Call for ETH v64 Wire Protocol Enhancements
Background
The ETH wire protocol provides the application layer for Ethereum clients. A lot has changed and a lot has been learned since the last ETH wire protocol was introduced in 2015.
The significant state requirements to operate a node are hindering the health of the network. Synchronization requires a large amount of state to store and download from peers. The implications of this include:
- Conventional hardware nodes cannot willingly join and participate in the network
- Syncing from scratch takes a very long time (e.g. days)
- Networking bandwidth requirements can be outstanding
Process
The recommended process for selecting ETH v64 wire protocol enhancements is as follows (the later stages can happen on a proposal-by-proposal basis):
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Solicit proposals for ETH v64 in this ring: Begin with brainstorming and informal discussions for improvements. This can happen initially happen within this thread, but should probably be broken out into a separate thread if more organization and focus is needed.
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Establish Contributors and Stakeholders: The ring will identify proposals worth pursuing and establish who will drive them forward.
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EIP Drafting and Prototyping: Create initial EIPs outlining the enhancements and solicit broader feedback. It is highly encouraged that running prototypes accompany any EIP.*