๐ ๏ธ ๐ ๏ธ #Avalanche Banff 4 is out: github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/releases/tag/v1.9.4 ๐ ๏ธ ๐ ๏ธ
This version (v1.9.4) is backwards compatible to v1.9.0. It is optional but recommended.
๐ Release Focus: Cross-Subnet Messaging Prep + PeerList Networking Optimizations + ChainData Directory for VMs
1/ ๐ง VM Interface Update (v19 -> v20) ๐ง
AvalancheGo@v1.9.4 introduces VM@v20 to support accessing BLS validator public keys, querying the C-Chain ChainID (useful for VM2), and using the new optional BuildBlockWithContext/VerifyBlockWithContext methods.
2/ VM Interface Update (cont.)
Most of these new VM@v20 features will be used in the upcoming Cross-Subnet Messaging implementation (which should be ready to use by any Custom VM in Banff 5).
** If you run a Custom VM, you will need to update it to run with v1.9.4. **
3/ PeerList Networking Optimizations
The biggest aspect of this release is a complete overhaul of how peers are gossiped through the network. Nodes now track who they've shared peer info with/received peer info from so that they don't gossip useless information to their peers.
4/ PeerList Networking Optimizations (cont.)
Props to @joshuagkim for leading this effort. He'll document how this change works in v1.9.5. ๐
Soon, we'll share some metrics from Mainnet to show how much it improves bandwidth utilization (saw 25% reduction of bandwidth on Fuji).
5/ ChainData Directory
VM builders are starting to get more creative with their usage of a host's resources and have asked for more flexibility for interacting with disk (instead of just KV access through AvalancheGo).
6/ ChainData Directory (cont.)
AvalancheGo@v1.9.4 introduces support for VMs to reserve a directory where they can write arbitrary data to disk.
This approach enables the use of proprietary storage solutions without needing to coordinate allocations with other running VMs.
7/ Hiring
I'm going ALL IN on hiring crypto-native VM designers/engineers at @avalabsofficial over the next few months and plan to refresh our job postings next week.
If you want to jump the thee line, DM me your info and what VM you contributed to over the past few years. ๐๏ธ
You can read the unrolled version of this thread here: typefully.com/_patrickogrady/zPCJDR7