<blockquote>
<p>Is running bitcoind necessary to run bitcoin-cli?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No, you can use bitcoin-cli with bitcoin-qt but you must first tell bitcoin-qt to listen for requests from blitcoin-cli - it does not do this by default.</p>
<pre><code>$ ./bitcoin-qt -server &amp;
</code></pre>
<p>See <a href="https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34</a></p>
<hr />
<pre><code>zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>You probably need to reinstall homebrew.</p>
<p>See <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command">https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-06T02:03:47.523Z
Thanks for the feedback. I think your proposed solution moves things in the right direction, but unfortunately the problem persists. I am no getting new error readout.
BSH180_44
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-05T11:00:23.467Z
2023-01-05T11:00:23.467Z
RedGrittyBrick
<p>I've been having a really hard time struggling through installation. The problem is there seem to be two ways to install, one through a <a href="https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-24.0.1/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">download link</a> and one through src. However, both methods still have many problems and the dependencies are unclear. I explained the specifics of the problem on <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/26778" rel="nofollow noreferrer">GitHub</a>.</p>
<p>I was hoping that I would be able to download <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bitcoin</a> from GitHub, enter the <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/master/src" rel="nofollow noreferrer">src</a> file, and run <code>./bitcoind</code> or <code>./bitcoin-qt -server</code> to be able to run in prune mode. However, I am still getting errors. For example,</p>
<p>IN:</p>
<pre><code>./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>OUT:</p>
<pre><code>zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>I am not able to download the whole blockchain at 500 GB, but I need to use the <code>bitcoin-cli</code>. My thought was running <code>./bitcoin-qt -server</code> would allow me to prune the download as explained on <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/13368/whats-the-difference-between-bitcoind-and-bitcoin-qt-different-commands">StackExchange</a> and operate <code>bitcoin-cli</code>, without having to run <code>bitcoind</code> first.</p>
<p><strong>Questions</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Is running <code>bitcoind</code> necessary to run <code>bitcoin-cli</code>?</li>
<li>Is it possible to run <code>bitcoin-cli</code> without downloading the entire
blockchain?</li>
<li>What is the cleanest path to getting started with <code>bitcoin-cli</code> on macOS?</li>
</ol>

<bitcoin-core><bitcoind><bitcoin-cli><mac>
How to get started with bitcoin-cli on macOS?
BSH180_44
# How to get started with bitcoin-cli on macOS?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-05)

I've been having a really hard time struggling through installation. The problem is there seem to be two ways to install, one through a [download link](https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-24.0.1/) and one through src. However, both methods still have many problems and the dependencies are unclear. I explained the specifics of the problem on [GitHub](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/26778).

I was hoping that I would be able to download [bitcoin](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin) from GitHub, enter the [src](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/master/src) file, and run `./bitcoind` or `./bitcoin-qt -server` to be able to run in prune mode. However, I am still getting errors. For example,

IN:

```
./bitcoin-qt -server

```

OUT:

```
zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server

```

I am not able to download the whole blockchain at 500 GB, but I need to use the `bitcoin-cli`. My thought was running `./bitcoin-qt -server` would allow me to prune the download as explained on [StackExchange](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/13368/whats-the-difference-between-bitcoind-and-bitcoin-qt-different-commands) and operate `bitcoin-cli`, without having to run `bitcoind` first.

**Questions**

1. Is running `bitcoind` necessary to run `bitcoin-cli`?
2. Is it possible to run `bitcoin-cli` without downloading the entire
   blockchain?
3. What is the cleanest path to getting started with `bitcoin-cli` on macOS?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, bitcoind, bitcoin-cli, mac


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-05. Score: 2

> Is running bitcoind necessary to run bitcoin-cli?

No, you can use bitcoin-cli with bitcoin-qt but you must first tell bitcoin-qt to listen for requests from blitcoin-cli - it does not do this by default.

```
$ ./bitcoin-qt -server &

```

See <https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34>

---

```
zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server

```

You probably need to reinstall homebrew.

See <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the feedback. I think your proposed solution moves things in the right direction, but unfortunately the problem persists. I am no getting new error readout.  

---

