# Bal Electrum Plugin ⚡ **Bitcoin Electrum plugin for managing heir inheritance with locktime-based will execution** --- ## 📥 Installation ### Method 1: Install from Release (Recommended) 1. **Download the plugin** - Go to: [https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/releases](https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/releases) - Download the latest `bal-electrum-plugin-vX.X.X.zip` file 2. **Install in Electrum** - Open Electrum Bitcoin wallet - Go to **Tools → Plugins** - Click **Add** - Select the downloaded `.zip` file - Click **Open** or **Install** - Restart Electrum if required ### Method 2: Install from Source ```bash git clone https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin.git cd bal-electrum-plugin zip -r bal-electrum-plugin.zip bal_electrum_plugin/ ``` Then install using Method 1, step 2. --- ## 🚀 How It Works ### Core Functionality The plugin allows users to create a **Bitcoin will** that automatically executes under specific conditions: 1. **Define Heirs** - Create a list of beneficiaries with Bitcoin addresses and inheritance amounts 2. **Set Locktime** - Configure when transactions can be spent (timestamp or interval) 3. **Set CheckAlive** - Set health verification mechanism (interval or fixed date) 4. **Select Executor** - Choose which will-executor will handle the transaction 5. **Create Transaction** - Plugin generates a timelocked transaction sent to the executor ### Transaction Flow ``` User Setup → [Plugin Creates Transaction] → Executor Receives → Executor Broadcasts at Locktime → Transaction Confirmed → Heirs Receive Funds ``` ### Key Incentive **Executor Fee is Included in Transaction**: - The will-executor receives their fee directly in the transaction output - Fee is paid only when transaction is confirmed on the Bitcoin network - Executor is **financially incentivized** to broadcast and confirm the transaction - Fee is a **fixed amount only** (no percentage option) --- ## 📁 Plugin Structure ``` bal-electrum-plugin/ ├── bal_electrum_plugin/ # Main plugin directory (what to zip) │ ├── __init__.py # Plugin initialization and entry point │ ├── bal.py # Main plugin logic and core functionality │ ├── bal_resources.py # Resource management and asset handling │ ├── heirs.py # Heir management logic and validation │ ├── qt.py # Main Qt interface and GUI components │ ├── util.py # General utility functions │ ├── wallet_util/ │ │ ├── bal_wallet_utils.py # ⚠️ Advanced wallet utilities for emergency fixes │ │ └── bal_wallet_utils_qt.py # Qt-specific wallet utilities │ ├── will.py # Will creation, locktime, and checkalive logic │ └── willexecutors.py # Will executor management and fee handling ├── README.md # This file └── LICENSE # MIT License ``` **Important**: Only the `bal_electrum_plugin/` directory needs to be zipped for installation. --- ## 🎯 Key Features ### Heir Management (heirs.py) - **Multiple heirs**: Add unlimited beneficiaries - **Flexible distribution**: Percentage-based or fixed amount - **Address validation**: Verify Bitcoin addresses before saving - **Distribution summary**: View total inheritance breakdown - **Percentage validation**: Ensures percentages sum to 100% ### Locktime Configuration (will.py) - **Timestamp format**: Unix timestamp (e.g., `1735689600` for Jan 1, 2025) - **Interval format**: Days (`180d`) or years (`1y`) - **Automatic conversion**: Intervals converted to timestamps internally - **Validation**: Ensures locktime is in the future - **Flexible timing**: Set exact date or relative intervals ### CheckAlive Mechanism (will.py) - **Two verification modes**: **Interval Mode**: - Format: Same as locktime (e.g., `180d`, `2y`) - Logic: `locktime - interval > current_time` - Example: Locktime=1y, CheckAlive=180d → Valid if 365-180 > current days **Fixed Date Mode**: - Format: Timestamp - Logic: `fixed_date > current_time` - Example: CheckAlive=2025-12-31 → Valid if date is in the future - **Effect**: If CheckAlive expires, the old will is invalidated - **Safety mechanism**: Prevents stale wills