Technical Documentation

Demo ID: beef-inspector Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Architecture Overview

System Architecture

Beef Inspector is a web-based application that parses BEEF (Background Evaluation Extended Format) hex payloads and presents the embedded transaction data in a human-readable format. The architecture focuses on client-side parsing to ensure security and privacy of sensitive transaction data.

Technology Stack

• Frontend: React/TypeScript for interactive interface

• Parsing Engine: Custom BEEF parser using BSV SDK

• Visualization: Chart libraries for transaction ancestry graphs

• Infrastructure: Static web hosting (client-side only)

Key Components

1. BEEF Parser: Core engine that decodes binary BEEF format into structured data

2. Transaction Viewer: Displays individual transaction details and inputs/outputs

3. SPV Proof Inspector: Visualizes Simplified Payment Verification data

4. Ancestry Graph: Shows transaction chain relationships

Integration & APIs

External Dependencies

Service	Purpose	Version	Documentation
@bsv/sdk	BSV blockchain operations	Latest	BSV SDK Docs
React	UI framework	18+	React Docs
Chart.js	Data visualization	Latest	Chart.js Docs

BEEF Format Structure

BEEF Format Components:
- Version (4 bytes)
- BUMPs (BSV Unified Merkle Paths)
- Transaction data with ancestry
- SPV proofs for verification

Implementation Guide

Prerequisites

• Understanding of BEEF format structure

• BSV blockchain transaction knowledge

• Basic web development skills

• Access to BEEF hex payload samples

Setup Instructions

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/bsv-blockchain-demos/beef-inspector.git

# Navigate to project directory
cd beef-inspector

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development server
npm run dev

Usage Instructions

Inspecting BEEF Hex Payloads

1. Paste BEEF Hex String: Copy your BEEF hex payload into the input field

   Example BEEF hex:
   0100beef01fe636d0c0007021400fe507c0c7aa754cef1f7889d5fd395cf1f785dd7de98eed895dbedfe4e5bc70d1502ac4e164f5bc16746bb0868404292ac8318bbac3800e4aad13a014da427adce3e010b00bc4ff395efd11719b277694cface5aa50d085a0bb81f613f70313acd28cf4557010400574b2d9142b8d28b61d88e3b2c3f44d858411356b49a28a4643b6d1a6a092a5201030051a05fc84d531b5d250c23f4f886f6812f9fe3f402d61607f977b4ecd2701c1901000

2. Parse and Inspect: Click "Parse BEEF" to decode the hex data

3. View Results:

   • Transaction details (inputs, outputs, fees)

   • SPV proof information

   • Merkle path verification

   • Ancestry chain visualization

Key Features

• Transaction Breakdown: View individual transaction components

• Endianness Handling: Automatic handling of little-endian/big-endian format differences

• Proof Verification: Validate SPV proofs against merkle roots

• Data Export: Export parsed data in JSON format

Testing & Validation

Test Coverage

• Unit Tests: BEEF parsing logic validation

• Integration Tests: End-to-end hex payload processing

• Manual Testing: Real-world BEEF payload verification

Validation Criteria

• Successfully parse valid BEEF hex payloads

• Display accurate transaction data and ancestry

• Correctly verify SPV proofs

• Handle invalid or malformed hex inputs gracefully

• Maintain data privacy (client-side only processing)

Performance & Scalability

Current Metrics

• Parse Time: < 1 second for typical BEEF payloads

• Memory Usage: Efficient handling of large transaction chains

• Client-side Processing: No server dependencies for enhanced privacy

Scalability Considerations

• Client-side architecture ensures unlimited concurrent users

• No backend infrastructure reduces operational complexity

• Can handle large BEEF payloads through optimized parsing algorithms

Maintenance & Support

Monitoring

• Logs: Client-side error logging and debugging

• Metrics: Usage analytics for feature optimization

• Alerts: Error boundary implementation for graceful failure handling

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Solution
Parse error on valid BEEF	Endianness format issue	Verify hex string format and try alternate endianness
Invalid hex format	Malformed input data	Validate hex string contains only valid characters (0-9, A-F)
Missing transaction data	Incomplete BEEF payload	Ensure full BEEF structure is provided including ancestry
SPV verification fails	Invalid merkle proofs	Check block header data and merkle path consistency

Advanced Features

Transaction Ancestry Graph

• Visual representation of transaction relationships

• Interactive exploration of transaction chains

• Identification of transaction dependencies

SPV Proof Analysis

• Merkle path verification

• Block header validation

• Proof completeness checking

Export Capabilities

• JSON export of parsed transaction data

• CSV export for analysis tools

• Raw hex data extraction

Resources

• Repository: GitHub - Beef Inspector

• Business Documentation: Business Beef Inspector Documentation

• BEEF Format Specification: BSV BEEF Documentation

• BSV SDK Reference: BSV Blockchain SDK

• Support Contact: BSV Blockchain Demos Team

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For business context and ROI details, see: Business Beef Inspector Documentation