Topic: [OLD] Eligius: ASIC, no registration, no fee CPPSRB BTC + 105% PPS NMC, 877 # - page 136. (Read 458255 times)

Making progress!

I've gotten most of the payout verification stuff done, as well as state to/from disk code going to make dev a bit quicker.

Next on my list is the stats output (pool's json stats files used by stats pages and such) so that the stats will work again!

After that its on to orphan block verification code, and then on to more verification tests to make sure its ready for production.

Definitely on track for full working implementation sometime tomorrow if all continues to go well.  Stay tuned.

On a side note, its time to get back in gear and to start getting more miners on board.  Tell your friends and get us more hash power!

-wk

(PGP signed copy of the post below available here: http://pastebin.com/YeLqMaAV)

Greetings, Eligius Miners!

As you know, the reward system has been changed from SMPPS to CPPSRB.  You also should know that I've not fully completed the code for CPPSRB, but, I have most of it complete.  I wanted to give an official update on my progress so that you aren't left in the dark.

Lets list some things that are complete and working in the code as it stands:

• CPPSRB Share Log - Keeps track of every share in order so that the exact shares to be paid are paid correctly according to the spec for the reward system
• User Database - CPPSRB keeps it's own user database and track balances on the fly so that automatic payouts from the coinbase transaction are possible when the block is generated
• Basic Coinbaser Output - The code is currently able to generate a list of payouts instantly for the exact moment the list is requested, which is needed for automatic payouts from the coinbase/generation transaction.  The current block's reward is included in this data immediately.
• SMPPS Balances Imported - All balances and extra credit are carried over from the SMPPS reward system.  Unpaid balances are treated as earned, as they should be, and extra credit will be paid as possible under the CPPSRB spec. (For those who have read the CPPSRB information, the SMPPS extra credit is basically treated as unpaid shares submitted before the official start of CPPSRB, so, CPPSRB will pay out as much as possible based on pool luck.)
• Minimum Payout/Inactivity Timeout Payout - Minimum payout code is implemented to add miners to the payout list as soon as they reach the minimum payout amount.  This could be from past blocks or from the current potential block at the moment the payout list is polled.  Miners who's balance has not increased in 7 or more days will be added to the payout list even if their balance is below the minimum payout. (This will pay off many SMPPS miners with balances below the minumum payout who have been waiting patiently likely in the next payout.)
• Support for Variable Difficulty Shares - The CPPSRB setup, unlike the SMPPS setup, will have support for variable difficulty (> 1) shares.  This code is in place in the reward system, and that means that it can be activated for the pool in the future when needed/desired.
• Must more, but these are the big ones

Now, there is more to do:

• Payout verification - The CPPSRB code needs to verify payments to miners from the pool to make sure no one is overpaid/underpaid.  This code is still being tested extensively, because with realtime payout list generation there is little to no margin for error here.  This is also why I have automatic payouts currently disabled so that I can verify the payments are accurate manually while testing the code.
• Orphan Block catching - Code needs to be able to see when a block gets orphaned as quickly as possible.  This will allow the shares that were originally paid by that block to be marked as unpaid again and any payments to those miners returned to their unpaid balance.  Otherwise, miner's would be losing out on shares for orphaned blocks and Eligius has always treated orphans as if they didn't exist as far as payouts go so that miners are never out potential rewards.
• Stats File Updates - The CPPSRB code does not currently update the json data files (balances.json, (blockhash).json, etc) interpreted by wizstats for current balance and payout information.  This is why the balances shown on the stats pages have been incorrect since CPPSRB was implemented.  This is high on my priority list, so that stats can function once again and get miners at ease knowing that they are earning!
• Code Optimizations/Long term details/etc: Currently at every restart of the CPPSRB code, it reprocesses EVERY share starting with the first share for when CPPSRB was announced active and runs until it calculates out all of the current balances and such.  Ideally, this data should be cached and loaded at startup to save resources, but, other items are higher priority.
• Many more, but nothing too major.  Mostly features!

So, that's where it stands currently.  Technically, the code is very far along and just needs some finishing touches and a little more field testing to put into full duty (generating automatic payments, mainly).

I have less time during the work week to work on this project than I do on the weekends, so, I'm hoping that I have sufficient time between now and this Sunday to get the job done.  I know I said that last weekend, but, this is actually fairly complex code and it's taking a bit more effort to implement than I had originally anticipated.

