# Interacting with Monero You can interact with Monero via desktop GUI, commandline interface, and programming API. On top of that, Monero nodes interact with each other in a peer-to-peer network. ## Installation directory overview This considers the released version of Monero software. Once unpacked, you will notice six executable files: ![Monero Directory](/images/monero-dir.png "Logo Title Text 1") ## Separation of node and wallet Monero project nicely decouples node logic `monerod` from wallet logic `monero-wallet-*`. Wallet logic is offered through three independent user interfaces - the GUI, the CLI, and the HTTP API. | Executable | Description | -------------------------- |:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | `monerod` | The full node daemon. Does not require a wallet. | `monero-wallet-gui` | Wallet logic and __graphical__ user interface. Requires `monerod` running. | `monero-wallet-cli` | Wallet logic and __commandline__ user interface. Requires `monerod` running. | `monero-wallet-rpc` | Wallet logic and __HTTP API__ (JSON-RPC protocol). Requires `monerod` running. | `monero-blockchain-export` | Tool to export blockchain to `blockchain.raw` file. | `monero-blockchain-import` | Tool to import [blockchain.raw](https://downloads.getmonero.org/blockchain.raw) - ideally your own trusted copy. ## Interacting There are quite a few ways you can interact with Monero software. Perhaps the most surprising for newcomers is that `monerod` daemon accepts interactive keyboard commands while it is running. Also, please note that HTTP API is split across `monerod` and `monero-wallet-rpc`. You need to run and call both daemons to explore the full API. This follows the node-logic vs wallet-logic split mentioned earlier. All wallet implementations depend on the `monerod` running. | Executable | p2p network | node commands via keyboard | node HTTP API | wallet commands via keyboard | wallet HTTP API | wallet via GUI | -------------------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------- | ------------- | ---------------------------- | --------------- | -------------- | `monerod` | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | | | | `monero-wallet-cli` | | | | ✔ | | | `monero-wallet-rpc` | | | | | ✔ | | `monero-wallet-gui` | | | | | | ✔