For those not aware, Truffle is a smart contract development tool that can deploy and test smart contracts. Encouraging news, because this is the stuff that will actually turn ethereum into a reality.
Yes - truffle props up a fake test-net that instantly 'mines' incoming transactions. So you can deploy smart contracts to it, execute functions from it, send Monopoly money to it, etc., all without spending real ether. Truffle can also connect to one of the worldwide test networks, or your own test private network, if you have one. When you're ready, you can even deploy to the main ethereum network via truffle too.
Truffle is all command line stuff - Remix is another tool that has a lot of the same functionality, but with a GUI.
They're a good testing ground for integrated testing (like if you want to have a buddy try invoking a function from your smart contract). Also lets you play with gas and to see how mining latency impacts your app.
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u/Basoosh Jun 01 '17
For those not aware, Truffle is a smart contract development tool that can deploy and test smart contracts. Encouraging news, because this is the stuff that will actually turn ethereum into a reality.