> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Building on Linux and Unix

> Instructions for building Bitcoin Core on Linux and Unix systems

This guide explains how to build Bitcoin Core on Linux and Unix systems. For BSD-specific instructions, see the [BSD build guide](/building/bsd).

## Basic Build Process

<Steps>
  <Step title="Configure the build">
    Run CMake to configure the build system:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmake -B build
    ```

    To see all available configuration options:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmake -B build -LH
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build and install">
    Compile Bitcoin Core and optionally install it:

    ```bash theme={null}
    cmake --build build    # Append "-j N" for N parallel jobs
    cmake --install build  # Optional
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Memory Requirements

C++ compilers are memory-hungry. It is recommended to have at least 1.5 GB of memory available when compiling Bitcoin Core.

<Warning>
  On systems with less memory, compilation may fail or be extremely slow. Consider using the memory optimization options below.
</Warning>

### Low Memory Optimization

If you have limited memory, you can tune GCC to conserve memory:

```bash theme={null}
cmake -B build -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="--param ggc-min-expand=1 --param ggc-min-heapsize=32768"
```

You can also skip debugging information:

```bash theme={null}
cmake -B build -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO="-O2 -g0"
```

Alternatively, use Clang instead of GCC (often less resource-hungry):

```bash theme={null}
cmake -B build -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang
```

## Distribution-Specific Instructions

### Ubuntu & Debian

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install build requirements">
    Install the base build tools:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install build-essential cmake pkgconf python3
    ```

    <Note>
      For Debian "oldstable" or earlier Ubuntu LTS releases, you may need to install a newer compiler according to the [dependencies](/building/dependencies) documentation.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install required dependencies">
    Install the core dependencies:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install libevent-dev libboost-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install wallet dependencies (optional)">
    SQLite is required for wallet functionality:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt install libsqlite3-dev
    ```

    To build without wallet support, use `-DENABLE_WALLET=OFF` during configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install IPC dependencies (optional)">
    Cap'n Proto is needed for IPC functionality:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install libcapnp-dev capnproto
    ```

    To build without IPC, use `-DENABLE_IPC=OFF` during configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install ZMQ dependencies (optional)">
    For ZMQ notification support:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install libzmq3-dev
    ```

    Enable with `-DWITH_ZMQ=ON` during configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install USDT dependencies (optional)">
    For User-Space Statically Defined Tracing:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt install systemtap-sdt-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install GUI dependencies (optional)">
    For the Qt-based GUI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install qt6-base-dev qt6-tools-dev qt6-l10n-tools qt6-tools-dev-tools libgl-dev
    ```

    For Wayland support:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt install qt6-wayland
    ```

    For QR code support in the GUI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo apt-get install libqrencode-dev
    ```

    Enable the GUI with `-DBUILD_GUI=ON` during configuration.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Fedora

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install build requirements">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install gcc-c++ cmake make python3
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install required dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install libevent-devel boost-devel
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install wallet dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install sqlite-devel
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install IPC dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install capnproto capnproto-devel
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install ZMQ dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install zeromq-devel
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install USDT dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install systemtap-sdt-devel
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install GUI dependencies (optional)">
    For Qt GUI:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install qt6-qtbase-devel qt6-qttools-devel
    ```

    For Wayland support:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install qt6-qtwayland
    ```

    For QR codes:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo dnf install qrencode-devel
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Alpine

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install build requirements">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add build-base cmake linux-headers pkgconf python3
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install required dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add libevent-dev boost-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install wallet dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add sqlite-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install IPC dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add capnproto capnproto-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install ZMQ dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add zeromq-dev
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install GUI dependencies (optional)">
    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add qt6-qtbase-dev qt6-qttools-dev
    ```

    For QR codes:

    ```bash theme={null}
    apk add libqrencode-dev
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  User-Space Statically Defined Tracing (USDT) is not supported or tested on Alpine Linux.
</Warning>

## Example: Arch Linux Build

This example shows the complete process to build Bitcoin Core on Arch Linux:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install dependencies">
    ```bash theme={null}
    pacman --sync --needed capnproto cmake boost gcc git libevent make python sqlite
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Clone the repository">
    ```bash theme={null}
    git clone https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin.git
    cd bitcoin/
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure and build">
    ```bash theme={null}
    cmake -B build
    cmake --build build
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run tests">
    ```bash theme={null}
    ctest --test-dir build
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run Bitcoin Core">
    ```bash theme={null}
    ./build/bin/bitcoind
    ./build/bin/bitcoin help
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Disable-Wallet Mode

When the intention is to only run a P2P node without a wallet, Bitcoin Core can be compiled in disable-wallet mode:

```bash theme={null}
cmake -B build -DENABLE_WALLET=OFF
```

In this case there is no dependency on SQLite. Mining is also possible in disable-wallet mode using the `getblocktemplate` RPC call.

## Alternative: Self-Compiled Dependencies

Instead of using your distribution's packages, you can self-compile all dependencies using the depends system. See [dependencies.md](/building/dependencies) for more information.