Browser as a node - Technically Possible ?

RocketSingh

legendary

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Quote from: CounterEntropy on January 07, 2016, 02:32:57 PM

I would like to know is it possible to transform an open source web browser, say Firefox, to act as a node ? May be not for bitcoin, but for some alt coin. How feasible this idea is ?

May not be as a node, but ofcourse as a wallet. In fact, the founder of JavaScript aka co-founder of Mozilla is working on that...

https://www.brave.com/FAQ.html#collapseEight

In short, if you are thinking about building something, you are probably in the right direction...

vileygroun

newbie

Activity: 47

Merit: 0

Blockchains of any coin can grow in giga and tera bytes over time. A node must have the memory to hold full blockchain on its own. A browser can act as a front end of a node but can't be a node itself. There is no such implementation so far yet. However, there may arise some secure vulnerabilities that can easily steal coins from the wallets. It is possible, however not going to happen.

fanatid

newbie

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Quote from: fbueller on January 13, 2016, 08:56:07 PM

It's feasible if it's an SPV wallet, not a full node. Storing the headers costs only a few megabytes, and transactions are extra, but wouldn't amount to much.

You even can go deeper and store hashes of chunks (2016 headers). This solution require less than megabyte and you don't need WebSQL or IndexedDB, you can use localStorage. The bad thing with this that you need extra traffic for loading full chunk (~160kb) when you need only one header (80 bytes) for transaction verification.

fbueller

sr. member

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It's feasible if it's an SPV wallet, not a full node. Storing the headers costs only a few megabytes, and transactions are extra, but wouldn't amount to much.

kiblirov

newbie

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Basics of a Node
1. The entire blockchain is stored on the node itself.
2. It consumes less power

Basics of a Browser
1. A browser is just a front end visualizer to the user.
2. It uses very less resources to store values in the form cookies.

A browser in my aspect can't be a node, as a plugin can't handle a blockchain. If the entire blockchain is stored in the computer where the browser is installed, then the qt itself can act as a node. Why do we need a browser to act as a node?

So, it is not possible to make browser a node. There is no possible for a light weight node in terms of memory usage.

OnkelPaul

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A bitcoin node does not need much CPU power, but a lot of disk space to store the blockchain. Typical browser plugins work on very limited amounts of data, and users would probably not want to run a plugin that consumes dozens of gigabytes on their hard disk and constantly talks to the network.
And of course the other point is very valid: What's the practical use for such a thing? Which actual problem would it solve?

Onkel Paul

HeroCat

hero member

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But what will be the profit - very small I think. It is possible of course Wink

TD-Linux

newbie

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Quote from: Rupert Murdoch on January 08, 2016, 11:18:55 AM

But, that would definitely be an Alt coin.

No, you could implement Bitcoin in a browser with APIs available today. You would need to make a new relay protocol based on WebRTC, and have some bridges between the old and new protocols, but it would still be Bitcoin.

Jet Cash

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https://JetCash.com

Quote from: CounterEntropy on January 08, 2016, 01:05:22 PM

Quote from: Jet Cash on January 08, 2016, 11:23:04 AM

What would be the advantage?

When browsers act as node, there will be abundance of nodes in the network, which will increase security.

Quote from: Jet Cash on January 08, 2016, 11:23:04 AM

How would you handle the potential vulnerabilities?

Could u plz list out the potential vulnerabilities?

Are you suggesting that the blockchain is stored in a cookie?

(not a serious suggestion). If it was run in a plugin, then would it use port 6333 still, if so, all you seem to be doing is to ptovide an html front end imho. Storing the blockchain in the cloud could allow it to be shared, but that would create further problems.

The multitude of vulnerabilities in browsers are well documented.

Bungeebones

full member

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Could such a plugin be designed to operate on only a specific page?

CounterEntropy

full member

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Quote from: Jet Cash on January 08, 2016, 11:23:04 AM

What would be the advantage?

When browsers act as node, there will be abundance of nodes in the network, which will increase security.

Quote from: Jet Cash on January 08, 2016, 11:23:04 AM

How would you handle the potential vulnerabilities?

Could u plz list out the potential vulnerabilities?

Jet Cash

legendary

Activity: 2688

Merit: 2444

https://JetCash.com

What would be the advantage?
How would you handle the potential vulnerabilities?

Rupert Murdoch

newbie

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It is possible. You do not need to work on the whole browser code for that. All you need is a browser plugin. But, that would definitely be an Alt coin.

CounterEntropy

full member

Activity: 214

Merit: 278

I would like to know is it possible to transform an open source web browser, say Firefox, to act as a node ? May be not for bitcoin, but for some alt coin. How feasible this idea is ?

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