- name
- xian-node
- description
- Set up and manage Xian blockchain nodes. Use when deploying a Xian node to join mainnet/testnet, creating a new Xian network, or managing running nodes. Covers Docker-based setup via xian-stack, CometBFT configuration, and node monitoring.
Xian Node Skill
Deploy and manage Xian blockchain nodes — an L1 with native Python smart contracts on CometBFT.
Quick Reference
| Task | Command | |
|---|---|---|
| Join mainnet | make setup && make core-build && make core-up && make init && make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--genesis-file-name genesis-mainnet.json --seed-node-address <seed> --copy-genesis' | |
| Start node | make core-shell then make up inside container | |
| View logs | pm2 logs --lines 100 (inside container) | |
| Stop node | make down (inside container) or make core-down (stop container) | |
| Check sync | `curl -s localhost:26657/status \ | jq '.result.sync_info'` |
Setup: Join Existing Network
1. Clone and Build
git clone https://github.com/xian-network/xian-stack.git
cd xian-stack
make setup CORE_BRANCH=mainnet CONTRACTING_BRANCH=mainnet
make core-build
make core-up2. Initialize CometBFT
make init3. Configure Node
Mainnet:
make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--moniker "my-node" --genesis-file-name "genesis-mainnet.json" --seed-node-address "c3861ffd16cf6708aef6683d3d0471b6dedb3116@152.53.18.220" --copy-genesis'Testnet:
make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--moniker "my-node" --genesis-file-name "genesis-testnet.json" --seed-node-address "<testnet-seed>" --copy-genesis'Validator node (add private key):
make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--moniker "my-validator" --genesis-file-name "genesis-mainnet.json" --validator-privkey "<your-privkey>" --seed-node-address "..." --copy-genesis'Service node (with BDS - Blockchain Data Service):
make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--moniker "my-service" --genesis-file-name "genesis-mainnet.json" --seed-node-address "..." --copy-genesis --service-node'4. Start Node
make core-shell # Enter container
make up # Start pm2 processes
pm2 logs # Watch sync progress
exit # Leave shell (node keeps running)Setup: Create New Network
1. Build Stack
git clone https://github.com/xian-network/xian-stack.git
cd xian-stack
make setup CORE_BRANCH=mainnet CONTRACTING_BRANCH=mainnet
make core-build
make core-up
make init2. Generate Validator Keys
Inside container (make core-shell):
# Generate new validator key
python -c "
from nacl.signing import SigningKey
import secrets
sk = SigningKey(secrets.token_bytes(32))
print(f'Private key: {sk.encode().hex()}')
print(f'Public key: {sk.verify_key.encode().hex()}')
"3. Create Genesis File
Create genesis.json with initial validators and state. See references/genesis-template.md.
4. Configure as Genesis Validator
make configure CONFIGURE_ARGS='--moniker "genesis-validator" --genesis-file-name "genesis-custom.json" --validator-privkey "<privkey>"'5. Start Network
make core-shell
make upOther nodes join using your node as seed.
Node Management
Inside Container Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
make up | Start xian + cometbft via pm2 |
make down | Stop all pm2 processes |
make restart | Restart node |
make logs | View pm2 logs |
make wipe | Clear node data (keeps config) |
make dwu | Down + wipe + init + up (full reset) |
Monitoring
Sync status:
curl -s localhost:26657/status | jq '.result.sync_info'Response fields:
latest_block_height: Current heightcatching_up:trueif still syncingearliest_block_height: Lowest available block
Node info:
curl -s localhost:26657/status | jq '.result.node_info'
make node-id # Get node ID for peeringValidators:
curl -s localhost:26657/validators | jq '.result.validators'Docker Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
make core-up | Start container |
make core-down | Stop container |
make core-shell | Enter container shell |
make core-bds-up | Start with BDS (PostgreSQL + GraphQL) |
Ports
| Port | Service |
|---|---|
| 26656 | P2P (peering) |
| 26657 | RPC (queries) |
| 26660 | Prometheus metrics |
| 5000 | GraphQL (BDS only) |
Troubleshooting
Database lock error (resource temporarily unavailable):
# Duplicate pm2 processes - clean up:
pm2 delete all
make upSync stuck:
# Check peer connections
curl -s localhost:26657/net_info | jq '.result.n_peers'
# Verify seed node is reachable
make wipe
make init
# Re-run configure with correct seedContainer not starting:
make core-down
make core-build --no-cache
make core-upFile Locations
| Path | Contents |
|---|---|
.cometbft/ | CometBFT data + config |
.cometbft/config/genesis.json | Network genesis |
.cometbft/config/config.toml | Node configuration |
.cometbft/data/ | Blockchain data |
xian-core/ | Xian ABCI application |
xian-contracting/ | Python contracting engine |
Test Your Node
After syncing, verify your node works with xian-py:
pip install xian-pyfrom xian_py import Xian, Wallet
# Connect to your local node
xian = Xian('http://localhost:26657')
# Query balance
balance = xian.get_balance('your_address')
print(f"Balance: {balance}")
# Get contract state
state = xian.get_state('currency', 'balances', 'some_address')
print(f"State: {state}")
# Create wallet and send transaction
wallet = Wallet() # or Wallet('your_private_key')
xian = Xian('http://localhost:26657', wallet=wallet)
result = xian.send(amount=10, to_address='recipient_address')For full SDK docs (contracts, HD wallets, async) — see xian-py.
Resources
- xian-network/xian-stack — Docker setup
- xian-network/xian-core — Core node
- xian-network/xian-py — Python SDK
- CometBFT docs — Consensus engine
- xian.org — Project site