![]() For example, when Apple issues an update to iTunes – you probably won’t have to update, but it’s advised that you do. So whenever they want to “fork” from their original program they issue an update in the form of a soft fork. Most programs you use today are controlled by a single entity. If the soft fork doesn’t work out, has bugs or people don’t adopt it – it’s completely reversible and you can go back to the older version. While a soft fork is in place even computers running the old program will still be able to use the program.Īfter a while when most of the computers running the program have updated to the new software a hard fork is implemented for the remaining minority if needed. ![]() Soft fork – A software update that doesn’t conflict with the existing software, isn’t mandatory and allows the network to adjust to the new features implemented on the go. If that’s the case you’ll just have to do yet another hard fork and revert back to the old version. Also, there is no way to reverse a hard fork once created in case some unexpected bugs or issues comes along. If you don’t update – you can’t use the program. An example can be finding a critical bug that allows people to exploit the software therefor everyone is required to update their program in order to continue using it. Your program won’t run if you don’t update it. Hard fork – A mandatory software update that conflicts with the older version. Every time you update a program on your phone or computer you have forked from the older version.īitcoin has introduced two new fork concepts:ġ. Let’s begin… What the hell is a fork?Ī fork is a technical word used by developers working on open source projects. ![]() If you do find a mistake in this post I encourage you to let me know in the comment section below and I will look into it. I believe there are only a handful of people who understand this issue and its technical aspects completely. I may sometimes oversimplify technical issues in order to easily explain them. The information I bring here today is what I’ve managed to collect after weeks of research from around the web. In this post I will aim to clarify the uncertainty and give a better view of what’s going on mainly for newbies and non technical people. Hopefully, once you finish reading this post you will know what’s going on in the Bitcoin community these days and will be able to better prepare yourself for the different outcomes.Ī short disclaimer before I begin – I’m not a technical person and I have little technical background. Many people don’t understand what all of this is about but it’s creating a lot of stress due to misleading or partial information that is being spread. There’s been a lot of talk in the Bitcoin community lately about stuff like a “fork”, “segwit” and “Bitcoin Unlimited”.
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