Installation Guide for Cosmos SDK Chain Development on Windows using WSL

While it is recommended to use Mac or Linux for Cosmos SDK chain development, Windows users can set up their environment using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This guide will walk you through installing and configuring Ubuntu on WSL, along with necessary dependencies.

Step 1: Install Ubuntu for Windows

1. Open the Microsoft Store and search for "Ubuntu".

2. Choose any Long-Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu and install it.

3. Once installed, launch Ubuntu. You will be prompted to set up a new user.

   • Username: Choose a username, such as ubuntu.
   • Password: Choose a secure password and store it in a safe place; it's difficult to reset if forgotten.

4. After installation, you should see a terminal prompt with your username and host computer.

Step 2: Update and Install Dependencies

Let's update your Ubuntu installation and install essential development tools. These dependencies are commonly required for Cosmos SDK development, so it's recommended to install them all at once.

sudo apt update -y
sudo apt install build-essential -y
sudo apt install gcc -y
sudo apt install wget -y
sudo apt install curl -y

Step 3: Install Golang

1. Download and install Golang:

   sudo wget https://go.dev/dl/go1.21.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz
   

2. Unpack the downloaded file to /usr/local:

   sudo tar -C /usr/local -xzf go1.21.5.linux-amd64.tar.gz
   

Step 4: Update Environment Variables

To ensure Go is available system-wide, you need to update your environment variables.

1. Open your .bashrc file:

   nano ~/.bashrc
   

2. Add the following lines to the end of the file:

   export GOROOT=/usr/local/go
   export PATH=$PATH:$GOROOT/bin
   export PATH=$PATH:~/go/bin
   

3. Save the file and exit the editor (Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter).

4. Apply the changes:

   source ~/.bashrc
   

5. Verify the Go installation:

   go version
   

Step 6: Install Ignite

curl https://get.ignite.com/cli | bash

sudo mv ignite /usr/local/bin

ignite version 

ignite --help

Step 7: Create (Scaffold) a basic blockchain

ignite scaffold chain yourchainname

cd yourchainname

You can now view the contents of your blockchain and begin building. Please see other tutorials to learn more.