The Bitcoin Block Clock

Raspberry Pi Full Node with 32 x 32 RGB LED network visualizer

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78u8EQtIXMY

imgur gallery: https://imgur.com/a/KYPKK

Dependencies:

• python-bitcoinrpc: https://github.com/jgarzik/python-bitcoinrpc (modified, included in this git as bitcoinrpc.py)

• Adafruit RGB LED matrix driver: https://github.com/adafruit/rpi-rgb-led-matrix/ Modified (see my fork: https://github.com/pinheadmz/rpi-rgb-led-matrix) already compiled and included in this git as rgbmatrix.so

• PyQRCode: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/PyQRCode:

$ sudo pip install pyqrcode

• Bitcoin Core (or alt-client, check out http://raspnode.com/diy.html) with the following lines added to ~/.bitcoin/bitcoin.config (see Installation below, the paths should match):

blocknotify=python /home/pi/bin/ClockBlocker/block.py %s
walletnotify=python /home/pi/bin/ClockBlocker/tx.py %s

other helpful bitcoin.config parameters for running a full node on an RPi:

minrelaytxfee=0.00005000
limitfreerelay=0
dbcache=50

other tips for running a full node on an RPi:

• use an SSD drive (not a USB memory stick) for the blockchain
• Bitcoin Core version 0.12 employs libsecp256k1 which improves block validation time a great deal

Installation:

Clone this repository in ~/bin and make easy-to-type command to start clock:

$ cd ~/bin
$ git clone https://github.com/pinheadmz/ClockBlocker.git
$ ln -s ~/bin/ClockBlocker/ledbits.py ~/bin/ledbits
$ sudo chmod 577 ~/bin/ledbits

...then from any command line you can start the clock by entering:

$ ledbits
```



### API passwords:

* Bitcoin: create file `bitcoinAuth.py` which contains:
```
USER = "YOUR-BITCOIN-RPC-USERNAME"
PW = "YOUR-BITCOIN-RPC-PASSWORD"
```
* IP geo-location service: Sign up for API key at http://www.ipinfodb.com/ip_location_api.php

...then create file `ipInfoAuth.py` which contains:
```
api_username = 'YOUR-USERNAME'
api_pw = 'YOUR-PASSWORD'
api_key = 'YOUR-API-KEY'
```

### Hardware:
Here's a "wishlist" I made on Adafruit (accepts Bitcoin!) with most the components I used for the build:

https://www.adafruit.com/wishlists/394607

A few of these items might be found cheaper on other sites, but this is overall the shopping list.
I didn't include HDMI or USB cables, or the materials I used in my own "custom" power distributor, but that Adafruit 10A power supply is enough to run the entire system.

Here's the SSD I'm using for the blockchain:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EZ2FRU2