and running:

1. First, clone the Hermes repository from GitHub or download the latest release from the Hermes Repository.
2. Navigate into the cloned directory:

cd hermes

3. Build the project using Cargo:

cargo build --release

4. Once built, you can run the Hermes CLI by executing:

./target/release/hermes

5. To get started with your first inter-blockchain transaction, make sure to configure your chains adequately using the provided configuration files.

Understanding the Code: The Analogy

Think of the Hermes IBC relayer as a postal service in a vast city (the blockchain environments). Each neighborhood has its own unique postal code (the blockchain) and certain rules for how packages (data/transactions) should be delivered.

The different crates in the Hermes project can be likened to the various departments within the postal service:

• [ibc-relayer]: The logistics department that creates and manages deliveries.
• [ibc-relayer-cli]: The customer service center where users interact to send and receive their packages.
• [ibc-chain-registry]: The directory service that keeps track of which neighborhoods have what postal codes.
• [ibc-telemetry]: The monitoring team that keeps tabs on how packages are being delivered.
• [ibc-relayer-rest]: The public information desk where people can check the status of their deliveries.
• [ibc-test-framework]: The training department ensuring that package handlers know how to properly deliver to each neighborhood.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues while setting up or using the Hermes IBC relayer, consider the following tips:

• Ensure that you are using Rust version 1.76.0 or greater. You can check your Rust version with rustc --version.
• If you face issues with building the project, ensure that all dependencies are correctly installed.
• If your commands return unexpected results, double-check your configuration files for any syntax errors or incorrect settings.
• Consult the comprehensive guide available at hermes.informal.systems for more specific documentation and support.

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Conclusion

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Additional Resources

For further exploration about IBC specifications and developments, you can visit the various resources linked below:

• IBC Website
• IBC Specification
• IBC Modules in Go
• IBC Relayer in TypeScript
• IBC Relayer in Go