Enhance Docker image pulling process and remove Bitcoin Core UI

- Improved the Docker image pulling process in the startup script with a spinner for better user feedback. - Added a tip for monitoring progress in Docker Desktop. - Removed the Bitcoin Core HTML UI file as it is no longer needed; replaced with connection info alert in the app view. - Updated the app view to provide direct connection details for Bitcoin Core instead of opening a separate page.
2026-01-27 23:25:29 +00:00
parent 30ed48ad1b
commit 36233377d9
4 changed files with 209 additions and 418 deletions
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+# Bitcoin Core Launch Fix + Quiet Docker Downloads
+
+## Issues Fixed
+
+### 1. Bitcoin Core "Launch" Confusion
+**Problem**: Bitcoin Core is a **headless node** with no web interface. It only exposes an RPC API on port 18443.
+
+**Solution**: Changed the launch button to show connection details instead of trying to open a non-existent web UI.
+
+### 2. Noisy Docker Downloads
+**Problem**: First-run Docker image downloads were extremely verbose, showing detailed progress for each of 13+ images.
+
+**Solution**: Made downloads quiet with a simple spinner. Users can still monitor progress in Docker Desktop if needed.
+
+### 3. Backend WebSocket Disconnects
+**Not actually a problem**: The logs show the backend is working fine. WebSocket disconnects happen naturally when you refresh the page. The backend reconnects automatically.
+
+## What Changed
+
+### `/Users/dorian/Projects/archy/neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue`
+**Before**: Tried to open `/bitcoin-core.html` in a new tab
+**After**: Shows an alert with RPC connection details:
+```
+✅ Bitcoin Core is running!
+
+🔗 RPC Endpoint: http://localhost:18443
+👤 User: bitcoin
+🔑 Password: bitcoinpass
+
+💡 Use bitcoin-cli or an RPC client to interact.
+📊 View blockchain data in Mempool: http://localhost:4080
+```
+
+### `/Users/dorian/Projects/archy/start-docker-apps.sh`
+**Before**: Verbose output showing every image download
+**After**: Quiet mode with spinner:
+```
+📦 Pulling Docker images (this will take a while)...
+   💡 Tip: You can monitor progress in Docker Desktop
+
+   Downloading images... ✅
+
+✅ All images downloaded!
+```
+
+### Deleted: `/Users/dorian/Projects/archy/neode-ui/public/bitcoin-core.html`
+Removed because Bitcoin Core doesn't have a web UI.
+
+## How Bitcoin Core Works Now
+
+1. **Status**: Shows "Running" in My Apps
+2. **Start/Stop**: Works via the action buttons
+3. **Launch**: Shows connection info popup (can't launch a headless node)
+4. **Access**: Use bitcoin-cli or connect via RPC at `localhost:18443`
+5. **Blockchain Explorer**: Use Mempool at `http://localhost:4080` (once you start it)
+
+## RPC Usage Examples
+
+### Using bitcoin-cli (from within container)
+```bash
+docker exec -it archy-bitcoin bitcoin-cli -regtest -rpcuser=bitcoin -rpcpassword=bitcoinpass getblockchaininfo
+```
+
+### Using curl (from host)
+```bash
+curl -u bitcoin:bitcoinpass \
+  -X POST http://localhost:18443 \
+  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"jsonrpc":"1.0","id":"test","method":"getblockchaininfo","params":[]}'
+```
+
+### Using a GUI wallet/tool
+Configure any Bitcoin wallet or tool to connect to:
+- **Host**: localhost
+- **Port**: 18443
+- **Network**: regtest
+- **RPC User**: bitcoin
+- **RPC Password**: bitcoinpass
+
+## About Regtest Mode
+
+Bitcoin Core is running in **regtest** (regression test) mode:
+- ✅ No blockchain sync required (instant start)
+- ✅ Full Bitcoin functionality
+- ✅ Create blocks on demand
+- ✅ Perfect for development/testing
+- ❌ Not connected to mainnet/testnet
+
+### Generate test blocks
+```bash
+docker exec -it archy-bitcoin bitcoin-cli -regtest -rpcuser=bitcoin -rpcpassword=bitcoinpass generatetoaddress 101 <your-address>
+```
+
+## Understanding "Headless" Apps
+
+Some apps in Archipelago don't have web UIs:
+
+| App | Type | Access |
+|-----|------|--------|
+| Bitcoin Core | Headless | RPC only (port 18443) |
+| LND | Headless + API | gRPC/REST API (port 8080) |
+| BTCPay Server | Web UI | http://localhost:14142 ✅ |
+| Mempool | Web UI | http://localhost:4080 ✅ |
+| Home Assistant | Web UI | http://localhost:8123 ✅ |
+| Grafana | Web UI | http://localhost:3000 ✅ |
+
+For headless apps, the "Launch" button will show connection info instead of opening a browser.
+
+## Backend Status (It's Fine!)
+
+The WebSocket errors you saw are **normal behavior**:
+1. ✅ Backend is running on port 5959
+2. ✅ Scanning Docker containers every 5 seconds
+3. ✅ Detecting Bitcoin Core correctly
+4. ✅ WebSocket reconnects after page refresh
+
+The log shows:
+```
+[INFO] Detected container: Bitcoin Core (running)
+[DEBUG] Data model updated to revision 25
+[INFO] WebSocket /ws/db connected
+```
+
+Everything is working as expected!
+
+## Next Steps
+
+### To Start Mempool Explorer (for Bitcoin blockchain viewing)
+```bash
+docker compose up -d mempool-web mempool-api
+```
+
+### To Start Other Apps
+```bash
+docker compose up -d btcpay     # BTCPay Server
+docker compose up -d lnd        # Lightning Network
+docker compose up -d grafana    # Metrics dashboard
+docker compose up -d homeassistant  # Home automation
+```
+
+### To See All Running Apps
+```bash
+docker compose ps
+```
+
+### To Stop Everything
+```bash
+./stop-docker-apps.sh
+# or
+docker compose down
+```
+
+## Architecture Clarification
+
+```
+User clicks "Launch" on Bitcoin Core
+    ↓
+Apps.vue checks app ID
+    ↓
+if (id === 'bitcoin')
+    ↓
+Show alert with RPC connection details
+    ↓
+User can use bitcoin-cli, curl, or GUI wallet to connect
+```
+
+For apps with web UIs (BTCPay, Mempool, Grafana):
+```
+User clicks "Launch"
+    ↓
+Apps.vue gets lanAddress from package
+    ↓
+window.open(lanAddress, '_blank')
+    ↓
+Opens app in new browser tab ✅
+```
+
+## Summary
+
+- ✅ Bitcoin Core launch now shows connection info (not broken HTML page)
+- ✅ Docker downloads are now quiet with spinner
+- ✅ Backend is working perfectly (WebSocket disconnects are normal)
+- ✅ Bitcoin Core is a headless node - this is correct behavior
+- ✅ Use Mempool or bitcoin-cli to interact with the blockchain