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This guide walks you through setting up your development environment for working with Move modules on Initia. You’ll learn how to install the necessary tools, create accounts, and prepare for Move development on either Initia L1 or Move rollups.

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Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure you have:
  • A terminal or command prompt
  • Internet connection for downloading tools and accessing faucets
  • Basic familiarity with command-line interfaces
This tutorial supports both Initia L1 and Move rollups development. The steps are similar, but we’ll highlight the differences where they occur.

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Development Tools Overview

You have two main options for interacting with Initia networks:
CLIs provide direct access to network functionality through terminal commands. Choose based on your target network:
  • initiad: For Initia L1 development
  • minitiad: For Move rollup development
A TypeScript/JavaScript SDK that provides programmatic access to Initia networks. Ideal for:
  • Web application integration
  • Automated workflows
  • TypeScript/JavaScript developers
1

Install Your Development Tools

Choose and install the tools that match your development approach and target network.

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CLI Tools

initiad CLI

Command-line interface for Initia L1 development and interaction.

minitiad CLI

Command-line interface for Move rollup development and interaction.

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SDK Option

InitiaJS SDK

TypeScript/JavaScript SDK for programmatic blockchain interaction.
You can install multiple tools if you plan to work across different networks or prefer having both CLI and SDK options available.
2

Create a Development Account

After installing your chosen tools, create an account that you’ll use for deploying and testing your Move modules.
  • Initia L1
  • Move Rollups
  • InitiaJS SDK
initiad keys add example

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Expected Output

Your account creation will generate output similar to this:
  • CLI Output
  • InitiaJS Output
- address: init1ejr270mhdw260hk4ggp4kwmxd20authfag282m
  name: example
  pubkey: '{"@type":"/cosmos.crypto.secp256k1.PubKey","key":"AzBfkuS1ojSqNfqztk34Pn86n7D5MbhKobmsUIN372QG"}'
  type: local


**Important** write this mnemonic phrase in a safe place.
It is the only way to recover your account if you ever forget your password.

[mnemonic from environment variable]
Secure Your Mnemonic PhraseYour mnemonic phrase is the only way to recover your account. Store it securely and never share it publicly. Consider using a password manager or writing it down and storing it in a safe place.
3

Fund Your Development Account

To deploy and test Move modules, your account needs tokens to pay for transaction fees.

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Testnet Funding

For testnet development, use the official Initia faucet to get free tokens:

Initia Testnet Faucet

Get free testnet tokens for development and testing purposes.

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Funding Process

  1. Visit the Initia faucet
  2. Enter your account address (from the previous step)
  3. Request tokens for your target network
  4. Wait for the transaction to be processed
Faucet tokens are only for testnet use and have no monetary value. They’re designed specifically for development and testing purposes.

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Verify Your Balance

After funding, verify your account has received tokens:
  • Initia L1
  • Move Rollups
initiad query bank balances [your-address]

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Next Steps

With your development environment set up, you’re ready to start building with Move! The next section will guide you through creating, compiling, deploying, and interacting with your first Move module.

Network Configuration

Learn how to configure your CLI for different networks and environments.

Move Module Basics

Understand the fundamentals of Move module structure and development.