I've now put in over 40 hours of development time into this project, so, I'm not slacking!    That said, this project is taking up a considerable amount of my free time, so, without begging, any donations are appreciated.  If it were not for my "real life" obligations (full time job and other such work) this code would have been done long ago, but, for purely financial reasons, I can't afford to dedicate more time to this project than I already have been.  I hope everyone understands.

Also, I will likely process another manual payout soon unless I get the automatic payment code in place in the next day or so.  I don't want miners going too long without a payment, but, I also don't want to constantly do the work for a manual payout for only a short list of miners who have the minimum payout amount.

Thank you all for your support of the pool!  I can't wait to have this all up and running completely!

-wk

CPPSRB work donations: 1CPPSRBAhYcYtLN7Y6n1KcwhF49VwMtptT

First, no one with a reward under the minimum payout was paid yet because there were no miners who were inactive for more than 7 days at the time of payout. This is because SMPPS was deactivated less than 7 days before the payout and technically were still active because of SMPPS extra credit backpay trickling in.  Most likely anyone actually inactive for more than 7 days will be paid in the next payout.

CPPSRB is already in  full effect, so it doesnt matter if you stop or keep going or wait for me to finish the auto payout code and stats. Youll get paid for your work under CPPSRB from now on.

-wk

If you don't mine at Eligius anymore and don 't want to, I wouldn't recommed starting mining again to kick it loose until after all of the following:
1) 7+ days since last hash sent to Eligius
2) wizkid done with changes
3) automatic payments seen with a block (maybe even 2)

OTOH, if you intend to keep mining with Eligius, why wait until he's done?

Wait for wizkid to change the reward algorithm and start mining again to kick it loose.
(I have about 0.49 BTC tied up too)

Payments made only for account balance over 0.67, how about those with lower unpaid balances?

I have been paid. Thank you.

Payouts sent!

https://blockchain.info/tx/b93c7e8cafb00b2203b99f739290e0322b4dbd400cc8d6e12a6b8ad124203dea

Thanks for your patience!  Going to finish this blasted CPPSRB code soon enough!



-wk

Greetings once again, Eligius Miners!

So, I spent most of my weekend working on the CPPSRB code.  *phew*.... and its still not 100% done.

HOWEVER, there is good news.  I have enough of the code done to get payouts caught up to the latest block, 000000000000025fd8c7f8447168e209ba93c6c42e2a422c57a105b92c450de8.

This will include carry over unpaid balances from SMPPS, also.  So far, since CPPSRB was defined enabled the pool has not had the luck to make any payments towards carry over SMPPS extra credit, which made it easier to get this payout list together since I didn't have to focus much on that code yet.

Now, the CPPSRB code is mostly working, however it needs a lot of polishing and some more testing before I'll feel good putting it in full-auto mode.

It also needs to produce the output needed to get the stats updated correctly.

So, still some work to be done, but at least I got enough done to get a payment list together.  Look for payments in the near future!

-wk

Edit: Almost forgot to include the list: http://pastebin.com/G5zPTmiD

We were saying basically the same thing here, but I worded it rather poorly.  My thought process was "it's not confirmed until 120 blocks when it's mined, so it's less likely to incur a fee, and the client should send out older transactions (and even newer, bigger transactions when appropriate) first."  Realistically, based on the formula for whether or not to require a fee, when it comes to micro-payments, there is no point in even thinking about it this way.  The send transaction fees are what I was concerned about, though, and I'm glad to see wizkid reconsidering this method.  Realistically, an extreme stroke of luck could cause old EC to turn into unpaid balance, but sending it out as a micropayment when it could happen again just after that payment seems awfully silly.  Considering that it wouldn't be the norm, though, and it wouldn't be a significant amount of BTC.  If we did switch to a "no longer mining" timeout, perhaps the best way to deal with it would be to not reset it, so that if additional backpay was earned after a payout, a miner could get it by mining one share to reset that timer themselves.  Unless active miners want to be able to request a less than .67..., I don't see any reason to add a payout trigger, as not submitting any more shares would be a legitimate request method.  I mean, unless it's unacceptable for the payout to be delayed 7 days after the request.

