Could this modularization effort lead to a special compiled bitcoind simulator that runs many virtual instances of a node on the same system (possibly same process)?  The simulator would cache crypto computation results (ECDSA, SSH-256) to significantly speed up processing transactions and blocks between the virtual nodes.  The virtual nodes would also need to share the same block data in memory when possible.  This would also require significant additional work to simulate the network and possibly computational limits.

The transactions on the existing block chain could be replayed into randomly chosen virtual nodes to help ensure any code changes would not have caused problems with historic transactions.  You could even record all the messages for some time on many real nodes and use that as test data for the simulator.  Many other test programs could be devised to quickly simulate other network activity.

This wouldn't completely replace the test network but could provide greater and quicker confidence that code changes are safe.

- Quinn


On 05/16/2013 04:02 AM, bitcoingrant@gmx.com wrote:
One of the primary upcoming priorities for bitcoin’s infrastructure, beyond the bloom filter, will be the continued modularization of the system.

Here at the Bitcoin Grant, we would like to jump start this development with a financial incentive and initiate an ongoing conversation on how we can work together towards developing a smarter, more efficient system of tomorrow, today.

Up for grabs: 500 bitcoins or $500,000; whichever is greater.

Taking on a project of this scope is a highly intensive, technical undertaking and we believe excellent developers should be compensated as such, especially when it comes to open source projects.

One of the main goals will be to separate the wallet from the node, as we have already done with mining. This way, the wallet, which will only hold private keys and create transactions, would pass transactions directly to a relay node, based on the bloom filter. Meanwhile, the block node will maintain the block chain and validate and relay new blocks.

Such developments would significantly strengthen the system. Modularization would make cancer attacks less likely and increase the node count, which, currently, is fairly low.

This is by no means is a feature request, merely ideas as to initiate a discussion. We welcome any feedback or suggestions. And of course, let us know if you would like to contribute to this project by submiting a grant proposal.

http://bitcoingrant.org

 


  

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