Each branch node may have up to 16 sub-items - currently, these are
given VertexID based when they are first needed leading to a
mostly-random order of vertexid for each subitem.
Here, we pre-allocate all 16 vertex ids such that when a branch subitem
is filled, it already has a vertexid waiting for it. This brings several
important benefits:
* subitems are sorted and "close" in their id sequencing - this means
that when rocksdb stores them, they are likely to end up in the same
data block thus improving read efficiency
* because the ids are consequtive, we can store just the starting id and
a bitmap representing which subitems are in use - this reduces disk
space usage for branches allowing more of them fit into a single disk
read, further improving disk read and caching performance - disk usage
at block 18M is down from 84 to 78gb!
* the in-memory footprint of VertexRef reduced allowing more instances
to fit into caches and less memory to be used overall.
Because of the increased locality of reference, it turns out that we no
longer need to iterate over the entire database to efficiently generate
the hash key database because the normal computation is now faster -
this significantly benefits "live" chain processing as well where each
dirtied key must be accompanied by a read of all branch subitems next to
it - most of the performance benefit in this branch comes from this
locality-of-reference improvement.
On a sample resync, there's already ~20% improvement with later blocks
seeing increasing benefit (because the trie is deeper in later blocks
leading to more benefit from branch read perf improvements)
```
blocks: 18729664, baseline: 190h43m49s, contender: 153h59m0s
Time (total): -36h44m48s, -19.27%
```
Note: clients need to be resynced as the PR changes the on-disk format
R.I.P. little bloom filter - your life in the repo was short but
valuable
Currently, computed hash keys are stored in a separate column family
with respect to the MPT data they're generated from - this has several
disadvantages:
* A lot of space is wasted because the lookup key (`RootedVertexID`) is
repeated in both tables - this is 30% of the `AriKey` content!
* rocksdb must maintain in-memory bloom filters and LRU caches for said
keys, doubling its "minimal efficient cache size"
* An extra disk traversal must be made to check for existence of cached
hash key
* Doubles the amount of files on disk due to each column family being
its own set of files
Here, the two CFs are joined such that both key and data is stored in
`AriVtx`. This means:
* we save ~30% disk space on repeated lookup keys
* we save ~2gb of memory overhead that can be used to cache data instead
of indices
* we can skip storing hash keys for MPT leaf nodes - these are trivial
to compute and waste a lot of space - previously they had to present in
the `AriKey` CF to avoid having to look in two tables on the happy path.
* There is a small increase in write amplification because when a hash
value is updated for a branch node, we must write both key and branch
data - previously we would write only the key
* There's a small shift in CPU usage - instead of performing lookups in
the database, hashes for leaf nodes are (re)-computed on the fly
* We can return to slightly smaller on-disk SST files since there's
fewer of them, which should reduce disk traffic a bit
Internally, there are also other advantages:
* when clearing keys, we no longer have to store a zero hash in memory -
instead, we deduce staleness of the cached key from the presence of an
updated VertexRef - this saves ~1gb of mem overhead during import
* hash key cache becomes dedicated to branch keys since leaf keys are no
longer stored in memory, reducing churn
* key computation is a lot faster thanks to the skipped second disk
traversal - a key computation for mainnet can be completed in 11 hours
instead of ~2 days (!) thanks to better cache usage and less read
amplification - with additional improvements to the on-disk format, we
can probably get rid of the initial full traversal method of seeding the
key cache on first start after import
All in all, this PR reduces the size of a mainnet database from 160gb to
110gb and the peak memory footprint during import by ~1-2gb.
* Add missing leaf cache update when a leaf turns to a branch with two
leaves (on merge) and vice versa (on delete) - this could lead to stale
leaves being returned from the cache causing validation failures - it
didn't happen because the leaf caches were not being used efficiently :)
* Replace `seq` with `ArrayBuf` in `Hike` allowing it to become
allocation-free - this PR also works around an inefficiency in nim in
returning large types via a `var` parameter
* Use the leaf cache instead of `getVtxRc` to fetch recent leaves - this
makes the vertex cache more efficient at caching branches because fewer
leaf requests pass through it.
* move pfx out of variant which avoids pointless field type panic checks
and copies on access
* make `VertexRef` a non-inheritable object which reduces its memory
footprint and simplifies its use - it's also unclear from a semantic
point of view why inheritance makes sense for storing keys
* Provide portal proof functions in `aristo_api`
why:
So it can be fully supported by `CoreDb`
* Fix prototype in `kvt_api`
* Fix node constructor for account leafs with storage trees
* Provide simple path check based on portal proof functionality
* Provide portal proof functionality in `CoreDb`
* Update TODO list
* Implement partial trees
why:
This is currently needed for unit tests to pre-load the database
with test data similar to `proof` node pre-load.
