user139053: I've been having a really hard time struggling through installation. The problem is there seem to be two ways to install, one through a download link and one through src. However, both methods still have many problems and the dependencies are unclear. I explained the specifics of the problem on GitHub.
I was hoping that I would be able to download bitcoin from GitHub, enter the src file, and run ./bitcoind or ./bitcoin-qt -server to be able to run in prune mode. However, I am still getting errors. For example,
IN:
./bitcoin-qt -server

OUT:
zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server

I am not able to download the whole blockchain at 500 GB, but I need to use the bitcoin-cli. My thought was running ./bitcoin-qt -server would allow me to prune the download as explained on StackExchange and operate bitcoin-cli, without having to run bitcoind first.
Questions

Is running bitcoind necessary to run bitcoin-cli?
Is it possible to run bitcoin-cli without downloading the entire
blockchain?
What is the cleanest path to getting started with bitcoin-cli on macOS?


user13866: 
Is running bitcoind necessary to run bitcoin-cli?

No, you can use bitcoin-cli with bitcoin-qt but you must first tell bitcoin-qt to listen for requests from blitcoin-cli - it does not do this by default.
$ ./bitcoin-qt -server &

See https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34

zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server

You probably need to reinstall homebrew.
See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command

139053: <p>I've been having a really hard time struggling through installation. The problem is there seem to be two ways to install, one through a <a href="https://bitcoincore.org/bin/bitcoin-core-24.0.1/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">download link</a> and one through src. However, both methods still have many problems and the dependencies are unclear. I explained the specifics of the problem on <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/26778" rel="nofollow noreferrer">GitHub</a>.</p>
<p>I was hoping that I would be able to download <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bitcoin</a> from GitHub, enter the <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/tree/master/src" rel="nofollow noreferrer">src</a> file, and run <code>./bitcoind</code> or <code>./bitcoin-qt -server</code> to be able to run in prune mode. However, I am still getting errors. For example,</p>
<p>IN:</p>
<pre><code>./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>OUT:</p>
<pre><code>zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>I am not able to download the whole blockchain at 500 GB, but I need to use the <code>bitcoin-cli</code>. My thought was running <code>./bitcoin-qt -server</code> would allow me to prune the download as explained on <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/13368/whats-the-difference-between-bitcoind-and-bitcoin-qt-different-commands">StackExchange</a> and operate <code>bitcoin-cli</code>, without having to run <code>bitcoind</code> first.</p>
<p><strong>Questions</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Is running <code>bitcoind</code> necessary to run <code>bitcoin-cli</code>?</li>
<li>Is it possible to run <code>bitcoin-cli</code> without downloading the entire
blockchain?</li>
<li>What is the cleanest path to getting started with <code>bitcoin-cli</code> on macOS?</li>
</ol>
 13866: <blockquote>
<p>Is running bitcoind necessary to run bitcoin-cli?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No, you can use bitcoin-cli with bitcoin-qt but you must first tell bitcoin-qt to listen for requests from blitcoin-cli - it does not do this by default.</p>
<pre><code>$ ./bitcoin-qt -server &amp;
</code></pre>
<p>See <a href="https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://livebook.manning.com/book/grokking-bitcoin/a-using-bitcoin-cli/v-6/34</a></p>
<hr />
<pre><code>zsh: killed     ./bitcoin-qt -server
</code></pre>
<p>You probably need to reinstall homebrew.</p>
<p>See <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command">https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66119081/why-does-zsh-kills-my-process-every-time-i-enter-a-git-command</a></p>
