Changelog

PyBitmessage Changelog

0.6.2

• Usability:
  • many minor usability improvements, in particular helpful for beginners
  • get rid of confusing log messages
  • improved feedback when busy during shutdown
  • UI feedback when problems with proxy
  • UI feedback when local time is wrong
  • UI feedback when C PoW module is not available
  • folder loading performance improved
  • translations updated
  • chan join/create interface redesigned
  • can select OpenCL vendor if multiple are available (previously it would have crashed)
  • locale initialisation fixes
  • contact support form and About dialog show the GIT head
  • added setup.py (setuptools) for easier installation
  • gentle warning if sending to a chan with a too low TTL
  • message retransmit timing now works as the description

• Fixes:
  • networking subsystem stability fixes
  • multiprocessing python PoW fixed
  • message parser fixes
  • many smaller fixes
  • OpenBSD listening socket fix (works IPv4-only mode instead of not at all)

• Backend:
  • try to auto-build PoW module
  • networking subsystem performance improvements
  • refactoring of configuration interface, inventory, downloading and uploading tracking, known nodes and other minor parts
  • refactoring to reduce circular imports and global variables
  • support for OpenSSL 1.1.0 and LibreSSL
  • some network parameters configurable, but mostly only through directly editing keys.dat
  • network settings allow an optimised bootstrap provider mode

• Developers:
  • extended encoding available for testing. Use it by holding Shift while clicking on Send
  • extended encoding can be extended by adding new classes to the "messagetypes" directory
  • directory structure reorganisation to get rid of obsolete code

• Linux:
  • setup.py detects Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Gentoo and Guix

• FreeBSD/OpenBSD:
  • separate Makefile for BSD make
  • C PoW core count detection fixes for OpenBSD
  • setup.py detects FreeBSD and OpenBSD

• Windows:
  • improved error handling
  • separate Makefile for Microsoft Visual C++
  • pyinstaller spec file updated
  • 64bit binary does not require MSVC Redistributable 2012 anymore and is mostly built with mingw instead of MSVC
  • updated Python to 2.7.13 and OpenSSL to 1.0.2j/1.0.2k

• OSX:
  • binary works with OpenCL
  • updated to Python 2.7.13 and OpenSSL 1.0.2k

• Infrastructure:
  • 3 additional bootstrap nodes
  • new server for building/testing
  • transifex webhooks automate translation workflow
  • integration with landscape.io for code quality checking

0.6.1

• Translation update and localisation fixes
• Minor bug fixes
• Minor UI improvements
• Namecoin integration fixed and improved
• SMTP server and client interface
• Tor hidden service support
• C PoW builds and runs on *BSD
• Windows binary:
  • fixed build
  • upgraded to Python 2.7.12 and OpenSSL 1.0.2h
  • 64bit binary available for download
  • self-built PyInstaller bootloader should trigger fewer antivirus false positives
• Mac OSX binary:
  • upgraded to Python 2.7.12 and OpenSSL 1.0.2h

0.6.0

• QT interface overhaul
• Opportunistic TLS support
• Mitigation of some deanonymisation attacks
• C (using OpenSSL) and OpenCL PoW modules
• Performance improvements (backend as well as QT GUI)
• UPnP support
• Improved bootstrapping over Tor
• Translation updates
• Lots of tiny bugfixes and some minor security improvements
• Integration of mailchuck.com email gateway

0.4.4

• Added ability to limit network transfer rate
• Updated to Protocol Version 3
• Removed use of memoryview so that we can support python 2.7.3
• Make use of l10n for localizations

0.4.3

• Support pyelliptic's updated HMAC algorithm. We'll remove support for the old method after an upgrade period.
• Improved version check
• Refactored decodeBase58 function
• Ignore duplicate messages
• Added bytes received/sent counts and rate on the network information tab
• Fix unicode handling in 'View HTML code as formatted text'
• Refactor handling of packet headers
• Use pointMult function instead of arithmetic.privtopub since it is faster
• Fixed issue where client wasn't waiting for a verack before continuing on with the conversation
• Fixed CPU hogging by implementing tab-based refresh improvements
• Added curses interface
• Added support for IPv6
• Added a 'trustedpeer' option to keys.dat
• Limit maximum object size to 20 MB
• Support email-like > quote characters and reply-below-quote
• Added Japanese and Dutch language files; updated Norwegian and Russian languages files