The basic features for `snap-sync` boundary proofs are available
as well for future use. What is missing is the final proof verification
and a complete storage data load/merge function (stub is available.)
* Cosmetics, clean up
When lazily verifying state roots, we may end up with an entire state
without roots that gets computed for the whole database - in the current
design, that would result in hashes for the entire trie being held in
memory.
Since the hash depends only on the data in the vertex, we can store it
directly at the top-most level derived from the verticies it depends on
- be that memory or database - this makes the memory usage broadly
linear with respect to the already-existing in-memory change set stored
in the layers.
It also ensures that if we have multiple forks in memory, hashes get
cached in the correct layer maximising reuse between forks.
The same layer numbering scheme as elsewhere is reused, where -2 is the
backend, -1 is the balancer, then 0+ is the top of the stack and stack.
A downside of this approach is that we create many small batches - a
future improvement could be to collect all such writes in a single
batch, though the memory profile of this approach should be examined
first (where is the batch kept, exactly?).
* Imported/rebase from `no-ext`, PR #2485
Store extension nodes together with the branch
Extension nodes must be followed by a branch - as such, it makes sense
to store the two together both in the database and in memory:
* fewer reads, writes and updates to traverse the tree
* simpler logic for maintaining the node structure
* less space used, both memory and storage, because there are fewer
nodes overall
There is also a downside: hashes can no longer be cached for an
extension - instead, only the extension+branch hash can be cached - this
seems like a fine tradeoff since computing it should be fast.
TODO: fix commented code
* Fix merge functions and `toNode()`
* Update `merkleSignCommit()` prototype
why:
Result is always a 32bit hash
* Update short Merkle hash key generation
details:
Ethereum reference MPTs use Keccak hashes as node links if the size of
an RLP encoded node is at least 32 bytes. Otherwise, the RLP encoded
node value is used as a pseudo node link (rather than a hash.) This is
specified in the yellow paper, appendix D.
Different to the `Aristo` implementation, the reference MPT would not
store such a node on the key-value database. Rather the RLP encoded node value is stored instead of a node link in a parent node
is stored as a node link on the parent database.
Only for the root hash, the top level node is always referred to by the
hash.
* Fix/update `Extension` sections
why:
Were commented out after removal of a dedicated `Extension` type which
left the system disfunctional.
* Clean up unused error codes
* Update unit tests
* Update docu
---------
Co-authored-by: Jacek Sieka <jacek@status.im>
The state and account MPT:s currenty share key space in the database
based on that vertex id:s are assigned essentially randomly, which means
that when two adjacent slot values from the same contract are accessed,
they might reside at large distance from each other.
Here, we prefix each vertex id by its root causing them to be sorted
together thus bringing all data belonging to a particular contract
closer together - the same effect also happens for the main state MPT
whose nodes now end up clustered together more tightly.
In the future, the prefix given to the storage keys can also be used to
perform range operations such as reading all the storage at once and/or
deleting an account with a batch operation.
Notably, parts of the API already supported this rooting concept while
parts didn't - this PR makes the API consistent by always working with a
root+vid.
* CoreDb: Merged all sub-descriptors into `base_desc` module
* Dissolve `aristo_db/common_desc.nim`
* No need to export `Aristo` methods in `CoreDb`
* Resolve/tighten methods in `aristo_db` sub-moduled
why:
So they can be straihgt implemented into the `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented `KVT` methods into `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented `MPT` methods into `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented account methods into `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented `CTX` methods into `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented `handler_{aristo,kvt}` into `aristo_db` module
* Moved/re-implemented `TX` methods into `base` module
* Moved/re-implemented base methods into `base` module
* Replaced `toAristoSavedStateBlockNumber()` by proper base method
why:
Was the last for keeping reason for keeping low level backend access
methods
* Remove dedicated low level access to `Aristo` backend
why:
Not needed anymore, for debugging the descriptors can be accessed
directly
also:
some clean up stuff
* Re-factor `CoreDb` descriptor layout and adjust base methods
* Moved/re-implemented iterators into `base_iterator*` modules
* Update docu
* avoid costly hike memory allocations for operations that don't need to
re-traverse it
* avoid unnecessary state checks (which might trigger unwanted state
root computations)
* disable optimize-for-hits due to the MPT no longer being complete at
all times
* Update some docu
* Resolve obsolete compile time option
why:
Not optional anymore
* Update checks
why:
The notion of what constitutes a valid `Aristo` db has changed due to
(even more) lazy calculating Merkle hash keys.
