In the most recent ACD call held on Thursday, Ethereum core developers restated their commitment to deploy Full EOF (EVM object format) with the Fusaka fork, in conjunction with the PeerDAS main driver. The elaborate review of the options was presented by Ipsilon, where Full EOF was referred to as “Option A.”
The EOF, a significant revamp of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), is designed to enhance the long-term optimization, safety, and modularity of Ethereum’s execution engine. However, the sweeping ambition of this initiative has triggered a considerable controversy within the developer community.
Felix, a member of the Geth team, endorsed the more restrained Option D, creating a slight discordance with his colleague, Lightclients. This disparity among the Geth team members highlights the differing viewpoints within the Ethereum community regarding the EOF’s implementation.
Adding fuel to the fire, Pascal Caversaccio, an independent voice outside the client teams, voiced vehement opposition to the Full EOF. He further amplified his critique in his published article “EOF: When Complexity Outweighs Necessity.” Caversaccio argued that there is no demand for EOF among application developers. He further warned that the implementation of EOF could risk estranging the broader developer community.
Despite this opposition, Ethereum Foundation staff, including Piper Merriam and Ansgar Dietrichs, remained steadfast in their support for Full EOF. The client teams, such as Besu and Erigon, also threw their weight behind this initiative. Their argument was that Full EOF represents a clean structural reset that is desired by compiler authors and is backward-compatible for developers who prefer the legacy EVM.
The controversy surrounding Full EOF has exposed the fissures within the Ethereum developer community. While some developers argue that the Full EOF could lead to unnecessary complexity and potential alienation of the developer community, others see it as a necessary step towards a long-term, optimized and secure Ethereum execution engine.
As the debate intensifies, the community will be closely watching the Ethereum core developers’ next moves. Their decision will not only impact the immediate future of Ethereum but could also shape the longer-term trajectory of the platform. The Ethereum community will be hoping for a resolution that caters to the needs of all stakeholders and ensures the continued growth and success of the platform.
As the story unfolds, we’ll be sure to keep our readers updated with the latest developments. For more in-depth coverage and analysis, subscribe to the 0xResearch newsletter.
