Bitcoins decentralized and not owned by just one person, right? It's like a team effort where everyone contributes to keep it safe. Kind of like a company running without a single boss, just a bunch of workers. Does that even happen anywhere?
To be a BIP, it must have some level of approval, but not all proposals have numbers. Different wallets use different BIPs, and yes they can pass with over 51% support from the community. That's how user activated soft forks work.
Totally agree. You got the current version live, and if a lot of folks want an upgrade, it happens. But most times, things stay the same. Plus, not all changes need consensus. Some BIPs are just for info, and you can take or leave them.
Actually, having a BIP number doesn't mean it's a solid idea. Just because it's in the repo doesn't mean it’s active or used in Bitcoin. So, yeah, not every BIP is worth its weight.
Wow, learned a lot from you all. But now I'm confused by the replies from @vjudeu and @achow101. They kinda contradict each other. So many BIPs get rejected. Are the ones marked as "FINAL" just waiting for community review?
Nah, there are no real review phases for BIPs. When it says "FINAL," it just means it’s being used enough that changing it might confuse things. But "FINAL" doesn’t mean it’s good or recommended. Just that the document’s staying as is.
Plus, some BIPs get used while still in draft form. That’s why many don’t reach the final stage. They have issues that would break compatibility if fixed, so they just stay stuck in limbo.