* Disable redundant unit test for production
* Remove `dirty` set from structural objects
why:
Not used anymore, the tree is dirty by default.
* Rename `aristo_hashify` -> `aristo_compute`
* Remove cruft, update comments, cosmetics, etc.
* Simplify `SavedState` object
why:
The key chaining have become obsolete after extra lazy hashing. There
is some available space for a state hash to be maintained in future.
details:
Accept the legacy `SavedState` object serialisation format for a
while (which will be overwritten by new format.)
* rebased from `github/on-demand-mpt`
ackn:
wip: on-demand mpt construction
Given that actual data is stored in the `Vertex` structure, it's useful
to think of the MPT as a cache for computing roots rather than being a
functional requirement on its own.
This PR engenders this line of thinking by incrementally computing the
MPT only when it's needed, ie when a state (or similar) root is needed.
This has the effect of siginficantly reducing memory usage as well as
improving performance:
* no need for dirty-mpt-node book-keeping
* no need to build complex forest of upcoming hashing work
* only hashes that are functionally needed are ever computed -
intermediate nodes whose MTP root is not observed are never computed /
processed
* Unit test hot fixes
* Unit test hot fixes cont.
(somehow lost that part)
---------
Co-authored-by: Jacek Sieka <jacek@status.im>
* Tighten `CoreDb` API for accounts
why:
Apart from cruft, the way to fetch the accounts state root via a
`CoreDbColRef` record was unnecessarily complicated.
* Extend `CoreDb` API for accounts to cover storage tries
why:
In future, this will make the notion of column objects obsolete. Storage
trees will then be indexed by the account address rather than the vertex
ID equivalent like a `CoreDbColRef`.
* Apply new/extended accounts API to ledger and tests
details:
This makes the `distinct_ledger` module obsolete
* Remove column object constructors
why:
They were needed as an abstraction of MPT sub-trees including storage
trees. Now, storage trees are handled by the account (e.g. via address)
they belong to and all other trees can be identified by a constant well
known vertex ID. So there is no need for column objects anymore.
Still there are some left-over column object methods wnich will be
removed next.
* Remove `serialise()` and `PayloadRef` from default Aristo API
why:
Not needed. `PayloadRef` was used for unstructured/unknown payload
formats (account or blob) and `serialise()` was used for decodng
`PayloadRef`. Now it is known in advance what the payload looks
like.
* Added query function `hasStorageData()` whether a storage area exists
why:
Useful for supporting `slotStateEmpty()` of the `CoreDb` API
* In the `Ledger` replace `storage.stateEmpty()` by `slotStateEmpty()`
* On Aristo, hide the storage root/vertex ID in the `PayloadRef`
why:
The storage vertex ID is fully controlled by Aristo while the
`AristoAccount` object is controlled by the application. With the
storage root part of the `AristoAccount` object, there was a useless
administrative burden to keep that storage root field up to date.
* Remove cruft, update comments etc.
* Update changed MPT access paradigms
why:
Fixes verified proxy tests
* Fluffy cosmetics
This buffer eleminates a large part of allocations during MPT traversal,
reducing overall memory usage and GC pressure.
Ideally, we would use it throughout in the API instead of
`openArray[byte]` since the built-in length limit appropriately exposes
the natural 64-nibble depth constraint that `openArray` fails to
capture.
* Provide dedicated functions for fetching accounts and storage trees
why:
Different prototypes for each class `account`, `generic` and
`storage`.
* Remove `fetchPayload()` and other cruft from API, `aristo_fetch`, etc.
* Fix typos, debugging left overs, comments
* Provide dedicated functions for deleteing accounts and storage trees
why:
Storage trees are always linked to an account, so there is no need
for an application to fiddle about (e.g. re-cycling, unlinking)
storage tree vertex IDs.
* Remove `delete()` and other cruft from API, `aristo_delete`, etc.
* clean up delete functions
details:
The delete implementations `deleteImpl()` and `delTreeImpl()` do not
need to be super generic anymore as all the edge cases are covered by
the specialised `deleteAccountPayload()`, `deleteGenericData()`, etc.
