The Birth of Ethereum: Bitcoin Source Code Revealed
In 2009, Bitcoin’s enigmatic creator Satoshi Nakamoto released the first block of the Bitcoin blockchain, known as Block 0. At the time, there was no central repository for Bitcoin’s source code. Instead, development took place in a distributed network, involving multiple programmers and contributors.
Where is 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-based interface for managing and updating the codebase.
No Centralized Data Repository?
At the time, there was no central repository like the GitHub or GitLab we know today. Developers, instead, relied on mailing lists, such as the Bitcoin mailing list, to discuss and share updates with each other.
How did the authors work?
Contributors, known as developers, used a variety of tools and techniques to collaborate and send feedback. They could:
- Submit files: Developers upload code changes to the Trac interface or email them directly to Satoshi.
- Contribute via Mercurial: Bitcoin’s predecessor, Hashgraph (later called Ethereum), also used a distributed version control system called Mercurial. Developers can contribute code using this system.
- Submit pull requests: Participants submit pull requests to Bitcointalk.org’s Trac interface, which are reviewed and approved by Satoshi.
The Birth of GitHub
Let’s jump to 2010, when Satoshi decided to open source Bitcoin on April 23, 2009 (block 1). This was a significant milestone in the development of the Bitcoin codebase. The first official Bitcoin repository was created under the name “bitcoin” and is now hosted by GitHub.
Ethereum: Fork Project
In October 2014, Vitalik Buterin, one of the core developers of Ethereum, proposed a fork of the Bitcoin source code that would later become Ethereum. A new repository, also named “ethereum”, was created under the name “ethers” and is now hosted by GitHub.
Ethereum: From Source Code to Decentralized Network
Today, the Ethereum source code is maintained by a decentralized network of contributors who work together using various tools such as GitLab and Bitbucket. Although there were no centralized repositories in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto’s open-source Bitcoin project paved the way for the development of Ethereum.
Conclusion
The origin story of Ethereum highlights the early days of decentralized software development and the importance of collaboration between developers. Ethereum has come a long way from its humble beginnings with a private Subversion server to its current status as a thriving decentralized network. As we continue to develop existing blockchain networks, understanding the history behind their creation is essential to fostering 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 <