2

I'm talking specifically about this:

/** pruned version of CTransaction: only retains metadata and unspent transaction outputs
 *
 * Serialized format:
 * - VARINT(nVersion)
 * - VARINT(nCode)
 * - unspentness bitvector, for vout[2] and further; least significant byte first
 * - the non-spent CTxOuts (via CTxOutCompressor)
 * - VARINT(nHeight)
 *
 * The nCode value consists of:
 * - bit 1: IsCoinBase()
 * - bit 2: vout[0] is not spent
 * - bit 4: vout[1] is not spent
 * - The higher bits encode N, the number of non-zero bytes in the following bitvector.
 *   - In case both bit 2 and bit 4 are unset, they encode N-1, as there must be at
 *     least one non-spent output).
 *
 * Example: 0104835800816115944e077fe7c803cfa57f29b36bf87c1d358bb85e
 *          <><><--------------------------------------------><---->
 *          |  \                  |                             /
 *    version   code             vout[1]                  height
 *
 *    - version = 1
 *    - code = 4 (vout[1] is not spent, and 0 non-zero bytes of bitvector follow)
 *    - unspentness bitvector: as 0 non-zero bytes follow, it has length 0
 *    - vout[1]: 835800816115944e077fe7c803cfa57f29b36bf87c1d35
 *               * 8358: compact amount representation for 60000000000 (600 BTC)
 *               * 00: special txout type pay-to-pubkey-hash
 *               * 816115944e077fe7c803cfa57f29b36bf87c1d35: address uint160
 *    - height = 203998
 *
 *
 * Example: 0109044086ef97d5790061b01caab50f1b8e9c50a5057eb43c2d9563a4eebbd123008c988f1a4a4de2161e0f50aac7f17e7f9555caa486af3b
 *          <><><--><--------------------------------------------------><----------------------------------------------><---->
 *         /  \   \                     |                                                           |                     /
 *  version  code  unspentness       vout[4]                                                     vout[16]           height
 *
 *  - version = 1
 *  - code = 9 (coinbase, neither vout[0] or vout[1] are unspent,
 *                2 (1, +1 because both bit 2 and bit 4 are unset) non-zero bitvector bytes follow)
 *  - unspentness bitvector: bits 2 (0x04) and 14 (0x4000) are set, so vout[2+2] and vout[14+2] are unspent
 *  - vout[4]: 86ef97d5790061b01caab50f1b8e9c50a5057eb43c2d9563a4ee
 *             * 86ef97d579: compact amount representation for 234925952 (2.35 BTC)
 *             * 00: special txout type pay-to-pubkey-hash
 *             * 61b01caab50f1b8e9c50a5057eb43c2d9563a4ee: address uint160
 *  - vout[16]: bbd123008c988f1a4a4de2161e0f50aac7f17e7f9555caa4
 *              * bbd123: compact amount representation for 110397 (0.001 BTC)
 *              * 00: special txout type pay-to-pubkey-hash
 *              * 8c988f1a4a4de2161e0f50aac7f17e7f9555caa4: address uint160
 *  - height = 120891
 */

I don't really understand how nCode works. Let's take the second example:

First bit is set to indicate it's a coinbase transaction. So far nCode = 01. vout[0] and vout[1] are spent, which means we add 1 because there is at least 1 unspent output. So the bitmask is 0001 0001, which is equal to 0x11.

So already we have a number bigger than 0x09. How the hell is that nCode = 0x09 computed?

1 Answer 1

2

(note: I'll be using a different bit numbering from the comment which goes from 0..B instead of 1..2^B, as I find that easier to read myself)

The binary representation of 0x9 separated in functional groups is

bit# ...6543 21 0
        ---------
        0001 00 1
  • Bit 0 is set because this is a coinbase
  • Bit 2 and 1 are 0, because vout[0] and vout[1] are spent
  • Bit 3+ contain just the binary number 1. As bit 1 and 2 are not set, these bits encode N-1. N=(9>>3)+1=2. N here is the number of bytes in the subsequent bit vector.

These two bytes that follow are 04 and 40, encoding the number 0x440, the number with bits 2 (1<<4=0x04) and 14 (1<<14=0x4000) set. As described in the example this means vout[2+2] and vout[14+2] are unspent.

How do you end up at 0x11?

7
  • I think my first confusion comes from the numbering, I agree yours is easier to read.
    – stanm87
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 14:50
  • However, I only follow you until you say N=(9>>3)+1=2 Where do you get this from?
    – stanm87
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 14:51
  • (9>>3) extracts bits 3+ from the input nCode using the shift-right operator. This is 1, to which 1 is added to result in 2.
    – laanwj
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 14:58
  • Ok thanks, I get it. But now I don't get the next part. Correct me if I'm wrong, but 2<<4=0x20and 2<<14=0x8000, no?
    – stanm87
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 15:09
  • I still don't see how 0x440 encodes bits 2 and 14. Sorry I'm pretty new at this.
    – stanm87
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 15:19

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.