After discussing and thinking a bit more about it, Luke-Jr is correct and this probably won't be needed with CPPSRB.  I'll keep an eye on the situation and implement something if it appears to be needed.

Also it has been suggested that miner's have a way to simply request a payout of their unpaid balance at any time.  I plan on implementing such a system after I complete the CPPSRB code, which will solve the problem regardless.

-wk

Mining small amounts doesn't cost anything, but I personally would be worried that a bunch of tiny micropayments for idle miners will hurt those miners when they go to spend it. I've recommended to wizkid057 that he reconsider this part of his plan, and only add such a rule if there's actually a problem left after we switch to CPPSRB; due to the CPPSRB algorithm, however, I expect the problem will simply go away without such an extra rule.

I forgot that RB stood for recent backpay.  So in theory, it could pay all EC even for someone that hasn't mined in a year, but that is still nearly impossible, statistically speaking.  I like the idea of a mining timeout, although I'm not sure it it would be good to send out micropayments every 7 days.  That having been said, if it is still going to be "mined," maybe mining the micro amount won 't be as bad, and I think the client tries to minimize fees, nonetheless.

The "Unpaid Balance" for every miner, regardless of how low of a value it is, is due to miners and the pool does in fact have the funds to pay those amounts.  The extra credit will only be able to be paid as possible based on pool luck.

The balances on the stats pages are not completely accurate, as they are still based on SMPPS. (There is a huge red notice at the top of every stats page about this...)

You can check what you're balance was as of the last SMPPS block in the raw JSON output from the coinbaser script here: http://eligius.st/~luke-jr/raw/7/blocks/00000000000000c1dc82ebf3e5f3829d3247fd03471612f2a4e0f234b75a660d.json
This should contain every single address with any balance (balance or credit).

After this, data will follow CPPSRB.  This is documented here: http://eligius.st/wiki/index.php/Capped_PPS_with_Recent_Backpay (It mentions a 25 BTC block reward in anticipation of the reward halving happening at block 210,000.  I'll note again, even through it is noted there, that the system will obviously use the normal 50 BTC block reward while it is still possible, to avoid confusion.)

CPPSRB will still have the 7-day timeout for inactivity, but, keep in mind that CPPSRB can still pay for old shares (extra credit under SMPPS) so, it can still take a while to go fully inactive.  After the system is up and running I do believe I will be replacing the timeout with an actual "no longer mining" timeout to get miners their balances when they stop mining, and when they are paid it will reset the timeout.  So, if they get any backpay, they'll get another payment in 7 days, etc.

-wk

That EC number is no longer accurate because at least one block has been found since the switch to CPPSRB.  That having been said, you can expect to be paid your real unpaid balance (as of the last SMPPS block if you haven't been mining since before then, or including whatever CPPSRB mining you did do if you have) at the latter of the following:

1) 7 days after the last SMPPS block (if you were no longer mining at that point)
2) After wizkid gets the CPPSRB code in place (no one gets any payouts before that, period)
3) After other unpaid balances "older" than yours get paid out as necessary (assuming the pool doesn't actually have the BTC for the unpaid balances, which I have no theory on)

Regardless, any EC you think has turned into unpaid balance afer the switch to CPPSRB didn't really and will NOT be paid out until / unless you mine on a lucky block (I'm thinking >100% on the current stats page, much different than calculations seen at some other pools), at which point part of it will be paid out (up to all of it, in theory) based on how many shares you submitted during that block.

Here's my current balance:

                            Unpaid Balance   Extra Credit
As of last block*:   0.34253887 BTC   0.33829912 BTC

Unpaid + EC totals higher than 0.67, I am not currently mining here and not planning to start until the new system is fully in place and rewards are being sent out smoothly. I believe there are others in similar situation and with the same question in mind:

     When can I expect to get paid, and more importantly, how much?

Okay. I was just confused, it sounded like new payouts would start with that first block from the description on the page. I have to be honest, I don't really keep up to date on this thread, I view the stats page for my miners more often.

As specified a few posts back, payouts have been temporarily paused while I complete the CPPSRB code.  With any luck I should have it completed this weekend and the pool will catch up with payouts at that time.

See what I did to the subject?  I think someone needs to tag Luke-Jr to do that to the OP...

I and another miner I recommended to use Eligius for some of our miners have not gotten any payments since last week. I'll update this thread when that changes.