Bitcoin Version 0.9.0 Brings Transaction Malleability Fixes, Branding Change Bitcoin’s core developers have released the latest update to the Bitcoin protocol, version 0.9.0, which includes transaction malleability-related fixes, as well as updates to how transactions are relayed on the network. Version 0.9.0 notably includes coin control features and a Windows 64-bit installer, among other updates, bug fixes and minor feature additions. Bitcoin core developer Gavin Andresen took to Twitter to publicize the news. In addition to the technical fixes, however, the update also comes with a branding change. The developers announced they are renaming the bitcoin reference client Bitcoin Core to reduce confusion between the network and the software. Key updates The most noteworthy changes were those aimed at transaction malleability issues. These problems gained notoriety for the key role they played in helping hackers launch large-scale attacks against most major bitcoin exchanges in February, and for being named as a scapegoat by now-bankrupt exchange Mt. Gox. Transaction malleability updates include tweaks that prevent the relaying and mining of mutated transactions, and fixes to RPC commands meant to report incorrect balances for double-spent or mutated transactions. In addition, version 0.9.0 drops the default fee for relaying transactions across the entire network, though it still does not guarantee transactions will be accepted by miners. Among the other important changes was the update for Windows, which was made after frequent reports that users would run out of memory in 32-bit systems. Furthermore, an update has been made to the behaviour of ‘walletpassphrase’, which previously failed when already unlocked. Core developer Tamas Blummer, who is also the CEO of bitcoin technology company Bits of Proof, indicated one of his favourite updates were to “OP_RETURN relay”, which standardizes how to commit short data to the block chain, and “reject message”, which gives feedback on transactions created by organisations that use a reference client. Reaction The community reacted on both reddit and Bitcoin Talk forum, with bitcoin users lauding the quality of the development team and the breadth of the changes. Still, though there are improvements, not everyone in the community believes the update goes far enough. Bitcoin Core remains, after all, a work in progress. Said Blummer: “I am disappointed to see no significant refactoring of the client toward a more modular architecture. It is foreseeable that the reference implementation will evolve to the router of the network while wallet functionality will be taken over by specialized software just like it happened with mining.” Updating to version 0.9.0 The official release advises those running older versions of the protocol to proceed through the following steps: Shut down the older version Uninstall all earlier versions Run the installer (Windows) or copy the application (Mac and Linux). Those running versions 0.7.2 or earlier will need to have their blockchain files re-indexed, a process which the development team suggests will take between 30 minutes and several hours.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:15:54 +0000