Bitcoin: Why don’t the Bitcoin Core upgrade instructions require all the new files?

Bitcoin: Why Bitcoin Core Upgrade Instructions Don’t Require All New Files

When updating Bitcoin Core, one of the most common issues is the need to copy and recompile all new files for the new version. However, according to the instructions on the official Bitcoin Core website, this is not the case.

In fact, the instructions say that if you’re using an older version of Bitcoin Core, you can simply shut it down and wait for it to shut down completely before upgrading without having to recompile all the new files.

Here is a step-by-step description of how to do it:

• Quit Bitcoin Core

  

  : Be sure to close the terminal or console running Bitcoin Core.

• Wait for Completion: Wait for the Bitcoin Core process to completely complete, which means it will no longer listen on ports 8332 and 8541 (the default ports used by Bitcoin).

• Copy Bitcoind: Copy the existing “bitcoind” directory to a new location.

• Restart the Bitcoin Core server: Restart the Bitcoin Core server in a new location.

Why it works

Updating Bitcoin Core involves several stages, including:

• Delete old files and data

• Compile new versions of Bitcoin Core core software.

• Create new packages for the new version

By simply terminating the existing process and waiting for it to stop listening on ports 8332 and 8541, you can avoid recompiling all new files. This is because the old process has already removed all the data that would be needed to compile new versions of Bitcoin Core.

Conclusion

Updating Bitcoin Core does not require recompilation of all new files. By following these simple instructions, you can upgrade your existing process without losing valuable data or compromising the security of your wallet.

Please note: if you are using a very old version of Bitcoin Core (outdated by several years), it may be more practical to use the second approach. For example, you can use an older version of Bitcoin Core, for which support and updates are still available. However, for most users, it is sufficient to terminate the existing process and wait for it to stop listening on ports 8332 and 8541 in order to update to the latest version of Bitcoin Core before they can proceed with the update.