generated: '2026-07-20'
method: searched
source: https://docs.minaprotocol.com/zkapps/writing-a-zkapp/introduction-to-zkapps/testing-zkapps-lightnet
description: >-
  Mina provides three tiers of non-production testing for zkApp and node
  developers: a fully local single-node network (Lightnet), a public test
  network (Devnet) funded by a faucet, and the Mesa preflight testing network
  for upcoming hard-fork validation.
environments:
  - name: Lightnet
    kind: local-blockchain
    purpose: >-
      Lightweight local Mina blockchain for testing zkApps against a real node
      before deploying to a live network. Managed via the zkApp CLI.
    launch: zk lightnet start
    docs: https://docs.minaprotocol.com/zkapps/writing-a-zkapp/introduction-to-zkapps/testing-zkapps-lightnet
  - name: Devnet
    kind: public-testnet
    purpose: Public Mina test network for deploying and exercising zkApps with no real value at stake.
    funding: Faucet (request test MINA)
    docs: https://docs.minaprotocol.com/zkapps/writing-a-zkapp/introduction-to-zkapps/how-to-deploy-a-zkapp
  - name: Mesa Preflight Network
    kind: preflight-testnet
    purpose: >-
      Version-matched preflight network for validating node/archive/Rosetta
      setups against the Mesa hard fork before mainnet.
    docs: https://docs.minaprotocol.com/network-upgrades/mesa/preflight-setup
test_facilities:
  - name: Faucet
    purpose: Request test MINA to fund a zkApp account or key on Devnet.
    docs: https://docs.minaprotocol.com/zkapps/writing-a-zkapp/introduction-to-zkapps/how-to-deploy-a-zkapp
notes: >-
  No published static test-key values or magic identifiers — funds are requested
  from the live faucet and keys are generated locally with mina-signer / the
  daemon. No test values are invented here.