Merge pull request #96 from bobsummerwill/installing_a_client

First pass at "Installing a Client".

source/using-ethereum-the-basics/installing-a-client.rst

@@ -2,30 +2,132 @@
 Installing a Client
 ********************************************************************************
 
-Linux
+Why are there multiple clients?
 ================================================================================
 
-Windows
-================================================================================
+A key design decision for Ethereum was to separate the definition of the
+protocol (the "Yellow Paper") from the implementation(s) of that protocol
+(geth, eth, etc).
 
-Mac
-================================================================================
+From the earlier days of the project there have been multiple interoperable
+client implementations across a range of different operating systems.
 
-iOs
-================================================================================
+As we enter the Homestead phase, the Go client is very, very dominant, but
+it hasn't always been that way, and won't necessarily be that way in the
+future.
+
+In the early days of the project the C++ client was more popular.
+BlockApps were able to create the Haskell client in stealth mode and to
+"uncloak" at DEVCON1 as part of the Azure partnership.  Ethcore have
+brought a Rust client to life in the last few months.  Every client
+has its own strengths.
+
+That client diversity is a huge win for the eco-system as a whole.
+It lets us verify that the protocol is unambiguous.  It keeps the door
+open for new innovation.  It keeps us all honest.
+
+However, it can be very confusing for end-users, because there is no
+universal "Ethereum Installer" for them to use.
 
-Android
+
+What clients are currently available, and which support Homestead?
 ================================================================================
 
-Raspberry Pi
+There are a number of "official" clients whose development has been funded
+by the Ethereum Foundation, and there are various other clients which have
+been built by the community or by other commercial entities.
+
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| Client                 | Language   | Developers             | Homestead Release                |
++========================+============+========================+==================================+
+| `mist (dapp browser)`_ | Javascript | `Ethereum Foundation`_ | `mist-v0.5.1`_                   |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `go-ethereum`_         | Go         | `Ethereum Foundation`_ | `geth-v1.3.5`_                   |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `cpp-ethereum`_        | C++        | `Ethereum Foundation`_ | `eth-v1.2.1`_                    |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `pyethapp`_            | Python     | `Ethereum Foundation`_ | `pyethapp-v1.1.0`_               |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `ethereumjs-lib`_      | Javascript | `Ethereum Foundation`_ |                                  |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `Ethereum(J)`_         | Java       | `ConsenSys`_           | `ethereumJ-v1.2.0-homestead-RC`_ |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `ethereumH`_           | Haskell    | `ConsenSys`_           |                                  |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `ethereum-ruby`_       | Ruby       | `Digix`_               |                                  |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+| `Parity`_              | Rust       | `Ethcore`_             |                                  |
++------------------------+------------+------------------------+----------------------------------+
+
+.. _mist (dapp browser): http://github.com/ethereum/mist/
+.. _go-ethereum: http://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/
+.. _cpp-ethereum: https://github.com/ethereum/webthree-umbrella
+.. _pyethapp: https://github.com/ethereum/pyethapp
+.. _ethereumjs-lib: https://github.com/ethereumjs/ethereumjs-lib
+.. _Ethereum(J): https://github.com/ethereum/ethereumj
+.. _ethereumH: https://github.com/jamshidh/ethereum-client-haskell
+.. _ethereum-ruby: https://github.com/DigixGlobal/ethereum-ruby
+.. _Parity: https://github.com/ethcore/parity
+
+.. _Ethereum Foundation: https://ethereum.org/foundation
+.. _ConsenSys: https://consensys.net/
+.. _Digix: https://dgx.io/
+.. _Ethcore: https://ethcore.io/
+
+.. _mist-v0.5.1: https://github.com/ethereum/mist/releases/tag/0.5.1
+.. _geth-v1.3.5: https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/releases/tag/v1.3.5
+.. _eth-v1.2.1: https://github.com/ethereum/webthree-umbrella/releases/tag/v1.2.1
+.. _pyethapp-v1.1.0: https://github.com/ethereum/pyethapp/releases/tag/v1.1.0
+.. _ethereumJ-v1.2.0-homestead-RC: https://github.com/ethereum/ethereumj/releases/tag/1.2.0-homestead-RC
+
+
+What should I install on my desktop/laptop?
 ================================================================================
-`See this Ethereum Wiki page for Raspberry Pi installation instructions <https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/Raspberry-Pi-instructions>`__
 
-ARM
+If you have a laptop or desktop machine, you should probably just install
+the Ethereum Wallet and you are done.
+
+That is a "single dapp" deployment of the Mist Browser which will be the
+centerpiece of the Metropolis phase of development, which comes after
+Homestead.   Mist comes with bundled geth and eth binaries and if you are
+not running a command-line client then Mist will run one of the bundles
+binaries for you.
+
+If you want to interact with Ethereum on the command-line, and to take
+advantage of the Javascript console then you will want to install one of
+the client applications directly, as well as having the ability to connect
+to the network using Mist.
+
+geth and eth are the best place to start, because they have both been
+under development since the start of the project, have passed security
+audits, work for all platforms and have Ethereum Foundation resources
+assigned to their ongoing maintenance and support.  Beyond that, of course,
+it is all a matter of personal preference.  Try them all :-)
+
+If you want to do mining then Mist will not be sufficient.  Check out
+the Mining section.
+
+
+What should I install on my mobile/tablet?
 ================================================================================
 
-Binaries
+We are at the very beginning of our support for mobile devices.   The Go
+team are publishing experimental iOS and Android libraries, which some
+developers are using to start bootstrapping mobile applications, but there
+are not yet any mobile Ethereum clients available.
+
+The main hinderance to the use of Ethereum on mobile devices is that the
+Light Client support is still incomplete.   The work which has been done is
+off in a private branch, and is only available for the Go client.
+doublethinkco will be starting development of Light Client for the C++ client
+in the coming months, following grant funding.
+
+Check out Syng.im, who were initially using EthereumJ-Android but have
+recently flipped to Geth cross-builds with Light Client.
+
+
+What should I install on my SBC?
 ================================================================================
 
-Installing from Source
-================================================================================
+Use EthEmbedded stuff.
+And doublethinkco cross-builds.