Once you’ve got your mining rig set up, you’re going to need the right software to handle the mining. Mining software lets you connect your computer to the blockchain (via your mining pool, if you’re part of one) to receive work. Once the work has been completed the software relays it back to the blockchain for verification.

There are several software titles to choose from; some work better with specific types of hardware and operating systems. Here’s a list of the most commonly used: 

CGMiner: This miner is for use with GPUs, FPGAs and ASICs, and features ATI GPU monitoring, overclocking and fan control. Suitable for mining bitcoin and altcoins. https://github.com/ckolivas/cgminer

BFGMiner: A modular miner for use with CPUs, GPUs, FGPAs and ASICs. Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. https://github.com/luke-jr/bfgminer

EasyMiner:  A convenient tool that integrates both CGMiner & BFGminer, and automatically configures both programs. Compatible with Windows, Linux and Android operating systems. http://www.butterflylabs.com/drivers/

Bitcoin Plus: This a browser-based CPU miner. It’s not practical to use this if you intend to mine for profit, but I give it special mention because it’s a useful tool for anyone who’s new to mining and wishes to gain first-hand experience. http://www.bitcoinplus.com/

Enjoyed this article? Why not check out What is Bitcoin?