Practical overview
When it fits
Use the hosted explorer to browse XRP Ledger activity, or use the repository when you need to configure, adapt, or run the explorer against a documented XRPL network.
Who it is for
- People who want to browse XRP Ledger blocks and transactions.
- Developers who need an explorer configured for XRPL testnet or devnet.
- Teams that want to build or self-host an XRP Ledger explorer.
Documented uses
- Browse XRP Ledger blocks and ledger activity.
- Inspect transactions through a block-explorer interface.
- Configure the explorer to use a testnet or devnet node.
- Build and run the application locally in development or production mode.
Requirements & limits
- The application requires Node.js 22 and npm 8 or later for the documented local setup.
- Testnet and devnet use different VITE_RIPPLED_HOST values and environment labels.
- The README notes extra compilation dependencies may be needed for canvas on Apple Silicon.
- The repository identifies English as the default language and lists Spanish, French, Japanese and Korean as targeted languages.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Configure XRPL Explorer for testnet or devnet
Set the application to connect to the documented XRPL testnet or devnet node and enable its network banner.
Before you start
- The XRPL Explorer source repository
- Node.js 22 and npm 8 or later
- A local .env file copied from .env.example
Steps
Copy .env.example to .env.
For testnet, set VITE_RIPPLED_HOST=s.altnet.rippletest.net and add VITE_ENVIRONMENT=testnet.
For devnet, set VITE_RIPPLED_HOST=s.devnet.rippletest.net and add VITE_ENVIRONMENT=devnet.
Run npm install, then npm start for development mode.
Expected outcome
A development-mode explorer configured for the selected network, with its testnet or devnet banner enabled.
Guide limitations
- The guide documents local development setup, not a production deployment.
- Apple Silicon installation may require additional dependencies to compile canvas.
Build and run XRPL Explorer in production mode
Build the application and start its documented production server.
Before you start
- The XRPL Explorer source repository
- Node.js 22 and npm 8 or later
- A local .env file copied from .env.example
Steps
Copy .env.example to .env.
Run npm install.
Run npm run build.
Run npm run prod-server.
Expected outcome
The README's documented production build and server start sequence has been completed.
Guide limitations
- The repository instructions do not specify deployment infrastructure or hosting configuration.
- Apple Silicon installation may require additional dependencies to compile canvas.
Compare options for Blockchain exploration
These projects document a common task and share a project role. This is a source-based comparison, not an execution benchmark or a guarantee of interchangeability.
| Project | Documented purpose | Platform | Access and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| XRPL Explorer | Browse XRP Ledger blocks and ledger activity. | Server, Web | |
| Aptos Explorer | Review a transaction's payload, events and gas usage. | Self-hosted, Web | The hosted instance is available at https://explorer.aptoslabs.com. Local development requires Node.js and pnpm, with expected versions referenced in the repository. |
| EOSTRACKER2 | Browse real-time blocks on the EOS blockchain. | Web |
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 10 October 2026
- Original website title
- ripple/explorer · Official homepage title · retained in its source language