Proposal #3 for a new intern project

[ghost]

What?

Create, save and run scripts to find bugs in Bitcoin Core

Why?

1. Make it easier for power users to test Bitcoin Core and review different PRs
2. PowerShell scripting is easier than writing or understanding tests in C++, Python etc. Using GUI in script builder is even easier to create different tests.
3. There should be no limits in testing especially if you love it. Testing should be done in every possible environment, programming language, different scenarios.
4. If such tools are included in any Information Security Conferences or Courses, it might help in getting more people to test and review Bitcoin Core.
5. Bitcoin Core already has lot of functional tests, devs who often find interesting bugs and fix them. Testing manually with a better UI/UX can only improve things.

How?

Programming Language: C#
Target OS: Linux and Windows
Scripting: Powershell and Bitcoin Core JSON-RPC API

Default scripts will be focused on testing privacy and security but script builder can be used to test anything. There will be a script repository where anyone can contribute with their ideas.

Milestones:

• 1. Discuss ideas and scope of improvement in testing with devs who are involved in writing unit tests, functional test, fuzzing etc. for Bitcoin Core. Document feedback and important things. IRC logs: https://www.erisian.com.au/bitcoin-core-dev/log-2021-07-07.html

• 2. Implementation (30 July 2021):

  • 2(a) Write 1 PowerShell Script to test one of the features in node or wallet. Create a repository for scripts. https://github.com/prayank23/bitcoin-ps-scripts
  • 2(b) Use NBitcoin and Bitcoin JSON-RPC API to run this script from a C# application. https://i.imgur.com/TRBHlrI.png
  • 2(c) Implement most of the RPCs
  • 2(d) Review 5 open PRs in Bitcoin Core that improve privacy or security. Write PowerShell Scripts to test them and save in the application. https://github.com/prayank23/bitcoin-ps

• 3. Testing: Test the application, fix if any bugs or missing exception handling and ask few devs including Blockchain Commons interns to try the application (13 August 2021)

• 4. Share the project on Twitter, Mailing list, Reddit. Document things that can be added in future to improve the application for testing. (20 August 2021)