uia
This document is targeted at technical users already familiar with the basics of the BitShares platform and is intended to provide a hands-on demonstration of its advanced user-issued asset feature. We will assume that the reader is familiar with downloading source code and compiling applications in a Linux or OSX terminal environment.
The BitShares platform provides a feature known as "user-issued assets", designed to help facilitate profitable business models for certain types of services that integrate with the platform. The term user-issued asset refers to a type of custom token registered on the platform, and which users can hold and trade while obeying certain specified restrictions. The creator--known as the issuer--of such an asset gets to publically name, describe, and distribute its tokens as desired. In addition, the issuer can specify certain custom requirements for the asset: such as allowing only an approved whitelist of user accounts to hold the tokens, or requiring users to pay certain fees when transferring or trading the tokens.
For example, consider a currency exchange business that wants to use the BitShares trading engine--another feature of the platform--to build their trading service. Such a business could accept deposits of real cash from verified customers in exchange for user-issued asset tokens deposited to the customers' whitelisted BitShares accounts. The customers could then use the BitShares trading engine to trade these IOUs, while the issuer collects a percentage of each trade as fees. When the customer is done trading and wants to cash out, the issuer pays them back real cash in exchange for the IOUs. In the end, the customer got the trading service they wanted and the business collected trading fees, and leveraging the BitShares platform helped everyone keep things as efficient and profitable as possible.
For this tutorial, we will be using the BitShares Test Network--called DevShares--for demonstrating usage of the user-issued asset system. In particular, we will be compiling and using the command-line version of the DevShares client.
The DevShares source code can be found here: https://github.com/BitShares/DevShares
Build instructions can be found here:
- https://github.com/BitShares/DevShares/blob/master/BUILD_OSX.md
- https://github.com/BitShares/DevShares/blob/master/BUILD_UBUNTU.md
Follow the above instructions, and return to the root DevShares git repository folder after successfully building the client.
Now let's start the DevShares client:
ᐅ ./programs/client/devshares_client Loading blockchain from: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/chain
Creating default config file at: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/config.json
Logging to file: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/logs/default/default.log
Logging RPC to file: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/logs/rpc/rpc.log
Logging blockchain to file: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/logs/blockchain/blockchain.log
Logging P2P to file: /Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares/logs/p2p/p2p.log
Using built-in blockchain checkpoints
Initializing state from built-in genesis file
Please be patient, this will take several minutes...
Successfully replayed 0 blocks in 1 seconds.
Blockchain size changed from 0MiB to 0MiB.
Not starting RPC server, use --server to enable the RPC interface
(wallet closed) >>>
First, we will wait for the client to automatically synchronize with the network. You may see some status messages while this is occurring:
--- there are now 1 active connections to the p2p network
--- there are now 2 active connections to the p2p network
--- syncing with p2p network, 749094 blocks left to fetch
--- there are now 3 active connections to the p2p network
--- there are now 4 active connections to the p2p network
--- syncing with p2p network, our last block is 13 weeks old
--- syncing with p2p network, our last block is 82 days old
--- currently syncing at 2522 blocks/sec, 5 minutes remaining
Please be patient, as this may take some time. You can check the current status with the info command:
(wallet closed) >>> info
{
"blockchain_head_block_num": 749196,
"blockchain_head_block_age": "3 seconds old",
"blockchain_head_block_timestamp": "2015-04-14T16:16:10",
"blockchain_head_block_id": "21f7441bd6693247bac5bf3a5b14bbe01a51f8f2",
"blockchain_average_delegate_participation": "96.19 %",
"blockchain_share_supply": "2,804,787,065.64526 DVS",
"blockchain_blocks_left_in_round": 22,
"blockchain_next_round_time": "at least 4 minutes in the future",
"blockchain_next_round_timestamp": "2015-04-14T16:19:50",
"blockchain_random_seed": "6a298610c06bbb8325d129d695a61b0fc3484b51",
"client_data_dir": "/Users/vikram/Library/Application Support/DevShares",
"client_version": "0.9.0",
"network_num_connections": 10,
"network_num_connections_max": 200,
"network_chain_downloader_running": false,
"network_chain_downloader_blocks_remaining": null,
"ntp_time": "2015-04-14T16:16:12",
"ntp_time_error": -0.019751999999999999,
"wallet_open": false,
"wallet_unlocked": null,
"wallet_unlocked_until": null,
"wallet_unlocked_until_timestamp": null,
"wallet_last_scanned_block_timestamp": null,
"wallet_scan_progress": null,
"wallet_block_production_enabled": null,
"wallet_next_block_production_time": null,
"wallet_next_block_production_timestamp": null
}
When blockchain_head_block_age is around 10 seconds or less, then you are done synchronizing with the network.
