Hedera Environment Setup

Overview

This skill walks developers through a safe, repeatable environment bootstrap for Hedera testnet first, then documents mainnet differences. It aligns with official Hiero SDK patterns (JavaScript, Java) and Mirror Node REST usage documented at docs.hedera.com.

When to use this skill

• Creating accounts via Hedera Portal or programmatic flows later.
• Requesting testnet HBAR from the official faucet (linked from docs — verify current URL on docs.hedera.com — Hedera Testnet Faucet).
• Choosing ED25519 DER vs hex ECDSA private key encodings for OPERATOR_KEY.
• Wiring .env for scripts and CI without leaking keys.

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ for JS samples (npm install at repo root).
• A Hedera Portal account (email verification).
• For Mirror REST checks: network reachability to public mirror hosts (corporate proxies may block).

Workflow

1. Create / recover operator credentials

   • Register at portal.hedera.com. Download or copy testnet key material for an operator account.
   • Never commit keys. Store only in .env or a secrets manager.

2. Fund testnet account

   • Use the official testnet faucet per current docs (portal UI often embeds the link). Confirm balance in a block explorer or via SDK/Mirror.

3. Choose network in .env

   HEDERA_NETWORK=testnet   # testnet | previewnet | mainnet
   OPERATOR_ID=0.0.12345
   OPERATOR_KEY=302e020100301006072a8648ce3d020106052b8104000a042204...
   MIRROR_REST_URL=https://testnet.mirrornode.hedera.com
   

   See references/env-vars.md for the full matrix.

4. Install Hiero JavaScript SDK (project-local):

   npm install @hashgraph/sdk dotenv
   

   Java projects: use Gradle/Maven coordinates from hashgraph/hedera-sdk-java README — mirror this guidance when users pick Java.

5. Verify consensus connectivity

   Run from repository root after npm install:

   node plugins/hedera-skills/skills/hedera-environment-setup/scripts/verify-connection.js
   

   This executes AccountBalanceQuery against the operator account — proving signing keys match OPERATOR_ID.

6. Verify Mirror Node REST

   The same script performs an HTTP GET to /api/v1/balances?account.id=<OPERATOR_ID> (see references/endpoints.md for hostnames).

7. Mainnet readiness gate

   Before mainnet: key custody policy, funding source, optional multisig / custody/HSM, fee estimation from network fees API. Default all tutorials to testnet.

Examples

Example 1 — student on Udemy

“I created a Portal account; how do I set .env and prove my SDK works?”

Guide them through sections Workflow steps 3–6 and run verify-connection.js. Explain DER-encoded ED25519 keys often start with 302e0201….

Example 2 — switching networks

“I need previewnet for a HIP prototype.”

Set HEDERA_NETWORK=previewnet, update MIRROR_REST_URL to previewnet mirror base URL from references/endpoints.md, rebuild Client.forPreviewnet().

Example 3 — CI secrets

“How do I load keys in GitHub Actions safely?”

Use encrypted secrets (OPERATOR_KEY), inject env at runtime, never echo secrets in logs; rotate keys if leaked.

Troubleshooting

References

• Bundled: references/endpoints.md, references/env-vars.md, references/sdk-compatibility.md
• Official: Networks — Testnet, Build Your Hedera Client, Mirror Node REST API
• Portal: portal.hedera.com, builder hub hedera.com/start-building