Continuous Integration (CI)

With every code commit, a CI server—such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Travis CI, CircleCI, or GitLab CI—automatically checks out the latest repository state, compiles the application, and executes the full suite of automated tests. This frequent validation ensures that integration issues are detected immediately, minimizing the complexity and cost of fixes.

Continuous Delivery (CD)

Once the CI process approves a build, the CD stage packages the application (for example, into containers or deployable artifacts) and publishes it to a staging environment. At this point, the application is ready for release, whether manually triggered or driven by further automation, allowing production deployment at the push of a button.

Continuous Deployment (also CD)

Building on Continuous Delivery, Continuous Deployment removes manual gates entirely: every change that passes CI tests is automatically released to production. This approach maximizes deployment frequency, ensuring that small, incremental updates reach users rapidly and reliably.

Pipeline as Code

A typical CI/CD pipeline consists of these stages, each defined in a configuration file (such as a Jenkinsfile, .github/workflows/*.yml, or .gitlab-ci.yml):

1. Build
2. Test
3. Package
4. Deploy
5. Monitor (optional)

Storing these definitions alongside the application source makes the delivery process transparent, reproducible, and fully version-controlled.

Benefits

• Accelerated Feedback: Immediate identification of integration problems reduces remediation effort.
• Automated, Repeatable Releases: Automated steps eliminate drift and manual errors across environments.
• Reduced Risk: Smaller, more frequent deployments limit the impact of any single release.

Bitlayer Signet-Based Testnet

Bitlayer’s testnet operates as a Signet-based, EVM-compatible Layer-2 on top of Bitcoin, allowing Solidity contracts to be developed and tested using Bitcoin (vBTC) for gas without requiring real BTC mining.

Network Fundamentals

• Signet Consensus: Blocks are signed by a known authority rather than mined via proof-of-work, providing deterministic, permissioned block production and faster, more reliable testing.
• EVM Compatibility: An Ethereum-style sequencer implements the Ethereum JSON-RPC API. Solidity contracts compile to EVM bytecode, and standard tooling (Hardhat, Foundry, Brownie, Remix, MetaMask) works unchanged.
• Gas in BTC/vBTC: Transactions consume BTC; on testnet, vBTC is minted via a faucet. Internally, the Layer-2 maps EVM gas costs to Bitcoin balances associated with Ethereum-style addresses.

Connection Details

• RPC Endpoint: https://testnet-rpc.bitlayer.org (also available via WebSocket)
• Chain ID: 200810
• Native Token: BTC (vBTC on testnet)

Wallet & Tool Configuration

• MetaMask/Remix: Add a custom network using the RPC URL and Chain ID; select “Injected Provider – MetaMask” in Remix and switch to Bitlayer Testnet.
• Hardhat:

  // hardhat.config.js
  module.exports = {
    networks: {
      bitlayer: {
        url: "https://testnet-rpc.bitlayer.org",
        accounts: process.env.PRIVATE_KEY ? [process.env.PRIVATE_KEY] : [],
      },
    },
  };
  

• Foundry:

  forge create MyContract --rpc-url https://testnet-rpc.bitlayer.org --legacy
  

Obtaining Testnet BTC (vBTC)

1. Faucet Request: Submit a Bitcoin testnet address (e.g., beginning with tb1q or tb1p) to the Bitlayer Testnet faucet.
2. Minting Delay: Allow approximately 20 minutes for the Signet authority to mint and send vBTC.
3. Verification: Confirm receipt via a wallet (Xverse, MetaMask) or block explorer (e.g., testnet.btrscan.com).

Typical Developer Workflow

1. Local Development: Compile and test contracts locally using Hardhat, Foundry, or Brownie.
2. Testnet Deployment: Deploy to Bitlayer Testnet with existing deployment scripts or via Remix.
3. Iteration: Interact with deployed contracts using the same Web3 calls as on mainnet, differing only in RPC URL and gas token.
4. Debugging: Use JSON-RPC logs or the testnet explorer to diagnose issues.

Transition to Mainnet

All skills and artifacts from testnet carry over directly to mainnet: Solidity code, upgrade patterns (e.g., OpenZeppelin proxies), and deployment tooling remain identical. When ready, switch the RPC endpoint to the mainnet node, replace vBTC with real BTC for gas, and execute the CI/CD deployment pipeline to launch production contracts.

By combining a robust CI/CD process with Bitlayer’s EVM-compatible Signet testnet, development teams can achieve fast, reliable iterations in a Bitcoin-native environment—while preserving a clear path to production deployment.