Developed by the Ethereum Foundation, Eth Tester is a powerful library encompassing a suite of testing tools, functions, and standards tailored for Ethereum blockchain smart contracts. This comprehensive resource empowers developers by enabling the execution of test functions with a single command line or the incorporation of a package to run the entire test suite seamlessly as part of their development pipelines. Eth Tester emerges as an essential tool for ensuring the reliability and functionality of smart contracts in the Ethereum ecosystem.

What is Eth Tester

Ethtester is a Python library designed for Ethereum developers to facilitate local testing and debugging of Ethereum smart contracts. It provides a simulated Ethereum environment, allowing developers to interact with a blockchain-like system without the need for a real network. Ethtester is particularly useful for testing smart contracts in a controlled and predictable environment before deploying them to the Ethereum mainnet or testnets. With Ethtester, developers can unlock various functionalities, such as testing transactions, checking balances, and simulating contract interactions.

How to Use Eth Tester

1 Installation

To begin using Ethtester, first, install the library using the following command:

python -m pip install eth-tester

2 Ethtester Functions

Now, let's explore some key functions provided by Ethtester:

2.1 get_accounts() -> Tuple[str, ...]

Returns a tuple of Ethereum accounts available in the local Ethtester instance.

# Get a list of accounts
accounts = t.get_accounts()
print(accounts)
# Output: ('0x7E5F4552091A69125d5DfCb7b8C2659029395Bdf', '0x2B5AD5c4795c026514f8317c7a215E218DcCD6cF', ...)

2.2 get_balance(account: str) -> int

Returns the balance, in wei, for the provided Ethereum account.

# Get the balance of an account
balance = t.get_balance(accounts[0])
print(balance)
# Output: 1000000000000000000000000

2.3 send_transaction(transaction_params: Dict[str, Any]) -> str

Sends a transaction based on the provided parameters and returns the transaction hash.

# Send a sample transaction
transaction_hash = t.send_transaction({
    'from': accounts[0],
    'to': accounts[1],
    'gas': 30000,
    'value': 1
})
print(transaction_hash)
# Output: '0xc20b90af87bc65c3d748cf0a1fa54f3a86ffc94348e0fd91a70f1c5ba6ef4109'

2.4 get_transaction_by_hash(transaction_hash: str) -> Dict[str, Any]

Retrieves details of a transaction based on the provided transaction hash.

# Retrieve transaction details
transaction_details = t.get_transaction_by_hash(transaction_hash)
print(transaction_details)
# Output: {'type': '0x2', 'hash': '0xc20b90af87bc65c3d748cf0a1fa54f3a86ffc94348e0fd91a70f1c5ba6ef4109', ...}

2.5 get_transaction_receipt(transaction_hash: str) -> Dict[str, Any]

Retrieves the receipt of a mined transaction based on the provided transaction hash.

# Retrieve transaction receipt
transaction_receipt = t.get_transaction_receipt(transaction_hash)
print(transaction_receipt)
# Output: {'transaction_hash': '0xc20b90af87bc65c3d748cf0a1fa54f3a86ffc94348e0fd91a70f1c5ba6ef4109', ...}

3 Unlocking and Locking Accounts

Ethtester supports account unlocking and locking functionalities.

3.1 unlock_account(account: str, password: str, unlock_seconds: Optional[int] = None) -> None

Unlocks the given account if the provided password matches.
# Unlock an account
t.unlock_account(accounts[0], 'my-secret')

3.2 lock_account(account: str) -> None

Locks the provided account.
# Lock an account
t.lock_account(accounts[0])

Advantages of Eth Tester

1 Local Development Environment

Ethtester provides a local environment for Ethereum development, allowing developers to test and iterate quickly without interacting with the mainnet or testnets.

2 Instant Transaction Confirmation

With Ethtester, transactions are mined instantly upon submission, eliminating the need to wait for block confirmations during testing.

3 Account Management

Ethtester simplifies account management by allowing developers to unlock and lock accounts programmatically, streamlining the testing process.

4 Predictable Gas Costs

Developers can set gas costs for transactions, providing a predictable environment for testing gas-related scenarios without incurring real gas fees.

5 EIP-55 Address Validation

Ethtester enforces EIP-55 checksum validation for addresses, ensuring compatibility with real Ethereum addresses and reducing potential errors in smart contract development.

Follow these Docs for more information

FAQs about StealthTest

Q1: What is the purpose of Ethtester in smart contract development?

A: Ethtester serves as a Python library designed for Ethereum developers to create a local testing environment. It allows developers to test and debug Ethereum smart contracts in a simulated blockchain environment, avoiding the need to interact with the Ethereum mainnet or testnets during the development phase.

Q2: How do I install Ethtester for local development?

A: You can install Ethtester using the following command:

python -m pip install eth-tester

Q3: Which key functions does Ethtester support for interacting with Ethereum accounts?

A: Ethtester provides essential functions such as

get_accounts(); get_balance(account); send_transaction(transaction_params);
get_transaction_by_hash(transaction_hash)
get_transaction_receipt(transaction_hash)

for managing Ethereum accounts and transactions.

Q4: Can Ethtester simulate account unlocking and locking?

A: Yes, Ethtester supports account unlocking and locking. The `unlock_account(account, password, unlock_seconds)` function unlocks an account with the provided password, and the

lock_account(account)

function locks the specified account.

Q5: How does Ethtester handle gas costs in simulated transactions?

A: Ethtester allows developers to set gas costs for transactions, providing a predictable environment for testing gas-related scenarios. This helps in simulating real-world conditions without incurring actual gas fees during testing.