* Avoid unnecessary re-calculations of account keys
why:
The function `registerAccountForUpdate()` did extract the storage ID
(if any) and automatically marked the Merkle keys along the account
path for re-hashing.
This would also apply if there was later detected that the account
or the storage tree did not need to be updated.
So the `registerAccountForUpdate()` function was split into a part
which retrieved the storage ID, and another one which marked the
Merkle keys for re-calculation to be applied only when needed.
* Remove unused `merge*()` functions (for production)
details:
Some functionality moved to test suite
* Make sure that only `AccountData` leaf type is exactly used on VertexID(1)
* clean up payload type
* Provide dedicated functions for merging accounts and storage trees
why:
Storage trees are always linked to an account, so there is no need
for an application to fiddle about (e.e. creating, re-cycling) with
storage tree vertex IDs.
* CoreDb: Disable tracer functionality
why:
Must be updated to accommodate new/changed `Aristo` functions.
* CoreDb: Use new `mergeXXX()` functions
why:
Makes explicit vertex ID management obsolete for creating new
storage trees.
* Remove `mergePayload()` and other cruft from API, `aristo_merge`, etc.
* clean up merge functions
details:
The merge implementation `mergePayloadImpl()` does not need to be super
generic anymore as all the edge cases are covered by the specialised
functions `mergeAccountPayload()`, `mergeGenericData()`, and
`mergeStorageData()`.
* No tracer available at the moment, so disable offending tests
* Update TDD suite logger output format choices
why:
New format is not practical for TDD as it just dumps data across a wide
range (considerably larder than 80 columns.)
So the new format can be turned on by function argument.
* Update unit tests samples configuration
why:
Slightly changed the way to find the `era1` directory
* Remove compiler warnings (fix deprecated expressions and phrases)
* Update `Aristo` debugging tools
* Always update the `storageID` field of account leaf vertices
why:
Storage tries are weekly linked to an account leaf object in that
the `storageID` field is updated by the application.
Previously, `Aristo` verified that leaf objects make sense when passed
to the database. As a consequence
* the database was inconsistent for a short while
* the burden for correctness was all on the application which led
to delayed error handling which is hard to debug.
So `Aristo` will internally update the account leaf objects so that
there are no race conditions due to the storage trie handling
* Aristo: Let `stow()`/`persist()` bail out unless there is a `VertexID(1)`
why:
The journal and filter logic depends on the hash of the `VertexID(1)`
which is commonly known as the state root. This implies that all
changes to the database are somehow related to that.
* Make sure that a `Ledger` account does not overwrite the storage trie reference
why:
Due to the abstraction of a sub-trie (now referred to as column with a
hash describing its state) there was a weakness in the `Aristo` handler
where an account leaf could be overwritten though changing the validity
of the database. This has been changed and the database will now reject
such changes.
This patch fixes the behaviour on the application layer. In particular,
the column handle returned by the `CoreDb` needs to be updated by
the `Aristo` database state. This mitigates the problem that a storage
trie might have vanished or re-apperaed with a different vertex ID.
* Fix sub-trie deletion test
why:
Was originally hinged on `VertexID(1)` which cannot be wholesale
deleted anymore after the last Aristo update. Also, running with
`VertexID(2)` needs an artificial `VertexID(1)` for making `stow()`
or `persist()` work.
* Cosmetics
* Activate `test_generalstate_json`
* Temporarily `deactivate test_tracer_json`
* Fix copyright header
---------
Co-authored-by: jordan <jordan@dry.pudding>
Co-authored-by: Jacek Sieka <jacek@status.im>
* Aristo: Reorg `hashify()` using different schedule algorithm
why:
Directly calculating the search tree top down from the roots turns
out to be faster than using the cached structures left over by `merge()`
and `delete()`.
Time gains is short of 20%
* Aristo: Remove `lTab[]` leaf entry object type
why:
Not used anymore. It was previously needed to build the schedule for
`hashify()`.
* Aristo: Avoid unnecessary re-org of the vertex ID recycling list
why:
This list can become quite large so a heuristic is employed whether
it makes sense to re-org.
Also, re-org check is only done by `delete()` functions.
* Aristo: Remove key/reverse lookup table from tx layers
why:
It is ignored except for handling proof nodes and costs unnecessary
run time resources.
This feature was originally needed to accommodate the mental transition
from the legacy MPT to the `Aristo` trie :).
