omni-node: --dev sets manual seal and allows --chain to be set (#6646)

# Description This PR changes a few things: * `--dev` flag will not conflict with `--chain` anymore, but if `--chain` is not given will set `--chain=dev`. * `--dev-block-time` is optional and it defaults to 3000ms if not set after setting `--dev`. * to start OmniNode with manual seal it is enough to pass just `--dev`. * `--dev-block-time` can still be used to start a node with manual seal, but it will not set it up as `--dev` does (it will not set a bunch of flags which are enabled by default when `--dev` is set: e.g. `--tmp`, `--alice` and `--force-authoring`. Closes: #6537 ## Integration Relevant for node/runtime developers that use OmniNode lib, including `polkadot-omni-node` binary, although the recommended way for runtime development is to use `chopsticks`. ## Review Notes * Decided to focus only on OmniNode & templates docs in relation to it, and leave the `parachain-template-node` as is (meaning `--dev` isn't usable and testing a runtime with the `parachain-template-node` still needs a relay chain here). I am doing this because I think we want either way to phase out `parachain-template-node` and adding manual seal support for it is wasted effort. We might add support though if the demand is for `parachain-template-node`. * Decided to not infer the block time based on AURA config yet because there is still the option of setting a specific block time by using `--dev-block-time`. Also, would want first to align & merge on runtime metadata checks we added in Omni Node here: #6450 before starting to infer AURA config slot duration via the same way. - [x] update the docs to mention `--dev` now. - [x] mention about chopsticks in the context of runtime development --------- Signed-off-by: Iulian Barbu <[email protected]> Co-authored-by: Michal Kucharczyk <[email protected]>
paritytech · Dec 10, 2024 · 48c28d4 · 48c28d4
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diff --git a/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/README.md b/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/README.md
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ chain-spec-builder create --relay-chain <relay_chain_id> --para-id <id> -r <runt
 
 ### 3. Run Omni Node
 
-And now with the generated chain spec we can start Omni Node like so:
+And now with the generated chain spec we can start the node in development mode like so:
 
 ```bash
-polkadot-omni-node --chain <chain_spec.json>
+polkadot-omni-node --dev --chain <chain_spec.json>
 ```
 
 ## Useful links

diff --git a/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/lib/src/cli.rs b/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/lib/src/cli.rs
@@ -126,9 +126,14 @@ pub struct Cli<Config: CliConfig> {
 
 	/// Start a dev node that produces a block each `dev_block_time` ms.
 	///
-	/// This is a dev option, and it won't result in starting or connecting to a parachain network.
-	/// The resulting node will work on its own, running the wasm blob and artificially producing
-	/// a block each `dev_block_time` ms, as if it was part of a parachain.
+	/// This is a dev option. It enables a manual sealing, meaning blocks are produced manually
+	/// rather than being part of an actual network consensus process. Using the option won't
+	/// result in starting or connecting to a parachain network. The resulting node will work on
+	/// its own, running the wasm blob and artificially producing a block each `dev_block_time` ms,
+	/// as if it was part of a parachain.
+	///
+	/// The `--dev` flag sets the `dev_block_time` to a default value of 3000ms unless explicitly
+	/// provided.
 	#[arg(long)]
 	pub dev_block_time: Option<u64>,
 

diff --git a/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/lib/src/command.rs b/cumulus/polkadot-omni-node/lib/src/command.rs
@@ -34,11 +34,13 @@ use cumulus_client_service::storage_proof_size::HostFunctions as ReclaimHostFunc
 use cumulus_primitives_core::ParaId;
 use frame_benchmarking_cli::{BenchmarkCmd, SUBSTRATE_REFERENCE_HARDWARE};
 use log::info;
-use sc_cli::{Result, SubstrateCli};
+use sc_cli::{CliConfiguration, Result, SubstrateCli};
 use sp_runtime::traits::AccountIdConversion;
 #[cfg(feature = "runtime-benchmarks")]
 use sp_runtime::traits::HashingFor;
 
