Ethereum cryptocurrency developers have completed the preparation of a list of six different code changes that will be activated during the next hard fork called Istanbul, writes CryptoBTCmining.com .
As agreed during previous meetings, Istanbul will be activated in two phases. The first one will include all six changes and, according to the current plan, will be launched on the Ethereum core network in October, and the second in the first quarter of next year. The second stage will include changes that still require refinement and testing. This number includes the new mining algorithm ProgPoW.
“We split Istanbul into two parts, ” said developer Peter Siladiyi.
One of them is ready to launch in a few weeks, and the second contains two really large EIPs (approx. Suggestions for improving Ethereum), which would be nice to have, but they require work that cannot be completed within 2-3 weeks. ”
The first part of Istanbul will be the eighth hard fork on the Ethereum network. It is expected that it will expand the possibilities of interaction with the anonymous Zcash altcoin and help protect the network from replay attacks, as well as contain other improvements.
Developers of large Ethereum wallets , such as Geth and Parity, now have exactly one week to integrate approved EIPs into their software and prepare to launch the full version of the code on the test network.
It was assumed that the update would be activated on the Ropsten test network this Wednesday, however, Siladiyi said that the deadlines had been shifted by 2 weeks, as it was required to complete work on EIP. According to updated data, a hard fork in the test network will occur on September 4. However, the date may be revised again.
“When we performed the previous hard forks and all the changes were implemented in the clients, we had literally months for testing before launching in the test network. This time we just prepared the final EIP sheet and want to fork in 2 weeks? Feel free , ”added Ciladi.
Other developers supported this opinion and decided to once again discuss the date of activation of hard fork in the test network next week. This step will be the last before launching the update on the Ethereum core network. As with any other hard fork, miners must update their software, otherwise they risk remaining in the old chain.
“Security and stability are key issues when it comes to hard forking on the core network, so a release on the testnet is critical to successfully activating the update on the core network, ” said Ethereum Foundation Community Relations Manager Hudson Jameson.
Ethereum developers are pleased to have a hard fork on the Ropsten test network to make sure everything goes according to plan. ”
Publication date 08/17/2019
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