What are "discouraged blocks" in the blockchain? (examples and explanation please)

4

1

As of the time I write this, only one block type is marked as "discouraged", and I'd like to understand why this exists.

  • Is a correct reading that is that "it should be in the blockchain?
  • Is this simply the block number embedded in the transaction?
  • Are there any sample blocks that do or don't have this information?

goodguys_activate

Posted 2012-12-06T23:34:45.190

Reputation: 11 898

The link states this: At the moment, the only "new rule" for which disobedience is being discouraged is the "put the block height in the coinbase" rule. The way I read it, there is a rule "put the block height in the coinbase" and disobedience is discouraged. That would mean the opposite of what you state in the question title, which would mean that the block height is encouraged to be in the coin base. Disclaimer: I know little about this topic, but that's how I read it...Highly Irregular 2012-12-07T00:06:43.833

@HighlyIrregular I edited the question, I see that your interpretation may be spot on. Now that my thinking isn't inverted, it makes sense, though I wonder how / why unnumbered blocks would ever work. Was it a v0.01 bug?goodguys_activate 2012-12-07T01:14:55.983

Answers

1

The wiki article you describe has been updated since by a skilled developer who is part of the Bitcoin team and the key change now reads:

Bitcoin does not currently implement block discouraging in any form.

So this appears to be a concept that has not been implemented by any clients.

Stephen Gornick

Posted 2012-12-06T23:34:45.190

Reputation: 26 118