AMA: BIP3 and proposed changes to the BIP Process \ stacker news ~AMA

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AMA: BIP3 and proposed changes to the BIP Process

2234 sats \ 22 comments \ @Murch 12 Apr AMA

Jon Atack just gave a talk on the BIPs repository’s last year, his work as a BIP Editor, and BIP 3, my proposal to update the BIPs Process. Unfortunately, I was not at the conference and could not chime in on the questions that were raised, so I want to answer questions here.

Please ask me anything about BIPs, the BIPs repository, being a BIP Editor, and BIP 3. I figure we can let this run for a bit, so I’ll aim to answer all questions posted before 2025-04-14T20:00Z (i.e., until Monday 1 PM PT).

Cheers!

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119 sats \ 1 reply \ @optimism 12 Apr

What was the rationale behind adding the hierarchy with Deputies in BIP3?

PS: thanks for the work you're doing on this.

100 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

Several BIP authors had requested that it would be convenient to allow someone else to help with getting a BIP over the finishing line, but felt that it was incorrect to add those people to the author list. IIRC, it came up especially in the context of BIPs where the authors had dropped off the face of the ’net or were taking a break from Bitcoin development and looking to have some stand-in for their proposal.

152 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 12 Apr

a link to BIP3

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 13 Apr

Thanks, I should have linked to it in my OP!

52 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 12 Apr

Which BIP, other than one of your own, is the best example of what a BIP should be in your opinion?

42 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

I am a fan of BIPs that have resulted from significant research and engineering effort and make the network better. That applies to a lot of BIPs, but especially BIP 327 comes to mind. But there are many others that meet that bar. A number of Pieter or Ava’s BIPs. The Compact Block Filter BIPs, Silent Payments, and Ancestor Package Relay. There is actually a pretty solid number of good BIPs—authors going the extra mile to ensure that their write-up is high quality and covers all the bases.

52 sats \ 1 reply \ @jakoyoh629 12 Apr

Wondering if the BIP39 word list is actually limited?

Thanks for your service!

20 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

I’m not sure I correctly understand your question, but AFAIU, each BIP 39 wordlist has exactly 2048 words. While there are a few that have been standardized for other languages, the BIP’s authors only feel responsible for and recommend the English one.

52 sats \ 2 replies \ @k00b 12 Apr

What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a BIP editor?

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

I spend a lot of time on attempts trying to define the scope of the BIPs repository and found it infeasible. There are a number of things that I find obviously off-topic, and a number that are clearly on-topic, but trying to definitely characterize what is in and what is out eluded me.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

Oh, I went through about ten terms instead of "Authors" to try and cover the range of authorship, ownership, and advocacy of people being responsible for BIP without implying that they necessarily were part of the people that wrote the document, only to end up using Authors again in the end, because each and everyone got picked apart.

52 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 12 Apr

Which parts of BIP3 have been the most contentious? (It seems incredibly straightforward to me.)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

I was pretty surprised that some people were generally opposed to BIPs being closed. Most people like the reduction of Status field values, but some reviewers felt that it would be less useful. Several people didn’t agree at first about the introduction of the Specification type.

42 sats \ 4 replies \ @grayruby 12 Apr

Hey @k00b I don't know if this AMA was planned or not but I had no idea it was happening and completely missed it. Any chance when we have planned AMAs an announcement can be pinned on the hot page 24 hours prior?

40 sats \ 1 reply \ @Murch OP 12 Apr

Oops, sorry, I didn’t realize that I was supposed to announce it in advance. It was more of a spontaneous thing after watching the Q&A of Jon’s talk.

No worries, I’m still taking questions, and you can read the entire conversations presumably by Tuesday or so.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 12 Apr

Awesome. Good to know.

82 sats \ 1 reply \ @k00b 12 Apr

Not planned afaik. @benwehrman announces them 24 hours in advance usually.

completely missed it

You didn't miss it. Murch is answering questions until Monday.

I recommend subscribing to ~AMA if you aren't already.

42 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby 12 Apr

I will sub to AMA. I guess that's a no on 24 hours pinned promotional post. Haha

100 sats \ 1 reply \ @Car 13 Apr

Link to Jon presentation docs… https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bTCUuy8DDSRzHiAfmqTc0M_W54AVNfDw/view

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 8h

Thanks @Car!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @Dkryptoenth 13 Apr

How can I link to it in my OP? @Murch

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Murch OP 8h

The best way to link to BIP 3 would be to link to the version in the master branch: https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0003.md

There are also two pull requests for changes open right now.

https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1819 Addresses review comments from one of my fellow BIP Editors.
https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1820 Shows what an activation of BIP 3 would entail for all the other BIPs