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Building on Base: How to Run an RPC Node on Base (For Free!)

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When building in web3,  interacting with networks like Base often requires the use of RPC nodes. But what exactly are RPC nodes, and why do they matter? RPC (Remote Procedure Call) nodes act as intermediaries between your decentralized application (dapp) and the blockchain. They allow developers to perform key tasks such as querying balances, submitting transactions, and accessing historical data without running a full node themselves. This makes them essential for building on blockchains.

For developers, running an RPC node can be complex, requiring hardware, bandwidth, and maintenance. However, with a free service like PublicNode by Allnodes, accessing an RPC node becomes simple and seamless. In this guide, I’ll explore how to run a Base RPC node using Allnodes’ PublicNode service, walking through the benefits of Base and the step-by-step process of setting up your own RPC node. 

What is Base?

Base is a layer-2 (L2) blockchain launched by Coinbase in 2023, designed to offer enhanced scalability, reduced costs, and increased throughput compared to Ethereum’s mainnet. Base leverages optimistic roll-ups, bundling transactions off-chain and then submitting them in bulk to Ethereum for validation. This results in faster, cheaper transactions while maintaining Ethereum’s security guarantees.

Some key benefits of building on Base include:

Introducing PublicNode by Allnodes

Running your own Base node requires setting up complex infrastructure, managing hardware, and handling bandwidth requirements. This can become costly and time-consuming, especially if you’re developing on multiple chains. Fortunately, PublicNode by Allnodes offers a solution.

PublicNode provides free access to RPC nodes for over 101 blockchains, including Base. This service eliminates the need for developers to host their own nodes, drastically reducing both time and cost. With no setup fees and robust uptime, developers can instantly connect to the blockchain, focus on building their dapps, and scale without vendor lock-in. Additionally, Allnodes’ infrastructure is highly reliable, offering both testnet and mainnet options to suit different development needs.

Let’s get into how you can start using PublicNode to run an RPC node on Base.

Tutorial: How to Set Up a Base Nodes

Setting up a Base RPC node using PublicNode is easy, and you can do it in just three simple steps:

Step 1: Navigate to PublicNode.com and Search “Base”

Visit the PublicNode website. In the search bar, type “Base” to locate the available nodes for this blockchain.

Step 2: Choose Mainnet or Testnet

From the search results, click on Base. You’ll be prompted to choose between the Mainnet and the Testnet. Select Mainnet if you are building on the live network or Testnet if you are developing or testing.

Step 3: Copy the RPC URL

After selecting the appropriate network, you’ll be provided with an RPC URL. Simply copy this URL. This link will serve as the endpoint you use to interact with Base nodes in your Web3 projects.

That’s it! Your Base RPC node is now ready to be integrated into your dapp or Web3 project.

How to Call Your Base Nodes Using ethers.js

Once your RPC node is set up, you’ll want to start interacting with the Base blockchain. One common task is fetching the native balance of a specific wallet. Here’s how you can do it using the ethers.js library.

Prerequisites:

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Initialize a New Project

Open your terminal and initialize a new project using:

npm init
  1. Install ethers.js

Next, install the ethers.js library with the following command:

npm install ethers

then add “type”: “module” to your ”package.json” file as below:

  1. Set Up the Script

In your project directory, create an index.js file. Add the following code snippet to interact with your Base RPC node:

import { ethers } from “ethers”;
const provider = new ethers.providers.JsonRpcProvider(“YOUR_BASE_RPC_URL”);
const address = “0xd8dA6BF26964aF9D7eEd9e03E53415D37aA96045”; // Replace with the address you’re querying
const balance = await provider.getBalance(address);
console.log(“Balance: “, ethers.utils.formatEther(balance));
  1. Configure Your RPC URL

Replace “YOUR_BASE_RPC_URL” with the URL you copied from PublicNode, and modify the address field to the wallet you wish to query.

  1. Run the Script

Execute your script with the following command:

node index.js

The output will show the native balance of the specified address in Ether format:

Balance:  0.077088742255355898

Congratulations! You now know how to make RPC calls to Base nodes!

Performance and Ease of Use

Using PublicNode for Base is not only free but also delivers fast response times. In testing, I found that requests were processed quickly, with minimal latency compared to running a full node yourself. For most small to medium-scale apps, this service should meet all performance needs. If you are a developer building cross-chain dapps you will appreciate the flexibility and ease of switching between networks, all while avoiding the headache of maintaining node infrastructure.

Why I Choose PublicNode?

Cost-effective: PublicNode offers a completely free option for accessing Base and over 100 other blockchains. While there are rate limits in place to prevent abuse, the free plan is more than sufficient for most development and small-scale production environments.

Multiple blockchain support: With access to over 101 blockchains, PublicNode provides an all-in-one solution for developers working on multi-chain projects.

Robust infrastructure: PublicNode offers excellent uptime and performance, making it reliable enough even for production applications.

Scalable options: For projects requiring higher traffic or custom configurations, PublicNode offers premium plans to accommodate specific needs.

Conclusion

I found the whole process very positive. Building on Base has never been easier, thanks to PublicNode by Allnodes.  By offering free, easy-to-use RPC nodes, Allnodes removes the barriers to entry for developers looking to build scalable, cost-efficient dapps. Whether you’re developing a small project or preparing for large-scale deployment, PublicNode provides a solid foundation to get started on the Base blockchain. Happy building!

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