Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

Blockchain and Bitcoin 101
#61

1.soft fork makes the size of the block smaller making previously valid blocks invalid and hard forks make the block size bigger making previously invalid blocks valid
2.making a clear update or change to the consensus
3. a hard fork will split the community making it less secure

#62

  1. In a hard fork, previously invalid blocks will be made valid. whereas in a soft fork, previously valid blocks will be made invalid.

  2. Reasons for hardfork include community split visions for the future of network, major uogrades that is totally different from original networks etc

3)Risks - Split chains
Split community
and reduced hashing power because of splitting into more networks.

#63

[quote=“ivan, post:1, topic:8446”]

  • What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
    A hardfork requires 100% consensus to avoid a fork.
    Considers previously invalid block protocol to be now valid. New blocks would not be
    recognized by nodes not upgrading to new protocol.
    It is an expansive rule set.

A softfork requires majority consensus to avoid a fork
Considers previously valid blocks to be invalid. New blocks are recognized by
entire network nodes.
It has a contraction rule set.

  • What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
    Desire to split the community, to create a new currency and implement an expansion in block protocol necessary for a desired outcome.

  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    It can split the community which would result in reduced hash power.
    [

/quote]

#64

1 Em um softfork ocorre a redução no escopo das regras da blockchain e no hard fork ocorre o contrårio, ocorre um aumento no escopo das regras.

2 Para modificar algum tipo de critério relativo ao consenso da blockchain, como tamanho dos blocos, tempo de intervalo entre os blocos, etc.

3 Diminuição da segurança, devido a diminuição do poder de hash dos mineradores; conflito na comunidade e uma possĂ­vel turbulĂȘncia no valor de mercado das moedas envolvidas.

#65

  1. A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid, while a soft fork does the opposite. Basically that means that a hard fork is an expansion to the current rule set (making the new blocks in the hard fork blockchain invalid on the base blockchain), while blocks mined at a soft fork is valid on both blockchains.

  2. A reason could be that the current rule set is not scalable, and that the consensus algorithm needs to change. Another reason could be a split in the community where the community have different visions; then a hard fork would be applicable since it’d make it possible to create two different blockchains, probably serving two different purposes.

  3. The biggest risk (in case of a blockchain based on PoW consensus) seems to me to be the split of the hash power. The less hash power, the easier it’d be to manipulate with the blockchain. Also, it (could) divide(s) the community into two groups, slowing down progress etc.

1 Like
#66

1.A hard fork makes previously invalid blocks valid.
A soft fork makes previously valid blocks valid.
2.Its a clear democratic update so community can choose if they want to update or not.
3.It splits the chain, hash power, and community which then lowers security of the network.

#67
  1. When a new version of the blockchain software contains a change at the level of the concensus :
  • a hardfork is not backward compatible --> some previous invalid blocks become valid, it’s an expension of rule set
  • a softfork is backward compatible --> some previous valid blocks become invalid, it’s a contraction of rule set.
    A softwork is be preferable - when possible - because the future chain respecting the new rules will be valid for all the nodes (even if they don’t have the new version).

  1. You would do a hardfork in order to distribute your new software version with modifications of the concensus that are not backward compatible, i.e. in order to expand the rule set. This creates a new currency, which is sometimes the objective of the hardfork.

  2. The risks with performing a hardfork are to split chain, i.e. to get 2 concurrent chains (when unintended), to have incompatibilities between miners who don’t have the same version, to split community between two groups who don’t agree, and to diminish the security in splitting the hash power.

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#68
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

HF: Makes previously invalid blocks valid.
SF: Makes previously valid block invalid.

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

When the ruleset is expanded. For example, the block size is increased.

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

Many blocks become stale.

#69

Homework on Soft and Hard Forks - Questions

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A soft fork is easier to implement, makes previously valid blocks invalid (effectively contracting the blockchain), requires a majority of the nodes in the network (>50%) to accept the change, if greater than 50% of the network nodes accept the change this results in a “no chain split” which in-turn forces nodes that did not agree to soft fork are forced to follow because the blockchain length will be driven by network nodes that accepted the soft fork because the network hash power is driven by the soft fork (new consensus rule set).

