Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#1

Post by nnn1234 » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 1:43 PM UTC

Easy rebuttals: +There is no public spec for linux -https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/lsb.shtml +If you want one go build one Better reason - there isnt demand for this I would like to understand what other reasons there could be

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#2

Post by the_hoser » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 4:51 PM UTC

Writing documentation is boring, and requires the kind of rigor and focus that I haven't found to be common in the Bitcoin community.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#3

Post by twox2 » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 5:36 PM UTC

Not sure if it's still the case but if I recall correctly, the majority of the bitcoin maintainers are employed by one company... so not sure there's an incentive for them.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#4

Post by coralreef » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 6:27 PM UTC

What is a public spec?

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_documentation

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#5

Post by ypcx » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 7:16 PM UTC

I'm thinking what would be the purpose or added value of a separate "public spec" document (which would require a significant maintenance effort) when you already have [1] a healthy Github (or Gitlab) project governance going on, [2] Bitcoin feature proposal process.

  [1] https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/projects
  [2] https://github.com/bitcoin/bips

When you upgrade your Bitcoin node software, the act of the upgrading is you casting your Yes vote for the changes introduced in that version. The BIPs etc. can help you understand these, but if you want to be 100% diligent, the only fully authoritative source is the state of (the code sources in) the git repo as referenced by the commit hash in the Bitcoin software you are upgrading to.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#6

Post by rotterdamdev » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 10:19 PM UTC

Ponzi schemes generally don't have open specs. Defeats the purpose.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#7

Post by tuesdayrain » Tue, Jun 30, 2020, 11:06 PM UTC

rotterdamdev wrote: post #6

Ponzi schemes generally don't have open specs. Defeats the purpose.

Bitcoin does not fall under the definition of a ponzi scheme. And in general, there's no reason why a ponzi scheme couldn't have an open spec. If the incentive structure sounds appealing then people will participate even when they understand something is a ponzi.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#8

Post by nnn1234 » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 7:05 AM UTC

ypcx wrote: post #5

I'm thinking what would be the purpose or added value of a separate "public spec" document (which would require a significant maintenance effort) when you already have [1] a healthy Github (or Gitlab) project governance going on, [2] Bitcoin feature proposal process. [1] https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/projects [2] https://github.com/bitcoin/bips When you upgrade your Bitcoin node software, the act of the upgradin…

I agree with your comment. What I think is a public spec will help develop client diversity and keep the commits aligned with an explicit spec.

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#9

Post by nnn1234 » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 7:06 AM UTC

coralreef wrote: post #4

What is a public spec? https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Protocol_documentation

"In particular, while this page is quite complete in describing the network protocol, it does not attempt to list all of the rules for block or transaction validity." Cmon man..

Re: Ask HN: Why isnt there a public spec for Bitcoin core?

#10

Post by nnn1234 » Wed, Jul 01, 2020, 7:07 AM UTC

twox2 wrote: post #3

Not sure if it's still the case but if I recall correctly, the majority of the bitcoin maintainers are employed by one company... so not sure there's an incentive for them.

Its probably more than one company. but even then, lets say that it was one company, shouldnt decentralized,open protocols have open specs to help create more clients?