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x/genutil

Concepts​

The genutil package contains a variety of genesis utility functionalities for usage within a blockchain application. Namely:

  • Genesis transactions related (gentx)
  • Commands for collection and creation of gentxs
  • InitChain processing of gentxs
  • Genesis file creation
  • Genesis file validation
  • Genesis file migration
  • CometBFT related initialization
    • Translation of an app genesis to a CometBFT genesis
  • Application state export into a genesis file

Genesis​

Genutil contains the data structure that defines an application genesis. An application genesis consist of a consensus genesis (g.e. CometBFT genesis) and application related genesis data.

https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/blob/v0.50.0-rc.0/x/genutil/types/genesis.go#L24-L34

The application genesis can then be translated to the consensus engine to the right format:

https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/blob/v0.50.0-rc.0/x/genutil/types/genesis.go#L126-L136
https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/blob/v0.50.0-rc.0/server/start.go#L397-L407

Client​

CLI​

The genutil commands are available under the genesis subcommand.

add-genesis-account​

Add a genesis account to genesis.json. Learn more here.

collect-gentxs​

Collect genesis txs and output a genesis.json file.

simd genesis collect-gentxs

This will create a new genesis.json file that includes data from all the validators (we sometimes call it the "super genesis file" to distinguish it from single-validator genesis files).

gentx​

Generate a genesis tx carrying a self delegation.

simd genesis gentx [key_name] [amount] --chain-id [chain-id]

This will create the genesis transaction for your new chain. Here amount should be at least 1000000000stake. If you provide too much or too little, you will encounter an error when starting a node.

migrate​

Migrate genesis to a specified target (SDK) version.

simd genesis migrate [target-version]
tip

The migrate command is extensible and takes a MigrationMap. This map is a mapping of target versions to genesis migrations functions. When not using the default MigrationMap, it is recommended to still call the default MigrationMap corresponding the SDK version of the chain and prepend/append your own genesis migrations.

validate-genesis​

Validates the genesis file at the default location or at the location passed as an argument.

simd genesis validate-genesis
danger

Validate genesis only validates if the genesis is valid at the current application binary. For validating a genesis from a previous version of the application, use the migrate command to migrate the genesis to the current version.

export​

Export state to genesis file.

simd genesis export

Some flags are available to customize the export:

  • --for-zero-height: export the genesis file for a chain with zero height
  • --height [height]: export the genesis file for a chain with a given height

Read the help for more information.