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Blockchain
 
 
A blockchain is a distributed database managed by a peer-to-peer network. The distributed database is also called a ledger which is a continuously growing chain of blocks. Each block contains a number of records and each block is linked to a previous block.

It is extremely difficult to change a record in any given block without the alteration of all subsequent blocks and the collusion of the network.

The first implementation of a blockchain was Bitcoin in 2009 invented by an unknown programmer, or a group of programmers, under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

After the Bitcoin success many blockchain implementations followed such as Litecoin and Peercoin.

Other blockchain implementations introduces new kind of functionalities such as Ethereum and Dash.

Quick guides







How to install Mist on macOS



Information
Mist is a desktop application with a web interface. Ethereum Wallet is just a Mist implementation enabled to access a single dapp, the wallet dapp. Ethereum Wallet is Mist, in wallet mode.

The Mist browser includes the Ethereum Wallet.
The Ethereum Wallet is the Mist browser with the browser function disabled.

Please note that Mist is still in beta and problems can be expected.

Mist releases, see: https://github.com/ethereum/mist/releases
Mist source code, see: https://github.com/ethereum/mist

Operating system used
macOS 10.12 Sierra

Software prerequisites
None

Procedure
  1. Goto https://github.com/ethereum/mist/releases and download the latest release for example:
    Mist-macosx-0-8-10.dmg (= Mist browser including the Ethereum Wallet)

  2. Install the application on your computer.

  3. If you start Ethereum Mist it searches for a Ethereum network.
    Mist will ask you which network you want to use, the main network or test network. In both cases Mist will start syncing with your chosen network by downloading the blockchain (it make take a while).

    Mist v0.8.10 setup a Ropsten test network if you selected test network.

    If you want Ethereum Mist to communicate with a running testrpc or a running local geth instance, make sure that the testrpc or geth instance is running before you start Mist and read tutorial:
    How to connect Mist with testrpc or local running geth instances on macOS