ErgoNames.Api is a free, open-source name resolver for the Ergo blockchain, aimed at developers who want to turn Ergo names into the addresses behind them from their own .NET projects. It is written in C# and is distributed as a Windows build or installer, with its source code published on GitHub. The project should be treated as a reference or learning resource rather than a production dependency: its last code update is dated February 14, 2022, more than two years ago, so it may no longer match current Ergo tooling.
If you are evaluating it for work in 2026, read the code before running it, and expect to adapt parts of it yourself. The rest of this page covers what the program does, how to install the ready-made version, how to verify the download, and which alternatives are worth a look. Ergo (ERG) is the only network named in the project documentation.
What Is an Ergo Name Resolver?
A blockchain address is a long string of characters that is hard to read, copy and check. A naming service maps a short, readable name to the address behind it, so people and applications can refer to the name instead.
A resolver is the component that performs this lookup. It receives a name, asks the naming data the question, and returns the matching address. Developers place a resolver between their application and the chain so the app does not have to handle lookup logic itself.
The idea is common across blockchains, not specific to Ergo. Once you understand it, you can judge any naming tool by the same questions: where the mapping comes from, who can change it, and how a wrong answer would be caught.
Who Is ErgoNames.Api For?
The most natural reader is a developer who already works in C# or another .NET language and wants to build something that involves Ergo addresses. Typical examples include a small invoicing tool that shows a payee's name rather than a raw address, or an internal dashboard that labels known addresses for a team.
Students and hobbyists can also use the project to see how a resolver is structured, since the source is public. Reading a working codebase is often more useful than a tutorial, especially when you want to learn how a blockchain-related tool is organized.
It is less suitable for people who want a simple app to send coins or manage a wallet. For those tasks, look for tools designed for end users, and do not treat a name lookup utility as a substitute for one.
How Name Lookups Work in Practice
In a typical flow, your code sends a name to the resolver and receives an address in return. The result is only as reliable as the data source and the code path behind it, so a careful developer compares results with a second source, such as a block explorer, during testing.
Several practical habits make lookups safer to build on:
- Cache results with a short lifetime, so changes to a name are picked up.
- Log unexpected or empty responses rather than silently accepting them.
- Show the full address next to the name, so users can check it.
Because this project has not changed since early 2022, the best use is to learn from its logic and test every code path before relying on it.
Key features
Ergo name resolution
Public source code
C#/.NET implementation
Supported coins
The project documentation mentions the Ergo network and its native token, ERG. If you need support for other chains, the alternatives discussed below are a better starting point.
How to install ErgoNames.Api on Windows
- 1
Get the program from an official source
Download only from the official website or from the project's GitHub repository at github.com/ergonames/ErgoNames.Api. If a build is published on the Releases page, use that file rather than a copy from another site.
- 2
Verify the download
If the project publishes a SHA-256 checksum, compare it with the hash of your file using a tool such as PowerShell's Get-FileHash. If a signature is provided, check it as well. Do not run a file whose hash does not match.
- 3
Run the installer or build
If you have a Windows build or installer, run it like any other program. If you only have the source code, you will need the .NET SDK to compile it. That requirement applies to building from source, not to running the ready-made program.
-
Confirm the installation
Launch the program once from its install folder and confirm that it starts. Keep the file in a folder you can find later, and note the version and the date you downloaded it.
How to use ErgoNames.Api
The workflow is simple once the program is in place. Because the project is aimed at developers, most people will use it from a small test project or script rather than a graphical interface.
- Start the program or your test project and confirm it runs on your machine.
- Supply the Ergo name you want to resolve.
- Read the returned address and compare it with a second source, such as a block explorer, before relying on it.
- Test with names you own, so you know what a correct result looks like.
- Log errors and unexpected responses, since an inactive project may fail when the network or its tooling changes.
- Keep your test copy separate from production systems until you have reviewed the code.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source
- Source code available on GitHub for review
- Written in C#/.NET, familiar to Windows developers
- Focused on one job: Ergo name resolution
- Last code update was on February 14, 2022
- Documentation mentions only the Ergo network
- Not designed for end users without programming skills
- May not keep pace with current Ergo tooling
Is ErgoNames.Api safe?
The last code update was in February 2022, so treat ErgoNames.Api as inactive and review its code before you use it. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature before running any file. Never enter a seed phrase on a website or in a program that claims to be this resolver, because a name lookup never requires one. Run the program on a test system first, avoid giving it administrator rights unless you have a clear reason, and check the project page for recent activity before building anything important on it.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ergonames/ErgoNames.Api. 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
ErgoNames.Api differs from the other tools on this list mainly in scope. Remix Desktop and Visual Studio Code with Solidity are environments for writing contracts in Solidity, the language used on Ethereum-style chains. Tenderly CLI focuses on debugging and monitoring contracts, and Postman is useful for testing JSON-RPC nodes. ErgoNames.Api does a narrower job: it resolves Ergo names. If you need a general toolkit for contract development, Foundry or the Solidity compiler are broader starting points. Choose ErgoNames.Api when your specific need is Ergo name lookup and you are comfortable reviewing older code yourself.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 14 Feb 2022
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ergonames/ErgoNames.Api
Frequently asked questions
It can be used with care, because its source code is public and can be reviewed. Its last code update was on February 14, 2022, so review the code, verify the download, and test it on a non-production system first. Never enter a seed phrase into it or into any site claiming to offer it.
Yes. The program is free and open source, and its source code is published on GitHub. There are no listed prices or paid tiers for the project, so you can read, test and adapt it without a license fee.
Yes. The project is distributed as a Windows build or installer, and its codebase is written in C#/.NET. You only need the .NET SDK if you plan to compile the source code yourself rather than run the ready-made program.
The project documentation mentions only the Ergo network and its native token, ERG. The program is built around Ergo names, so it is not a general tool for other blockchains. For other networks, compare the alternatives covered on this page.
Its last code update was on February 14, 2022, more than two years ago, so there is no recent maintenance to rely on. Check the GitHub repository for new commits or issues before you build anything on it, and plan to maintain any changes yourself.
In most cases, yes. The program is aimed at developers who run it from code or integrate it into a project. People looking for a simple interface to manage coins should choose a tool designed for end users instead.
An Ergo name is a human-readable identifier that points to an address on the Ergo network. Names are easier to share, recognize and check than long strings of characters, which is why naming tools exist.
Verdict
ErgoNames.Api is a reasonable choice for a .NET developer who wants to study or experiment with Ergo name resolution and is willing to read the code before running it. It is free, open source and built on C#/.NET. It is not a good fit for anyone who needs an actively maintained product or a point-and-click app, because its last update dates to February 2022. Treat it as a reference implementation, and check the project page for recent activity before using it in anything important.