Overview
Cardano Node is the free, open-source program a computer runs to take part in the Cardano network1. Each copy connects to other computers running it and passes along new blocks and transaction information2. It also stores its own copy of the chain data on the machine's disk3. Stake pools use it to process transactions and produce blocks, while wallets and command-line tools can connect to a local copy to read the chain directly2,3.
Cardano Node is written in the Haskell programming language and maintained under Intersect, a member-based organization for the Cardano ecosystem. The program brings together three layers in one place: the ledger (the rules for who owns what), consensus (how computers agree on the next block), and networking (how they talk to each other)1. Recent release notes record sign-off from Intersect's Technical Steering Committee and Product Committee alongside test, performance, and release engineers4. Other node implementations exist too, and one written in the Go language has validated blocks on the main network5.
Key Features
- Run a stake pool or a relay. Cardano Node can act as a block producer, the machine that creates new blocks for a stake pool, or as a relay that passes data between that pool and the wider network, with both roles supported on Linux4.
- Read the chain from your own copy. A running node opens a local connection point that the Cardano command-line tool, wallets, and other programs use to query blockchain data without relying on someone else's server3.
- Practice before going live. Operators can point Cardano Node at the main network or at one of two public test networks, Preprod and Preview3.
- Skip the long first sync. Instead of replaying the whole chain from its first block, operators can start from a snapshot through Mithril, a companion tool whose snapshots are certified by stake pool signatures3,6.
- Install it the way you trust. Operators can download ready-made Linux builds from each release, pull container images for tools such as Docker, or build the program from source with the Nix build tool to verify it themselves7.
What to Expect
Visitors land on a GitHub repository, a public code-hosting page, rather than a consumer app. It holds the source code, release notes, a changelog, and public issue and discussion boards. The project speaks to people who run network infrastructure and to developers, not to everyday wallet users.
For stake pool operators and anyone running infrastructure, the setup guides live on the Cardano Developer Portal. They walk through downloading the program, fetching the configuration files for a chosen network, and running the node as a background service that restarts automatically after a crash or reboot3,7. Recent release notes list minimum hardware, and a node on the main network needs a machine with plenty of memory and hundreds of gigabytes of free storage4. Block production and relays run only on Linux, while Windows and macOS are supported for desktop use4.
Developers building in Haskell can reuse Cardano Node's code as a library, with reference documentation published on a separate documentation site1. Anyone who finds a security flaw is asked to report it privately to Intersect by email, with a reply promised within 48 hours8.
