Add EIP: Versioning Scheme for EIPs

EIPS/eip-7577.md

@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+---
+eip: 7577
+title: Versioning Scheme for EIPs
+description: Use a versioning scheme for EIPs based on changes made to their Specification section.
+author: danceratopz (@danceratopz), Ahmad Bitar (@smartprogrammer93)
+discussions-to: https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/add-eip-versioning-scheme-for-eips/17295
+status: Draft
+type: Meta
+created: 2023-12-13
+---
+
+## Abstract
+
+This EIP introduces a versioning scheme for [Standards Track](./eip-1.md#eip-types) EIPs by applying semantic versioning based on changes made to the EIP's Specification section once its status has changed from `Draft` to `Review`.
+
+## Motivation
+
+EIP specifications often receive increasing modifications as more people review them, which is generally the case as client teams start implementing the specifications and the community gains a better understanding of their interaction with the rest of the protocol. These changes can be difficult to track. In particular, as EVM reference tests are often not maintained (and generally not released) by client teams or the EIP's authors, it can be difficult to ascertain whether a release of reference tests (for example from ethereum/tests or ethereum/execution-spec-tests) is sufficient, or even valid, to test the latest version of an EIP's specifications or the specification as currently implemented by a client.
+
+This EIP proposes a semantic versioning scheme and an addition of a CHANGELOG section for EIPs that allows the community to easily track changes, their impact on current client and test implementations and maintain a clear history.
+
+## Specification
+
+Once an EIP has moved out of "Draft" status, it MUST use the EIP versioning scheme outlined below. It MAY already use the versioning scheme in "Draft" status, which could be useful if the specification is actively being implemented. If more than one team is implementing the specification, it is RECOMMENDED to change the EIP's status to "Review".
+
+The EIP versioning scheme MUST follow a semantic versioning scheme of `MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`, which is applied as follows:
+
+1. `MAJOR`: A breaking change to the specifications that requires an implementation change and a change to the reference tests.
+2. `MINOR`: An addition to the specifications that does not require changing an existing implementation, but requires additional implementation and additional test coverage to be added to the reference tests.
+3. `PATCH`: Any cosmetic change to, or a reformulation of, the EIP without specification change.
+
+Before the EIP has moved out of Draft status and is being versioned, the version number MUST initially have `MAJOR` version `0`.
+
+For every change made to an EIP via a PR made to ethereum/EIPs, the PR author MUST add a new entry to the CHANGELOG section of the EIP that outlines the changes made within the PR. This CHANGELOG entry MUST include the following:
+
+1. A new version number that follows the semantic versioning scheme outlined above.
+2. The date when the changes where introduced.
+3. A link to the ethereum/EIPs PR that implements the changes.
+4. A line for each change made to the EIP's specifications that includes a short description of the change.
+
+Additionally, the new version MUST be added to the metadata header of the EIP's markdown file (to a new "version" field), so that it may be easily parsed.
+
+Tooling SHOULD be added to the ethereum/EIPs repository that checks that the CHANGELOG is updated and that the version number in the metadata header matches the latest version number in the CHANGELOG.
+
+EIPS that have dependencies on other EIPS SHOULD include the version of the dependency in the metadata "requires" field.
+
+## Rationale
+
+A semantic versioning scheme enables clearer communication within the community about EIP status and allows the impact of a change to be ascertained at first glance.
+
+Making the version available in the EIP's metadata header additionally allows for programmatic parsing of the version number by tooling used in reference tests or by client teams. Currently, the ethereum/execution-spec-tests repository implements a rudimentary EIP version checker: EIP spec tests are required to declare the EIP's markdown file digest SHA that the test implementation was based on. The current value of the digest SHA is then polled via the Github API to verify that no changes have occurred since the test implementation. While this provides a warning to test implementers that the EIP has changed, it is clearly of limited use.
