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Even if you hate Bitcoin for other reasons, this is one reason to appreciate it. Gitian, the software used by Tor for deterministic builds (of their build of Fi

Even if you hate Bitcoin for other reasons, this is one reason to appreciate it. Gitian, the software used by Tor for deterministic builds (of their build of Firefox especially), was originally written by Bitcoin developers. Which makes sense, you want to make sure your money is secure. Good things come out of things you might hate.

zaroth 12y ago
Deterministic builds are pretty neat. I think the second equally important piece is a a Web of Trust full of people willing to reproduce the build and sign off on the hashes. I was able to reproduce the sha512sum of the Bitcoin back when 0.9.0 came out without too much trouble, but it definitely took a couple hours to get it all working. I feel a bit bad I didn't take the next step and attach my digital signature signifying that I could reproduce it. There are only a few people other than Gavin who go to the trouble of signing off on the hashes. I wonder if Docker could be used to speed up the overall process and make builds more accessible. As I recall, the current scripts setup a single-core KVM which definitely slowed things down.
- taeric 12y ago
  Docker could speed up parts. But, unless I misunderstand what you mean it wouldn't really help the trust aspect. You'd just be shifting your trust to the docker pieces. (That is, then the goal shifts to "can anyone reproduce the docker container?") Right?
- fanquake 12y ago
  Work has already started on supporting Docker images in Gitian Builder. https://github.com/devrandom/gitian-builder/issues/53 https://github.com/devrandom/gitian-builder/issues/53
colordrops 12y ago
Wait, Bitcoin is something to be hated?
- snitko 12y ago
  Didn't you know? It's a thing on HN.
mpyne 12y ago
Bitcoin has tons of reasons to appreciate it, especially technically. That doesn't by itself make it a good idea to actually use, of course, but you'd have to be blind to miss the wonder of what Bitcoin brought to technology.

zaroth 12y ago

Deterministic builds are pretty neat. I think the second equally important piece is a a Web of Trust full of people willing to reproduce the build and sign off on the hashes. I was able to reproduce the sha512sum of the Bitcoin back when 0.9.0 came out without too much trouble, but it definitely took a couple hours to get it all working. I feel a bit bad I didn't take the next step and attach my digital signature signifying that I could reproduce it. There are only a few people other than Gavin who go to the trouble of signing off on the hashes. I wonder if Docker could be used to speed up the overall process and make builds more accessible. As I recall, the current scripts setup a single-core KVM which definitely slowed things down.

taeric 12y ago
Docker could speed up parts. But, unless I misunderstand what you mean it wouldn't really help the trust aspect. You'd just be shifting your trust to the docker pieces. (That is, then the goal shifts to "can anyone reproduce the docker container?") Right?
fanquake 12y ago
Work has already started on supporting Docker images in Gitian Builder. https://github.com/devrandom/gitian-builder/issues/53 https://github.com/devrandom/gitian-builder/issues/53

colordrops 12y ago

Wait, Bitcoin is something to be hated?

snitko 12y ago
Didn't you know? It's a thing on HN.

mpyne 12y ago

Bitcoin has tons of reasons to appreciate it, especially technically. That doesn't by itself make it a good idea to actually use, of course, but you'd have to be blind to miss the wonder of what Bitcoin brought to technology.