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CFG reference Manual page 11 – need to create and build  this section and transfer to CBFG.uk or elsewhere. 

Step-by-Step Instructions to Convert a Byte List to Base58 Using Python

Now that you’ve set up the environment and installed the necessary tools, let’s walk through the detailed process of converting a byte list to Base58 encoding step by step. I’ll guide you on how to use Python and other utilities to accomplish this.



Step 1: Verify Your Environment Setup

  1. Ensure Python 3 and pip Are Installed: Make sure that Python 3 and pip are installed.
    python3 --version
    pip3 --version

    If these are not installed, refer to the setup instructions for installing Python and pip.

  2. Activate Your Virtual Environment: You should use the virtual environment you previously set up.
    cd ~/my_virtual_env
    source venv/bin/activate

    When the virtual environment is activated, your terminal prompt should show (venv).



Step 2: Create and Save Your Byte List in a JSON File

  1. Create a JSON File for the Byte List:

    Use a text editor such as nano to create the JSON file.

    nano byte_list_keypair.json

    Paste the byte list into the file. It should look something like this:

    [12, 34, 56, 78, 90, 123, 234, 45, ...]  // Replace "..." with the rest of your byte list

    Save and close the file by pressing Ctrl + O to write changes, Enter to confirm, and Ctrl + X to exit.



Step 3: Install the Base58 Library

  1. Install the Base58 Library Using pip: Run the following command to install the base58 library in your virtual environment.
    pip install base58

    This library will help convert the byte array into Base58 encoding.



Step 4: Write a Python Script to Convert Byte List to Base58

  1. Create a Python Script (convert_to_base58.py):

    Use nano to create a Python script file in your virtual environment.

    nano convert_to_base58.py
  2. Add the Python Code: Paste the following code into the script file:
    import base58
    import json
    
    # Load the byte list from the JSON keypair file
    with open('byte_list_keypair.json') as f:
        keypair = json.load(f)
    
    # Convert the byte list to a byte array and then to Base58
    byte_array = bytearray(keypair)
    base58_private_key = base58.b58encode(byte_array).decode('utf-8')
    
    # Print the private key in Base58 encoding
    print("Private Key (Base58):", base58_private_key)
                
  3. Save and Close the Script: Press Ctrl + O to save, then press Enter to confirm. Finally, press Ctrl + X to exit the text editor.


Step 5: Run the Python Script

  1. Make Sure Your Virtual Environment Is Active: You should still see (venv) at the beginning of your prompt, which means the virtual environment is active.
  2. Run the Python Script:

    Use the following command to run the script:

    python convert_to_base58.py

    If everything is correct, you will see output like this:

    Private Key (Base58): <your_base58_private_key_here>

    Copy and save the Base58 private key somewhere secure, as this information is crucial for accessing your wallet.



Step 6: Deactivate the Virtual Environment (Optional)

  1. Deactivate the Environment: When you’re done, you can deactivate the virtual environment by running:
    deactivate

    This will return your terminal to its normal state.



Summary of Commands Used

  • Create JSON File: nano byte_list_keypair.json
  • Activate Environment: source venv/bin/activate
  • Install Base58 Library: pip install base58
  • Create Python Script: nano convert_to_base58.py
  • Run Python Script: python convert_to_base58.py
  • Deactivate Environment: deactivate