Mainnet VS Testnet

🔄 Mainnet vs Testnet: Environment Guide

Choose the right Pi Network environment for your development needs

Understanding Pi Mainnet and Testnet for optimal app development and deployment

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🎯 Quick Comparison

🚀 Choose your development path based on your needs

🎯 Aspect	🌟 Pi Mainnet	🧪 Pi Testnet
Purpose	Live blockchain for real Pi transactions	Safe testing environment for development
Cryptocurrency	✅ Real Pi with actual value	🧪 Test Pi (test-π) with no value
Transactions	⚠️ Irreversible & permanent	✅ Reversible & safe for testing
User Access	KYC'ed Pioneers only	All developers and testers
Best For	Production apps, real transactions	Development, testing, prototyping

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🌟 Pi Mainnet Deep Dive

⛓️ The live Pi blockchain powering real cryptocurrency transactions

Key Characteristics:

• 🚀 Live Blockchain - Operational Pi Network with real value
• 🔐 KYC Required - Only verified Pioneers can participate
• 💰 Real Pi Transactions - Actual cryptocurrency with economic value
• 🛡️ Permanent Records - All transactions are irreversible

🗺️ Mainnet Roadmap

Current Phase: Firewalled Mainnet (Enclosed Network)

• 📅 Launched: December 28, 2021
• 🔒 Status: Live but protected environment
• ✅ Available: Pioneer-to-Pioneer and Pioneer-to-App transactions
• 🚫 Restricted: No external blockchain connectivity or exchanges

Firewalled Mainnet Features

What's Available:

• ✅ Real Pi transactions within Pi Network
• ✅ Pi app integration and payments
• ✅ Pi Wallet functionality
• ✅ Pi Browser access for KYC'ed users

Current Limitations:

• ❌ No external blockchain connectivity
• ❌ No crypto exchange integration
• ❌ Access limited to Pi Wallet and Pi Browser
• ❌ Only Core Team Nodes operational

Future Phase: Open Mainnet (Open Network)

• 🔓 Coming: When ecosystem reaches maturity
• 🌐 Features: Full external connectivity
• 🏗️ Infrastructure: Community-run nodes
• 📊 APIs: Un-firewalled for broader integration

Open Mainnet Planned Features

Enhanced Capabilities:

• ✅ External wallet connectivity
• ✅ Cross-blockchain interactions
• ✅ Crypto exchange integration
• ✅ Pioneer-operated nodes
• ✅ Community node participation
• ✅ Open API access

Prerequisites:

• 📈 Enclosed Network ecosystem maturity
• 🔐 Significant KYC completion progress
• 🛡️ Security validation and testing

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🧪 Pi Testnet Deep Dive

🔬 Safe testing environment for perfecting your Pi applications

Perfect For:

• 🛠️ App Development - Build and test without risk
• 🔧 Feature Testing - Validate functionality safely
• 📚 Learning - Understand Pi integration patterns
• 🚀 Pre-Launch Validation - Ensure quality before Mainnet

✨ Testnet Advantages

🎯 Benefit	📝 Description	💡 Use Case
Risk-Free Testing	No real Pi at stake	Experiment freely without financial consequences
Reversible Transactions	Mistakes can be undone	Learn from errors without permanent impact
Open Access	No KYC requirements	Immediate development start
Community Nodes	Decentralized testing environment	Real-world network simulation

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🛠️ Development Environments

🏠 Sandbox (Local Development)

Purpose: Isolated local testing with Pi Testnet integration

Setup Requirements:

• ✅ Registered URL in Developer Portal
• ✅ Local development server
• ✅ Pi SDK with sandbox configuration

Configuration:

// Sandbox setup
Pi.init({ 
  version: "2.0", 
  sandbox: true  // Enable sandbox mode
});

Benefits:

• 🔧 Rapid Development - Instant feedback loop
• 🛡️ Complete Isolation - No network dependencies
• 📊 Debugging Tools - Full development environment
• ⚡ Fast Iteration - Quick testing cycles

💳 Pi Wallet Integration

Cross-Environment Support:

• ✅ Mainnet Wallet - Real Pi transactions for KYC'ed users
• ✅ Testnet Wallet - Test Pi for development and testing
• 🔄 Environment Switching - Easy transition between networks

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🚀 Choosing Your Environment

📋 Decision Matrix

Start with Testnet if:

• 🆕 New to Pi Network development
• 🧪 Building and testing features
• 📚 Learning Pi SDK and APIs
• 🔧 Prototyping and experimenting

Move to Mainnet when:

• ✅ App is thoroughly tested
• 👥 Ready for real user transactions
• 🏆 Confident in app stability
• 💰 Prepared for real Pi value

⚡ Migration Path

Recommended Development Flow:

1. 🏠 Sandbox - Initial development and local testing
2. 🧪 Testnet - Integration testing with test Pi
3. 🌟 Mainnet - Production deployment with real Pi

Key Transition Points:

• Thorough testing completion
• Security audit and validation
• User experience optimization
• Performance benchmarking

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📚 Additional Resources

• SDK Reference - Complete setup instructions for all environments
• Pi Browser Detection - Hybrid app architecture for broader reach
• Examples - Working code samples for both environments
• Payments Overview - Transaction handling across networks

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🎯 Pro Tip: Always start development on Testnet, perfect your app, then deploy to Mainnet for real-world impact!

📖 Learn More: Check out our complete setup guide for step-by-step instructions.

* See Pi Wallet page for details: [Pi Wallet](What-is-PiWallet%3F)

Important Links

• Pi Network Whitepaper (Roadmap Chapter): https://pinetwork-official.medium.com/pi-whitepaper-chapters-mainnet-token-model-mining-and-roadmap-19f4a6774e71