Note that commands can be listed/autocompleted using the Tab key, and that you can print the specification for each command using the special help command:
(wallet closed) >>> help help
Usage:
help [command_name] display a list of commands, or detailed help on an individual command
display a list of commands, or detailed help on an individual command
Parameters:
command_name (method_name, optional, defaults to ""): the name of the method to get detailed help, or omit this for a list of commands
Returns:
string
aliases: h
(wallet closed) >>> help info
Usage:
get_info Returns version number and associated information for this client
Returns version number and associated information for this client
Parameters:
(none)
Returns:
json_object
aliases: getinfo, info
First, we will create a new wallet:
(wallet closed) >>> create demo-wallet
new_passphrase:
new_passphrase (verify):
OK
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>>
The wallet will start off fully unlocked. If it automatically locks during the tutorial, you can use the unlock command to unlock it:
demo-wallet (locked) >>> unlock 3600
passphrase:
OK
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>>
Next, let's initialize two unregistered accounts:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_account_create demo-issuer
"DVS8Eu9kCSDqMVLsGmrb841wkF41rTbzKWAXxEKh85yLQY1YSMsJF"
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_account_create demo-user
"DVS4yCcco9PT5kRwfEYh6UNQDYxFCxhe4QSK2tN5cPykES7YQD6fC"
Now we need to acquire some DevShares core tokens--called DVS--so that we can register these accounts and then register a user-issued asset. For the purposes of this tutorial, we will assume that some funds have been separately set aside beforehand and can be imported with the following command:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_import_private_key 5J2SXphZ7TqcZPjq4b5tCEdXhsTENKaji85L6G6uZGV7hTS5Pxn demo-issuer
Beginning scan at block 1...
Scan complete.
We can check our account balances to make sure the funds were imported successfully:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> balance
ACCOUNT BALANCE
============================================================
demo-issuer 200,000.00000 DVS
Using these funds, we will publically register our account names:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_account_register demo-issuer demo-issuer
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T16:42:23 PENDING demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS register demo-issuer 1.00000 DVS 94d22f4f
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_account_register demo-user demo-issuer
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T16:42:34 PENDING demo-issuer demo-user 0.00000 DVS register demo-user 1.00000 DVS 818c9402
We can make sure these registrations were successful:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> history
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T16:42:23 749349 demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS register demo-issuer 1.00000 DVS 94d22f4f
2015-04-14T16:42:34 749350 demo-issuer demo-user 0.00000 DVS register demo-user 1.00000 DVS 818c9402
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_list_accounts
NAME (* delegate) KEY REGISTERED BLOCK PRODUCTION ENABLED
demo-issuer DVS5uBmE1hQjKCZSAGQJY6BGDu1yRFAD7nBADFpk55jWRqNViXDqy 2015-04-14T16:42:20 N/A
demo-user DVS6APHZftbKhVoNSCnpHKbZk5vHV2xzF3kgYxooYwEx9SYLKUViB 2015-04-14T16:42:30 N/A
Now we are ready to create and register a new user-issued asset:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help wallet_uia_create
Usage:
wallet_uia_create <issuer_account> <symbol> <name> <description> <max_supply_with_trailing_decimals> Create a new user-issued asset on the blockchain. Warning: creation fees can be very high!
Create a new user-issued asset on the blockchain. Warning: creation fees can be very high!