+const DEFAULT_DEV_BLOCK_TIME_MS: u64 = 3000;
+
 /// Structure that can be used in order to provide customizers for different functionalities of the
 /// node binary that is being built using this library.
 pub struct RunConfig {
@@ -230,10 +232,19 @@ pub fn run<CliConfig: crate::cli::CliConfig>(cmd_config: RunConfig) -> Result<()
 						.ok_or("Could not find parachain extension in chain-spec.")?,
 				);
 
+				if cli.run.base.is_dev()? {
+					// Set default dev block time to 3000ms if not set.
+					// TODO: take block time from AURA config if set.
+					let dev_block_time = cli.dev_block_time.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_DEV_BLOCK_TIME_MS);
+					return node_spec
+						.start_manual_seal_node(config, para_id, dev_block_time)
+						.map_err(Into::into);
+				}
+
 				if let Some(dev_block_time) = cli.dev_block_time {
 					return node_spec
 						.start_manual_seal_node(config, para_id, dev_block_time)
-						.map_err(Into::into)
+						.map_err(Into::into);
 				}
 
 				// If Statemint (Statemine, Westmint, Rockmine) DB exists and we're using the

diff --git a/prdoc/pr_6646.prdoc b/prdoc/pr_6646.prdoc
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Schema: Polkadot SDK PRDoc Schema (prdoc) v1.0.0
+# See doc at https://raw.githubusercontent.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk/master/prdoc/schema_user.json
+
+title: OmniNode --dev flag starts node with manual seal 
+
+doc:
+  - audience: [ Runtime Dev, Node Dev ] 
+    description: |
+      `polkadot-omni-node` lib supports `--dev` flag now by allowing also to pass over a chain spec,
+      and starts the node with manual seal. It will seal the node at each `dev_block_time` milliseconds,
+      which can be set via `--dev-block-time`, and if not set will default to `3000ms`.
+
+crates:
+  - name: sc-cli
+    bump: patch 
+  - name: polkadot-omni-node-lib
+    bump: patch
+  - name: polkadot-omni-node
+    bump: patch
diff --git a/substrate/client/cli/src/params/shared_params.rs b/substrate/client/cli/src/params/shared_params.rs
@@ -33,10 +33,12 @@ pub struct SharedParams {
 
 	/// Specify the development chain.
 	///
-	/// This flag sets `--chain=dev`, `--force-authoring`, `--rpc-cors=all`,
-	/// `--alice`, and `--tmp` flags, unless explicitly overridden.
-	/// It also disables local peer discovery (see --no-mdns and --discover-local)
-	#[arg(long, conflicts_with_all = &["chain"])]
+	/// This flag sets `--chain=dev`, `--force-authoring`, `--rpc-cors=all`, `--alice`, and `--tmp`
+	/// flags, unless explicitly overridden. It also disables local peer discovery (see `--no-mdns`
+	/// and `--discover-local`). With this flag some nodes might start with manual seal, producing
+	/// blocks at certain events (e.g. `polkadot-omni-node`, which produces blocks at certain
+	/// intervals dictated by `--dev-block-time`).
+	#[arg(long)]
 	pub dev: bool,
 
 	/// Specify custom base path.
@@ -109,12 +111,8 @@ impl SharedParams {
 	pub fn chain_id(&self, is_dev: bool) -> String {
 		match self.chain {
 			Some(ref chain) => chain.clone(),
-			None =>
-				if is_dev {
-					"dev".into()
-				} else {
-					"".into()
-				},
+			None if is_dev => "dev".into(),
+			_ => "".into(),
 		}
 	}
 

diff --git a/templates/minimal/README.md b/templates/minimal/README.md
@@ -105,12 +105,11 @@ Omni Node, nonetheless.
 
