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Install the Lace wallet

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1. Download and install the Lace wallet extension

Lace is a browser extension wallet with built-in Midnight support (including mainnet). These steps use Google Chrome; Lace is also available for Brave and Firefox.
  1. Open the Google Chrome browser - Launch Chrome on your computer.
  2. Install the Lace wallet extension - Visit the Chrome Web Store: Lace
  3. Add to Chrome - Click Add to Chrome and confirm by clicking Add extension.
  4. Pin the extension - Pin the extension to your toolbar for easy access (recommended).
Verification: The Lace wallet icon appears in your Chrome toolbar.

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2. Create your wallet

  1. Open Lace wallet and select Create a new wallet.
  2. Set a password.
  3. Save your seed phrase securely (never store digitally).
  4. Confirm seed phrase.

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3. Get test tokens (tNIGHT and tDUST)

  1. Copy your wallet address from Lace.
  2. Visit the faucet for your target network:
  3. Paste your address and request tNIGHT.
  4. Once the tNIGHT arrives, open Lace and delegate it (Generate tDUST) to produce tDUST for transaction fees.

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Install Compact

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4. Install the Compact developer CLI

The Compact developer CLI (compact) manages compiler versions, formatting, and project tooling. Install the latest release:
The installer adds compact to $HOME/.local/bin (or your XDG bin directory) and updates your shell rc file (~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc). Compiler toolchains downloaded by compact update are managed under $HOME/.compact.

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5. Activate the new PATH

Open a new terminal, or source your shell rc file:

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6. Install a compiler and verify

The CLI is a manager; you still need to install a Compact compiler:
Verification: both commands print a version. If compact compile --version errors with “No default compiler set,” re-run compact update.

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Set up the proof server

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7. Install Docker Desktop

Download Docker for your operating system:

macOS

Download Docker Desktop for Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon)

Windows

Download Docker Desktop for Windows (requires WSL2)

Linux

Download Docker Desktop for Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora)
Verify Docker:

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8. Run the proof server

Pin a specific image tag so behavior is reproducible. Check the proof server tags on Docker Hub and the compatibility matrix for the current version (8.1.0 for preview/preprod at the time of writing), then run:
The proof server is network-agnostic — it takes no network argument. The same command serves preview, preprod, or mainnet; network selection happens in your DApp and wallet configuration. Keep this terminal open when developing. The proof server listens on localhost:6300.

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Install Compact VS Code extension

The extension is not on the VS Code Marketplace; it is distributed as a VSIX. Download the current VSIX from the official VS Code plugin page. Install in VS Code: Extensions → ... → Install from VSIX

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Next steps

Hello World

Build your first Compact smart contract

First App

Create a simple counter application with validation

Primitive Types

Learn about Compact’s type system

Midnight Docs

Explore the official Midnight documentation