+
+A richer versioning scheme, as defined by this EIP, can provide a lot of value to the testing toolchain. Client teams can provide an interface that reports the EIP version currently implemented and reference tests can specify the version they implement in generated tests as metadata. This allows a test runner to mark tests to xfail (expectedly fail) and issue a warning if the `MAJOR` or `MINOR` versions don't match. It would even be possible to automatically select the correct version of the reference tests to run against a client implementation, although given the pace of Ethereum development, it will likely be impractical to maintain and track multiple versions of tests.
+
+### Case Study
+
+This section explores how the versioning scheme would be applied to an existing EIPs recently under active development at the time of writing as an example.
+
+The history of [EIP-4788](./eip-4788.md) contains many changes to its specification. EIP-4788 was updated to status "Review" on 2023-11-28 in #7992. This case study assumes, however, that the EIP moved to status "Review" as of #6859 and updated to version 1.0.0 due to the start of a client team implementation.
+
+#### Changelog
+
+- 9.0.1 - 2023-09-26: Update ring buffer size rationale for new ring buffer size, #7786.
+- 9.0.0 - 2023-09-26: Post audit tweaks, #7672.
+  - Verify timestamp is non-zero.
+  - Make `HISTORY_BUFFER_LENGTH` prime (8191).
+  - Load calldata once.
+  - Update `BEACON_ROOTS_ADDRESS`.
+- 8.0.1 - 2023-08-28: 4788 cleanups, #7532.
+- 8.0.0 - 2023-08-24: Initial stab at v2, #7456.
+  - Require timestamp input to be exactly 32 bytes.
+  - Revert if timestamp input does not match stored value (instead of returning zeroed word).
+  - Remove precompile concept, use regular smart contract with provided bytecode.
+- 7.0.3 - 2023-08-01: Mention genesis block with no existing beacon block root case, #7445.
+- 7.0.2 - 2023-07-07: Explicitly specify header schema, #7297.
+- 7.0.1 - 2023-07-07: Fix typo, #7293.
+- 7.0.0 - 2023-07-05: Bound precompile storage, #7178.
+- 6.0.1 - 2023-06-13: Clarify header and validity sections, #7179.
+- 6.0.0 - 2023-06-12: Update precompile address, #7173.
+- 5.0.0 - 2023-05-31: Key beacon roots by root, #7107.
+- 4.0.0 - 2023-05-24: Favor stateful precompile over opcode, #7065.
+- 3.0.0 - 2023-05-17: Send current slot from CL to avoid timestamp conversions, #7037.
+- 2.0.1 - 2023-05-15: Fix typo, #7005.
+- 2.0.0 - 2023-05-03: Update opcode to avoid clash, #6980.
+- 1.0.1 - 2023-04-13: Minor nits, #6870.
+- 1.0.0 - 2023-04-11: Use block roots; update to status "Draft", #6859.
+  - Update to "Draft" due to client implementation (NethermindEth/nethermind#5476).
+  - Use block roots instead of state roots.
+  - Roots are stored keyed by slot.
+  - Use of ring buffer in state.
+  - Use header timestamps to derive slot numbers, rather than consume additional header space.
+- 0.2.1 - 2023-02-04:  Update to status "Stagnant", #6432.
+- 0.2.0 - 2022-06-29:  Rename "beacon block root" to "beacon state root", #5090.
+- 0.1.1 - 2022-05-06: Force usage of included LICENSE file, #5055.
+- 0.1.0 - 2022-02-17: Add EIP-4788: Beacon state root in EVM, #4788.
+
+## Backwards Compatibility
+
+It is not necessary to retroactively add a CHANGELOG or versions for versions of the EIP prior to the introduction of this EIP. Upon the next change to the EIP's Specification section, the author MUST introduce a CHANGELOG section and a version number that follows the semantic versioning scheme outlined above.
+
+## Security Considerations
+
+None.
+
+## Copyright
+
+Copyright and related rights waived via [CC0](../LICENSE.md).