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Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 13:03:11 -0500
Message-ID: <CALf2ePzFZLmQ2+0hmOO0m_=EFy5mOtJ22jy2CYMxmU5U5e3s1w@mail.gmail.com>
From: Alan Reiner <etotheipi@gmail.com>
To: Mike Hearn <mike@plan99.net>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=047d7bdc8d26d3ed0304d00aad9a
Cc: Bitcoin Dev <bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net>
Subject: Re: [Bitcoin-development] Roadmap to getting users onto SPV clients
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My personal opinion is that the ideal first client has three features:

(1) Starts up and is usable within a couple minutes (even 10 min the first
time would be okay, to sync block headers)
(2) Supports Windows, Linux and OSX
(3) Uses deterministic wallets that can produce a permanent backup
(preferably paper)

Encryption is a major upside, too, but people new enough to Bitcoin that
they need such a simple client, can survive without encryption (thye're not
going to be holding a ton of coins) -- as long as they are made aware that
they do not currently have encryption, and the associated risks (and other
options).

I think it's extremely important that users have a clear way to backup
their coins to offline media or paper, in such a way that they don't ever
need to worry about it again.  Not only does it give users protection
against hard-drive loss, it means that they may find it again in the far
future when they haven't used Bitcoin in 2 years, and it reminds them that
they still have coins (and they don't have to type in 1000 private keys to
get their coins)

For that reason, I think Multibit is an excellent choice.  I haven't spent
much time with it, but I do understand it to  satisfy (1) and (2) clearly,
and (3) may be happening in the near future (along with encryption).  But I
do wonder if it has enough staffing behind it to be the center of attention
(no offense to jim618, but if this becomes the "de-facto" client for new
users, we should make sure there's a lot of people available to support it
-- what if a major security bug is found?  how long would it take the
current team to identify, fix and test that bug?)

-Alan


On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 12:46 PM, Mike Hearn <mike@plan99.net> wrote:

> At the moment if you visit bitcoin.org then you're recommended to
> download the full client. I think we all agree that at some point we
> need to start presenting users with something more like this:
>
>
> To get started, download wallet apps A or B.
>
> If you'd like to contribute your computing resources to the Bitcoin
> network and have a fast computer with an unfiltered internet
> connection, download:
>
>    - for desktop machines, Bitcoin-Qt
>    - for servers, bitcoind
>
>
>
> Obviously not that exact wording.
>
> I personally feel it's a bit early for this, but it's true that users
> are being turned away by the fact that they're pointed to Bitcoin-Qt
> by default, so having some kind of roadmap or plan for changing that
> would be good.
>
> I think MultiBit is maturing into a client that I'd feel comfortable
> recommending to end users who take the fast-start path, though it
> still has a few serious lacks (encrypted wallets aren't released yet,
> bloom filters will help performance a lot, needs to catch up with some
> newer features). But there doesn't have to be a one true client.
>
> The alternative, I guess, is to make Bitcoin-Qt have an SPV mode. I'm
> not convinced this is the best use of time, but if somebody steps up
> to do it, that could also work. MultiBit has some unique features that
> are quite useful like integrating charting and exchange rate feeds.
>
> What does everyone think on this?
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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--047d7bdc8d26d3ed0304d00aad9a
Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">My=
 personal opinion is that the ideal first client has three features:<div><b=
r></div><div>(1) Starts up and is usable within a couple minutes (even 10 m=
in the first time would be okay, to sync block headers)</div>
<div>(2) Supports Windows, Linux and OSX</div><div>(3) Uses deterministic w=
allets that can produce a permanent backup (preferably paper)</div><div><br=
></div><div>Encryption is a major upside, too, but people new enough to Bit=
coin that they need such a simple client, can survive without encryption (t=
hye&#39;re not going to be holding a ton of coins) -- as long as they are m=
ade aware that they do not currently have encryption, and the associated ri=
sks (and other options).</div>
<div><br></div><div>I think it&#39;s extremely important that users have a =
clear way to backup their coins to offline media or paper, in such a way th=
at they don&#39;t ever need to worry about it again. =A0Not only does it gi=
ve users protection against hard-drive loss, it means that they may find it=
 again in the far future when they haven&#39;t used Bitcoin in 2 years, and=
 it reminds them that they still have coins (and they don&#39;t have to typ=
e in 1000 private keys to get their coins)</div>
<div><br></div><div>For that reason, I think Multibit is an excellent choic=
e. =A0I haven&#39;t spent much time with it, but I do understand it to =A0s=
atisfy (1) and (2) clearly, and (3) may be happening in the near future (al=
ong with encryption). =A0But I do wonder if it has enough staffing behind i=
t to be the center of attention (no offense to jim618, but if this becomes =
the &quot;de-facto&quot; client for new users, we should make sure there&#3=
9;s a lot of people available to support it -- what if a major security bug=
 is found? =A0how long would it take the current team to identify, fix and =
test that bug?)</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Alan</div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><br><div clas=
s=3D"gmail_quote">On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 12:46 PM, Mike Hearn <span dir=3D"=
ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:mike@plan99.net" target=3D"_blank">mike@plan99.n=
et</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1p=
x #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">At the moment if you visit <a href=3D"http:/=
/bitcoin.org" target=3D"_blank">bitcoin.org</a> then you&#39;re recommended=
 to<br>

download the full client. I think we all agree that at some point we<br>
need to start presenting users with something more like this:<br>
<br>
<br>
To get started, download wallet apps A or B.<br>
<br>
If you&#39;d like to contribute your computing resources to the Bitcoin<br>
network and have a fast computer with an unfiltered internet<br>
connection, download:<br>
<br>
=A0 =A0- for desktop machines, Bitcoin-Qt<br>
=A0 =A0- for servers, bitcoind<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Obviously not that exact wording.<br>
<br>
I personally feel it&#39;s a bit early for this, but it&#39;s true that use=
rs<br>
are being turned away by the fact that they&#39;re pointed to Bitcoin-Qt<br=
>
by default, so having some kind of roadmap or plan for changing that<br>
would be good.<br>
<br>
I think MultiBit is maturing into a client that I&#39;d feel comfortable<br=
>
recommending to end users who take the fast-start path, though it<br>
still has a few serious lacks (encrypted wallets aren&#39;t released yet,<b=
r>
bloom filters will help performance a lot, needs to catch up with some<br>
newer features). But there doesn&#39;t have to be a one true client.<br>
<br>
The alternative, I guess, is to make Bitcoin-Qt have an SPV mode. I&#39;m<b=
r>
not convinced this is the best use of time, but if somebody steps up<br>
to do it, that could also work. MultiBit has some unique features that<br>
are quite useful like integrating charting and exchange rate feeds.<br>
<br>
What does everyone think on this?<br>
<br>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
---<br>
LogMeIn Rescue: Anywhere, Anytime Remote support for IT. Free Trial<br>
Remotely access PCs and mobile devices and provide instant support<br>
Improve your efficiency, and focus on delivering more value-add services<br=
>
Discover what IT Professionals Know. Rescue delivers<br>
<a href=3D"http://p.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d" target=3D"_blank">http://p=
.sf.net/sfu/logmein_12329d2d</a><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Bitcoin-development mailing list<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:Bitcoin-development@lists.sourceforge.net">Bitcoin-develo=
pment@lists.sourceforge.net</a><br>
<a href=3D"https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-development=
" target=3D"_blank">https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bitcoin-de=
velopment</a><br>
</blockquote></div><br></div>

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