249 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
249 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
# Terminology
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## Teminology Currently in Use
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The following list contains words commonly used throughout the Solana
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architecture.
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#### account
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A persistent file addressed by [public key](#public-key) and with
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[lamports](#lamport) tracking its lifetime.
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#### app
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A front-end application that interacts with a Solana cluster.
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#### block
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A contiguous set of [entries](#entry) on the ledger covered by a [vote](#ledger-vote).
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The length of a block is network hyper parameter, specified in [ticks](#tick).
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Also called [voting period](#voting-period).
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#### bootstrap leader
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The first [fullnode](#fullnode) to take the [leader](#leader) role.
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#### client
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A [node](#node) that utilizes the [cluster](#cluster).
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#### cluster
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A set of [fullnodes](#fullnode) maintaining a single [ledger](#ledger).
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#### control plane
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A gossip network connecting all [nodes](#node) of a [cluster](#cluster).
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#### data plane
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A multicast network used to efficiently validate [entries](#entry) and gain
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consensus.
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#### drone
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An off-chain service that acts as a custodian for a user's private key. It
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typically serves to validate and sign transactions.
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#### entry
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An entry on the [ledger](#ledger) either a [tick](#tick) or a [transactions
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entry](#transactions-entry).
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#### confirmation
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The wallclock duration between a [leader](#leader) creating a [tick
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entry](#tick) and recognizing a supermajority of [ledger votes](#ledger-vote)
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with a ledger interpretation that matches the leader's.
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#### fork
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A [ledger](#ledger) derived from common entries but then diverged.
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#### fullnode
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A full participant in the [cluster](#cluster) either a [leader](#leader) or
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[validator](#validator) node.
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#### fullnode state
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The result of interpreting all programs on the ledger a given [tick
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height](#tick-height). It includes at least the set of all [accounts](#account)
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holding nonzero [native tokens](#native-tokens).
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#### genesis block
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The first [block](#block) of the [ledger](#ledger).
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#### hash
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A digital fingerprint of a sequence of bytes.
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#### instruction
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The smallest unit of a [program](#program) that a [client](#client) can include
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in a [transaction](#instruction).
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#### keypair
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A [public key](#public-key) and coesponding [secret key](#secret-key).
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#### lamport
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A fractional [native token](#native-token) with the value of approximately
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0.0000000000582 [sol](#sol) (2^-34).
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#### loader
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A [program](#program) with the ability to interpret the binary encoding
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of other on-chain programs.
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#### leader
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The role of a [fullnode](#fullnode) when it is appending [entries](#entry) to
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the [ledger](#ledger).
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#### leader schedule
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A sequence of [fullnode](#fullnode) [public keys](#public-key). The cluster
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uses the leader schedule to determine which fullnode is the [leader](#leader)
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at any moment in time.
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#### ledger
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A list of [entries](#entry) containing [transactions](#transaction) signed by
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[clients](#client).
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#### ledger vote
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A [hash](#hash) of the [fullnode's state](#fullnode-state) at a given [tick
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height](#tick-height). It comprises a validator's affirmation that a
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[block](#block) it has received has been verified, as well as a promise not to
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vote for a conflicting [block](#block) (i.e. [fork](#fork)) for a specific amount
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of time, the [lockout](#lockout) period.
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#### lockout
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The duration of time for which a [fullnode](#fullnode) is unable to
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[vote](#ledger-vote) on another [fork](#fork).
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#### native token
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The [token](#token) used to track work done by [nodes](#node) in a cluster.
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#### node
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A computer particpating in a [cluster](#cluster).
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#### node count
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The number of [fullnodes](#fullnode) participating in a [cluster](#cluster).
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#### program
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The code that interprets [instructions](#instruction).
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#### program ID
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The public key of the [account](#account) containing a [program](#program).
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#### public key
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The public key of a [keypair](#keypair).
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#### runtime
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The component of a [fullnode](#fullnode) responsible for [program](#program)
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execution.
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#### secret key
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The private key of a [keypair](#keypair).
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#### slot
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The time (i.e. number of [blocks](#block)) for which a [leader](#leader)
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ingests transactions and produces [entries](#entry).
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#### sol
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The [native token](#native-token) tracked by a [cluster](#cluster) recognized
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by the company Solana.
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#### stake
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Tokens forfeit to the [cluster](#cluster) if malicious [fullnode](#fullnode)
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behavior can be proven.
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#### tick
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A ledger [entry](#entry) that estimates wallclock duration.
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#### tick height
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The Nth [tick](#tick) in the [ledger](#ledger).
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#### token
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A scarce, fungible member of a set of tokens.
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#### tps
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[Transactions](#transaction) per second.
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#### transaction
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One or more [instructions](#instruction) signed by the [client](#client) and
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executed atomically.
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#### transactions entry
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A set of [transactions](#transaction) that may be executed in parallel.
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#### validator
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The role of a [fullnode](#fullnode) when it is validating the
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[leader's](#leader) latest [entries](#entry).
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#### vote
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See [ledger vote](#ledger-vote)
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#### voting period
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See [block](#block)
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## Terminology Reserved for Future Use
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The following keywords do not have any functionality but are reserved by Solana
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for potential future use.
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#### blob
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A fraction of a [block](#block); the smallest unit sent between
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[fullnodes](#fullnode).
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#### curio
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A scarce, non-fungible member of a set of curios.
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#### epoch
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The time, i.e. number of [slots](#slot), for which a [leader
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schedule](#leader-schedule) is valid.
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#### light client
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A type of [client](#client) that can verify it's pointing to a valid
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[cluster](#cluster).
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#### mips
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Millions of [instructions](#instruction) per second.
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#### thin client
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A type of [client](#client) that trusts it is communicating with a valid
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[cluster](#cluster).
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