Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

[mazz086]

1. What is the difference between a soft fork and a hard fork?
Hard fork happens when there’s an expansion of the consensus rules.
Soft fork happens when there’s a tightening of the consensus rules.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
If 100% of the network won’t accept the consensus rule change
If you want to create a new currency and bring with you a part of the community

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hard fork?
The chain will split
The community will split
A new currency is generated

[CryptoJedi1]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   A soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid. A Soft fork can also be looked at as contraction. A Hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid and can be looked at as expansion.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
   To change consensus. Expand the rule set.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hard fork? They split chain and community and the hash power split can reduce security.

[Gabiwan68]

Soft and hard forks- Homework

1- Both come from protocol updates, Hard fork is when the update makes a previus block valid, invalid and the soft fork is when the update makes previous invalid blocks valid.
2- When some of the network would not accept the update and stay in the previous version of the protocol
3- The chain and the community are split and unless all nodes get updated the split will exist and we will have two different chains coexisting.

[bog]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   hardfork makes invalid blocks valid, softfork makes valid blocks invalid

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   Create a new currency, make a clear change to the consensus, make democratic update, expand ruleset

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   Split community, reduce hash power.

[Furnt]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork? - Hardforks make changes that do not work within the current set of rules and Softforks make changes work in the current set of rules.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork? - “To add functionality to the network that can’t be done inside the current protocol”

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? Creates splits in the community and chain which can cause security issues.

[voljumet]

1. The difference is that in a hardfork, previous invalid blocks is now valid, and in a softfork previous blocks are now invalid.

2. To give each block bigger blocksize

3. There is the risk that the hashpower is split and the community get split, so it becomes less secure than it was before the fork

[Chopper2017]

1. They are opposites, a hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid while a soft fork makes previously valid blocks invalid.
2. For clear and democratic updates to consensus.
3. Splitting of the chain resulting in reduced or split hash power and a split or separation within the community.

[Kae_Y]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   Hardfork update expands the set of rules and previously invalid blocks are valid. softfork contracts the set of rules where valid blocks are now invalid
2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   clear and democratic
3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   Less secure network and split chain

[EvilCookie]

1. Hard fork is a diversion of the main blockchain in form of an update that loosens up the admission criteria. Therefore the previously invalid blocks become valid.
   A soft fork is the opposite, it’s a supplementary restriction that makes previously valid blocks invalid.
   2)To implement a new update/vision/rule.
2. Splits the community and the hash power. Resulting in possible problems and lower security.

[Bagems]

1. Soft forks make valid blocks invalid, Hard forks make invalid blocks valid.

2. Expanding ruleset, of the consenses.

3. 100% of miners need to accept. Lowering the security by reducing the hash rate.

[joycegp1]

1. A softfork is an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid while a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
2. To fix security risks found in older versions, add new functionality and reverse transactions.
3. Split chain, split community and split hash power.

[crwnchakra]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

Hard = an update that makes previously invalid blocks valid.
Soft = an update that makes previously valid blocks invalid.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?

Consensus comes to an agreement on similar vision or reason to man an update.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?

Split Community. Not everyone will believe in your vision so it is common to see people take their own route.

[AndyC]

1. A Soft fork makes Previously valid blocks invalid and does not require 100% participation, and a Hard Fork makes Previously Invalid blocks Valid and does require 100% participation.

2. To force a rule set change

3. Could Split the Chain, Split the community and Reduce Security

[Andrija]

1. A softfork updates the blockchain in such a way that it makes previously valid blocks invalid, whereas the hardforks makes previously invalid block valid.
2. To force a change of consensus of the network; to create a new currency.
3. Split hash power, split community, lowering security because of a split chain.

[Philip78]

1. A softfork update makes previously valid blocks invalid, whereas a hardfork update renders invalid blocks valid.
2. To increase the block size to handle more transactions, create a new currency.
3. The hash power is split which reduces the network security. The chain is split, as well as the community.

[mirabilis79]

What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork? - Hardfork rules set updates to expand block limit (from previous invalid to valid block) whereas softwork rules set updates to restract block limit (from previous valid to invalid block). 

What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork? - To create a new currency

What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork? - splitting of the community, increasing hash power.

[Picepil]

1-Hardfork = change rules to make previously invalid block valid; softfork changes rules to make previously valid block invalid
2-Democratic consensus change in rules that make an upgrade to improve performance & fix bugs
3-Hardforks may reduce trust, split community into two coins & split the hash power making the chains less secure

[Bell]

1. What is the difference between a soft-fork and a hard fork?
   Soft fork- an update that makes a previously valid block invalid
   Hard fork- an update that makes a previously invalid block valid
2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hard fork?
   to change consensus rules, create expansion
3. What are some of the risks of performing a hard fork?
   Split change
   Split community
   Hash power split

[Kristijan777]

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
   In validation of rule set

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
   Create a new coin

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
   Splits community

[itworksonmymachine]

1 Hardfork will make previously invalid blocks valid and softfork will make previously valid blocks invalid

2 For example, when you want to increase block size from 1 MB to 2 MB, then you need to do a hard fork

3 Hard fork will split the chain, split the community and decrease hash power because some of the miners will go to the new hard-forked chain.