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Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

quorumcontrol.com

1–10 of 44 posts

Re: Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

#2
Not rolling your own consensus algorithm is approx. rules zero through ten of distributed systems programming. Nothing on this page provides any positive signal indicating unique (or even average) competence to the task. To wit,

> We are borrowing all the best parts of existing technology and combining them in a unique and innovative way.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the listed existing technologies have been formally verified.

Re: Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

#3
The best feedback you ever get as a library maintainer is the population count of questions.

If everyone asks you the same question, you’re the one who’s wrong, not everyone else.

If everyone is asking you why you did it, you probably shouldn’t have done it.

Re: Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

#6

Not rolling your own consensus algorithm is approx. rules zero through ten of distributed systems programming. Nothing on this page provides any positive signal indicating unique (or even average) competence to the task. To wit, > We are borrowing all the best parts of existing technology and combining them in a unique and innovative way. To the best of my knowledge, none of the listed existing technologies have been…

Existing blockchain technologies. Historical knowledge is a mere speedbump on the path to number go up.

Re: Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

#7

Not rolling your own consensus algorithm is approx. rules zero through ten of distributed systems programming. Nothing on this page provides any positive signal indicating unique (or even average) competence to the task. To wit, > We are borrowing all the best parts of existing technology and combining them in a unique and innovative way. To the best of my knowledge, none of the listed existing technologies have been…

This seems like a really, really bad idea.

However, if everyone had that attitude we'd never improve on the existing art. So I'm glad some people are willing to risk it.

But just to reiterate, if you're thinking of rolling your own consensus - or even implementing an existing consensus algorithm yourself (although that's much worse for Paxos than for Raft) - you're almost certainly making a big mistake.

Re: Why we rolled our own consensus algorithm

#10

Not rolling your own consensus algorithm is approx. rules zero through ten of distributed systems programming. Nothing on this page provides any positive signal indicating unique (or even average) competence to the task. To wit, > We are borrowing all the best parts of existing technology and combining them in a unique and innovative way. To the best of my knowledge, none of the listed existing technologies have been…

I believe bitcoins proof of work has been formally verified, however I can't find a source for that.

There is also this https://iohk.io/research/papers/#9BKRHCSI that claims to be formally verified Proof of Stake.

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