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The Canton Network QuickStart (cn-quickstart) is a reference application that gives you a working Canton Network setup on your local machine. It includes a Daml model, a Java backend service, a React frontend, a local Canton Network (LocalNet) with simulated Global Synchronizer nodes, and developer tooling to build and test your own applications.

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Choose how to use QuickStart

Run the demo

Install the toolchain, build the licensing application and walk through its workflow. Start here to learn how a full Canton Network application fits together.

Build your own app on LocalNet

Start only the network, then deploy your own DARs and drive them through the Ledger API. Needs only Docker.
When your own application outgrows experiments, you can build it inside the cn-quickstart repository alongside the sample and later separate it. See the development lifecycle.

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The demo application

The QuickStart demonstrates a software licensing workflow where an App Provider creates licenses for App Users, who can request renewals and make payments using Canton Coin. This workflow covers the core patterns you’ll use in production Canton Network applications: multi-party agreements, propose-accept flows, and token transfers. Running the demo sets up LocalNet with:
  • A simulated Canton Network with a super-validator node, sequencer, and mediator
  • An App Provider node running a participant node with the licensing application
  • An App User node running a separate participant with a wallet
  • A React frontend for both provider and user roles
  • A Java backend service handling Ledger API interactions
  • Canton Coin wallets for traffic purchase and payment flows
  • Log analysis with lnav for debugging and troubleshooting

Prerequisites and Installation

System requirements, dependencies, and step-by-step installation

Project Structure

How the QuickStart project is organized and what each component does

Running the Demo

Start the application and walk through the licensing workflow

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Before you start

The QuickStart assumes familiarity with the concepts from Module 1 (understanding Canton) and ideally Module 3 (Daml smart contracts). You don’t need to be a Daml expert to run the demo, but understanding templates, choices, and multi-party authorization will help you make sense of what the application is doing.