Book Image

Blockchain with Hyperledger Fabric - Second Edition

By : Nitin Gaur, Anthony O'Dowd, Petr Novotny, Luc Desrosiers, Venkatraman Ramakrishna, Salman A. Baset
Book Image

Blockchain with Hyperledger Fabric - Second Edition

By: Nitin Gaur, Anthony O'Dowd, Petr Novotny, Luc Desrosiers, Venkatraman Ramakrishna, Salman A. Baset

Overview of this book

Blockchain with Hyperledger Fabric - Second Edition is a refreshed and extended version of the successful book on practical Hyperledger Fabric blockchain development. This edition includes many new chapters, alongside comprehensive updates and additions to the existing ones. Entirely reworked for Hyperledger Fabric version 2, this edition will bring you right up to date with the latest in blockchain. Using a real-world Trade Finance and Logistics example, with working code available on GitHub, you’ll really understand both how and why Hyperledger Fabric can be used to maximum effect. This book is your comprehensive guide and reference to explore and build blockchain networks using Hyperledger Fabric version 2. This edition of the book begins by outlining the evolution of blockchain, including an overview of relevant blockchain technologies. Starting from first principles, you’ll learn how to design and operate a permissioned blockchain network based on Hyperledger Fabric version 2. You will learn how to configure the main architectural components of a permissioned blockchain network including Peers, Orderers, Certificate Authorities, Channels, and Policies. You’ll then learn how to design, develop, package, and deploy smart contracts, and how they are subsequently used by applications. This edition also contains chapters on DevOps, blockchain governance, and security, making this your go-to book for Hyperledger Fabric version 2.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
16
Another Book You May Enjoy
17
Index

Decentralization and governance

You may be wondering why we are covering such a topic in a blockchain book. After all, aren't blockchain networks supposed to be decentralized and, therefore, guarded against the control of a single entity? The reality is that, behind the technology, there are humans who shape the direction of the solution. For an enterprise-grade blockchain network to succeed, it requires many decisions throughout its life cycle.

Even Bitcoin, the decentralized, anonymous, permissionless network, must deal with hard decisions. A case in point is the controversy around Bitcoin's block size. In the early days of Bitcoin, the developers set a block size limit of 1 MB. As the network scaled up, this limit became problematic. Numerous proposals were issued, but the need for a consensus across the entirety of Bitcoin nodes made the change a challenge to agree upon. The debate started in 2015, but the community had to wait until February 2018...