Disable various core functions when running as a lite node.

Lite nodes can't sync or mint blocks, and they also have a very limited ability to verify unconfirmed transactions due to a lack of contextual information (i.e. the blockchain). For now, most validation is skipped and they simply act as relays to help get transactions around the network. Full and topOnly nodes will disregard any invalid transactions upon receipt as usual, and since the lite nodes aren't signing any blocks, there is little risk to the reduced validation, other than the experience of the lite node itself. This can be tightened up considerably as the lite nodes become more powerful, but the current approach works as a PoC.

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/BlockMinter.java

@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ public class BlockMinter extends Thread {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("BlockMinter");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes do not mint
+			return;
+		}
+
 		try (final Repository repository = RepositoryManager.getRepository()) {
 			if (Settings.getInstance().getWipeUnconfirmedOnStart()) {
 				// Wipe existing unconfirmed transactions

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Controller.java

@@ -362,23 +362,27 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 			return; // Not System.exit() so that GUI can display error
 		}
 
-		// Rebuild Names table and check database integrity (if enabled)
+		// If we have a non-lite node, we need to perform some startup actions
-		NamesDatabaseIntegrityCheck namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck = new NamesDatabaseIntegrityCheck();
+		if (!Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
-		namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck.rebuildAllNames();
-		if (Settings.getInstance().isNamesIntegrityCheckEnabled()) {
-			namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck.runIntegrityCheck();
-		}
 
-		LOGGER.info("Validating blockchain");
+			// Rebuild Names table and check database integrity (if enabled)
-		try {
+			NamesDatabaseIntegrityCheck namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck = new NamesDatabaseIntegrityCheck();
-			BlockChain.validate();
+			namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck.rebuildAllNames();
+			if (Settings.getInstance().isNamesIntegrityCheckEnabled()) {
+				namesDatabaseIntegrityCheck.runIntegrityCheck();
+			}
 
-			Controller.getInstance().refillLatestBlocksCache();
+			LOGGER.info("Validating blockchain");
-			LOGGER.info(String.format("Our chain height at start-up: %d", Controller.getInstance().getChainHeight()));
+			try {
-		} catch (DataException e) {
+				BlockChain.validate();
-			LOGGER.error("Couldn't validate blockchain", e);
+
-			Gui.getInstance().fatalError("Blockchain validation issue", e);
+				Controller.getInstance().refillLatestBlocksCache();
-			return; // Not System.exit() so that GUI can display error
+				LOGGER.info(String.format("Our chain height at start-up: %d", Controller.getInstance().getChainHeight()));
+			} catch (DataException e) {
+				LOGGER.error("Couldn't validate blockchain", e);
+				Gui.getInstance().fatalError("Blockchain validation issue", e);
+				return; // Not System.exit() so that GUI can display error
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Import current trade bot states and minting accounts if they exist
@@ -754,7 +758,11 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 		final Long minLatestBlockTimestamp = NTP.getTime() - (30 * 60 * 1000L);
 
 		synchronized (Synchronizer.getInstance().syncLock) {
-			if (this.isMintingPossible) {
+			if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+				actionText = Translator.INSTANCE.translate("SysTray", "LITE_NODE");
+				SysTray.getInstance().setTrayIcon(4);
+			}
+			else if (this.isMintingPossible) {
 				actionText = Translator.INSTANCE.translate("SysTray", "MINTING_ENABLED");
 				SysTray.getInstance().setTrayIcon(2);
 			}
@@ -776,7 +784,11 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 			}
 		}
 
-		String tooltip = String.format("%s - %d %s - %s %d", actionText, numberOfPeers, connectionsText, heightText, height) + "\n" + String.format("%s: %s", Translator.INSTANCE.translate("SysTray", "BUILD_VERSION"), this.buildVersion);
+		String tooltip = String.format("%s - %d %s", actionText, numberOfPeers, connectionsText);
+		if (!Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			tooltip.concat(String.format(" - %s %d", heightText, height));
+		}
+		tooltip.concat(String.format("\n%s: %s", Translator.INSTANCE.translate("SysTray", "BUILD_VERSION"), this.buildVersion));
 		SysTray.getInstance().setToolTipText(tooltip);
 
 		this.callbackExecutor.execute(() -> {
@@ -933,6 +945,11 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 	// Callbacks for/from network
 
 	public void doNetworkBroadcast() {
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes have nothing to broadcast
+			return;
+		}
+
 		Network network = Network.getInstance();
 
