Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Bitcoin Wallet for Android => Topic started by: Automatic on May 31, 2014, 12:33:41 PM



Title: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Automatic on May 31, 2014, 12:33:41 PM
Is it like bitcoin-qt where only the size of keypool is backed up? Or, is it like Armory where an infinite amount of future addresses are backed up? If it's the former, how do I increase the keypool size (To something like 10,000 addresses or something)?

I don't really want to use this wallet, have my phone crash, then realize I only backed up the first ten addresses or something stupid like that, and, lose my money.


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Andreas Schildbach on May 31, 2014, 01:37:18 PM
Currently, it only backs up the addresses you have already created.

In future, it will have BIP32 deterministic wallets. You only need to backup the once, immediately after starting the app for the first time.


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Seldar on May 31, 2014, 05:57:19 PM
Hello!

I would like to use your looking good wallet but i currently have a problem.
I manage to save the key, i know where to find the backup, how to decrypt it with openSSL but... What's the file format i obtained?
It's not a text file with private/public keys, so how can i use it?

Thank you!

PS : I'v tried that : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=565720.msg6860737#msg6860737
But nothing happened except "Could not understand adress in import files"


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Andreas Schildbach on May 31, 2014, 07:36:41 PM
It's the bitcoinj wallet protobuf format. You can access it e.g. with "wallet tool" that comes with bitcoinj.


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Seldar on May 31, 2014, 08:06:07 PM
Ok, but Multibit can't read it. I thought it was possible?


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Andreas Schildbach on May 31, 2014, 08:20:30 PM
We had to switch away from the textual backup format that was agreed with MultiBit 3 years ago. It doesn't support encrypted keys, HD wallets, read-only keys etc.

I think MultiBit will also switch away or has already done so. They should be able to open the bitcoinj wallet format directly though. Check with Jim if you want to try.



Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Automatic on June 01, 2014, 11:23:09 AM
Currently, it only backs up the addresses you have already created.

In future, it will have BIP32 deterministic wallets. You only need to backup the once, immediately after starting the app for the first time.


That's a shame. I don't like reusing addresses (I.E. change back to the same address, or, multiple payments) for the sake of it being hard for me to manage what payments are what (One address/payment is a lot easier), so, this wallet is unusable for me at it's current state. Hopefully when you come out with this feature it'll be usable. Is there at ETA (Time/version)? Or, is it just in limbo currently?


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Andreas Schildbach on June 01, 2014, 11:36:37 AM
Currently, it only backs up the addresses you have already created.

In future, it will have BIP32 deterministic wallets. You only need to backup the once, immediately after starting the app for the first time.


That's a shame. I don't like reusing addresses (I.E. change back to the same address, or, multiple payments) for the sake of it being hard for me to manage what payments are what (One address/payment is a lot easier), so, this wallet is unusable for me at it's current state. Hopefully when you come out with this feature it'll be usable. Is there at ETA (Time/version)? Or, is it just in limbo currently?

The project is open source and free software. You could have coded the feature already 3 years ago. Heck, you could even have submitted a patch by now! Why didn't you do?

It's best to follow progress on HD wallets on the bitcoinj mailing list. Mike has recently estimated "later this summer".


Title: Re: If I backup the wallet, how many future addresses are backed up?
Post by: Automatic on June 02, 2014, 02:43:16 AM
Currently, it only backs up the addresses you have already created.

In future, it will have BIP32 deterministic wallets. You only need to backup the once, immediately after starting the app for the first time.


That's a shame. I don't like reusing addresses (I.E. change back to the same address, or, multiple payments) for the sake of it being hard for me to manage what payments are what (One address/payment is a lot easier), so, this wallet is unusable for me at it's current state. Hopefully when you come out with this feature it'll be usable. Is there at ETA (Time/version)? Or, is it just in limbo currently?

The project is open source and free software. You could have coded the feature already 3 years ago. Heck, you could even have submitted a patch by now! Why didn't you do?


I... I... I don't know. Why didn't I? Hold up just one second, this is your project, stop making me feel guilty!

Probably because by the time I got a Java IDE up and running, got familiar with your code, researched how BIP32 works, implemented into the code that's not a complete hack, and, had everything running nicely, someone else would have beaten me to the punch... and I'm relatively lazy. I'm sorry :'(