mirror of
https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop
synced 2024-11-13 13:10:30 +00:00
126 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
126 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
# Lightning Loop
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Lightning Loop is a non-custodial service offered by
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[Lightning Labs](https://lightning.engineering/) that makes it easy to move
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bitcoin into and out of the Lightning Network.
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## Features
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- Automated channel balancing
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- Privacy-forward non-custodial swaps
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- Opportunistic transaction batching to save on fees
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- Progress monitoring of in-flight swaps
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## Use Cases
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- Automate channel balancing with AutoLoop ([Learn more](https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop/blob/master/docs/autoloop.md))
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- Deposit to a Bitcoin address without closing channels with Loop In
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- Convert outbound liquidity into inbound liquidity with Loop Out
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- Refill depleted Lightning channels with Loop In
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## Installation
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Download the latest binaries from the [releases](https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop/releases) page.
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## Execution
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The Loop client needs its own short-lived daemon to facilitate swaps. To start `loopd`:
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```
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loopd
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```
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To use Loop in testnet, simply pass the network flag:
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```
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loopd --network=testnet
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```
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By default `loopd` attempts to connect to the `lnd` instance running on
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`localhost:10009` and reads the macaroon and tls certificate from `~/.lnd`.
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This can be altered using command line flags. See `loopd --help`.
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## Usage
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### AutoLoop
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AutoLoop makes it easy to keep your channels balanced. Checkout our [autoloop documentation](https://docs.lightning.engineering/advanced-best-practices/advanced-best-practices-overview/autoloop) for details.
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### Loop Out
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Use Loop Out to move bitcoins on Lightning into an on-chain Bitcoin address.
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To execute a Loop Out:
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```
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loop out <amt_in_satoshis>
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```
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Other notable options:
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- Use the `--fast` flag to swap immediately (Note: This opts-out of fee savings made possible by transaction batching)
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- Use the `--channel` flag to loop out on specific channels
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- Use the `--addr` flag to specify the address the looped out funds should be sent to (Note: By default funds are sent to the lnd wallet)
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Run `loop monitor` to monitor the status of a swap.
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### Loop In
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Use Loop In to convert on-chain bitcoin into spendable Lightning funds.
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To execute a Loop In:
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```
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loop in <amt_in_satoshis>
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```
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### More info
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For more information about using Loop checkout our [Loop FAQs](./docs/faqs.md).
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## Development
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### Regtest
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To get started with local development against a stripped down dummy Loop server
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running in a local `regtest` Bitcoin network, take a look at the
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[`regtest` server environment example documentation](./regtest/README.md).
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### Testnet
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To use Loop in testnet, simply pass the network flag:
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```
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loopd --network=testnet
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```
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### Submit feature requests
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The [GitHub issue tracker](https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop/issues) can be
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used to request specific improvements or report bugs.
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### Join us on Slack
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Join us on the
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[LND Slack](https://lightning.engineering/slack.html) and join the #loop
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channel to ask questions and interact with the community.
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## LND
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Note that Loop requires `lnd` to be built with **all of its subservers**. Download the latest [official release binary](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/releases/latest) or build `lnd` from source by following the [installation instructions](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/INSTALL.md). If you choose to build `lnd` from source, use the following command to enable all the relevant subservers:
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```
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make install tags="signrpc walletrpc chainrpc invoicesrpc"
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```
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## API
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The Loop daemon exposes a [gRPC API](https://lightning.engineering/loopapi/#lightning-loop-grpc-api-reference)
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(defaults to port 11010) and a [REST API](https://lightning.engineering/loopapi/index.html#loop-rest-api-reference)
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(defaults to port 8081).
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The gRPC and REST connections of `loopd` are encrypted with TLS and secured with
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macaroon authentication the same way `lnd` is.
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If no custom loop directory is set then the TLS certificate is stored in
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`~/.loop/<network>/tls.cert` and the base macaroon in
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`~/.loop/<network>/loop.macaroon`.
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The `loop` command will pick up these file automatically on mainnet if no custom
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loop directory is used. For other networks it should be sufficient to add the
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`--network` flag to tell the CLI in what sub directory to look for the files.
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For more information on macaroons,
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[see the macaroon documentation of lnd.](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lnd/blob/master/docs/macaroons.md)
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**NOTE**: Loop's macaroons are independent from `lnd`'s. The same macaroon
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cannot be used for both `loopd` and `lnd`.
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## Build from source
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If you’d prefer to build from source:
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```
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git clone https://github.com/lightninglabs/loop.git
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cd loop/cmd
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go install ./...
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```
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