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Abstract: In this piece we take a look at the BIP process and the shenanigans around the assignment of BIP numbers, with three alternative numbering systems being proposed. Frustratingly, there was a delay in assigning BIP numbers as the person allocated this role (Luke Dashjr) was busy with other tasks. It is almost as if Bitcoin development was experiencing minor administrative problems akin to a government bureaucracy. However, a Bitcoin developer appears to have recently solved the problem by adding five new BIP editors.
Overview
BIP stands for “Bitcoin Improvement Proposal” and the system was proposed by Amir Taaki way back in 2011, primarily as a format for how Bitcoin improvement proposals should be structured and organised . This has become successful as an idea and a meme, with the nomenclature being adopted by Ethereum in the form of EIPs.
Recently, some have commented that they have somewhat of a negative view on Bitcoin, because the “BIP editing process is broken and dysfunctional”. My immediate reaction was that this view, at least expressed like that, was wrong. As far as I thought, the BIP editor was supposed to be a largely administrative role, consisting of the following:
- Making sure proposals were appropriately formatted
- Checking the proposals made basic sense
- Correcting any spelling and grammar mistakes
- Checking for duplicate BIPs
- Assigning a number for the BIPs
I think it is prudent for us to look at adding more BIPs editors. These people would have the same permissions and responsibilities that Luke has, i.e. can assign BIP numbers, merge PRs adding new BIPs, merge PRs to fix existing BIPs,and all other responsibilitiesThis then kicked off a chain of 94 messages of discussion. Some of the discussion was entirely sensible and some of it became a bit ridiculous. Topics of discussion included:
- Who should be appointed?
- What should the timeline be for adding the new BIP editors?
- How many new editors should there be?
- Is Luke happy with the new editors?
- Isn’t it a bit much going from 1 editor to 6 so quickly?
- What if the new editors engage in a revert war?
- What if BIPs contain lies and misinformation about softfork activations?
- Bryan Bishop (aka Kanzure)
- Murch
- Ruben Somsen
- Olaoluwa Osuntokun (aka Roasbeef)
- Jon Atack
Conclusion The timing of the resolution to the BIP editor problem appears to be pretty good. On 24 April 2024, OP_CAT was finally given a BIP number, BIP-347. This worked out to be just a couple of days after Udi and Eric started their 420 campaign. At last OP_CAT has an “official” BIP number and can now move on its quantum path towards activation and props to Ava Chow for sorting this issue out.how it started how it's going@murchandamus and @jonatack are going in! pic.twitter.com/ZXdNC25en7
— Olaoluwa Osuntokun (@roasbeef) April 26, 2024
The post Assigning BIP Numbers appeared first on BitMEX Blog.
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