Script to setup a validator using a .js and api

Question

I was wondering how to add a validator to a substrate chain using the API. I want to replicate the steps in the polkadot.js app:

1. Network -> Stash -> Account Actions
2. Click on validator (+)
3. Set the stash account, controller account, value bonded and
4. Set the keys from rotateKeys and the reward.

I can not find how the UI (what APIs) does it call to do steps 3 and 4.

Thanks very much Regards

Answer 1

The UI just calls the extrinsics as exposed by the staking module. Specifically -

• bonding via api.tx.staking.bond(...) setting the controller, value bonded and payee from the stash account
• keys via api.tx.session.setKeys(...) setting the keys from the controller account (proof is empty, not yet implemented on Substrate)
• validate via api.tx.staking.validate(...) from the controller with the validator preferences (e.g. commission, blocking status)

Additional stuff of interest may be setController to change a controller, setPayee to adjust the reward destination and bondExtra should additional funds be bonded. These are all for management of the validator.