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stellar/stellar-core

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Reference implementation for the peer-to-peer agent that manages the Stellar network.

FreeFree tier
Type
Open Source
Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About stellar/stellar-core

Stellar-core is a replicated state machine that maintains a local copy of a cryptographic ledger and processes transactions against it, in consensus with a set of peers. It implements the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a federated consensus protocol. It is written in C++20 and runs on Linux, OSX, and Windows. It serves as the reference implementation for the peer-to-peer agent that manages the Stellar network, with documentation, installation guides, and testing tools available.

Key Features

Replicated state machine maintaining a local copy of a cryptographic ledger
Processes transactions in consensus with a set of peers
Implements the Stellar Consensus Protocol (federated consensus)
Written in C++20
Cross-platform support: Linux, OSX, Windows
Comprehensive documentation in ./docs
Installation and contributing guides available
Test suite for verification

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Open source with Apache-2.0 license
  • Implements federated consensus for decentralized trust
  • Cross-platform compatibility (Linux, OSX, Windows)
  • Well-documented with installation and contribution guides
  • Actively maintained with frequent releases (239 releases as of June 2026)
Cons
  • Primarily designed for the Stellar network, not a general-purpose blockchain
  • Requires understanding of the Stellar Consensus Protocol for effective use
  • May have a steep learning curve for newcomers to distributed systems

Best For

Building applications on the Stellar networkProcessing transactions in a federated consensus networkMaintaining a local copy of the Stellar ledger for validationDeveloping and testing Stellar-based financial systems

FAQ

What is stellar-core?
Stellar-core is a replicated state machine that maintains a local copy of a cryptographic ledger and processes transactions against it, in consensus with a set of peers. It implements the Stellar Consensus Protocol.
What consensus protocol does stellar-core use?
Stellar-core uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a federated consensus protocol designed for the Stellar network.
What programming language is stellar-core written in?
Stellar-core is written in C++20.
What platforms does stellar-core support?
Stellar-core runs on Linux, OSX, and Windows.
Where can I find installation instructions?
Installation instructions are available in the INSTALL.md file in the repository.