Parameters:
issuer_account (string, required): The registered account name that will pay the creation fee and control the new asset
symbol (asset_symbol, required): A unique symbol that will represent the new asset. Short symbols are very expensive!
name (string, required): A human-readable name for the new asset
description (string, required): A human-readable description of the new asset
max_supply_with_trailing_decimals (string, required): Choose the max share supply and max share divisibility for the new asset. For example: 10000000000.00000 or 12345.6789
Returns:
transaction_record
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_create demo-issuer DEMOIOU "Demo IOU" "This IOU is for demonstration purposes" 25000.00
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:05:43 PENDING demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS create DEMOIOU (Demo IOU) 5,000.00000 DVS 36da50ac
Confirm that the registration was successful:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> history
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T16:42:23 749349 demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS register demo-issuer 1.00000 DVS 94d22f4f
2015-04-14T16:42:34 749350 demo-issuer demo-user 0.00000 DVS register demo-user 1.00000 DVS 818c9402
2015-04-14T17:05:43 749483 demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS create DEMOIOU (Demo IOU) 5,000.00000 DVS 36da50ac
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> blockchain_get_asset DEMOIOU
{
"id": 48,
"symbol": "DEMOIOU",
"issuer_id": 581,
"authority": {
"required": 1,
"owners": [
"DVSNwn2ZDRhT12U3jKM9t9xVHbfiQDvyUPeZ"
]
},
"authority_flag_permissions": 4294967295,
"active_flags": 0,
"whitelist": [],
"name": "Demo IOU",
"description": "This IOU is for demonstration purposes",
"public_data": null,
"precision": 100,
"max_supply": 2500000,
"withdrawal_fee": 0,
"market_fee_rate": 0,
"collected_fees": 0,
"current_supply": 0,
"registration_date": "2015-04-14T17:05:40",
"last_update": "2015-04-14T17:05:40"
}
Note that there are many commands for administrating user-issued assets:
wallet_uia_collect_fees
wallet_uia_issue
wallet_uia_retract_balance
wallet_uia_update_authority_permissions
wallet_uia_update_fees
wallet_uia_update_whitelist
wallet_uia_create
wallet_uia_issue_to_addresses
wallet_uia_update_active_flags
wallet_uia_update_description
wallet_uia_update_supply
For this tutorial, we will demonstrate just a couple user-issued asset customization features: whitelisted accounts and market trading fees. We will start with enabling the restricted accounts setting on the asset:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help wallet_uia_update_active_flags
Usage:
wallet_uia_update_active_flags <paying_account> <asset_symbol> <flag> <enable_instead_of_disable> Activate or deactivate one of the special flags for the specified user-issued asset as permitted
Activate or deactivate one of the special flags for the specified user-issued asset as permitted
Parameters:
paying_account (account_name, required): the account that will pay the transaction fee
asset_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the user-issued asset to update
flag (asset_flag_enum, required): the special flag to enable or disable; one of {dynamic_max_supply, dynamic_fees, halted_markets, halted_withdrawals, retractable_balances, restricted_accounts}
enable_instead_of_disable (bool, required): true to enable, or false to disable
Returns:
transaction_record
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_update_active_flags demo-issuer DEMOIOU restricted_accounts true
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:14:33 PENDING demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add restricted_accounts to authority per... 1.00000 DVS 97652098
The account whitelist starts off empty. Let's try issuing some of the asset tokens to a user account:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help wallet_uia_issue
Usage:
wallet_uia_issue <asset_amount> <asset_symbol> <recipient> [memo_message] Issue shares of a user-issued asset to the specified recipient
Issue shares of a user-issued asset to the specified recipient
Parameters:
asset_amount (string, required): the amount of shares of the asset to issue
asset_symbol (asset_symbol, required): specify the unique symbol of the asset
recipient (string, required): the account name, public key, address, btc address, or contact label (prefixed by "label:") which will receive the funds
memo_message (string, optional, defaults to ""): a memo to send if the recipient is an account
Returns:
transaction_record
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_issue 10 DEMOIOU demo-user
10 assert_exception: Assert Exception
asset_rec->address_is_approved( *eval_state.pending_state(), owner ):
The issuance has failed since the recipient account is not in the whitelist. Let's add it to the whitelist and try again:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help wallet_uia_update_whitelist
Usage:
wallet_uia_update_whitelist <paying_account> <asset_symbol> <account_name> <add_to_whitelist> Add or remove the specified registered account from the specified user-issued asset's whitelist
Add or remove the specified registered account from the specified user-issued asset's whitelist
Parameters:
paying_account (account_name, required): the account that will pay the transaction fee
asset_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the user-issued asset that will have its whitelist updated
account_name (string, required): the name of the account to add or remove from the whitelist
add_to_whitelist (bool, required): true to add to whitelist, or false to remove
Returns:
transaction_record
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_update_whitelist demo-issuer DEMOIOU demo-user true
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:18:54 PENDING demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add demo-user towhitelist for DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS 8b50d6cb
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_issue 10 DEMOIOU demo-user
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:19:12 PENDING demo-issuer demo-user 10.00 DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS a3ed410f
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> balance
ACCOUNT BALANCE
============================================================
demo-issuer 194,995.00000 DVS
demo-user 10.00 DEMOIOU
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>>
The asset tokens have now been issued successfully to the whitelisted account!