 		// Send (if outbound) / Request peer lists
@@ -1450,11 +1467,13 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 	private void onNetworkHeightV2Message(Peer peer, Message message) {
 		HeightV2Message heightV2Message = (HeightV2Message) message;
 
-		// If peer is inbound and we've not updated their height
+		if (!Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
-		// then this is probably their initial HEIGHT_V2 message
+			// If peer is inbound and we've not updated their height
-		// so they need a corresponding HEIGHT_V2 message from us
+			// then this is probably their initial HEIGHT_V2 message
-		if (!peer.isOutbound() && (peer.getChainTipData() == null || peer.getChainTipData().getLastHeight() == null))
+			// so they need a corresponding HEIGHT_V2 message from us
-			peer.sendMessage(Network.getInstance().buildHeightMessage(peer, getChainTip()));
+			if (!peer.isOutbound() && (peer.getChainTipData() == null || peer.getChainTipData().getLastHeight() == null))
+				peer.sendMessage(Network.getInstance().buildHeightMessage(peer, getChainTip()));
+		}
 
 		// Update peer chain tip data
 		PeerChainTipData newChainTipData = new PeerChainTipData(heightV2Message.getHeight(), heightV2Message.getSignature(), heightV2Message.getTimestamp(), heightV2Message.getMinterPublicKey());
@@ -1515,6 +1534,11 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 	 * @return boolean - whether our node's blockchain is up to date or not
 	 */
 	public boolean isUpToDate(Long minLatestBlockTimestamp) {
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes are always "up to date"
+			return true;
+		}
+
 		// Do we even have a vaguely recent block?
 		if (minLatestBlockTimestamp == null)
 			return false;

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Synchronizer.java

@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@ public class Synchronizer extends Thread {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("Synchronizer");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes don't need to sync
+			return;
+		}
+
 		try {
 			while (running && !Controller.isStopping()) {
 				Thread.sleep(1000);

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/TransactionImporter.java

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import org.qortal.network.message.TransactionSignaturesMessage;
 import org.qortal.repository.DataException;
 import org.qortal.repository.Repository;
 import org.qortal.repository.RepositoryManager;
+import org.qortal.settings.Settings;
 import org.qortal.transaction.Transaction;
 import org.qortal.utils.Base58;
 import org.qortal.utils.NTP;
@@ -105,6 +106,8 @@ public class TransactionImporter extends Thread {
 
             List<Transaction> sigValidTransactions = new ArrayList<>();
 
+            boolean isLiteNode = Settings.getInstance().isLite();
+
             // Signature validation round - does not require blockchain lock
             for (Map.Entry<TransactionData, Boolean> transactionEntry : incomingTransactionsCopy.entrySet()) {
                 // Quick exit?
@@ -118,6 +121,12 @@ public class TransactionImporter extends Thread {
                 // Only validate signature if we haven't already done so
                 Boolean isSigValid = transactionEntry.getValue();
                 if (!Boolean.TRUE.equals(isSigValid)) {
+                    if (isLiteNode) {
+                        // Lite nodes can't validate transactions, so can only assume that everything is valid
+                        sigValidTransactions.add(transaction);
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
                     if (!transaction.isSignatureValid()) {
                         String signature58 = Base58.encode(transactionData.getSignature());
 

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/repository/AtStatesPruner.java

@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ public class AtStatesPruner implements Runnable {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("AT States pruner");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Nothing to prune in lite mode
+			return;
+		}
+
 		boolean archiveMode = false;
 		if (!Settings.getInstance().isTopOnly()) {
 			// Top-only mode isn't enabled, but we might want to prune for the purposes of archiving

