Bitcoin: Why Bitcoin Core Upgrade Instructions Don’t Require All New Files
When upgrading Bitcoin Core, one of the most common concerns is whether all new files need to be copied and recompiled for the new version. However, according to the instructions on the official Bitcoin Core webpage, this is not the case.
In fact, the instructions state that if you are running 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 new files.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to do:
- Shut down your Bitcoin Core: Remember to close the terminal or console you are running Bitcoin Core on.
- Wait for shutdown: Wait for the Bitcoin Core process to shut down completely, which means it will no longer be listening 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 the new location.
Why this works
Upgrading Bitcoin Core involves several steps, including:
- Removing old files and data
- Compiling new versions of Bitcoin Core’s core software
- Creating new packages for the new version
By simply killing the existing process and waiting until it stops 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
Upgrading Bitcoin Core does not require recompiling 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.
Note: If you are using a very old version of Bitcoin Core (which is several years out of date), it may be more practical to use a different approach, such as using an older version of Bitcoin Core that still has support and updates available. However, for most users, to upgrade to the latest version of Bitcoin Core, it is sufficient to kill the existing process and wait until it stops listening on ports 8332 and 8541 before proceeding with the upgrade.
