Thorify   

A web3 adaptor for VeChain Thor RESTful API.

Table of contents

• Install
• Usage
• Web3 method supported
• Send transaction
• Documentation
• Play with multi-clause
• Which Stack Should I Choose Regarding Connex,Thorify And Web3-Gear
• FAQ
  • Web3-Gear vs Thorify
  • How do I send VTHO token
  • Multi party payment protocol or sponsored contract
  • Method not supported
  • Subscriptions support
• Notes
• Compatibility
• Debugging
• License

Install

npm i thorify web3@1.* # Web3 is needed as dependency.

Furthermore, if you would like to change web3 version after installation, for example 1.6, run npm i [email protected] [email protected] as subscriptions is a peer dependency.

Usage

// ES6 style
import { thorify } from "thorify";
const Web3 = require("web3");		// Recommend using require() instead of import here

const web3 = thorify(new Web3(), "http://localhost:8669");

web3.eth.getBlock("latest").then(res => console.log(res));
// Best block info will be displayed

If you would like to write code in ES5, check below for the initialization code.

// ES5 style
const thorify = require("thorify").thorify;
const Web3 = require("web3");

const web3 = thorify(new Web3(), "http://localhost:8669");

web3.eth.getBlock("latest").then(res => console.log(res));
// Best block info will be displayed

Web3 method supported

web3 instance
├── eth
│   ├── getBlockNumber
│   ├── getBalance
│   ├── getStorageAt
│   ├── getCode
│   ├── getBlock
│   ├── getTransaction
│   ├── getTransactionReceipt
│   ├── sendTransaction
│   ├── sendSignedTransaction
│   ├── call
│   ├── estimateGas
│   ├── getPastLogs
│   ├── subscribe
│   ├── clearSubscriptions
│   ├── getEnergy
│   ├── getChainTag
│   ├── getBlockRef
│   ├── accounts
│   └── Contract
│       ├── Constructor(new Contract())
│       ├── clone
│       ├── deploy
│       ├── methods
│       ├── methods.myMethod.call
│       ├── methods.myMethod.send
│       ├── methods.myMethod.estimateGas
│       ├── methods.myMethod.encodeABI
│       ├── events
│       ├── once
│       ├── events.myEvent
│       ├── events.allEvents
│       └── getPastEvents
└── utils

Send Transaction

In Thor official implementation , the client DOES NOT neither manage user's private-key/keyStore nor use private key to sign a Transaction. Unfortunately, thorify can not directly perform eth_sendTransaction but there is another way to sign a transaction.

In web3.js accounts, it gives the opportunity to add your private-key, stored in your runtime context (In Node.js context, it's stored in memory while in Browser context, it's stored in memory/local storage), to accounts module. When you are trying to send a transaction, the module will check the private key associated with from field. Once the private key and from have been matched, the module will sign the transaction. The APIs that follows the mechanism are:

• web3.eth.sendTransaction()
• contract.deploy.send()
• contract.methods.myMethod.send()

Documentation

API Reference

Play with multi-clause

1. thor-devkit.js supports multi-clause and sign transaction
2. send signed transaction using sendSignedTransaction

Which Stack Should I Choose Regarding Connex,Thorify And Web3-Gear

• Connex: The standard interface to connect VeChain apps with VeChain blockchain and user.
• Web3-Gear: Proxy Thor's RESTful API to Eth's JSON-RPC, to support Remix, Truffle and more.

Below is an reference when you are planning your technical stack:

Here are some most common scenarios:

1. Develop a web application: Connex + Connex powered VeChain wallets
2. Backend service in Node.js: Thorify + Web3
3. Contract development in Truffle: Web3 + Web3-Gear
4. Contract development in Remix-IDE: Web3 + Web3-Gear

FAQ

How do I send VTHO token

VTHO is a token that compatible with VIP180(ERC-20), you can build a contract instance using web3 and do what ever you want.

• VTHO source code
• Contract Address: 0x0000000000000000000000000000456E65726779

Multi party payment protocol or sponsored contract

It's done by calling the functions of prototype contract, check wiki page for detailed info about prototype contract.

Method not supported

The RESTful API of Thor is different with Ethereum's JSON-RPC, therefore, there are some methods in web3 are not supported by thorify, feel free to open an issue discuss the features.

Notes

• There are three special block number in Ethereum: earliest,latest,pending. In VeChain Thor, we introduced best block and there is no pending block, so they will be replaced with 0 (aka genesis), best, best

Compatibility

Currently, Thorify is compatible with web3@1.*, tested versions are 1.2~1.7.1.

Debugging

DEBUG=thor:* ts-node index.ts 

ts-node index.ts can be replaced with command to run your code, this example is only for Node.js environment. For more detailed info, please refer to debug.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT license, Copyright (c) 2017 VeChain Foundation. For more information see LICENSE.md.