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Canopy

Official Go implementation of the Canopy Network blockchain protocol, currently in alphanet.

GitHub Download v0.1.32+beta
Stars
14.7k
Forks
17.4k
Licence
MIT
Language
Go
Last update
15 days ago
Type
Other

What it is

Canopy is a blockchain protocol written in Go. According to its README, it is a recursive framework for building blockchains, where chains help bootstrap new chains, and it is also the seed chain that started that cycle. It is an Ethereum-RPC compatible layer 1 for native transfers, so existing Ethereum wallet and indexer tools may be able to connect to it. The README describes it as in alphanet status.

  • Run a local Canopy network using the Docker Compose commands in the README
  • Build the Canopy binary from source and start a node
  • Connect Ethereum tooling such as MetaMask to the /v1/eth endpoint
  • Read the controller, FSM, BFT, p2p and store modules to understand the design
  • Run the unit test suite with make test

Great for

  • Developers exploring blockchain protocol internals written in Go
  • Teams evaluating Ethereum-RPC compatible layer 1 chains
  • Engineers who want to run a local Canopy test network with Docker
  • Researchers studying BFT consensus and recursive chain bootstrapping

Not ideal for

  • Non-developers looking for a ready-made end-user app: the README is aimed at protocol builders
  • Production users who need a stable network: the README marks the project as alphanet status
  • Anyone needing detailed setup guidance: the README gives only brief build and run commands
Step-by-step guide: how to use CanopyInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Clone and build from source

    You'll need: Go (README badge references v1.21) · Docker (for the containerized Localnet) · make

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/canopy-network/canopy

    Build the full Canopy binary

    make build/canopy-full

    Build the Docker image for Localnet

    make docker/build

    Start the Docker Localnet

    make docker/up
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Build the binary with make build/canopy-full
    • Start the node with canopy start
    • Or start a containerized Localnet with make docker/up and view logs with make docker/logs
    • Run unit tests with make test if you are working on the code
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Use the /v1/eth endpoint as a custom Ethereum RPC, and check the eth-spec notes in fsm/ethereum.md for compatibility details
    • Read the RPC specification in cmd/rpc/README.md before building integrations
    • Review the module READMEs (controller, fsm, bft, p2p, store) to understand how components interact
    • Follow the CONTRIBUTING guidelines and open PRs against the development branch

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v0.1.32+beta7 files incl. signer-linux-arm64Official website & docscanopynetwork.org

Strengths

  • Written in Go under the permissive MIT license
  • The README documents core modules (controller, FSM, BFT consensus, p2p, persistence) with separate docs
  • Offers Ethereum-RPC compatibility for existing wallet and tooling

Trade-offs

  • The README labels the project alphanet status, so it may change or be unstable
  • Setup documentation is brief and points to external wiki pages for protocol details
  • Platform support in the badges is listed as Linux and macOS only

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.