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Fork Explorer

Fork Explorer is a self-hosted web application that reads fork configuration and blockchain data through a bitcoind JSON-RPC server to display BIP9-style Bitcoin soft-fork status. It can also generate block data for difficulty periods and make that data available through an HTTP endpoint or local JSON files.

Explore the practical guide ↓

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Fork Explorer — OpenViST project profile in Explorers & Analytics.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Fork Explorer when you can configure a bitcoind JSON-RPC connection and want a self-hosted view of soft-fork signaling or generated difficulty-period data.

Who it is for

  • Bitcoin node operators who want to display soft-fork signaling status from their bitcoind instance.
  • Developers or operators who need to generate and display block data for selected difficulty periods.

Documented uses

  • View BIP9-style soft-fork signaling and activation status.
  • Generate block data for a specified 2,016-block difficulty period.
  • Expose generated period data through the application's HTTP path or JSON files.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The project is open source under the MIT license. Running it requires Deno and a configured bitcoind JSON-RPC server.

  • The application relies on bitcoind and its JSON-RPC server; it is not described as a standalone hosted data source.
  • Deno is required to build and run the project.
  • Environment settings are read at process start, so changing them requires a restart.
  • Difficulty periods are calculated in 2,016-block intervals.
  • The project supports instance-specific public content through a Preact JSX configuration module.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Set up a Fork Explorer instance

Configure and start the self-hosted application with fork settings and a bitcoind JSON-RPC connection.

Before you start

  • Deno
  • A bitcoind JSON-RPC server and its credentials
  • Fork configuration

Steps

  1. Copy .env.template to .env and configure the fork and bitcoind JSON-RPC credentials.

  2. Keep .env on the server; on a multi-user system, restrict access to the service account.

  3. Run deno task dev for development, or deno task start to build and start the production server.

  4. Set SERVER_HOST and SERVER_PORT in .env to configure the listening address; restart the process after changing environment settings.

Expected outcome

A running instance configured to read soft-fork and blockchain data from bitcoind.

Guide limitations

  • A bitcoind JSON-RPC connection and valid configuration are required.
  • The documented setup does not specify hosting, network, or node provisioning.
Documentation 1 ↗
Source-based practical guide

Generate and display difficulty-period block data

Generate block data for a chosen difficulty period and make it available to the application.

Before you start

  • Deno
  • The Fork Explorer project files
  • Network, read, and write permissions for the documented Deno command

Steps

  1. Choose a block in the desired difficulty period and calculate its period number as floor(block height / 2016).

  2. Run deno run --allow-net --allow-read --allow-write generate/index.ts [period number] with that period number.

  3. Use the generated data at /blocks/[epoch number] or in data/periods/[epoch].json.

  4. To display a generated period on the site, select it from the Period dropdown in Settings.

Expected outcome

Generated period data is available through the documented HTTP path or JSON file and can be selected for display.

Guide limitations

  • The period number is based on 2,016-block difficulty periods.
  • Generation requires network, read, and write permissions.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
14 October 2026
Original website title
hsjoberg/fork-explorer · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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