In Altair, light client sync protocol exchanges `BeaconBlockHeader`
structures for tracking current progress. Wrapping `BeaconBlockHeader`
inside a `LightClientHeader` allows future extensions of this header,
e.g., to also track `ExecutionPayloadHeader`.
Note: This changes the JSON REST format by adding a `beacon` nesting.
For SSZ, the serialization format stays same (but overall root changes).
While the light client sync protocol currently provides access to the
latest `BeaconBlockHeader`, obtaining the matching execution data needs
workarounds such as downloading the full block.
Having ready access to the EL state root simplifies use cases that need
a way to cross-check `eth_getProof` responses against LC data.
Access to `block_hash` unlocks scenarios where a CL light client drives
an EL without `engine_newPayload`. As of Altair, only the CL beacon
block root is available, but the EL block hash is needed for engine API.
Other fields in the `ExecutionPayloadHeader` such as `logs_bloom` may
allow light client applications to monitor blocks for local interest,
e.g. for transfers affecting a certain wallet. This enables to download
only the few relevant blocks instead of every single one.
A new `LightClientStore` is proposed into the Capella spec that may be
used to sync LC data that includes execution data. Existing pre-Capella
LC data will remain as is, but can be locally upgraded before feeding it
into the new `LightClientStore` so that light clients do not need to run
a potentially expensive fork transition at a specific time. This enables
the `LightClientStore` to be upgraded at a use case dependent timing at
any time before Capella hits. Smart contract and embedded deployments
benefit from reduced code size and do not need synchronization with the
beacon chain clock to perform the Capella fork.
Introduce `get_lc_beacon_slot` and `get_lc_beacon_root` accessors
similar to `get_current_slot(state)` to account for future extensions
to the light client header structure that may override how those fields
are accessed. Idea is to extend with execution accessors in the future.
Future light client tests will also incorporate execution payload data.
To avoid confusion, rename the current `root` check to `beacon_root`.
Doing this now, as #3066 already requires LC test runners to update.
Replaces `process_slot_for_light_client_store` which force updates the
`LightClientStore` automatically based on `finalized_header` age with
`try_light_client_store_force_update` which may be manually called based
on use case dependent heuristics if light client sync appears stuck.
Not all use cases share the same risk profile.
Etan Kissling