Developer Stack for Windows is a free, open-source tool for developers who build Web3 applications on Bitcoin and Liquid and want a private test network on their own computer. It packages a regtest environment in Docker, so you can start nodes without touching a live blockchain or spending real funds.
The project's code was last updated in December 2022, more than two years before this page was written, so treat it as a reference setup rather than an actively maintained product. Its real value lies in the configuration files and examples, which are worth studying even if you adapt them to newer node software.
What Is a Regtest Network and Why It Matters
A regtest network is a private Bitcoin-style blockchain that exists only on your machine. Unlike testnet, which is a shared public network, regtest lets you decide when blocks are mined. You generate them with a command, so a test that needs ten confirmations can finish in seconds.
Elements is the framework behind Liquid, a sidechain used for asset issuance. Running an Elements regtest node next to a Bitcoin regtest node lets developers work with both systems under one setup and check how a transaction behaves before any real funds are involved.
The main benefit is repeatability. The same sequence of blocks and transactions can be replayed, which helps when you track down a bug that appears only under certain conditions.
Who Is Developer Stack For?
Developer Stack suits people who already know their way around a terminal and Docker. A typical reader is building a wallet integration, a payment flow or a service that reads blockchain data, and wants a sandbox that behaves like a node without the cost of running a full public one.
It also fits teams that want a reproducible environment. Because the configuration lives in files rather than in one person's installation, a colleague can start the same setup and see the same behavior, provided their Docker installation matches.
It is less suited to beginners who have never used containers, and to anyone expecting a graphical application. Expect to read logs and edit .env values when something fails to start.
Where Regtest Setups Fit in a Web3 Workflow
A common workflow starts with local code and a regtest network, moves to a public test network once the logic looks correct, and only then considers production. Each stage catches different problems. Local tests are fast and controlled, while public testnets reveal timing and peer behavior that a private chain cannot reproduce.
Node-level tools matter at every stage. Scripts that query a node over JSON-RPC need reliable parsing and error handling. Pairing a local node with a request-testing tool helps you confirm the exact response format before you write application code.
A local network is still a simulation. Fee levels, mempool congestion and real peer counts are not reproduced in a regtest chain, so passing tests shows that your logic works, not that a service will behave identically on the live network.
Key features
On-demand regtest blocks
Configurable Docker setup
jq in the examples
Prebuilt images on Docker Hub
Supported coins
The documentation references Bitcoin (BTC), Liquid and the Lightning Network. The core of the setup is a pair of Bitcoin and Elements regtest nodes, so that is where most of the practical value sits.
How to install Developer Stack on Windows
- 1
Install Docker with Compose
Docker with the Compose plugin is required. Install it by following the official Docker installation guide at docs.docker.com, then confirm that Docker runs before you continue.
- 2
Get the project files
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/NGUtech/bitcoin-stack. Verify the download against a published SHA-256 checksum or signature when one is offered, and avoid copies from forums or third-party mirrors.
- 3
Review the configuration
Open the .env file and the docker-compose files. If another program already uses a default port on your machine, change the port here before starting anything.
- 4
Start the containers
From the project folder, start the stack with Docker Compose. The first run can take a while because images must be pulled or built.
-
Generate the first blocks
Generate the first regtest blocks so the nodes can sync. Then check that each node reports the same block height before you run any tests.
System requirements
- Docker with the Compose plugin installed, following Docker's installation documentation
- Windows is listed among the platforms in the project documentation; test it on a non-critical machine first
- Linux is also listed as a supported platform
How to use Developer Stack
Once the containers are running, a typical session is short. The project examples show how to query nodes and generate blocks, and they use jq to make the output easier to read.
- Confirm that the containers are up, either in Docker Desktop or with a Compose status command.
- Generate the first regtest blocks so the nodes can sync.
- Send a JSON-RPC request to one node and pipe the response through jq to extract a single field, such as the block height.
- Repeat the same request on the second node and compare the results.
- Generate additional blocks, then check that the nodes still agree.
- After changing a port in .env, restart the stack so the new value takes effect.
- Stop the containers when you finish so the ports are released for other programs.
Keep your own test scripts in a separate folder so the project files stay clean and easy to update.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the source code published on GitHub
- Runs Bitcoin and Elements regtest nodes in one reproducible Docker setup
- Nodes sync to the same chain once the first blocks are generated
- Example commands use jq, which makes JSON responses easy to read
- Ports and daemon settings can be changed in the .env and compose files
- The last code update was in December 2022, so it may lag behind current node software
- Windows is mentioned in the documentation but has not been verified
- Precompiled images are not recommended for production environments
- Requires comfort with Docker and the command line
Is Developer Stack safe?
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository. Before running anything, verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature when the source provides one, and be cautious with copies found on forums, mirrors or video descriptions. Review the Dockerfiles, compose files and images before running them. The project has received no code updates since December 2022, which is more than two years ago, so keep Docker and your host system patched. Never enter a seed phrase or private key on a third-party website, and do not point regtest configurations at mainnet or use them with real funds.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/NGUtech/bitcoin-stack. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Nigiri is the closest alternative, since it is also a local development environment for Bitcoin and Liquid. Developer Stack is built around Docker Compose and editable .env and compose files, so its configuration is explicit and visible to you. If you already run your own nodes and only need to send requests and inspect responses, Postman is a simpler starting point. If you want to avoid running a node at all, hosted RPC providers such as Alchemy, Infura and QuickNode offer endpoints without local setup. Choose Developer Stack when you want to own the local chain and its configuration.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 9 Dec 2022
- Windows support
- Unverified (Windows mentioned in docs)
- Source code
- github.com/NGUtech/bitcoin-stack
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Developer Stack is free and open source, and you can read its code on GitHub. You can change the configuration to suit your tests without a license fee. Docker is a separate download, and the installation guide is linked from the project's requirements.
Windows is listed among the platforms in the project documentation, but it has not been verified, so start with a trial on a non-critical machine. You need Docker with the Compose plugin installed. Linux is also listed as a platform.
A regtest network is a private blockchain you run locally, where you decide when new blocks are generated. It is useful for testing transactions, confirmations and node behavior without waiting for a public network. Testnet and mainnet behave differently, so results may change when you move there.
No, the project does not recommend its precompiled images for production environments. It is designed for local development and testing, where you control the chain and the configuration. A production node needs a separate deployment plan and its own security review.
The documentation mentions the Lightning Network among its networks. The core setup centers on Bitcoin and Elements regtest nodes, so read the documentation to confirm exactly what is included before you build on it.
Ports and other daemon settings can be changed in the .env file and the docker-compose files. Edit the values, save the files and restart the containers so the new settings apply. This helps when another local program already uses a default port, which would otherwise stop the stack from starting.
Verdict
Developer Stack is a free, open-source option for developers who want a local Bitcoin and Liquid regtest environment built on Docker. It suits people comfortable with the command line who want to inspect and adjust configuration files. Its last code update came in December 2022 and Windows has not been verified, so treat it as a starting point rather than a finished product. Check the latest version and status on the official website before relying on it for a project.