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Easy Blockchain

This project is a simple implementation of a blockchain in Python. It demonstrates the basic concepts of blockchain technology, including blocks, hashing, and chain integrity.

Features

  • Creation of a blockchain with a genesis block
  • Adding new blocks to the chain
  • Calculation of SHA-256 hashes for each block
  • Validation of the blockchain's integrity
  • Simple demonstration of chain tampering detection

Requirements

  • Python 3.6+

No additional libraries are required as this project only uses Python's standard libraries (hashlib and time).

Installation

  1. Clone this repository: 
    git clone https://github.com/simonedimeglio/easy-blockchain.git
  2. Navigate to the project directory: 
    cd easy-blockchain

Usage

Run the script using Python:

python simple_blockchain.py

This will create a blockchain, add some sample blocks, print the blockchain, and demonstrate the validation process.

Understanding the Code

Block Class

The Block class represents a single block in the blockchain. Each block contains:

  • index: A unique identifier for the block's position in the chain
  • previous_hash: The hash of the previous block, creating the chain link
  • data: The data stored in the block (e.g., transaction details)
  • timestamp: The time when the block was created
  • hash: A SHA-256 hash of the block's contents

Blockchain Class

The Blockchain class manages the entire chain of blocks. It includes methods to:

  • Create the genesis block (the first block in the chain)
  • Add new blocks to the chain
  • Validate the integrity of the entire chain

Key Concepts Demonstrated

  1. Hashing: Each block's hash is created from its contents, ensuring data integrity.
  2. Chaining: Each block references the previous block's hash, creating a tamper-evident chain.
  3. Validation: The is_chain_valid() method checks the integrity of the entire blockchain.

Extending the Project

This simple implementation can be extended in several ways:

  1. Implement a proof-of-work system
  2. Add digital signatures for transactions
  3. Create a decentralized network of nodes
  4. Implement a consensus mechanism

License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

Contributing

Contributions, issues, and feature requests are welcome!

Author

Simone Di Meglio