FAQ

Questions that came up while building this platform, and while learning Midnight from zero.

Do I need to understand cryptography or zero-knowledge proofs to build on Midnight?

No. That's the entire point of Compact. You write ordinary-looking logic and use disclose() deliberately; the compiler generates the actual zero-knowledge circuits for you.

What's the actual difference between a witness and disclose()?

A witness supplies private data into a circuit. disclose() is the explicit action that moves a value (or a computation involving one) from private into public ledger state. Data stays private by default; disclose() is an opt-in, not an opt-out.

Why does the Compact toolchain need Docker?

Docker runs the local proof server, which generates the actual zero-knowledge proofs for your transactions during development. Without it running, deployments and circuit calls will fail to produce valid proofs.

I'm on Windows and the toolchain install keeps failing. What's going on?

The Compact toolchain expects a Linux-like environment. On Windows, you need WSL2 specifically, not WSL1, and not plain PowerShell/Command Prompt. Module 04 documents a real, full troubleshooting trail for this, worth reading if you're stuck.

My deployment to Preview or Preprod hangs or times out. Is that normal?

Currently, yes, this can happen. A fresh wallet with no saved sync state re-runs a full genesis sync every time, which can take a long time on public testnets. Persisting wallet state between runs avoids repeating this cost. This is an active, evolving part of the toolchain, not something you're doing wrong.

What's the difference between local devnet, Preview, and Preprod?

Local devnet ("undeployed") runs entirely on your machine, resets easily, and is fastest for iterating. Preview and Preprod are Midnight's public test networks; Preprod is generally the more stable of the two.

Can I build something privacy-preserving without any prior blockchain experience?

Yes, that's exactly who this platform is for. Start at Module 01 and go in order. Every module assumes nothing you haven't already covered.

Where should I go once I finish the Curriculum and Projects here?

Midnight's own official docs and Academy for depth, the Community Hub for open content and DApp requests, and the Aliit Fellowship if you want to contribute back to the ecosystem directly.