⏩ Getting Started / Setup

Follow these steps to launch your own Hydra Head devnet:

  1. Install prerequisites
    Installation Guide
    Node.js, Docker, git, curl, Yaci DevKit

  2. Start Cardano Devnet
    • npm run start:devnet
    • In Yaci CLI: create-node -o --start
  3. Bridge the node.socket
    • In a separate terminal: npm run bridge:node-socket
    • Leave this running!
  4. Setup directories
    • npm run setup:directories
    • Creates all structure needed.
  5. Choose your workflow
    • Native:
      npm run setup:cardano-cli
      npm run setup:hydra-node
      npm run setup:hydra-tui
    • Docker:
      npm run setup:docker:cardano-cli
      npm run setup:docker:hydra-node
      npm run setup:docker:hydra-tui
  6. Generate keys
    • npm run generate-keys
    • Check keys/payment/{participant}/payment.addr files for addresses.
  7. Top-up wallets with Yaci CLI
    • Example: topup <address> 100
  8. Publish Hydra scripts
    • npm run publish-hydra-scripts
  9. Start HYDRA node & TUI
    • Node: npm run hydra:start or npm run hydra:start:docker
    • TUI: npm run tui:start -- 0 (or Docker)

Trouble? Check our Troubleshooting Guide

Visual Example (Style with emoji, TOC bullets, fenced steps)

Terminal 1: $ npm run start:devnet
Terminal 2: $ create-node -o --start (Yaci CLI)
Terminal 3: $ npm run bridge:node-socket
Then: $ npm run setup:directories
Choose path: Native or Docker
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