From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (smtp1.linux-foundation.org [172.17.192.35]) by mail.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 96500480 for ; Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:02:54 +0000 (UTC) X-Greylist: whitelisted by SQLgrey-1.7.6 Received: from mail-lf0-f67.google.com (mail-lf0-f67.google.com [209.85.215.67]) by smtp1.linuxfoundation.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id D8068246 for ; Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:02:53 +0000 (UTC) Received: by mail-lf0-f67.google.com with SMTP id 88so6462947lfr.0 for ; Thu, 20 Apr 2017 10:02:53 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20161025; h=from:content-transfer-encoding:mime-version:subject:message-id:date :to; bh=SvIGsGJa4FZP3GlRHflz7wpsFqfSjaSY1w/fq1c757U=; b=ZENhK8/dJLs/uK12vOWDZrj8h3FfOwRRGecGFTREZfjYjPO2CW1tYk0LDxFgkwVRD2 bUnL++Za1IGz+jtVhdMSKJUsQGE4kqcqpLIBHWFPUBBpK/VVNG2Xx5BfTDZWVnrxkZWT KF+RrVULny+e7CuEcG+gSbgiJn+yc2f105p9bWrBs28VpLyYX0kaUhbBE5iOFH152Cda E09V/apQowwx8vcAYE1RV0p9tXuO10+id+tvYewOMbBo0iqo7ub/1zv3RM1eMcM98igs CDZ+YsbsNAvYjYsDJLYl97gpi7CjoW9fhW9w4VZLjzcbxbSl9Guz6kOZsacV8sIEd+t2 LigQ== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:from:content-transfer-encoding:mime-version :subject:message-id:date:to; bh=SvIGsGJa4FZP3GlRHflz7wpsFqfSjaSY1w/fq1c757U=; b=CRSHfb3ImWZEtg3D2y+PKuy8mTylKkmo0eD4S+/C+Tc/hjJAvIz3LGzfF3UZPaLZSc Ze9f9harSMsK2w58R50Mt06iaQWKo4P4+ldwEmlArncAeb4V2fbW0W77MLiehwiCwTx6 uCSjyhMrFe6u1M86ZPt/C28+fgCtT84cLfW/m3KefMPPbyhhqSJmRKdTL0Tr9Dhn9emj KYFkyv+MLHX/kLy0geaysddLoA7KUvFqIF8F54h639DaiqLTxPBuwceeuxk1P+IZ1LJQ bx8DmJblFWWFDTjrkWhhmuJeL5paXk80SDl3OKbYYFPY4GyCbRs9TWKXIfbaq9GLgBrc S2Uw== X-Gm-Message-State: AN3rC/5XFcdzq9/6uFqa8ICH9mrtL8Uy11NprUDBq+6/8DyeuCrJIlsS 79qnO93lAko+0iaWy5s= X-Received: by 10.25.221.18 with SMTP id u18mr2849773lfg.64.1492707771769; Thu, 20 Apr 2017 10:02:51 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [10.0.1.37] ([91.204.212.210]) by smtp.gmail.com with ESMTPSA id x1sm1131528lfb.37.2017.04.20.10.02.50 for (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Thu, 20 Apr 2017 10:02:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Cameron Garnham Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Mime-Version: 1.0 (Mac OS X Mail 10.3 \(3273\)) Message-Id: <45C4F619-5BAF-4D84-8759-8D6BC5C63FC3@gmail.com> Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 20:02:43 +0300 To: Bitcoin Dev X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.3273) X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.2 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,DKIM_SIGNED, DKIM_VALID,DKIM_VALID_AU,FREEMAIL_ENVFROM_END_DIGIT,FREEMAIL_FROM, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE,RCVD_IN_SORBS_SPAM autolearn=no version=3.3.1 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.1 (2010-03-16) on smtp1.linux-foundation.org Subject: [bitcoin-dev] Exploring Network Rule Changes X-BeenThere: bitcoin-dev@lists.linuxfoundation.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: Bitcoin Protocol Discussion List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:02:54 -0000 I have taken some time to think about consensus systems in-general; and = write up a guide that explores the problems space of changing the rules = of such systems. Hopefully, this guide will clarify the different options available to = the Bitcoin Community. I am posting this to the Bitcoin Development mailing list for review. = Possibly a more comprehensive form of this document could be useful as = an informative BIP. ** Type of Change ** There are three categories of changes: S: Addition of a new Rule. (Soft-Fork) H: Removal of an old Rule. (Hard-Fork) E: Subverting an old Rule. (=E2=80=9CEvil=E2=80=9D, Non-Traditional = Soft-Fork) * Addition of a new Rule: All previous rules in the system remain enforced as originally intended. There are two sub-categories for the addition of a new rule: 1: New Functionally is added to the system, without effecting old = use cases. (Opt-In New Functionality) 2: Functional users of the system must change their behaviour to = suit the new rule. (Mandatory New Functionality) * Removal of an old Rule Equivalent replacing the entire system with any-new system. All = full-users of the system must migrate to the new system. * Subverting an old Rule New Functionally is added that explicitly Replaces Old Functionality. Users must upgrade and migrate to the new Functionally to continue using = the system. ** Type of Activation ** There are two types of activations: U. External Activations. (User Activated) M. Internal Activations. (Miner Activated, PoS Activated, Internal = Governance Model, etc) It is possible to have more than one Activation Strategy used = concurrently. * External Activations These Activations are dictated by facts that are not quantifiable from = within the System. Generally, this will be a set-of-users, external to the system, that = come to their own agreement to change the system. * Internal Activations These activations use some metric from within the system to determine if = a proposed change is activated. Generally, some sort of internal signalling or vetoing process will = happen and based upon its results, will dictate the if the change is = activated. ** Type of Signalling ** Users within the system with more important roles may wish to (or be = forced to) signal or (not) veto about a particular topic. This could be = part of the activation strategy (internal activations), or just simply = to quantify the support of the upcoming change. There are two core types of Signalling: O: Optional F. Forced There are two styles of Signalling: N. Normal Signalling (Opt-In) V. Veto (Opt-Out) * Optional Signalling Orthogonal to the system rules; however, the signalling still may affect = other system rules. * Enforced Signalling This is a meta-rule change. Normally only temporally enforced upon the = system. This rule change doesn=E2=80=99t directly affect the core = behaviour of the system; it is just used for meta-purposes in the scope = of another rule change. * Normal Signalling Passive Behaviour signals no support. * Veto Signalling Passive Behaviour signals support. If I have missed anything or if anything is not clear, please contact = me. PS. For example, you could call a BIP9 (SegWit) activation as a: =E2=80=9CS1M= ON". And BIP 148 (SegWit) as: =E2=80=9CS1UFN=E2=80=9D. However this = letter code is just for fun. :) Cameron=