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This guide covers building WAX from source for both Python and TypeScript implementations.

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Prerequisites

Before building WAX, ensure you have the following installed:
  • Protobuf compiler: Required for generating protocol buffer files 
    apt install protobuf-compiler
  • Git: For cloning the repository and managing submodules
  • Python 3.12+: Required for Python builds
  • Node.js 20.11+ or 21.2+: Required for TypeScript builds
  • pnpm: Package manager for TypeScript
  • Poetry 2.1.3: Python dependency management

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Building Python

The Python implementation uses Cython bindings compiled to native .so modules.

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Install Poetry

First, install Poetry if you haven’t already: 
curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python3 - --version 2.1.3

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Set up build environment

WAX uses a dedicated version of Boost library (statically built). Use the CI base image as your build environment: The CI base image includes WAX_BOOST_ROOT with pre-compiled Boost library and supports multiple Python versions.

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Build the wheel

From the root project directory, run: 
./python/wax/scripts/build_wax.sh
This script will:
  1. Generate protocol buffer files from the hive submodule
  2. Build API packages from the hived OpenAPI specification
  3. Compile Cython bindings
  4. Create a wheel file in the ./dist directory

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Build for specific Python version

The CI pipeline builds for multiple Python versions: 
export PYTHON_VERSION=3.12  # or 3.14
./python/wax/scripts/build_wax.sh

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Build artifacts

After a successful build, you’ll find:
  • Wheel file: python/wax/dist/hiveio_wax-*.whl
  • Build logs: python/wax/.build/logs/
  • Compiled modules: python/wax/wax/*.so
  • Generated proto files: python/wax/wax/_private/proto/

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Building TypeScript

The TypeScript implementation uses WebAssembly (WASM) compiled from C++ via Emscripten.

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Install dependencies

From the ts/ directory: 
pnpm install

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Build WASM and TypeScript

Build the complete package: 
pnpm run build
This will:
  1. Compile C++ code to WASM using Emscripten
  2. Generate TypeScript types from protocol buffers
  3. Compile TypeScript code
  4. Create a distributable package

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Build tests only

To build just the test suite: 
pnpm run build:test

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Build artifacts

After a successful build, you’ll find:
  • Package tarball: ts/wasm/dist/*.tgz
  • WASM artifacts: ts/wasm/build_wasm/
  • Compiled TypeScript: ts/wasm/dist/lib/
  • Generated proto files: ts/wasm/lib/proto/
  • Build logs: ts/wasm/build_wasm/*.log

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Installing from source

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Python installation

Create a virtual environment and install: 
# Create virtual environment
python3 -m venv venv
source ./venv/bin/activate

# Install the wheel
python3 -m pip install --index-url $FIRST_INDEX --extra-index-url $SECOND_INDEX --extra-index-url $THIRD_INDEX ./dist/CREATED-WAX-WHEEL.whl
Set the registry environment variables before installing:
export FIRST_INDEX="https://gitlab.syncad.com/api/v4/projects/362/packages/pypi/simple"
export SECOND_INDEX="https://gitlab.syncad.com/api/v4/projects/434/packages/pypi/simple"
export THIRD_INDEX="https://gitlab.syncad.com/api/v4/projects/198/packages/pypi/simple"

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Developer installation script

For development, use the installation script: 
# Skip build if already built
export WAX_SKIP_BUILD=true

# Install in development mode
./python/wax/scripts/install_wax.sh

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TypeScript installation

Install from the built tarball: 
cd ts
npm install ./wasm/dist/*.tgz
Or use it in your project: 
npm install @hiveio/wax

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Debugging Python builds

For debugging Cython code, use a debug build of Python: 
# Create virtual environment with debug Python
poetry -C . env use python3.12d

# Install dependencies
poetry -C . install --no-root

# Build in debug mode
WAX_DEBUG=1 python3.12d setup.py build_ext --inplace

# Run under debugger
cygdb . -- --args python3.12d ./test_pure_tx.py
See Cython debugging documentation for more details.

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CI/CD pipeline

The GitLab CI pipeline automates the build process:

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Pipeline stages

  1. prepare: Build CI base images
  2. build: Build wheels and WASM packages
  3. static_code_analysis: Run linters and type checkers
  4. test_python: Run Python tests
  5. test: Run TypeScript tests
  6. deploy: Publish packages to registries
  7. test-tools: Build and test helper tools

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Key build jobs

  • build_wheel: Builds Python wheels for multiple Python versions (3.12, 3.14)
  • wax_wasm_proto_tsc_generation: Builds TypeScript WASM package
  • hiveio_api_package: Generates API packages from hived OpenAPI spec
  • wax_wasm_build_tests: Builds test suite
  • generate_docs: Generates API documentation

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Build matrix

Python builds run in parallel for multiple versions: 
parallel:
  matrix:
    - PYTHON_VERSION: ["3.12", "3.14"]

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Project structure

wax/
├── core/              # Common C++ code shared by Python and TypeScript
├── hive/              # Git submodule with Hive blockchain source
├── python/            # Python package source
│   ├── wax/           # Main package
│   ├── tests/         # Test suites
│   └── test_tools/    # Testing utilities
├── ts/                # TypeScript package source
│   ├── wasm/          # Core WASM implementation
│   └── packages/      # Extension packages (signers)
└── examples/          # Usage examples for both languages

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Troubleshooting

Install the protobuf compiler:
apt install protobuf-compiler
Or on macOS:
brew install protobuf
Ensure Poetry is installed and in your PATH:
curl -sSL https://install.python-poetry.org | python3 - --version 2.1.3
export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
The wheel must match your Python version. Check the wheel filename for the Python tag (e.g., cp312 for Python 3.12).Build for your specific Python version:
export PYTHON_VERSION=3.12
./python/wax/scripts/build_wax.sh
Use the official CI base image which includes pre-compiled Boost:
docker pull registry.gitlab.syncad.com/hive/wax/ci-base-image:pypa_2_28-13
Ensure you have initialized the git submodules:
git submodule update --init --recursive
Check the build logs in ts/wasm/build_wasm/*.log for specific errors.

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Next steps

Running tests

Learn how to run tests and examples

Contributing

Contribute to the WAX project

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