A tokenless, public good blockchain for government data transparency and accountability.

OpenGovChain is a decentralized, permissionless, and tokenless blockchain network designed to store and manage government datasets with complete transparency. Our mission is to create an open, immutable, and accessible platform where government data is a public good, freely accessible to all citizens.

This README provides a general overview. For detailed guides, please refer to our full documentation:

• Getting Started: A comprehensive guide to setting up your development environment and running a node.
• Running with Docker: General instructions for using Docker.
• Standalone Node Guide: How to run a node without Tailscale, ideal for local development or VPS setups.
• Tailscale Guide: How to join the network securely from behind a NAT using Tailscale.
• Network Configuration: Details on network settings, peers, and ports.
• Technical Implementation: A deeper dive into the blockchain's architecture and custom modules.

These instructions are for setting up a local development environment.

• Go (version 1.18+)
• Ignite CLI

Before you begin, run the environment check script to ensure you have all the necessary dependencies and compatible versions installed.

./scripts/check-build-env.sh

1. Set up the environment:

   ./scripts/setup-env.sh

2. Build the binary:

   ignite chain build

3. Start the local blockchain:

   ignite chain serve

Help secure the network by running a validator node. The entrypoint script now automatically detects your public IP on VPS environments or can be used with Tailscale for home connections.

Running a node with Docker is the easiest and most maintainable method.

• For nodes on a VPS or with a public IP, see the Standalone Node Guide.
• For nodes behind a firewall or on a home network, see the Tailscale Guide.

For advanced users who prefer to build from source, follow the Getting Started guide and then use the join-as-volunteer.sh script:

./scripts/join-as-volunteer.sh <your-node-name> <genesis-url>

• Tokenless Architecture: No economic barriers to participation. The network is a public good operated by volunteers.
• Immutable Government Data: Datasets are stored permanently on the blockchain with IPFS integration for efficient file storage.
• Rich Metadata & Queries: Datasets include comprehensive metadata, with capabilities to search by agency, category, and file type.
• Decentralized & Secure: Built on the Cosmos SDK and secured by the Tendermint BFT consensus engine, operated by a distributed network of volunteer validators.

We welcome contributions from everyone! Whether you are a developer, a data provider, or a citizen advocate, you can help.

1. Run a Node: The most direct way to support the network.
2. Contribute Code: Help us build new features and fix bugs.
3. Improve Documentation: Clear documentation is crucial for adoption.
4. Spread the Word: Share our mission with others.

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

OpenGovChain by BetterGov.ph: Empowering transparency through decentralized government data.