Keys

Introduction

TC Chain CLI has a sub-command named keys to manage private keys.
It is a key store to manage keys for users.

You can add a new key or import a key from seed.
Then you can list the keys added and show the detailed info of a specific key.
You can also delete the given key or update the password used to protect private key.

TC Chain CLI use the keys you add to sign transactions for you.
For example, if you want to transfer tokens to someone else, you just need to specify the name of the key you want to use, and input the password of the key, then TC Chain CLI will sign the transaction for you if the password is right.

Usage

The usage is the same for eth-cli and eth-cli

$ ./eth-cli keys
Keys allows you to manage your local keystore for tendermint.

  These keys may be in any format supported by go-crypto and can be
  used by light-clients, full nodes, or any other application that
  needs to sign with a private key.

Usage:
  eth-cli keys [command]

Available Commands:
  mnemonic    Compute the bip39 mnemonic for some input entropy
  add         Create a new key, or import from seed
  list        List all keys
  show        Show key info for the given name

  delete      Delete the given key
  update      Change the password used to protect private key

Flags:
  -h, --help   help for keys

Global Flags:
  -e, --encoding string   Binary encoding (hex|b64|btc) (default "hex")
      --home string       directory for config and data (default "/Users/yourname/.eth-cli")
  -o, --output string     Output format (text|json) (default "text")
      --trace             print out full stack trace on errors

Use "eth-cli keys [command] --help" for more information about a command.

mnemonic

mnemonic is used to generate bip39 mnemonic.
You can restore key from the mnemonic generated.

$ ./eth-cli keys mnemonic
uncle mule squirrel cover theory oven rookie dry intact alert right afraid differ ability mule struggle spray usual must purity social ball flat short

add

You can use add to create a new key or import from seed (mnemonic).
You have to specify the name for the key you want to create.

To import with a mnemonic phrase, you need to include the --recover flag in the command.

create a new key

$ ./eth-cli keys add testkey
Enter a passphrase for your key:
Repeat the passphrase:
NAME:   TYPE:   ADDRESS: PUBKEY:
testkey local   bnc1e8zhj9wmgq4pwzrv264gfru2fk8x2hdvpclx3n  bncp1addwnpepqffepxlkrka9n33vyzmjwkpy05gpm46cn5de3x9v0vqswk7st5lkc7alhjv
**Important** write this seed phrase in a safe place.
It is the only way to recover your account if you ever forget your password.

poverty joke nominee enough harsh elder flush noodle gift one limit tree sponsor sun radio above acid air winter inflict profit there brand water

import from seed

$ ./eth-cli keys add testkey --recover
Enter a passphrase for your key:
Repeat the passphrase:
> Enter your recovery seed phrase:
poverty joke nominee enough harsh elder flush noodle gift one limit tree sponsor sun radio above acid air winter inflict profit there brand water
NAME:   TYPE:   ADDRESS:    PUBKEY:
testkey local   bnc1e8zhj9wmgq4pwzrv264gfru2fk8x2hdvpclx3n  bncp1addwnpepqffepxlkrka9n33vyzmjwkpy05gpm46cn5de3x9v0vqswk7st5lkc7alhjv

list

list can list all the keys you have.

$ ./eth-cli keys list
NAME:   TYPE:   ADDRESS:    PUBKEY:
test    local   bnc16jv838jw8zcgucvrhreen73adwgnue6ujcz2cf  bncp1addwnpepqgxacvpgnvss94zs363lheuh2xldj0hvymftuds8d69u5cau5kz3y23rj6l
testkey local   bnc1e8zhj9wmgq4pwzrv264gfru2fk8x2hdvpclx3n  bncp1addwnpepqffepxlkrka9n33vyzmjwkpy05gpm46cn5de3x9v0vqswk7st5lkc7alhjv

show

show is used to show the detail of the key by the name.

$ ./eth-cli keys show testkey
NAME:   TYPE:   ADDRESS:    PUBKEY:
testkey local   bnc1e8zhj9wmgq4pwzrv264gfru2fk8x2hdvpclx3n  bncp1addwnpepqffepxlkrka9n33vyzmjwkpy05gpm46cn5de3x9v0vqswk7st5lkc7alhjv

delete

delete is used to delete the key.

$ ./eth-cli keys delete testkey
DANGER - enter password to permanently delete key:
Password deleted forever (uh oh!)

update

update is used to update the password that is currently used to protect the private key.

$ ./eth-cli keys update test
Enter the current passphrase:
Enter the new passphrase:
Repeat the new passphrase:
Password successfully updated!