<p>Each instance of bitcoind running with the testnet option creates its own wallet.  You cannot spoof wallet balances, but you can mine coins on testnet with minimal hardware as the difficulty resets to zero (or 1) on a regular basis.  You can also get testnet coins from faucets online.  You create payments and addresses on testnet the very same way you would with the non-testnet version of bitcoin (either via the JSON RPC interface or CLI commands).  Also blockexplorer for testnet is located here <a href="http://blockexplorer.com/testnet" rel="nofollow">http://blockexplorer.com/testnet</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T23:32:42.607Z
Can you recommend any way to automatically created testnet wallets with some balance, set by the unit test, on them?
Mikko Ohtamaa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T23:36:30.297Z
I think you will manually have to create these wallets and send testnet coin to them I'm unaware of any way to automate the process.
Mark S.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T23:31:11.117Z
2013-12-28T23:31:11.117Z
Mark S.
<p>I am developing some bitcoin based services and I am interested of automatizing testing for them. </p>

<p><code>bitcoind</code> seems to come with <code>-testnet</code> option. What are the best practices of using this?</p>

<ul>
<li><p>How to create wallets for tests - should they be persistent or temporary</p></li>
<li><p>How to spoof balances of the wallets </p></li>
<li><p>How to make fake payments and how to debug them - does there exist anything akin <em>blockchain.info</em> or block chain explorer for them</p></li>
</ul>

<bitcoind><testnet>
Using the bitcoind -testnet test network and automatically creating test wallets
Mikko Ohtamaa
# Using the bitcoind -testnet test network and automatically creating test wallets

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-28)

I am developing some bitcoin based services and I am interested of automatizing testing for them.

`bitcoind` seems to come with `-testnet` option. What are the best practices of using this?

* How to create wallets for tests - should they be persistent or temporary
* How to spoof balances of the wallets
* How to make fake payments and how to debug them - does there exist anything akin *blockchain.info* or block chain explorer for them

**Tags:** bitcoind, testnet


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-28. Score: 1

Each instance of bitcoind running with the testnet option creates its own wallet. You cannot spoof wallet balances, but you can mine coins on testnet with minimal hardware as the difficulty resets to zero (or 1) on a regular basis. You can also get testnet coins from faucets online. You create payments and addresses on testnet the very same way you would with the non-testnet version of bitcoin (either via the JSON RPC interface or CLI commands). Also blockexplorer for testnet is located here <http://blockexplorer.com/testnet>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Can you recommend any way to automatically created testnet wallets with some balance, set by the unit test, on them?  
> **username_1**: I think you will manually have to create these wallets and send testnet coin to them I'm unaware of any way to automate the process.  

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