Next let's see if we can collect some market trading fees. We will enable the dynamic fees setting for the asset, then set a 1% market trading fee:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_update_active_flags demo-issuer DEMOIOU dynamic_fees true
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:29:12 PENDING demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add dynamic_fees to authority permsfor D... 1.00000 DVS 43c74ca6
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help wallet_uia_update_fees
Usage:
wallet_uia_update_fees <paying_account> <asset_symbol> [withdrawal_fee] [market_fee_rate] Update the transaction fee, market fee rate for the specified user-issued asset if permitted
Update the transaction fee, market fee rate for the specified user-issued asset if permitted
Parameters:
paying_account (account_name, required): the account that will pay the transaction fee
asset_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the user-issued asset to update
withdrawal_fee (string, optional, defaults to ""): the transaction fee for the asset in shares of the asset
market_fee_rate (string, optional, defaults to ""): the market fee rate for the asset as a percentage between 0.01 and 100, or 0
Returns:
transaction_record
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_update_fees demo-issuer DEMOIOU "" 1
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:29:28 PENDING demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS update properties for DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS 8d02feed
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>>
Now let's put the tokens up for sale on the internal trading platform (after sending demo-user some DVS so he can pay the network fee for posting the offer):
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> transfer 10 DVS demo-issuer demo-user
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:36:19 PENDING demo-issuer demo-user 10.00000 DVS 1.00000 DVS 4841bafc
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> balance
ACCOUNT BALANCE
============================================================
demo-issuer 194,982.00000 DVS
demo-user 10.00000 DVS
10.00 DEMOIOU
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help bid
Usage:
wallet_market_submit_bid <from_account_name> <quantity> <quantity_symbol> <base_price> <base_symbol> [allow_stupid_bid] Used to place a request to buy a quantity of assets at a price specified in another asset
Used to place a request to buy a quantity of assets at a price specified in another asset
Parameters:
from_account_name (account_name, required): the account that will provide funds for the bid
quantity (string, required): the quantity of items you would like to buy
quantity_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the type of items you would like to buy
base_price (string, required): the price you would like to pay
base_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the type of asset you would like to pay with
allow_stupid_bid (bool, optional, defaults to "false"): Allow user to place bid at more than 5% above the current sell price.
Returns:
transaction_record
aliases: bid
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> bid demo-user 100 DVS 0.1 DEMOIOU
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:39:24 PENDING demo-user demo-user 10.00 DEMOIOU buy DVS @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 1.00000 DVS 61be881e
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> blockchain_market_order_book DEMOIOU DVS
BIDS (* Short) | ASKS
TOTAL QUANTITY PRICE | PRICE QUANTITY TOTAL COLLATERAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.00 DEMOIOU 100.00000 DVS 0.1 DEMOIOU |
As shown above, we've put up an offer to trade 10 DEMOIOU for 100 DVS. Let's match that offer:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> help ask
Usage:
wallet_market_submit_ask <from_account_name> <sell_quantity> <sell_quantity_symbol> <ask_price> <ask_price_symbol> [allow_stupid_ask] Used to place a request to sell a quantity of assets at a price specified in another asset
Used to place a request to sell a quantity of assets at a price specified in another asset
Parameters:
from_account_name (account_name, required): the account that will provide funds for the ask
sell_quantity (string, required): the quantity of items you would like to sell
sell_quantity_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the type of items you would like to sell
ask_price (string, required): the price per unit sold.
ask_price_symbol (asset_symbol, required): the type of asset you would like to be paid
allow_stupid_ask (bool, optional, defaults to "false"): Allow user to place ask at more than 5% below the current buy price.
