Error Interpretation: Why Deploy.js Returns “Factory Runtime Does Not Support Sending Transactions”
As a developer using Hardhat and the Alchemy API to deploy smart contracts, you’ve likely encountered an error when trying to deploy contracts. The specific error message “factory runtime does not support sending transactions (operation=”sendTransaction”) indicates that there is a problem with the transaction mechanism used by the Deploy.js script.
Context: Deploy.js and the Alchemy API
Deploy.js is a popular JavaScript library that you can use to deploy smart contracts on various blockchain networks, including Ethereum. It provides a convenient way to interact with deployed contracts using a high-level API.
The Alchemy API, on the other hand, offers a robust set of APIs for interacting with blockchain data, including contract management. As a development environment, Hardhat uses Deploy.js and the Alchemy API in parallel to automate deployment and smart contract management tasks.
Error Explanation
When Deploy.js attempts to send transactions using the factory runner, it encounters an error because this mechanism is not supported by the Alchemy API for Ethereum. The factory runner is designed to handle more complex operations such as deploying contracts, creating wallets, and managing accounts within a given network. However, sending transactions, specifically “sendTransaction”, is not part of its capabilities.
Troubleshooting Steps
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
- Check your Alchemy API settings: Make sure you are using the correct API endpoint for Ethereum (e.g. ` and that it supports the required operations.
- Check your Deploy.js version: Check if you are using an outdated version of Deploy.js, as newer versions may fix issues with transaction support.
- Try a different transaction method: Instead of trying to send transactions using Deploy.js, try calling other API endpoints, such as “eth_accounts”, which returns a list of accounts on the Ethereum network.
Updated Deploy.js code
Here is an example of how you can modify the Deploy.js script to use a different transaction method:
const { Alchemy } = require('@alchemy-api');
const client = new Alchemy({
// Your Infura project ID and API key
});
client
.eth_accounts()
.then((accounts) => {
console.log(accounts);
})
.catch((error) => {
console.error(error);
});
In this updated code, we use the “eth_accounts()” method to retrieve the list of accounts on the Ethereum network. This allows us to avoid sending transactions using Deploy.js.
Conclusion
If you follow these troubleshooting steps and update the Deploy.js script, you should be able to resolve the error and successfully deploy your contracts to the Ethereum network using the Alchemy API with Hardhat. Don’t forget to check the Alchemy API settings and check for updates to the Deploy.js library before making any further changes to the code.