from executing ### Will Executor System (willexecutors.py) - **Multiple executors**: Choose from available executors - **Fixed fee only**: Executor receives a fixed BTC amount (no percentage option) - **Fee included in transaction**: Fee is part of the timelocked transaction output - **Financial motivation**: Executor must broadcast to get paid - **Automatic transmission**: Transaction sent to executor after creation - **Blockchain monitoring**: Executor broadcasts at locktime expiration **Executor Fee Details**: - Fee is specified as fixed BTC amount only - Fee is added to transaction outputs - Executor receives fee only when transaction confirms - No separate payment channel needed ### Advanced Wallet Utilities (wallet_util/) - **⚠️ Emergency tools only**: For fixing wallet database issues - **Purpose**: Handle compatibility across different Electrum walletdb versions - **Usage**: Advanced users only, requires manual installation - **Installation Steps**: 1. Copy `wallet_util/` files to Electrum's plugin directory 2. Load Electrum's virtualenv 3. Run `./bal_wallet_utils_qt.py` - **Risk**: Advanced operations that can affect wallet data - **Documentation**: Limited to inline code comments **Normal operation does NOT require wallet_util/ files.** ### Main Interface (qt.py) - **User-friendly wizards**: Step-by-step setup interface - **Real-time validation**: Immediate feedback on inputs - **Transaction preview**: Review before finalizing - **Status monitoring**: Track will execution progress - **Error handling**: Clear messages for invalid inputs --- ## 📖 Usage Examples ### Example 1: Simple Inheritance Will **Scenario**: Leave 1 BTC to three heirs after 1 year, with 180-day CheckAlive **Configuration**: ``` Heirs: - Heir 1: bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdq - 40% (0.4 BTC) - Heir 2: bc1qw508d6qejxtdg4y5r3zarvary0c5xw7kv8f3t4 - 35% (0.35 BTC) - Heir 3: bc1ql4wk3ym38m8p3kns5w5q4tech38x58s3yy263q - 25% (0.25 BTC) Locktime: 1y (1 year from now) CheckAlive: 180d (180 days before locktime) Executor: "Alice Executor" (fee: 0.01 BTC fixed) ``` **Transaction Created**: - Input: All UTXOs in wallet (1.0 BTC total) - Outputs: - Heir 1: 0.4 BTC - Heir 2: 0.35 BTC - Heir 3: 0.25 BTC - Executor fee: 0.01 BTC (fixed amount) - Network fee: 0.001 BTC - Locktime: 1 year from creation - Sent to: Alice Executor's address **Executor Incentive**: - Alice receives 0.01 BTC **only if** she broadcasts and transaction confirms - Alice has financial motivation to ensure transaction is confirmed - Transaction cannot be spent until locktime expires ### Example 2: Fixed Date CheckAlive **Scenario**: Leave funds with CheckAlive on specific date **Configuration**: ``` Locktime: 2026-06-01 (timestamp: 1748832000) CheckAlive: 2025-12-31 (timestamp: 1767187200) Heirs: 50% to heir1, 50% to heir2 Executor: "Bob Executor" (fee: 0.005 BTC fixed) ``` **Logic**: - If today > 2025-12-31 → Old will is invalid - If old will is invalid, a non-timelocked transaction is sent onchain to invalidate the old will - Transaction executes on 2026-06-01 - Bob receives 0.005 BTC only when transaction confirms - Bob is incentivized to broadcast at correct time ### Example 3: Complex Distribution with Fixed Amounts **Scenario**: Leave different fixed amounts to heirs **Configuration**: ``` Heirs: - Heir 1: bc1... - 0.3 BTC (fixed amount) - Heir 2: bc1... - 0.5 BTC (fixed amount) - Heir 3: bc1... - 0.2 BTC (fixed amount) Total: 1.0 BTC Locktime: 365d (1 year from now) CheckAlive: 180d (6 months before locktime) Executor: "Charlie Executor" (fee: 0.02 BTC fixed) ``` --- ## 🛠️ Development ### Prerequisites - Electrum Bitcoin wallet ### Setup Development Environment ```bash # Clone repository git clone https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin.git cd bal-electrum-plugin # Create development zip zip -r bal-electrum-plugin-dev.zip bal_electrum_plugin/ ``` ### Important Notes on wallet_util/ **These utilities require manual installation**: - **Purpose**: Fix wallet database compatibility issues across Electrum versions - **Usage**: Only when experiencing wallet corruption or version mismatches - **Installation Steps**: 1. Copy `wallet_util/` files to Electrum's plugin directory 2. Load Electrum's virtualenv 3. Run `./bal_wallet_utils_qt.py` - **Risk**: Advanced operations that can affect wallet data - **Documentation**: Limited to inline code comments **Normal operation does NOT require wallet_util/ files.