* Fix copyright year
* CoreDb: update test suite
* Aristo: Simplify reverse key map
why:
The reverse key map `pAmk: (root,key) -> {vid,..}` as been simplified to
`pAmk: key -> {vid,..}` as the state `root` domain argument is not used,
anymore
* Aristo: Remove `HashLabel` object type and replace it by `HashKey`
why:
The `HashLabel` object attaches a root hash to a hash key. This is
nowhere used, anymore.
* Fix copyright
* CoreDb: Test module with additional sample selector cmd line options
* Aristo: Do not automatically remove a storage trie with the account
why:
This is an unnecessary side effect. Rather than using an automatism, a
a storage root must be deleted manually.
* Aristo: Can handle stale storage root vertex IDs as empty IDs.
why:
This is currently needed for the ledger API supporting both, a legacy
and the `Aristo` database backend.
This feature can be disabled at compile time by re-setting the
`LOOSE_STORAGE_TRIE_COUPLING` flag in the `aristo_constants` module.
* CoreDb+Aristo: Flush/delete storage trie when deleting account
why:
On either backend, a deleted account leave a dangling storage trie on
the database.
For consistency nn the legacy backend, storage tries must not be
deleted as they might be shared by several accounts whereas on `Aristo`
they are always unique.
* Aristo: Update error return code
why:
Failing of `Aristo` function `delete()` might fail because there is
no such data item on the db. This must return a single error code
as is done with `fetch()`.
* Ledger: Better error handling
why:
The `expect()` clauses have been replaced by raising asserts indicating
the error from the database backend.
Also, `delete()` failures are legitimate if the item to delete does not
exist.
* Aristo: Delete function must always leave a label on DB for `hashify()`
why:
The `hashify()` uses the labels left bu `merge()` and `delete()` to
compile (and optimise) a scheduler for subsequent hashing.
Originally, the labels were not used for deleted entries and `delete()`
still had some edge case where the deletion label was not properly
handled.
* Aristo: Update `hashify()` scheduler, remove buggy optimisation
why:
Was left over from version without virtual state roots which did not
know about account payload leaf vertices referring to storage roots.
* Aristo: Label storage trie account in `delete()` similar to `merge()`
details;
The `delete()` function applied to a non-static state root (assumed
to be a storage root) will check the payload of an accounts leaf
and mark its Merkle keys to be re-checked when runninh `hashify()`
* Aristo: Clean up and re-org recycled vertex IDs in `hashify()`
why:
Re-organising the recycled vertex IDs list intends to reduce the size of the
list.
This list is organised as a LIFO (or stack.) By reorganising it in a way
so that the least vertex ID numbers are on top, the list will be kept
smaller as observed on some examples (less than 30%.)
* CoreDb: Accept storage trie deletion requests in non-initialised state
why:
Due to lazy initialisation, the root vertex ID might not yet exist. So
the `Aristo` database handlers would reject this call with an error and
this condition needs to be handled by the API (which realises the lazy
feature.)
* Cosmetics & code massage, prettify logging
* fix missing import
* Aristo: Update unit test suite
* Aristo/Kvt: Fix iterators
why:
Generic iterators were not properly updated after backend change
* Aristo: Add sub-trie deletion functionality
why:
For storage tries linked to an account payload vertex ID, a the
whole storage trie needs to be deleted with the account.
* Aristo: Reserve vertex ID numbers for static custom state roots
why:
Static custom state roots may be controlled by an application,
e.g. for a receipt or a transaction root. The `Aristo` functions
are agnostic of what the static state roots are when different
from the internal tree vertex ID 1.
details;
The `merge()` function applied to a non-static state root (assumed
to be a storage root) will check the payload of an accounts leaf
and mark its Merkle keys to be re-checked.
* Aristo: Correct error code symbol
* Aristo: Update error code symbols
* Aristo: Code cosmetics/comments
* Aristo: Fix hashify schedule calculator
why:
Had a tendency to stop early leaving an incomplete job
* Fix kvt headers
* Provide differential layers for KVT transaction stack
why:
Significant performance improvement
* Provide abstraction layer for database top cache layer
why:
This will eventually implemented as a differential database layers
or transaction layers. The latter is needed to improve performance.
behavioural changes:
Zero vertex and keys (i.e. delete requests) are not optimised out
until the last layer is written to the database.
* Provide differential layers for Aristo transaction stack
why:
Significant performance improvement
* Register paths for added leafs because of trie re-balancing
why:
While the payload would not change, the prefix in the leaf vertex
would. So it needs to be flagged for hash recompilation for the
`hashify()` module.
also:
Make sure that `Hike` paths which might have vertex links into the
backend filter are replaced by vertex copies before manipulating.