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/repository/AtStatesTrimmer.java

@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ public class AtStatesTrimmer implements Runnable {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("AT States trimmer");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Nothing to trim in lite mode
+			return;
+		}
+
 		try (final Repository repository = RepositoryManager.getRepository()) {
 			int trimStartHeight = repository.getATRepository().getAtTrimHeight();
 

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/repository/BlockArchiver.java

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public class BlockArchiver implements Runnable {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("Block archiver");
 
-		if (!Settings.getInstance().isArchiveEnabled()) {
+		if (!Settings.getInstance().isArchiveEnabled() || Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
 			return;
 		}
 

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/repository/BlockPruner.java

@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ public class BlockPruner implements Runnable {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("Block pruner");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Nothing to prune in lite mode
+			return;
+		}
+
 		boolean archiveMode = false;
 		if (!Settings.getInstance().isTopOnly()) {
 			// Top-only mode isn't enabled, but we might want to prune for the purposes of archiving

src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/repository/OnlineAccountsSignaturesTrimmer.java

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ public class OnlineAccountsSignaturesTrimmer implements Runnable {
 	public void run() {
 		Thread.currentThread().setName("Online Accounts trimmer");
 
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Nothing to trim in lite mode
+			return;
+		}
+
 		try (final Repository repository = RepositoryManager.getRepository()) {
 			// Don't even start trimming until initial rush has ended
 			Thread.sleep(INITIAL_SLEEP_PERIOD);

src/main/java/org/qortal/network/Network.java

@@ -1062,11 +1062,13 @@ public class Network {
         // (If inbound sent anything here, it's possible it could be processed out-of-order with handshake message).
 
         if (peer.isOutbound()) {
-            // Send our height
+            if (!Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
-            Message heightMessage = buildHeightMessage(peer, Controller.getInstance().getChainTip());
+                // Send our height
-            if (!peer.sendMessage(heightMessage)) {
+                Message heightMessage = buildHeightMessage(peer, Controller.getInstance().getChainTip());
-                peer.disconnect("failed to send height/info");
+                if (!peer.sendMessage(heightMessage)) {
-                return;
+                    peer.disconnect("failed to send height/info");
+                    return;
+                }
             }
 
             // Send our peers list

src/main/java/org/qortal/repository/RepositoryManager.java

@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ public abstract class RepositoryManager {
 	}
 
 	public static boolean archive(Repository repository) {
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes have no blockchain
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		// Bulk archive the database the first time we use archive mode
 		if (Settings.getInstance().isArchiveEnabled()) {
 			if (RepositoryManager.canArchiveOrPrune()) {
@@ -82,6 +87,11 @@ public abstract class RepositoryManager {
 	}
 
 	public static boolean prune(Repository repository) {
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
+			// Lite nodes have no blockchain
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		// Bulk prune the database the first time we use top-only or block archive mode
 		if (Settings.getInstance().isTopOnly() ||
 			Settings.getInstance().isArchiveEnabled()) {

src/main/java/org/qortal/transaction/Transaction.java

@@ -530,11 +530,6 @@ public abstract class Transaction {
 		if (now >= this.getDeadline())
 			return ValidationResult.TIMESTAMP_TOO_OLD;
 
-		// Transactions with a expiry prior to latest block's timestamp are too old
-		BlockData latestBlock = repository.getBlockRepository().getLastBlock();
-		if (this.getDeadline() <= latestBlock.getTimestamp())
-			return ValidationResult.TIMESTAMP_TOO_OLD;
-
 		// Transactions with a timestamp too far into future are too new
 		long maxTimestamp = now + Settings.getInstance().getMaxTransactionTimestampFuture();
 		if (this.transactionData.getTimestamp() > maxTimestamp)
@@ -545,14 +540,29 @@ public abstract class Transaction {
 		if (feeValidationResult != ValidationResult.OK)
 			return feeValidationResult;
 