A hard fork is more difficult to manage, can lead to a fork in the chain resulting in the creation of a new currency (e.g. BTC / BCH). ALL nodes understand how to implement the change and can decide whether to follow this change so democratic. A splitting of the blockchain results in a reduction in network hash power because network node compute power transfers away from the original blockchain increasing both chains vulnerability to attack.

2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
To create a new currency (e.g. BTC / BCH). To expands the network by making previously invalid blocks valid, and because they are easier to understand & implement and enforce within the network.

3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Can lead to a splitting of the blockchain because ALL network nodes can democratically choose to not accept the soft fork update (consensus rule set change). If ALL nodes do not accept the new consensus rule set the community becomes fractured leading to a fork and subsequent reduction in hash power because network compute power transfers away from the original blockchain increasing both chains (forked chain + original blockchain) vulnerable to attack.

#70

1.) HF extends the ruleset but split in two seperate chains (new ruleset is not vaild for the old chain), SF contracts the ruleset but keeps the original chain intact and blocks with the new ruleset can be mined and are also valid according the old ruleset.
2.) eg. Impove functionallity and/or security.
3.) the hashpower is split (less security), also community is split - as in BSV - they will fight against BTC.

#71

  1. A hard fork update is an expansion of the rule set which makes previously invalid blocks valid, and a soft fork is a contraction of the rule set which makes some valid blocks invalid.

  2. Expansion of rule set for block creation within the network.

  3. During a hard fork the hash power splits into two chains, lowering security.

#72
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

A hard fork will expand the consensus rules to make more blocks valid. A soft fork will contract the rules to make more blocks invalid.

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

If you wanted to some ability that was previously impossible, you would need to make a hard fork.

  1. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
    The hard fork could divide the community as some people would want to keep the old consensus rules and create their own chain to mine on. Hash power would be divided as miners went to the chains they wanted to mine. This could be a security risk.
#73

  1. Hard fork are an expansion of consensus rules (previous invalid block become valid) versus the soft fork is a contraction of consensus rules (previously valid blocks become invalid).

  2. Change in the consensus rules. The my be used to add functionality to the block chain

  3. Splitting the community and splitting the hash power (reduced security)

#74
  1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?

Softwork makes invalid blocks valid and hard fork makes valid block invalid.

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

To set new consensus rules so improvements could be made to the network i.e performance improvements, fix protocol bugs, add more storage to a block

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

The risks are, splitting the community so there would be less nodes in each chain reducing the hash power in the network which would then reduce the security.

#75
  1. Softfork makes previous valid blocks invalid, a hard fork makes unacceptable blocks valid.
  2. To change the consensus rules.
  3. Less secure network, and split the community.
#76

1. What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
A Hardfork will make a previously invalid block valid which is an expansion of the rule set and a Softfork will make a previously vaild block, invalid which is a contraction of the rule set.
2. What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
To increase the block size, change of consensus.
3. What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
Split chain, split community, split hash power which is a greater security risk.

#77
  • What is the difference between a softfork and a hardfork?
  • What are some of the reasons why you would do a hardfork?
  • What are some of the risks with performing a hardfork?
  1. A hard fork is where previously invalid blocks become valid and a soft fork is where previously valid blocks become invalid. Hard forks can create two chains from that point forward, soft chains would not.
  2. To split a chain info two different chains. To expand the rule set for valid transactions.
  3. Reduce the mining pool at is working on a chain if two chains where created as a result of the hark fork.
#78

1/In general a hard fork splits the blockchain, a soft fork does not split the blockchain.
2/A hard fork makes previous invalid blocks valid. For example to get more capacity in the blocks, to get more transactions, hence more fees.
3/The split of blockchain , diminished the hash power in each chain, hence chains are less secure.

#79

1- A Hard Fork makes invalid blocks valid and a Soft Fork does the opposite, makes valid blocks invalid.

2- To expand the set of rules or simply to create a new currency.

3- One could be the splitting of the chain which divides the community and brings a lack hashing power.

#80

  1. A softfork makes previously valid blocks invalid, whereas a hardfork makes previously invalid blocks valid.

  2. You would do a hardfork if you wanted to improve the blockchain (e.g. security or functionality reasons), or if you wanted to create a separate community around a different vision for the blockchain.

  3. Hardforks can be contentious because it may fracture the community. It also reduces the security of the network, since miners must choose which blockchain to support.