Core Lightning Application

Run a Core Lightning application for your node. An official app by Blockstream. Powered by Core Lightning.

---

Prerequisites

• Functioning and synced Bitcoin & Core lightning node.
• Node.js, which can be downloaded here
• Recommended Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge

---

Getting started

• Standalone

  • Get latest release

    wget https://github.com/ElementsProject/cln-application/archive/refs/tags/v0.0.1.tar.gz
    tar -xzf v0.0.1.tar.gz
    

  • Dependency Installation

    cd cln-application-0.0.1
    npm install --omit=dev
    

  • Environment Variables

    This application accepts & depends upon these variables to be passed through environment:

    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_IP: IP address of this application (cln-application) container (required)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_PORT: Port on which this application should be served (required)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_DAEMON_IP: IP address of Core lightning node container (required)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_WEBSOCKET_PORT: Core lightning's websocket port (required; from cln's config.json; starting with `bind-addr=ws:`)
    - APP_CONFIG_DIR: Path for cln-application's configuration file (required; config.json)
    - COMMANDO_CONFIG: Full Path including file name for commando auth with PUBKEY & RUNE (required)
    - APP_BITCOIN_NODE_IP: IP address of bitcoin node container (required)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_BITCOIN_NETWORK: Bitcoin network type (optional; for entrypoint.sh; valid values: bitcoin/signet/testnet/regtest)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_REST_PORT: c-lightning-REST server port (optional; for connect wallet screen)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_REST_CERT_DIR: Path for c-lightning-REST certificates (optional; for connect wallet screen)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_DAEMON_GRPC_PORT: Core lightning's GRPC port (optional; future proofing for connect wallet screen)
    - APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_REST_HIDDEN_SERVICE: REST hidden service url (optional; for connect wallet screen; Used for Tor Domain also)
    - DEVICE_DOMAIN_NAME: Device name/IP for lnmessage connect url feature (optional; for connect wallet screen)
    - LOCAL_HOST: Device url for connect url links (optional; for connect wallet screen)
    - APP_MODE: Mode for logging and other settings (valid values: production/development/testing, default: production)
    - SINGLE_SIGN_ON: Flag to bypass application level authentication (valid values: true/false, default: false)
    - APP_PROTOCOL: Protocol on which the application will be served (valid values: http/https, default: http)
    - CORE_LIGHTNING_PATH: Path for core lightning (optional; required for entrypoint.sh)
    

    Set these variables either via terminal OR by env.sh script OR by explicitly loading variables from .env files. Important Note: Environment variables take precedence over config.json variables. Like SINGLE_SIGN_ON will take higher precedence over singleSignOn from config.json.

  • Application Configuration

    This is the config.json file which is required by application's frontend. If the file named config.json is missing at APP_CONFIG_DIR location, one like below will be auto created:

      {
        "unit": "SATS",
        "fiatUnit": "USD",
        "appMode": "DARK",
        "isLoading": false,
        "error": null,
        "singleSignOn": false,
        "password": ""
      }
    

  • Commando Authentication

    • This application utilizes lnmessage and commando for connecting with core lightning node. The connection is trustless and end-to-end encrypted. Commando manages authentication and authorization through runes, which can grant either full or fine-grained permissions.

    • The backend server reads LIGHTNING_PUBKEY & LIGHTNING_RUNE from the COMMANDO_CONFIG file for this communication.

    • Values can either be set manually or script entrypoint.sh can be used to call getinfo and createrune methods and save values in COMMANDO_CONFIG.

    • entrypoint.sh can only run for the locally installed lightning. If cln-application is running remotely then pubkey and rune can be set manually.

    • Sample commando config should look like:

        LIGHTNING_PUBKEY="03d2d3b2...0f8303bfe"
        LIGHTNING_RUNE="iv...4j"
      

  • Start The Application

    • Setup environment variables either via terminal OR by env.sh script OR by explicitly loading variables from .env files.
    • Run start script for starting your application's server at port APP_CORE_LIGHTNING_PORT

      npm run start
    

• Stores/Marketplaces

  • This application is also available on Umbrel App Store and Start9 OS with one click install.

---

Contributing

• We welcome and appreciate new contributions!

• If you're a developer looking to help but not sure where to begin, look for these issues that have specifically been marked as being friendly to new contributors.

• If you're looking for a bigger challenge, before opening a pull request please create an issue to get feedback, discuss the best way to tackle the challenge, and to ensure that there's no duplication of work.

• Click here for instructions on how to run it in development mode.

---

Acknowledgements

• This app is inspired by the work done by Umbrel lightning app.

• The backend api connects with core lightning via lnmessage.