-		PublicKeyAccount creator = this.getCreator();
+		if (Settings.getInstance().isLite()) {
-		if (creator == null)
+			// Everything from this point is difficult to validate for a lite node, since it has no blocks.
-			return ValidationResult.MISSING_CREATOR;
+			// For now, we will assume it is valid, to allow it to move around the network easily.
+			// If it turns out to be invalid, other full/top-only nodes will reject it on receipt.
+			// Lite nodes would never mint a block, so there's not much risk of holding invalid transactions.
+			// TODO: implement lite-only validation for each transaction type
+			return ValidationResult.OK;
+		}
 
 		// Reject if unconfirmed pile already has X transactions from same creator
 		if (countUnconfirmedByCreator(creator) >= Settings.getInstance().getMaxUnconfirmedPerAccount())
 			return ValidationResult.TOO_MANY_UNCONFIRMED;
 
+		// Transactions with a expiry prior to latest block's timestamp are too old
+		// Not relevant for lite nodes, as they don't have any blocks
+		BlockData latestBlock = repository.getBlockRepository().getLastBlock();
+		if (this.getDeadline() <= latestBlock.getTimestamp())
+			return ValidationResult.TIMESTAMP_TOO_OLD;
+
+		PublicKeyAccount creator = this.getCreator();
+		if (creator == null)
+			return ValidationResult.MISSING_CREATOR;
+
 		// Check transaction's txGroupId
 		if (!this.isValidTxGroupId())
 			return ValidationResult.INVALID_TX_GROUP_ID;

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_de.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Datenbank Instandhaltung
 
 EXIT = Verlassen
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = NOT minting
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Minting

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_en.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Database Maintenance
 
 EXIT = Exit
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = NOT minting
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Minting

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_fi.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Tietokannan ylläpito
 
 EXIT = Pois
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = EI lyö rahaa
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Lyö rahaa

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_fr.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Maintenance de la base de données
 
 EXIT = Quitter
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = NE mint PAS
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Minting

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_hu.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Adatbázis karbantartás
 
 EXIT = Kilépés
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = QORT-érmeverés jelenleg nincs folyamatban
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 QORT-érmeverés folyamatban

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_it.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Manutenzione del database
 
 EXIT = Uscita
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = Conio disabilitato
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Conio abilitato

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_nl.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Database Onderhoud
 
 EXIT = Verlaten
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = Minten is uitgeschakeld
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Minten is ingeschakeld

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_ru.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = Обслуживание базы данных
 
 EXIT = Выход
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = Чеканка отключена
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 Чеканка активна

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_zh_CN.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = 数据库维护
 
 EXIT = 退出核心
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = 没有铸币
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 铸币

src/main/resources/i18n/SysTray_zh_TW.properties

@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ DB_MAINTENANCE = 數據庫維護
 
 EXIT = 退出核心
 
+LITE_NODE = Lite node
+
 MINTING_DISABLED = 沒有鑄幣
 
 MINTING_ENABLED = \u2714 鑄幣

src/test/java/org/qortal/test/apps/CheckTranslations.java

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public class CheckTranslations {
 	private static final String[] SUPPORTED_LANGS = new String[] { "en", "de", "zh", "ru" };
 	private static final Set<String> SYSTRAY_KEYS = Set.of("AUTO_UPDATE", "APPLYING_UPDATE_AND_RESTARTING", "BLOCK_HEIGHT",
 			"BUILD_VERSION", "CHECK_TIME_ACCURACY", "CONNECTING", "CONNECTION", "CONNECTIONS", "CREATING_BACKUP_OF_DB_FILES",
-			"DB_BACKUP", "DB_CHECKPOINT", "EXIT", "MINTING_DISABLED", "MINTING_ENABLED", "OPEN_UI", "PERFORMING_DB_CHECKPOINT",
+			"DB_BACKUP", "DB_CHECKPOINT", "EXIT", "LITE_NODE", "MINTING_DISABLED", "MINTING_ENABLED", "OPEN_UI", "PERFORMING_DB_CHECKPOINT",
 			"SYNCHRONIZE_CLOCK", "SYNCHRONIZING_BLOCKCHAIN", "SYNCHRONIZING_CLOCK");
 
 	private static String failurePrefix;