0.4.2

• Added Norwegian, Chinese, and Arabic translations
• sock.sendall function isn't atomic. Let sendDataThread be the only thread which sends data.
• Moved API code to api.py
• Populate comboBoxSendFrom when replying
• Added option to show recent broadcasts when subscribing
• Fixed issue: If Windows username contained an international character, Bitmessage wouldn't start
• Added some code for FreeBSD compatibility
• Moved responsibility for processing network objects to the new ObjectProcessorThread
• Refactored main QT module
  • Moved popup menus initialization to separate methods
  • Simplified inbox loading
  • Moved magic strings to the model scope constants so they won't be created every time.
• Updated list of defaultKnownNodes
• Fixed issue: [Linux] When too many messages arrive too quickly, exception occurs: "Exceeded maximum number of notifications"
• Fixed issue: creating then deleting an Address in short time crashes class_singleWorker.py
• Refactored code which displays messages to improve code readability
• load "Sent To" label from subscriptions if available
• Removed code to add chans to our address book as it is no longer necessary
• Added identicons
• Modified addresses.decodeAddress so that API command decodeAddress works properly
• Added API commands createChan, joinChan, leaveChan, deleteAddress
• In pyelliptic, check the return value of RAND_bytes to make sure enough random data was generated
• Don't store messages in UI table (and thus in memory), pull from SQL inventory as needed
• Fix typos in API commands addSubscription and getInboxMessagesByAddress
• Add feature in settings menu to give up resending a message after a specified period of time

0.4.1

• Fixed whitelist bug
• Fixed chan bug
  • Added addressversion field to pubkeys table
  • Sending messages to a chan no longer uses anything in the pubkeys table
  • Sending messages to yourself is now fully supported
• Change _verifyAddress function to support v4 addresses

0.4.0

• Raised default demanded difficulty from 1 to 2 for new addresses
• Added v4 addresses: pubkeys are now encrypted and tagged in the inventory
• Use locks when accessing dictionary inventory
• Refactored the way inv and addr messages are shared
• Give user feedback when disk is full
• Added chan true/false to listAddresses results
• When replying using chan address, send to whole chan not just sender
• Refactored of the way PyBitmessage looks for interesting new objects in large inv messages from peers
• Show inventory lookup rate on Network Status tab
• Added SqlBulkExecute class so we can update inventory with only one commit
• Updated Russian translations
• Move duplicated SQL code into helper
• Allow specification of alternate settings dir via BITMESSAGE_HOME environment variable
• Removed use of gevent. Removed class_bgWorker.py
• Added Sip and PyQt to includes in build_osx.py
• Show number of each message type processed in the API command clientStatus
• Use fast PoW unless we're explicitly a frozen (binary) version of the code
• Enable user-set localization in settings
• Fix Archlinux package creation
• Fallback to language only localization when region doesn't match
• Fixed brew install instructions
• Added German translation
• Made inbox and sent messages table panels read-only
• Allow inbox and sent preview panels to resize
• Count RE: as a reply header, just like Re: so we don't chain Re: RE:
• Fix for traceback on OSX
• Added backend ability to understand shorter addresses
• Convert 'API Error' to raise APIError()
• Added option in settings to allow sending to a mobile device (app not yet done)
• Added ability to start daemon mode when using Bitmessage as a module
• Improved the way client detects locale
• Added API commands: getInboxMessageIds, getSentMessageIds, listAddressBookEntries, trashSentMessageByAckData, addAddressBookEntry, deleteAddressBookEntry, listAddresses2, listSubscriptions
• Set a maximum frequency for playing sounds
• Show Invalid Method error in same format as other API errors
• Update status of separate broadcasts separately even if the sent data is identical
• Added Namecoin integration
• Internally distinguish peers by IP and port
• Inbox message retrieval API functions now also returns read status

0.3.5

• Added right-click option to mark a message as unread
• Prompt user to connect at first startup
• Install into /usr/local by default
• Add a missing `rm -f` to the uninstall task.
• Use system text color for enabled addresses instead of black
• Added support for Chans
• Start storing msgid in sent table
• Optionally play sounds on connection/disconnection or when messages arrive
• Adding configuration option to listen for connections when using SOCKS
• Added packaging for multiple distros (Arch, Puppy, Slack, etc.)
• Added Russian translation
• Added search support in the UI
• Added 'make uninstall'
• To improve OSX support, use PKCS5_PBKDF2_HMAC_SHA1 if PKCS5_PBKDF2_HMAC is unavailable
• Added better warnings for OSX users who are using old versions of Python
• Repaired debian packaging
• Altered Makefile to avoid needing to chase changes
• Added logger module
• Added bgWorker class for background tasks
• Added use of gevent module
• On not-Windows: Fix insecure keyfile permissions
• Fix 100% CPU usage issue

