Agenda
TBD
Meeting Time: Friday, August 28, 2026 at 09:00 UTC (60 minutes)
Meeting Summary:
The meeting focused on the status and next steps for merging the SSZ-based Execution API PR. Tamaghna, Dustin, and Łukasz discussed the lack of key client representatives and the need for broader review. They debated merging the spec to gain momentum, with Łukasz advocating for merging even if optional, and Dustin expressing caution about merging without addressing existing feedback. The group noted that most feedback had already been addressed and that tests were in progress, though moving slowly. They discussed using DevNet for compatibility testing and treating SSZ as opt-in initially, with a goal of making it default or required in later forks. Sameer reported that Lighthouse’s implementation was working with Erigon and initial tests with Etherex looked promising. The conversation also covered the benefits of SSZ for performance and the challenges of maintaining parity with JSON-RPC.
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Tamaghna and Dustin discussed the status of a PR merge, noting that key stakeholders from Geth and Nethermind were absent from the meeting. They debated the pros and cons of proceeding with the merge, with Dustin expressing concerns about the PR being hastily drafted using an LLM and not fully addressing feedback. Tamaghna outlined a plan to create a new branch for execution APIs and merge the current PR, followed by additional PRs for progressive types and a final merge to the master branch. Dustin raised procedural concerns about rushing the merge without fully addressing uncertainties, drawing parallels to a previous situation where a similar approach led to unintended consequences.
Łukasz expressed a preference for either merging the spec or establishing testing through DevNet to build momentum and address potential bugs. Tamaghna agreed and suggested coordinating the DevNet implementation on ACDT, potentially bringing it up on Monday. Dustin supported the idea of using DevNets but expressed concern about Nimbus’s readiness for the DevNets.
The team discussed the status of a PR that had received feedback from Marius on July 10th, with Łukasz noting that subsequent feedback appeared minimal and mostly addressed. Tamaghna highlighted that several features were waiting for this PR to be merged before they could proceed with their development. The group agreed to bring the topic up at the upcoming ACDT meeting on Monday, where they plan to discuss reviews from clients and coordinate with Barnabas regarding DevNet schedule and compatibility.
Tamaghna reported progress on test work but noted delays due to the slow PR review process with Mario, estimating one PR per week. The discussion focused on testing implementation for EL and CL, with Tamaghna confirming current testing is limited to EL while CL testing is planned for a later date. Łukasz emphasized the importance of merging the work to enable proper review and implementation against specs, suggesting an opt-in approach for releasing the feature as experimental.
Dustin and Łukasz discussed implementing SSE (Server-Sent Events) capabilities, agreeing to start with an experimental approach for Grand Amsterdam and potentially making it mandatory for Hagotah. Sameer provided an update on his implementation progress for Lighthouse, testing with Fulu and Ethrax, while noting the need for further testing and spec development. Tamaghna mentioned plans to discuss this in the ACDG meeting and potentially present it there.
Next Steps:
- Tamaghna: Bring up the PR merging and DevNet testing topic at the ACDT meeting on Monday, and coordinate with Barnabas regarding the DevNet schedule and compatibility.
- Tamaghna: DM all relevant client teams to ensure at least one review per client on the PR before merging.
- Tamaghna: Complete and merge the remaining test suite for the EL within the next week.
- Łukasz: Post review feedback and small updates to the spec and PR based on implementation inconsistencies found.
- Sameer: Continue testing the Lighthouse implementation with multiple ELs (e.g., Erigon, Etherex) to ensure compatibility and report findings.
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YouTube recording available: https://youtu.be/lGLkelah-3A