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Capella -- Fork Choice

Table of contents

Introduction

This is the modification of the fork choice according to the Capella upgrade.

Unless stated explicitly, all prior functionality from Bellatrix is inherited.

Custom types

Protocols

ExecutionEngine

Note: The notify_forkchoice_updated function is modified in the ExecutionEngine protocol at the Capella upgrade.

notify_forkchoice_updated

The only change made is to the PayloadAttributes container through the addition of withdrawals. Otherwise, notify_forkchoice_updated inherits all prior functionality.

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def notify_forkchoice_updated(self: ExecutionEngine,
                              head_block_hash: Hash32,
                              safe_block_hash: Hash32,
                              finalized_block_hash: Hash32,
                              payload_attributes: Optional[PayloadAttributes]) -> Optional[PayloadId]:
    ...

Helpers

Extended PayloadAttributes

PayloadAttributes is extended with the withdrawals field.

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@dataclass
class PayloadAttributes(object):
    timestamp: uint64
    prev_randao: Bytes32
    suggested_fee_recipient: ExecutionAddress
    withdrawals: Sequence[Withdrawal]  # [New in Capella]

Updated fork-choice handlers

on_block

Note: The only modification is the deletion of the verification of merge transition block conditions.

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def on_block(store: Store, signed_block: SignedBeaconBlock) -> None:
    """
    Run ``on_block`` upon receiving a new block.
    """
    block = signed_block.message
    # Parent block must be known
    assert block.parent_root in store.block_states
    # Blocks cannot be in the future. If they are, their consideration must be delayed until they are in the past.
    assert get_current_slot(store) >= block.slot

    # Check that block is later than the finalized epoch slot (optimization to reduce calls to get_ancestor)
    finalized_slot = compute_start_slot_at_epoch(store.finalized_checkpoint.epoch)
    assert block.slot > finalized_slot
    # Check block is a descendant of the finalized block at the checkpoint finalized slot
    finalized_checkpoint_block = get_checkpoint_block(
        store,
        block.parent_root,
        store.finalized_checkpoint.epoch,
    )
    assert store.finalized_checkpoint.root == finalized_checkpoint_block

    # Check the block is valid and compute the post-state
    # Make a copy of the state to avoid mutability issues
    state = copy(store.block_states[block.parent_root])
    block_root = hash_tree_root(block)
    state_transition(state, signed_block, True)

    # Add new block to the store
    store.blocks[block_root] = block
    # Add new state for this block to the store
    store.block_states[block_root] = state

    # Add block timeliness to the store
    time_into_slot = (store.time - store.genesis_time) % SECONDS_PER_SLOT
    is_before_attesting_interval = time_into_slot < SECONDS_PER_SLOT // INTERVALS_PER_SLOT
    is_timely = get_current_slot(store) == block.slot and is_before_attesting_interval
    store.block_timeliness[hash_tree_root(block)] = is_timely

    # Add proposer score boost if the block is timely and not conflicting with an existing block
    is_first_block = store.proposer_boost_root == Root()
    if is_timely and is_first_block:
        store.proposer_boost_root = hash_tree_root(block)

    # Update checkpoints in store if necessary
    update_checkpoints(store, state.current_justified_checkpoint, state.finalized_checkpoint)

    # Eagerly compute unrealized justification and finality.
    compute_pulled_up_tip(store, block_root)