user135997: a newbie bitcoin researcher here.
For my first work I need a local bitcoin network on which I have as much control as possible. I have a windows machine.
For example - I need to control the number of nodes, network structure, mining difficulty and preferably any other parameter there is.
I downloaded bitcoin-core, installed it and ran its test mode, but it still asks me to download all blockchain history.
I had in mind a new bitcoin-core blockchain built from scratch, so I can control and understand everything.
Is it even possible, using the bitcoin-core software?
If not, how can I do this?
Thanks

user131907: Perhaps instead of running testnet you would prefer something like regtest? In order to do this, you can either run bitcoind like this:
bitcoind -regtest or add regtest=1 in your bitcoin.conf file instead of testnet=1. This will allow you to spin up a private blockchain and you will have control over when blocks get mined

135997: <p>a newbie bitcoin researcher here.</p>
<p>For my first work I need a local bitcoin network on which I have as much control as possible. I have a windows machine.</p>
<p>For example - I need to control the number of nodes, network structure, mining difficulty and preferably any other parameter there is.</p>
<p>I downloaded bitcoin-core, installed it and ran its test mode, but it still asks me to download all blockchain history.
I had in mind a new bitcoin-core blockchain built from scratch, so I can control and understand everything.
Is it even possible, using the bitcoin-core software?
If not, how can I do this?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
 131907: <p>Perhaps instead of running testnet you would prefer something like <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/developer-notes.md#signet-testnet-and-regtest-modes" rel="nofollow noreferrer">regtest</a>? In order to do this, you can either run bitcoind like this:
<code>bitcoind -regtest</code> or add <code>regtest=1</code> in your bitcoin.conf file instead of <code>testnet=1</code>. This will allow you to spin up a private blockchain and you will have control over when blocks get mined</p>
