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The Genesis of Ethereum: Discovering Bitcoin’s Source Code
In 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, published the first block of the Bitcoin blockchain, known as Block 0. At that time, there was no central repository for Bitcoin’s source code. Instead, development took place on a decentralized network, with contributions from various programmers and contributors.
Where was the source code stored?
Initially, Satoshi Nakamoto hosted Bitcoin’s source code in a directory called “trac” on a private Subversion (SVN) server on Bitcointalk.org, an online forum for discussing Bitcoin. The Trac interface provided a web interface to manage and update the code base.
No centralized repository?
At that time, there was no central repository like GitHub or GitLab, where we find them today. Instead, developers relied on mailing lists, such as the Bitcoin mailing list, to discuss and share updates with each other.
How did contributors work?
Contributors, known as developers, used a variety of tools and techniques to collaborate and submit their contributions. They could:
- Upload files: Developers would upload their code changes to the Trac interface or email them directly to Satoshi.
- Contribute via Mercurial: Bitcoin’s predecessor, Hashgraph (later renamed Ethereum), also used a distributed version control system called Mercurial. Developers could contribute code using this system.
- Submit pull requests
: Contributors would submit pull requests to the Bitcointalk.org Trac interface, which would be reviewed and approved by Satoshi.
The Emergence of GitHub
Let’s fast forward to 2010, when Satoshi decided to open source Bitcoin on April 23, 2009 (Block 1). This marked a major milestone in the development of Bitcoin’s codebase. The first official Bitcoin repository was created under the name “bitcoin” and is now hosted on GitHub.
Ethereum: A Fork Project
In October 2014, Vitalik Buterin, one of Ethereum’s core developers, proposed a fork of the Bitcoin source code, which would become Ethereum. The new repository, also named “ethereum,” was created under the name “ethers” and is now hosted on GitHub.
Ethereum: From Source Code to Decentralized Network
Today, Ethereum’s source code is managed by a decentralized network of contributors, who work together through various tools like GitLab and Bitbucket. Although there were no centralized repositories in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto’s open-source Bitcoin project paved the way for Ethereum’s development.
Conclusion
The origin story of Ethereum sheds light on the early days of decentralized software development and the importance of developer collaboration. From its humble beginnings on a private Subversion server to its current status as a thriving decentralized network, Ethereum has come a long way. As we continue to build on existing blockchain networks, understanding the history behind their creation is essential to driving innovation and progress.
Sources:
- [1] Satoshi Nakamoto (2009). Bitcoin Software Development. Retrieved from <
- [2] Vitalik Buterin (2014). Ethereum Core Project. Retrieved from <
- [3] Bitcointalk.org Trac (2009). Bitcoin source code. Retrieved from <