IOTA Introduces New Testing Environments for Rebased Protocol

The IOTA Foundation has launched two new testing environments, a Public Testnet and a DevNet, to explore the capabilities of the IOTA Rebased protocol. These environments are designed to enhance stability and facilitate the testing of experimental features, according to the IOTA Foundation Blog.

Public Testnet: Stability and Long-Term Testing

The Public Testnet offers a stable, long-term environment for developers, validators, and users to test applications and interactions with the rebased IOTA protocol. It serves as a staging environment for potential protocol upgrades before their deployment on the mainnet. Unlike previous testnets, the current iteration emphasizes maintaining continuous operation without data resets. The IOTA Foundation plans to further decentralize the Public Testnet by onboarding validators through a dedicated program.

The testnet will feature an initial supply of 4.6 billion IOTA tokens, controlled by the IOTA Foundation, with some allocated to a faucet. To access the Public Testnet, users can download the IOTA Wallet browser extension from the Chrome Store and request tokens from the faucet. They can also explore network activity via the IOTA Explorer.

DevNet: Experimental Feature Testing

The DevNet is tailored for rapid testing of potential protocol upgrades, offering a less stable environment than the Public Testnet. It will undergo periodic resets to accommodate new features and protocol changes. The network includes IOTA mainnet ledger data for comprehensive testing, conducted safely to prevent replay attacks.

While the IOTA Foundation retains full control over the DevNet, ensuring swift network resets and upgrades, developers are encouraged to use this environment for testing new protocol features relevant to their applications. Detailed instructions for accessing the DevNet are available on the IOTA documentation site.

Moving Forward with IOTA Rebased

The introduction of these testing environments marks a significant step in the development of IOTA Rebased. Developers, validators, and enthusiasts are invited to engage with these platforms, test their applications, and contribute feedback. This collaborative effort aims to refine the IOTA Rebased protocol before its potential mainnet launch.