0.3.4

• Linux: Store config files in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME
• Added a new global variable user option: doTimingAttackMitigation
• Moved a variety of classes and functions out of bitmessagemain.py and to their own modules
• New API command: getSentMessageByAckData
• Modified the getAllSentMessages and getSentMessageById commands to return ackData
• API commands to get messages now return actual encoding type
• Bugfix: Unicode chars in localtime prevented the gui from starting
• Added 'Save message as...' option in Inbox
• Added OS X Build scripts
• Added option to subscribe to an address in your address book
• Added getInboxMessageById API command
• Updated icons to have sRGB profile to prevent warnings
• Added French translation
• Switched addr, msg, broadcast, and getpubkey message types to 8 byte time. Last remaining type is pubkey.
• Added tooltips to show the full subject of messages
• Added Maximum Acceptable Difficulty fields in the settings
• Send out pubkey immediately after generating deterministic addresses rather than waiting for a request

0.3.3

• Remove inbox item from GUI when using API command trashMessage
• Add missing trailing semicolons to pybitmessage.desktop
• Ensure $(DESTDIR)/usr/bin exists
• Update Makefile to correct sandbox violations when built via Portage (Gentoo)
• Fix message authentication bug

0.3.211

• Removed multi-core proof of work as the multiprocessing module does not work well with pyinstaller's --onefile option.

0.3.2

• Bugfix: Remove remaining references to the old myapp.trayIcon
• Refactored message status-related code. API function getStatus now returns one of these strings: notfound, msgqueued, broadcastqueued, broadcastsent, doingpubkeypow, awaitingpubkey, doingmsgpow, msgsent, or ackreceived
• Moved proof of work to low-priority multi-threaded child processes
• Added menu option to delete all trashed messages
• Added inv flooding attack mitigation
• On Linux, when selecting Show Bitmessage, do not maximize automatically
• Store tray icons in bitmessage_icons_rc.py

0.3.1

• Added new API commands: getDeterministicAddress, addSubscription, deleteSubscription
• TCP Connection timeout for non-fully-established connections now 20 seconds
• Don't update the time we last communicated with a node unless the connection is fully established. This will allow us to forget about active but non-Bitmessage nodes which have made it into our knownNodes file.
• Prevent incoming connection flooding from crashing singleListener thread. Client will now only accept one connection per remote node IP
• Bugfix: Worker thread crashed when doing a POW to send out a v2 pubkey (bug introduced in 0.3.0)
• Wrap all sock.shutdown functions in error handlers
• Put all 'commit' commands within SQLLocks
• Bugfix: If address book label is blank, Bitmessage wouldn't show message (bug introduced in 0.3.0)
• Messaging menu item selects the oldest unread message
• Standardize on 'Quit' rather than 'Exit'
• [OSX] Try to seek homebrew installation of OpenSSL
• Prevent multiple instances of the application from running
• Show 'Connected' or 'Connection Lost' indicators
• Use only 9 half-open connections on Windows but 32 for everyone else
• Added appIndicator (a more functional tray icon) and Ubuntu Messaging Menu integration
• Changed Debian install directory and run script name based on Github issue #135

0.3.0

• Added new API function: getStatus
• Added error-handling around all sock.sendall() functions in the receiveData thread so that if there is a problem sending data, the threads will close gracefully
• Abandoned and removed the connectionsCount data structure; use the connectedHostsList instead because it has proved to be more accurate than trying to maintain the connectionsCount
• Added daemon mode. All UI code moved into a module and many shared objects moved into shared.py
• Truncate display of very long messages to avoid freezing the UI
• Added encrypted broadcasts for v3 addresses or v2 addresses after 2013-05-28 10:00 UTC
• No longer self.sock.close() from within receiveDataThreads, let the sendDataThreads do it
• Swapped out the v2 announcements subscription address for a v3 announcements subscription address
• Vacuum the messages.dat file once a month: will greatly reduce the file size
• Added a settings table in message.dat
• Implemented v3 addresses: pubkey messages must now include two var_ints: nonce_trials_per_byte and extra_bytes, and also be signed. When sending a message to a v3 address, the sender must use these values in calculating its POW or else the message will not be accepted by the receiver.
• Display a privacy warning when selecting 'Send Broadcast from this address'
• Added gitignore file
• Added code in preparation for a switch from 32-bit time to 64-bit time. Nodes will now advertise themselves as using protocol version 2.
• Don't necessarily delete entries from the inventory after 2.5 days; leave pubkeys there for 28 days so that we don't process the same ones many times throughout a month. This was causing the 'pubkeys processed' indicator on the 'Network Status' tab to not accurately reflect the number of truly new addresses on the network.
• Use 32 threads for outgoing connections in order to connect quickly
• Fix typo when calling os.environ in the sys.platform=='darwin' case
• Allow the cancelling of a message which is in the process of being sent by trashing it then restarting Bitmessage
• Bug fix: can't delete address from address book