Otherwise the vertices on the immutable filter might be involuntarily
changed.
* Also check for paths where the leaf vertex is on the backend, already
why:
A a path can have dome vertices on the top layer cache with the
`Leaf` vertex on the backend.
* Re-define a void `HashLabel` type.
why:
A `HashLabel` type is a pair `(root-vertex-ID, Keccak-hash)`. Previously,
a valid `HashLabel` consisted of a non-empty hash and a non-zero vertex
ID. This definition leads to a non-unique representation of a void
`HashLabel` with either root-ID or has void. This has been changed to
the unique void `HashLabel` exactly if the hash entry is void.
* Update consistency checkers
* Re-org `hashify()` procedure
why:
Syncing against block chain showed serious deficiencies which produced
wrong hashes or simply bailed out with error.
So all fringe cases (mainly due to deleted entries) could be integrated
into the labelling schedule rather than handling separate fringe cases.
* Fix debug noise in `hashify()` for perfectly normal situation
why:
Was previously considered a fixable error
* Fix test sample file names
why:
The larger test file `goerli68161.txt.gz` is already in the local
archive. So there is no need to use the smaller one from the external
repo.
* Activate `accounts_cache` module from `db/ledger`
why:
A copy of the original `accounts_cache.nim` source to be integrated
into the `Ledger` module wrapper which allows to switch between
different `accounts_cache` implementations unser tha same API.
details:
At a later state, the `db/accounts_cache.nim` wrapper will be
removed so that there is only one access to that module via
`db/ledger/accounts_cache.nim`.
* Fix copyright headers in source code
* Aristo: Provide key-value list signature calculator
detail:
Simple wrappers around `Aristo` core functionality
* Update new API for `CoreDb`
details:
+ Renamed new API functions `contains()` => `hasKey()` or `hasPath()`
which disables the `in` operator on non-boolean `contains()` functions
+ The functions `get()` and `fetch()` always return a not-found error if
there is no item, available. The new functions `getOrEmpty()` and
`mergeOrEmpty()` return an an empty `Blob` if there is no such key
found.
* Rewrite `core_apps.nim` using new API from `CoreDb`
* Use `Aristo` functionality for calculating Merkle signatures
details:
For debugging, the `VerifyAristoForMerkleRootCalc` can be set so
that `Aristo` results will be verified against the legacy versions.
* Provide general interface for Merkle signing key-value tables
details:
Export `Aristo` wrappers
* Activate `CoreDb` tests
why:
Now, API seems to be stable enough for general tests.
* Update `toHex()` usage
why:
Byteutils' `toHex()` is superior to `toSeq.mapIt(it.toHex(2)).join`
* Split `aristo_transcode` => `aristo_serialise` + `aristo_blobify`
why:
+ Different modules for different purposes
+ `aristo_serialise`: RLP encoding/decoding
+ `aristo_blobify`: Aristo database encoding/decoding
* Compacted representation of small nodes' links instead of Keccak hashes
why:
Ethereum MPTs use Keccak hashes as node links if the size of an RLP
encoded node is at least 32 bytes. Otherwise, the RLP encoded node
value is used as a pseudo node link (rather than a hash.) Such a node
is nor stored on key-value database. Rather the RLP encoded node value
is stored instead of a lode link in a parent node instead. Only for
the root hash, the top level node is always referred to by the hash.
This feature needed an abstraction of the `HashKey` object which is now
either a hash or a blob of length at most 31 bytes. This leaves two
ways of representing an empty/void `HashKey` type, either as an empty
blob of zero length, or the hash of an empty blob.
* Update `CoreDb` interface (mainly reducing logger noise)
* Fix copyright years (to make `Lint` happy)
* Aristo: remove obsolete functions
* Aristo: Fix error code for non-available hash keys
why:
Must not return `not-found` when the key is not available (i.e. the
current changes were not hashified, yet.)
* CoreDB: Provide TDD and test framework
* Misc fixes
detail:
* Fix de-serialisation for account leafs
* Update node recovery from unit tests
* Remove `LegacyAccount` from `PayloadRef` object
why:
Legacy accounts use a hash key as storage root which is detrimental
to the working of the Aristo database which uses a vertex ID.
* Dissolve `hashify_helper` into `aristo_utils` and `aristo_transcode`
why:
Functions are of general interest so they should live in first level
code files.
* Added left/right iterators over leaf nodes
* Some helper/wrapper functions that might be useful