 #### Run Omni Node
 
-Start Omni Node with manual seal (3 seconds block times), minimal template runtime based
-chain spec. We'll use `--tmp` flag to start the node with its configurations stored in a
-temporary directory, which will be deleted at the end of the process.
+Start Omni Node in development mode (sets up block production and finalization based on manual seal,
+sealing a new block every 3 seconds), with a minimal template runtime chain spec.
 
 ```sh
-polkadot-omni-node --chain <path/to/chain_spec.json> --dev-block-time 3000 --tmp
+polkadot-omni-node --chain <path/to/chain_spec.json> --dev
 ```
 
 ### Minimal Template Node
@@ -160,7 +159,7 @@ Then make the changes in the network specification like so:
 # ...
 chain = "dev"
 chain_spec_path = "<TO BE UPDATED WITH A VALID PATH>"
-default_args = ["--dev-block-time 3000"]
+default_args = ["--dev"]
 # ..
 ```
 

diff --git a/templates/minimal/zombienet-omni-node.toml b/templates/minimal/zombienet-omni-node.toml
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 default_command = "polkadot-omni-node"
 chain = "dev"
 chain_spec_path = "<path/to/chain_spec.json>"
-default_args = ["--dev-block-time 3000"]
+default_args = ["--dev"]
 
 [[relaychain.nodes]]
 name = "alice"

diff --git a/templates/parachain/README.md b/templates/parachain/README.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
   - [Connect with the Polkadot-JS Apps Front-End](#connect-with-the-polkadot-js-apps-front-end)
   - [Takeaways](#takeaways)
 
+- [Runtime development](#runtime-development)
 - [Contributing](#contributing)
 - [Getting Help](#getting-help)
 
@@ -107,13 +108,11 @@ with the relay chain ID where this instantiation of parachain-template will conn
 
 #### Run Omni Node
 
-Start Omni Node with the generated chain spec. We'll start it development mode (without a relay chain config),
-with a temporary directory for configuration (given `--tmp`), and block production set to create a block with
-every second.
+Start Omni Node with the generated chain spec. We'll start it in development mode (without a relay chain config), producing
+and finalizing blocks based on manual seal, configured below to seal a block with each second.
 
 ```bash
-polkadot-omni-node --chain <path/to/chain_spec.json> --tmp --dev-block-time 1000
-
+polkadot-omni-node --chain <path/to/chain_spec.json> --dev --dev-block-time 1000
 ```
 
 However, such a setup is not close to what would run in production, and for that we need to setup a local
@@ -197,6 +196,37 @@ Development parachains:
 - 💰 Are preconfigured with a genesis state that includes several prefunded development accounts.
 - 🧑‍⚖️ Development accounts are used as validators, collators, and `sudo` accounts.
 
+## Runtime development
+
+We recommend using [`chopsticks`](https://github.com/AcalaNetwork/chopsticks) when the focus is more on the runtime
+development and `OmniNode` is enough as is.
+
+### Install chopsticks
+
+To use `chopsticks`, please install the latest version according to the installation [guide](https://github.com/AcalaNetwork/chopsticks?tab=readme-ov-file#install).
+
+### Build a raw chain spec
+
+Build the `parachain-template-runtime` as mentioned before in this guide and use `chain-spec-builder`
+again but this time by passing `--raw-storage` flag:
+
+```sh
+chain-spec-builder create --raw-storage --relay-chain "rococo-local" --para-id 1000 --runtime \
+    target/release/wbuild/parachain-template-runtime/parachain_template_runtime.wasm named-preset development
+```
+
+### Start `chopsticks` with the chain spec
+
+```sh
+npx @acala-network/chopsticks@latest --chain-spec <path/to/chain_spec.json>
+```
+
+### Alternatives
+
+`OmniNode` can be still used for runtime development if using the `--dev` flag, while `parachain-template-node` doesn't
+support it at this moment. It can still be used to test a runtime in a full setup where it is started alongside a
+relay chain network (see [Parachain Template node](#parachain-template-node) setup).
+
 ## Contributing
 
 - 🔄 This template is automatically updated after releases in the main [Polkadot SDK monorepo](https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot-sdk).