0.2.8

• Fixed Ubuntu & OS X issue: Bitmessage wouldn't receive any objects from peers after restart.
• Inventory flush to disk when exiting program now vastly faster.
• Fixed address generation bug (kept Bitmessage from restarting).
• Improve deserialization of messages before processing.
• Change to help Macs find OpenSSL the way Unix systems find it.
• Do not share or accept IPs which are in the private IP ranges.
• Added time-fuzzing to the embedded time in pubkey and getpubkey messages.
• Added a knownNodes lock to prevent an exception from sometimes occurring when saving the data-structure to disk.
• Show unread messages in bold and do not display new messages automatically; let user click it.
• Support selecting multiple items in the inbox, sent box, and address book.
• Use delete key to trash Inbox or Sent messages.
• Display richtext(HTML) messages from senders in address book or subscriptions (although not pseudo-mailing-lists; use new right-click option).
• Support enabling and disabling subscriptions.
• Trim spaces from the beginning and end of addresses when adding to address book, subscriptions, and blacklist.
• Improved the display of the time for foreign language users.

0.2.7

• Added API. See API Reference.
• Added error handling for the case where the client tries to send a message from an address for which the human has deleted the keys.
• Improved GUI messages when doing work (or pending work) for broadcast messages.
• Added error handling for the case where the proof of work takes no measurable time (caused a divide by zero error).

0.2.6

• New Feature: Pseudo-mailing-lists (available by right-clicking one of your addresses)
• New Feature: Portable Mode (available in the settings)
• Added missing context menu on the blacklist tab

0.2.5

• Bugfix-only release: Program improperly handles other nodes claiming to be in stream 0 (issue appeared when implementing IPv6). UI Freezes.

0.2.4

• Prevent user from sending messages to themselves since the client cannot process its own getpubkey or msg messages
• Do the pubkey POW and broadcast it directly after generating a new address

0.2.3

• Defined rules for nodes to follow for storing and relaying pubkeys. Nodes now store keys for 4 weeks then delete them. They also will not accept pubkeys older than 4 weeks; the owner will have to retransmit them if they are needed.
• Added 'fuzzing' to the time embedded in msg and broadcast messages.
• Added timing attack mitigation to the function that processes incoming pubkeys
• Added a new file: messages.dat reader.py which can be independently used to print information stored in the messages.dat file to the console.
• Users who run the software for the first time will now be subscribed by default to a Bitmessage address used to send announcements.

0.2.2

• Don't use DNS-based bootstrapping method if user is connecting via SOCKS; just skip it. Hopefully the nodes listed in defaultKnownNodes are still up.
• Implemented timing attack mitigation measure

0.2.1

• Added ability to send Sent items to the trash
• Keep track of which objects each peer is already aware and don't advertise objects that they already know about

0.2.0

• Major upgrade to ECC:
  • Elliptic curve secp256k1 is used for Bitmessage's signing and asymetric encryption. Keys are interchangable between Bitmessage and Bitcoin.
  • Keys stored in Wallet Import Format in the keys.dat file
  • Deterministic addresses
  • Addresses are now shorter: Bitmessage now supports 18 and 19 byte RIPE addresses where the missing 1 or 2 bytes are assumed to be zeros.
• Moved pubkey POW responsibility from the receiveData thread to the singleWorker thread

0.1.6

• Added DNS-based bootstrap method so that updating defaultKnownNodes doesn't require a code push.

0.1.5

• Client now checks whether a getpubkey message has the correct time before storing in inventory and also uses embeddedTime rather than system time (the way it is done for all other messages). This was a bug that didn't cause any ill-effect.
• Fix so that today's Bitmessage client will properly handle future versions of Bitmessage addresses
• Updated defaultKnownNodes

0.1.4

• Added support for SOCKS4a and SOCKS5 proxies
• Adjusted UI so that it looks appropriate on OS X
• Changed UI to accept Bitmessage addresses which lack a "BM-". This makes copying and pasting easier.
• Fixed OS X issue: if user minimized client to tray then restored, segmentation fault occured
• Added locks to prevent ill-effect if the client receives the same object from two different nodes at the exact same time
• Commented out code that prevents the client from accepting a second connection from the same IP since this prevents users from running two clients within the same local network. When the Bitmessage network grows, this code will be re-enabled.

0.1.3

• Updated defaultKnownNodes so people who download Bitmessage on a fresh machine can bootstrap
• Sort received-message-time by actual time rather than by time-interpreted-alphabetically

0.1.2

• Fixed line break display issue
• Updated defaultKnownNodes so people who download Bitmessage on a fresh machine can bootstrap
• Bug fix: If subject in received message contained international characters, reply button wouldn't work completely

0.1.1

• Fixed bug that prevented user from deleting a recently received message
• On the "Send" tab, select your address automatically if you have only one
• Rewrote the SQLite version check more liberally accept SQLite revision numbers
• Fixed "reply" functionality
• Removed PyObjc dependency for OSX

0.1.0

• Initial release