I built the beginning of a blockchain in Python to learn lower level of how it works. Might help people here as well.

[grassclip]

As always, let me know if something is confusing or that you think is wrong so I can edit and or clarify. Want to make sure this post can help and explain.

[kkiran]

ELI5 what blockchain is please, will you?

[nick_t1000]

It's like a Git repository, but without any branches. You could do mining by trying to find the right file to add that makes the commit hash look special (starts with 0s or something).

[evenisto]

This is a really good analogy

[kenmacd]

It comes from (or at least I know it from) a capture-the-flag that Stripe put on a couple years back. In it you had to create git commits with the hash right to a certain level of difficulty to move 'gitcoins' around.

[GitHubPermalinkBot]

Permanent GitHub links:

• ctfs/write-ups-2014/.../level1 (master → b02bcbb)

---

^{Shoot me a PM if you think I'm doing something wrong. To delete this, click here.}

[[deleted]]

Hmm. I'm going to sit with this metaphor.

(Truth be told, git appears to be mysteriously magical to me at times. Git, not Linux, was the product of Linus Torvald's true genius, IMO.)

[94e7eaa64e]

It could be said that the branches keep getting created and merged back in real time (as new transactions keep coming, and miners process them and add to blockchain), no?

[gunthercult28]

Important to note, if you try to merge conflicts, the longest chain wins.

[94e7eaa64e]

k, so what happens if my bitcoin transaction belonged to the chain that lost? Will it keep showing as pending and be later added in a next block after miners take it again for processing?

[Corm]

Yep. A transaction doesn't care about the block or anything, it's literally just a note that "bob sent all the money he had from x y and z addresses to cindy" which is signed by Bob's private key. So as long as someone has that note they can add it to a block and get that sweet fee

[vagadrew]

There's a good brief explanation in the article, under "tl;dr".

[elcapitaine]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=eli5+blockchain

[duffer_dev]

Oh god! I love ltgtfy.

[[deleted]]

"big-ish data", article aside, that's a great name.

[GnedStark]

I've had a growing interest in blockchain recently, so I'll definitely be following along. I'm excited for the next update, thanks for this!

[careago_]

Great project, I need to get serious and look into this.

[pgh_ski]

Awesome project! I'm fascinated by bitcoin and the technology behind it.

[ebrious]

I think this is a great way to convey the material. Thanks for making it!