Returns:
transaction_record
aliases: ask
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> ask demo-issuer 100 DVS 0.1 DEMOIOU
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:44:22 PENDING demo-issuer demo-issuer 100.00000 DVS sell DVS @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 1.00000 DVS 42becc88
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> history
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
========================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T16:42:23 749349 demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS register demo-issuer 1.00000 DVS 94d22f4f
2015-04-14T16:42:34 749350 demo-issuer demo-user 0.00000 DVS register demo-user 1.00000 DVS 818c9402
2015-04-14T17:05:43 749483 demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.00000 DVS create DEMOIOU (Demo IOU) 5,000.00000 DVS 36da50ac
2015-04-14T17:14:33 749533 demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add restricted_accounts to authority per... 1.00000 DVS 97652098
2015-04-14T17:18:54 749558 demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add demo-user towhitelist for DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS 8b50d6cb
2015-04-14T17:19:12 749560 demo-issuer demo-user 10.00 DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS a3ed410f
2015-04-14T17:29:12 749618 demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS add dynamic_fees to authority permsfor D... 1.00000 DVS 43c74ca6
2015-04-14T17:29:28 749619 demo-issuer UNKNOWN 0.00000 DVS update properties for DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS 8d02feed
2015-04-14T17:36:19 749659 demo-issuer demo-user 10.00000 DVS 1.00000 DVS 4841bafc
2015-04-14T17:39:24 749677 demo-user BID-d7015edd 10.00 DEMOIOU buy DVS @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 1.00000 DVS 61be881e
2015-04-14T17:44:22 749705 demo-issuer ASK-76aaa279 100.00000 DVS sell DVS @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 1.00000 DVS 42becc88
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2015-04-14T17:51:40 749747 BID-d7015edd MARKET 10.00 DEMOIOU pay bid @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 0.00000 DVS VIRTUAL |
| BID-d7015edd demo-user 100.00000 DVS bid proceeds @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|2015-04-14T17:51:40 749747 ASK-76aaa279 MARKET 100.00000 DVS fill ask @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS 0.00000 DVS VIRTUAL |
| ASK-76aaa279 demo-issuer 9.90 DEMOIOU ask proceeds @ 0.1 DEMOIOU / DVS |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> balance
ACCOUNT BALANCE
============================================================
demo-issuer 194,678.00000 DVS
9.90 DEMOIOU
demo-user 109.00000 DVS
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>>
We can see that 1% of the 10 DEMOIOU that was traded is missing, and we can verify that is has indeed been collected as fees:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> blockchain_get_asset DEMOIOU
{
"id": 48,
"symbol": "DEMOIOU",
[...]
"collected_fees": 10,
"current_supply": 1000,
"registration_date": "2015-04-14T17:05:40",
"last_update": "2015-04-14T17:51:00"
}
Finally, the issuer is able to reclaim these collected fees:
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> wallet_uia_collect_fees DEMOIOU demo-issuer
TIMESTAMP BLOCK FROM TO AMOUNT MEMO FEE ID
======================================================================================================================================================================
2015-04-14T17:59:21 PENDING demo-issuer demo-issuer 0.10 DEMOIOU 1.00000 DVS f41ae67b
demo-wallet (unlocked) >>> balance
ACCOUNT BALANCE
============================================================
demo-issuer 194,677.00000 DVS
10.00 DEMOIOU
demo-user 109.00000 DVS
And we're done!
The above was a basic demonstration of a few features of user-issued assets on the BitShares platform, and has hopefully illustrated some of their power and potential for enabling or enhancing certain types of services and business models.
The preferred way to integrate external services with the BitShares platform is via the JSON-RPC protocol, which allows access to all the same commands available using the above command-line interface.
Basic instructions can be found at these links: