delvingbitcoin

BTC Lisp as an alternative to Script

BTC Lisp as an alternative to Script

Original Postby ZmnSCPxj

Posted on: March 14, 2024 22:25 UTC

The email discusses the potential benefits of implementing a strrev function within programming environments, specifically highlighting its utility in converting positive numbers to their big-endian representation.

This conversion is crucial for calculating scalars that can be used with the secp256k1_muladd function, indicating a significant application in cryptographic operations or similar fields where endianess plays a critical role. The suggestion implies an improvement in efficiency and functionality for developers working in environments that require such numerical manipulations.

Additionally, the email touches upon the importance of establishing a robust system for mapping high-level lisp to low-level code, especially for debuggers and interpreters. It points out that Chia, a blockchain platform known for its implementation of chialisp, is currently lagging in this aspect. This lag has led to considerable negative feedback from the development community regarding chialisp development. The ability to accurately map between different levels of code is essential for debugging and understanding how high-level instructions translate into machine-level operations.

Furthermore, the concept of "source maps" from JavaScript is introduced as a possible solution to the mapping problem. Source maps allow developers to trace back the source location of high-level, non-mangled code from the equivalent location of low-level, mangled code delivered to browsers. This mechanism facilitates easier debugging and comprehension by providing a direct correlation between the original source code and the transformed code executed by the machine. The email suggests that adopting a similar approach could benefit environments like Chia by improving the clarity and maintainability of code, potentially addressing one of the major criticisms faced by chialisp developers.