** ### Install for Development 1. Copy zip to Electrum plugins directory: ```bash cp bal-electrum-plugin-dev.zip ~/.electrum/plugins/ ``` 2. Install in Electrum (Tools → Plugins → Add) 3. Make changes to files in `bal_electrum_plugin/` directory 4. Re-zip and reinstall to test ### Running the Plugin The plugin uses Electrum's existing virtualenv. --- ## 🐛 Troubleshooting ### Common Issues #### Plugin Not Showing in Electrum - ✅ Check zip contains `bal_electrum_plugin/` directory at root - ✅ Verify directory structure inside zip is correct - ✅ Restart Electrum completely after installation - ✅ Check Electrum logs: Help → Debug → Console #### Locktime Format Errors - ✅ Use valid formats: `180d`, `1y`, or Unix timestamp (e.g., `1735689600`) - ✅ Ensure locktime is in the future (after current time) - ✅ Check for typos: lowercase `d` and `y` only - ✅ Verify interval calculations: `1y` = 365 days #### CheckAlive Not Working - ✅ Verify CheckAlive mode setting (interval or fixed_date) - ✅ Ensure CheckAlive value is before Locktime value - ✅ For interval mode: Check logic `locktime - interval > now` - ✅ For fixed date: Verify timestamp is in the future - ✅ If CheckAlive expires, old will is invalidated by sending a non-timelocked transaction onchain #### Heir Distribution Errors - ✅ Verify percentages sum to exactly 100% - ✅ For fixed amounts: Ensure total doesn't exceed wallet balance - ✅ Check Bitcoin addresses are valid (use testnet for testing) - ✅ Ensure no duplicate addresses in heir list - ✅ Verify address format: bc1... for native segwit, 1... for legacy #### Transaction Creation Fails - ✅ Check wallet has sufficient funds (including fees) - ✅ Verify all heirs have valid, unique addresses - ✅ Ensure locktime format is correct - ✅ Check executor is selected and available - ✅ Verify executor fee is properly configured (fixed amount only) #### Executor Fee Issues - ✅ Fee is a fixed BTC amount only (no percentage option) - ✅ Fee is included in transaction output - ✅ Executor receives fee only when transaction confirms - ✅ Transaction must be broadcast and confirmed for executor to get paid #### wallet_util/ Not Working - ✅ Copy files to Electrum's plugin directory - ✅ Load Electrum's virtualenv before using - ✅ Run `./bal_wallet_utils_qt.py` - ✅ Only use for emergency wallet fixes - ✅ Backup wallet before using wallet utilities --- ## 🤝 Contributing Thanks for considering contributing! --- ## 📜 License MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details. --- ## 🔗 Links - **Repository**: [https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin](https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin) - **Releases**: [https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/releases](https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/releases) - **Issues**: [https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/issues](https://bitcoin-after.like/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/issues) - **Discussions**: [https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/discussions](https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/bitcoinafterlife/bal-electrum-plugin/discussions) --- **⚠️ Important**: Always test with small amounts first. This plugin deals with Bitcoin transactions that may be irreversible. **🔒 Security**: Never share your seed phrase or private keys. This plugin only creates transactions, it doesn't store your keys. **💡 Note**: The executor fee is a fixed BTC amount included in the transaction output. The executor is financially incentivized to broadcast the transaction and ensure it confirms on the Bitcoin network.