The Ethereum community has officially concluded its longstanding debate regarding the division between Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC) and Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP). This pivotal decision was recently highlighted in the Ethereum Github documentation and confirmed by the well-known Chinese reporter, Colin Wu, in a recent tweet.
In this resolution, ERC has been solidified as the primary platform for maintaining standardized and high-quality documentation related to the Ethereum application layer. The ERC readme file statement underlines its vital role as a foundational resource for the Ethereum community, facilitating the tracking of application standards’ evolution, which encompasses historical developments and ongoing improvements.
Simultaneously, the core EIP, Ethereum Improvement Proposal, has been designated as the dedicated framework for enhancing the Ethereum consensus protocol. This clear distinction sets the stage for more focused and effective governance over the development of Ethereum’s underlying consensus mechanisms.
Specifically, the EIP readme file emphasizes that EIP’s primary objective is to establish and maintain standardized, high-quality documentation for Ethereum itself and the conventions built on the Ethereum blockchain. EIP authors bear the responsibility of fostering consensus within the community and meticulously documenting any dissenting opinions that may emerge during the proposal’s evaluation.
Furthermore, EIPs are intended to serve as the primary instruments for proposing new features within Ethereum, gathering essential technical insights from the community on relevant issues, and preserving a transparent record of the design choices influencing Ethereum’s evolution.
The division between ERC and EIP development represents the culmination of years of discussions and deliberations among the Ethereum developer community, marking a significant milestone in the platform’s evolution.