Question 1

How does the blockchain demo show proof of work?

Accepted Answer

It simulates mining by allowing users to adjust the number of leading zeros in hashes and observe how nonce values change to meet the target. The README includes time estimates for different difficulty levels, illustrating the computational effort involved in real blockchains like Bitcoin.

Question 2

What's the best way to use this demo for teaching blockchain basics?

Accepted Answer

Run the local server with npm or Docker, or use the online demo to interactively create blocks and modify data. The visual feedback on hashes and chain validation makes it ideal for classroom demonstrations or self-paced learning without requiring coding skills.

Question 3

Blockchain demo vs interactive tutorials: which is better for beginners?

Accepted Answer

This demo offers hands-on, visual manipulation of blocks and hashes, making abstract concepts concrete, while tutorials often provide more narrative depth. For a quick, practical introduction, the demo is superior, but for comprehensive theory, combine both approaches.

Question 4

How to adjust the number of zeros in the blockchain demo?

Accepted Answer

Edit the first two lines of `public/javascripts/blockchain.js` to change the difficulty setting. However, as noted in the README, higher difficulties can cause blocks to appear unmined due to preset data, requiring manual nonce discovery.

Question 5

Can this demo simulate real Bitcoin mining accurately?

Accepted Answer

It provides a basic simulation of proof-of-work hashing but lacks network dynamics, transaction pools, and hardware optimizations. The README's time estimates show it's not feasible for realistic scenarios, such as mining a block with 21 zeros.

Question 6

How to host the blockchain demo on my own server for a workshop?

Accepted Answer

Clone the repository, install dependencies with npm, and run the server using `npm start` or Docker Compose. The setup is straightforward, and you can access it locally at `http://localhost:3000` or configure it for public access by adjusting network settings.

Blockchain demo

What is Blockchain demo?

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