> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://grat.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Migrate from Launchtube

> Switch your sponsorship infrastructure to Grat.

Launchtube was a valuable service for the Stellar ecosystem, but its deprecation by the Stellar Development Foundation has left a gap for developers who need reliable gas abstraction. Grat is the open-source, self-hostable replacement designed to fill that gap.

### Why Migrate?

While Launchtube is no longer supported, Grat offers a modern architecture with native Soroban support and a permissive Apache 2.0 license. Migrating to Grat allows you to regain control over your sponsorship infrastructure and continue providing zero-gas experiences for your users.

### Code Comparison

The integration logic remains very similar. Most changes involve updating the initialization and error handling.

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript Launchtube (Old) theme={null}
  import { Launchtube } from '@stellar/launchtube-sdk';

  const tube = new Launchtube({
    network: 'testnet',
    user: 'your-project-id'
  });

  const result = await tube.sponsor(transaction);
  ```

  ```typescript Grat (New) theme={null}
  import { Grat } from '@grat-official-sdk/sdk';

  const grat = Grat.testnet();

  // Most methods map directly
  const result = await grat.sponsor(transaction);
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Feature Comparison

| Feature              | Launchtube  | Grat          |
| :------------------- | :---------- | :------------ |
| **Classic Payments** | Yes         | Yes           |
| **Soroban Support**  | Limited     | Native & Full |
| **Self-Hosting**     | No          | Yes (Docker)  |
| **License**          | Proprietary | Apache 2.0    |
| **Credit System**    | Managed     | Flexible      |

### Migration Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the Grat SDK">
    Replace the Launchtube SDK with the official Grat client.

    ```bash theme={null}
    npm uninstall @stellar/launchtube-sdk
    npm install @grat-official-sdk/sdk
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update Imports and Constructor">
    Change your imports and initialize the `Grat` client. On testnet, you no longer need a project ID or secret to get started.

    ```typescript theme={null}
    import { Grat } from '@grat-official-sdk/sdk';
    const grat = Grat.testnet();
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update Method Calls">
    The core `sponsor()` method remains the same. If you were using Launchtube's custom simulation logic, replace it with `grat.simulate()`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test on Testnet">
    Run your existing test suite against a local Grat relay to ensure that sequence management and sponsorship are working as expected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Switch to Mainnet">
    When ready, deploy your own Grat relay to production and update the SDK configuration to use your mainnet URL and API key.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I need to change my transaction building code?">
    No. Grat works with standard Stellar transactions and fee-bump envelopes. Your existing logic for building and signing transactions with user keypairs remains exactly the same.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is the API compatible?">
    While the REST endpoints are different, the core data structures (XDR strings, transaction results) are standard Stellar formats. The Grat SDK is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the most common Launchtube use cases.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I self-host?">
    Yes. Unlike Launchtube, Grat is fully open-source. You can run your own relay instance on your own infrastructure, giving you total control over costs and uptime.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What about Soroban?">
    Grat was built with Soroban in mind from day one. It handles resource fee estimation, simulation, and sponsorship natively, something Launchtube only partially supported.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

[View on GitHub](https://github.com/gratnetwork/grat)