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glnc

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How glnc compares to other blockchain explorers and tools

glnc is an open-source, terminal-native blockchain explorer: it checks wallet balances, decodes transactions, and tracks gas across nine chains with no browser, no account, and no API key. The honest comparisons below show where it overlaps with Etherscan, Foundry's cast, Blockscout, and ethers.js, and which tool to reach for in each case.

An open-source blockchain explorer lets you inspect on-chain data with tooling you can read, run, and self-host. Most explorers are web apps: Blockscout is the canonical open-source one, and Etherscan is the closed-source incumbent. glnc takes the terminal route instead. It is MIT-licensed, installs in one line, runs locally against public RPC endpoints, and covers nine chains from a single command, so it fits into shell pipelines and scripts the way a web explorer never can.

  • vs the web explorer

    glnc vs Etherscan

    Etherscan is a label-rich web explorer with verified source and a decade of history. glnc is the terminal tool for quick checks, scripting, and multi-chain balances. When to reach for which.

  • vs the Foundry primitive

    glnc vs cast

    Foundry’s cast is a low-level RPC scalpel for contract devs. glnc is a high-level wallet inspector. Both belong in your PATH; here is the division of labor.

  • vs the open-source explorer

    glnc vs Blockscout

    Blockscout is the canonical open-source block explorer you self-host per chain. glnc is an open-source explorer you install in one line and run across nine chains from the terminal.

  • vs the library

    glnc vs ethers.js

    ethers.js is a library for building apps that read and write chain data. glnc is the ready-made CLI for when you just want the answer without writing a script.

Sources

New to glnc? Start with the quickstart or browse the documentation.