Align code with changes in the node

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 66 views

Introduction

In the recent sprint, a significant update was made to the Casper Node, which has a direct impact on the Casper Sidecar. As a result, it is essential to update the Casper Sidecar to align with the changes in the Casper Node. This retrospective issue aims to address the PR #417, which was merged in the Feb-25 to Mar-11 '25 sprint. The primary objective of this update is to ensure that the Casper Sidecar is compatible with the latest version of the Casper Node and functions correctly with the new updates.

Background

The Casper Node and Casper Sidecar are two critical components of the Casper Network. The Casper Node is responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the blockchain, while the Casper Sidecar is a companion service that provides additional functionality to the Casper Node. The Casper Sidecar relies heavily on the Casper Node, and any changes to the Casper Node can have a significant impact on the Casper Sidecar.

Update casper-node dependency

The first step in updating the Casper Sidecar is to update the casper-node dependency. This involves updating the version of the casper-node package in the Casper Sidecar's package.json file. The updated version should match the latest version of the Casper Node.

"dependencies": {
  "@casper-ecosystem/casper-node": "^1.0.0",
  ...
}

Align code with changes in the node

Once the casper-node dependency is updated, the next step is to align the code with the changes in the node. This involves reviewing the changes made to the Casper Node and updating the Casper Sidecar's code to match these changes. This may involve updating the API calls, data structures, or other components of the Casper Sidecar.

Key Changes

The following are some of the key changes that need to be made to the Casper Sidecar:

Updated API calls: The Casper Node has introduced new API calls, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar. This includes updating the get_block API call to use the new get_block_by_hash API call.
Updated data structures: The Casper Node has introduced new data structures, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar. This includes updating the Block data structure to use the new BlockHeader data structure.
Updated error handling: The Casper Node has introduced new error handling mechanisms, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar. This includes updating the error handling code to use the new Error class.

Implementation

The implementation of the update involves the following steps:

Update casper-node dependency: Update the casper-node dependency in the Casper Sidecar's package.json file.
Align code with changes in the node: Review the changes made to the Casper Node and update the Casper Sidecar's code to match these changes.
Test the update: Test the update to ensure that the Casper Sidecar functions correctly with the new updates.

Benefits

The benefits of updating the Casper Sidecar to align with the changes in the Casper Node are:

Improved compatibility: The update ensures that the Casper Sidecar is compatible with the latest version of the Casper Node.
Improved functionality: The update ensures that the Casper Sidecar functions correctly with the new updates.
Reduced bugs: The update reduces the likelihood of bugs and errors in the Casper Sidecar.

Conclusion

In conclusion, updating the Casper Sidecar to align with the changes in the Casper Node is a critical step in ensuring the compatibility and functionality of the Casper Sidecar. The update involves updating the casper-node dependency and aligning the code with the changes in the node. The benefits of the update include improved compatibility, improved functionality, and reduced bugs.

Future Work

Future work includes:

Continuously monitoring the Casper Node for changes: Continuously monitoring the Casper Node for changes and updating the Casper Sidecar accordingly.
Improving the testing framework: Improving the testing framework to ensure that the Casper Sidecar is thoroughly tested.
Enhancing the documentation: Enhancing the documentation to ensure that the Casper Sidecar is well-documented.

References

Casper Node Documentation
Casper Sidecar Documentation
PR #417
Q&A: Update casper-sidecar in line with casper-node changes and dependency ====================================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the importance of updating the Casper Sidecar to align with the changes in the Casper Node. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the update.

Q: What is the purpose of updating the Casper Sidecar?

A: The primary purpose of updating the Casper Sidecar is to ensure that it is compatible with the latest version of the Casper Node. This update ensures that the Casper Sidecar functions correctly with the new updates and reduces the likelihood of bugs and errors.

Q: What are the key changes that need to be made to the Casper Sidecar?

A: The key changes that need to be made to the Casper Sidecar include:

Updated API calls: The Casper Node has introduced new API calls, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar.
Updated data structures: The Casper Node has introduced new data structures, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar.
Updated error handling: The Casper Node has introduced new error handling mechanisms, which need to be updated in the Casper Sidecar.

Q: How do I update the casper-node dependency in the Casper Sidecar?

A: To update the casper-node dependency in the Casper Sidecar, you need to update the version of the casper-node package in the Casper Sidecar's package.json file. The updated version should match the latest version of the Casper Node.

"dependencies": {
  "@casper-ecosystem/casper-node": "^1.0.0",
  ...
}

Q: How do I align the code with the changes in the node?

A: To align the code with the changes in the node, you need to review the changes made to the Casper Node and update the Casper Sidecar's code to match these changes. This may involve updating the API calls, data structures, or other components of the Casper Sidecar.

Q: What are the benefits of updating the Casper Sidecar?

A: The benefits of updating the Casper Sidecar include:

Improved compatibility: The update ensures that the Casper Sidecar is compatible with the latest version of the Casper Node.
Improved functionality: The update ensures that the Casper Sidecar functions correctly with the new updates.
Reduced bugs: The update reduces the likelihood of bugs and errors in the Casper Sidecar.

Q: How do I test the update?

A: To test the update, you need to test the Casper Sidecar to ensure that it functions correctly with the new updates. This may involve running the Casper Sidecar with the updated code and verifying that it works as expected.

Q: What are the future work items for the Casper Sidecar?

A: The future work items for the Casper Sidecar include:

Continuously monitoring the Casper Node for changes: Continuously monitoring the Casper Node for changes and updating the Casper Sidecar accordingly.
Improving the testing framework: Improving the testing framework to ensure that the Casper Sidecar is thoroughly tested.
Enhancing the documentation: Enhancing the documentation to ensure that the Casper Sidecar is well-documented.

Conclusion

In conclusion, updating the Casper Sidecar to align with the changes in the Casper Node is a critical step in ensuring the compatibility and functionality of the Casper Sidecar. By answering these FAQs, we hope to provide a better understanding of the update and its benefits.