blog: release v0.11 beta 8

content/blog/release-v0.11-beta-8.md

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+title = "RGB v0.11 Beta 8 is out"
+date = 2024-09-05
+authors = ["Maxim Orlovsky"]
+description = "A new beta release of Bitcoin and Lightning smart contract protocol"
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+
+LNP/BP Standards Association is happy to announce the eight beta release of RGB version 0.11.
+
+Beta 8 comes just three weeks after Beta 7, and mainly finalizes on work which has started before,
+and contains bugfixes for the issues known before Beta 7 or discovered recently.
+
+With Beta 8 RGB comes closer to API stabilization: we announce a freeze to any changes in API unless
+they are required by a fix of a security-critical bug, putting at risk client's funds. All other
+bugs and feature requests from now on will be deferred to v0.11.x maintenance versions, after the
+completed v0.11.0 release cycle.
+
+All users of RGB protocol, developers and integrators are urged to update and test their software
+with Beta 8 as soon as possible. Due to the consensus-level changes contracts issued before this
+release would not be compatible with the released RGB version.
+
+
+## What's new in Beta 8
+
+### Consensus-level change
+
+Beta 8 amends implementation of [RCP-240731A], a new consensus-level feature we introduced in beta 7.
+Specifically, it changes the type of `nonce` from `u8` to `u64`, in order to be able to support
+**Lightning eltoo** and other protocols which may have many more offchain state updates as a part
+of one transaction graph comparing to the modern-day Lightning BOLT approach.
+
+### Improved persistence
+
+In Beta 7 we have introduced an improved persistence APIs. In Beta 8 we complete this epic by
+separating persistence providers from the data, such that users of RGB and BP libraries can now
+integrate blocking storage code into async apps by using dedicated threads abstracted away through
+these providers.
+
+
+## What's next
+
+Beta 8 release continues a phase of preparation for a public preview of the RGB v0.11. All parties
+are strongly recommended switching to this latest beta, which contains a number of bugfixes and a
+consensus-breaking change, and provide us feedback their feedback.
+
+Beta 8 starts a period of codebase freeze: only critical vulnerability changes will be accepted to
+the codebase. Once there were no critical vulnerabilities discovered, a Preview 1 version of RGB
+will be released.
+
+Beta 8 was a result of internal audit and testing effort, we do together with [Bitfinex Labs], which
+will continue with external audit in the following week. In this way we plan to ensure the system
+security and safety before the final release.
+
+You can track us on our journey towards v0.11 release with this [GitHub dashboard][proj].
+
+
+## About RGB v0.11
+
+RGB v0.11 is an evolution of the protocol coming with a lot of bug fixes and improvements, further
+enhancing RGB smart contracting capabilities. It will be the first version which will be audited by
+independent auditors, after which it can be considered by third-party issuers for the use in
+production.
+
+The main features shipping in v0.11 are:
+
+- Wallet integration right into RGB runtime and command-line tool;
+- Basic support for Liquid sidechain, with ability to add more alternative scalability layers in the
+  future;
+- Scripting, with new contract state introspection codes and RGB assembly compiler;
+- Initial support for Contractum language;
+- Ability to inherit interfaces (multiple inheritance!);
+- Support of Electrum RPC and Mempool REST additionally to Esplora REST, present before;
+- Commitments to issuer and developer identities embedded into contracts, interfaces, libraries;
+- More compact consignments and better ASCII armoring.
+
+
+## Contributing
+
+RGB is a free software and opensourc effort, built by community. The development is supervised by
+a non-profit [LNP/BP Standards Association][LNPBP], which uses open approach: anybody from the
+community can propose a request for RGB change ([RCP]), ask a question in [discussions], open an
+issue in GitHub, propose a pull request or review pull requests of others. The association also
+maintains public [roadmap][proj] summarizing the current development progress and listing all issues
+and pull requests across multiple repositories and GitHub organizations related to the RGB.
+
+Specifically, we are also looking for qualified auditors and penetration testers who can contribute
+into making RGB more secure and robust. We plan a grant program to facilitate this process; with any
+enquiries please contact us via <[email protected]>.
+
+
+## Acknowledgements
+
+We are grateful to [Fulgur Ventures], continuing their multi-year support for our efforts in
+developing RGB, as well as other Association members, including [Bitlight Labs], who had become a
+major contributor to RGB development. We are grateful to all commercial companies, building on RGB,
+and providing their support, contributions and feedback, including [Bitfinex], [Pandora Prime], and
+[DIBA]. We are also grateful for individual contributors, who do their small -- but still highly
+valuable and welcomed input in making RGB better.
+
+
+[RCP-240731A]: https://github.com/RGB-WG/RFC/issues/10
+[discussions]: https://github.com/orgs/RGB-WG/discussions
+[proj]: https://github.com/orgs/RGB-WG/projects/17/views/1
+[RGB20]: https://github.com/RGB-WG/rgb-interfaces/blob/master/interfaces/RGB20.con
+[LNPBP]: https://www.lnp-bp.org
+[Fulgur Ventures]: https://fulgur.ventures
+[Bitlight Labs]: https://bitlightlabs.com
+[Pandora Prime]: https://pandoraprime.ch
+[Bitfinex]: https://www.bitfinex.com/about
+[DIBA]: http://diba.io