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Getting Started with Midnight: Full Privacy dApp Setup (Lace, Compact, Docker & More)


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Martin Rivero

Midnight is a new blockchain for building privacy-focused decentralized applications using zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This tutorial covers everything you need to set up your dev environment for Midnight and start building private dApps using the Compact smart contract language.

🧰 Prerequisites

Make sure you have:

  • Google Chrome browser
  • Terminal/CLI knowledge
  • Admin privileges to install Docker & Compact

🔐 Step 1: Install the Lace Midnight Wallet

Lace wallet

Lace is the official wallet for the Midnight testnet.

  1. Install from Chrome Web Store
  2. Pin it to your toolbar
  3. Click it → Create Wallet → Write down your seed phrase safely!

✅ Verification: Wallet dashboard shows 0 tDUST

💸 Step 2: Get Test Tokens (tDUST)

  1. Copy your wallet address in Lace
  2. Go to the Midnight Faucet

Lace balance

  1. Paste your address and request tokens > Your address should start with mn_shield-addr_test...

✅ Verification: You now have tDUST in your wallet.

mywallet

🛠 Step 3: Install the Compact Compiler

Compact is Midnight’s smart contract language.

Install it using:

bash
curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -LsSf https://github.com/midnightntwrk/compact/releases/download/compact-v0.2.0/compact-installer.sh | sh

Then run:

bash
compact --version
which compact

✅ Verification: You see the version and path printed.

🧪 Step 4: Run the Proof Server with Docker

  1. Install Docker Desktop
  2. Start the proof server: 
docker run -p 6300:6300 midnightnetwork/proof-server -- 'midnight-proof-server --network testnet'

✅ Verification: Terminal shows logs and proof server runs at http://localhost:6300

💡 Tip: In Lace, go to: Settings → Midnight → Local to use this local server.

🧩 Step 5: Install the Compact VS Code Extension

✅ Verification: You see Compact Language Support enabled in VS Code.

Compact-VSC

🎉 You’re Ready!

With all tools installed, you’re now ready to:

  • Compile & deploy ZK smart contracts
  • Interact with dApps using your Lace wallet
  • Build private logic using Compact

📎 Want to try a real project?

Fork and deploy this one:
🔗 Midnight Kitties – GitHub fork

And you’ll be able to mint your first NFT like this one:

Minted Kitty

🧠 If you found this helpful, follow for more ZK dev cont
You can find out more info: Midnight


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Martin Rivero