BLOCKCHAIN and its SALT Properties
Published: 2021-11-10 01:43:58

Blockchain: In simple words, 'A Blockchain is a distributed and decentralized database'

But this definition might become vague if you do not have a proper understanding of 1. Decentralization, 2. Distributed Database

so before heading to the blockchain, let me help you with these two terms as these two will help you get a gist about how really is blockchain implemented

1. Distributed Database (DDB): A database is referred to as distributed when it is an integrated collection of databases that are physically distributed across several different geographies around the world in a computer network.

           A distributed database management system of DDBMS is any software that manages a distributed database in such a manner that its distributive aspects are clearly transparent to the users. Apart from this, there are certain guidelines to be followed, such as each file must be 1. Structured

                                                         2. Interrelated Logically

                                                         3. Distributed Physically across multiple locations

Apart from this, there shall be a common interface to access this distributed data

2. Decentralization: A blockchain is just a specific type of database that stores each and every transaction ever made, say in the case of Bitcoin or unlike most databases, these computers are not stored under a single roof, and each computer or a group of them is operated through a unique individual or group of such individuals.

           Imagine any technology company with 10,000 computers connected through a server and all of them contained inside a warehouse holding information of client's account, this company has complete control of these computers and the information contained in them. On the other hand, Bitcoin (or any other cryptocurrency) consists of thousands of computers but each/group of them that potentially holds its blockchain are at different locations and are operated by separate individuals/groups, these computers which make any blockchain networks are called nodes.

           In this model, Blockchain is used in a decentralized manner without having extreme control of individuals/groups and each and every node is governed through consensus of its network nodes. These nodes also keep a complete record of data that has been created, modified, and stored since its inception.

Now that we understood that blockchain is a special kind of database, and we also know that databases. You may argue that they are a communication protocol and they are means of file sharing but all these operations, in turn, creates a database and databases are to be categorized in two specific categories: ACID or BASE!

Before directly diving into any conclusion, we shall scratch our heads and think rationally 

1. ACIDity: Though it may appear that blockchain does enforce Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability in the first instance but do they really take it forward? Blockchain is a synonym for the immutability of records and hence it is fairly durable except when the consensus can overrun the record. Atomicity also tends to be true but is it consistently Atomic? because in a Blockchain, no Transaction runs in Isolation to one another and it is followed every time if multiple such transactions are running simultaneously, so this is a contradiction.

                      Lastly, think about the smart contracts system of Ethereum which have their own state, which is maintained and executed several times within the same block, suppose 1000 transactions occur, then can you truly guess the order of their execution? NO, because the winning miner decides the order of execution. So you see, Blockchain does not have an ACIDity or they do not follow ACID properties.

You must have made your mind that if not ACID, then it is BASE obviously. But hold on for another paragraph,

2. BASEic: Before moving further let me clarify to you that BASE in Databases, is referred to in terms of Big Data where the data is stored in a Distributed manner, remember we discussed distributed systems a minute ago! which stands for, 

1. Basically Available: Data responsibility is widely shared, if any single node becomes unavailable, then the system will not fail but only the data inside that node will

2. Soft State: Data has the tendency to become old or eventually get expired (remember OLAP)

3. Eventual Consistency: Data will get updated in all the nodes of the network with time

So now that we are clear with BASE, let us juxtapose our blockchain with it, We know that a Blockchain has no option with availability and it does need to be available every time, everyone has it but it is never in a soft state, why? because it is IMMUTABLE. On top of that, it is not truly consistent too, although once a longer chain is determined, a new block will be waiting to get merged to it which will create a very new verifiable block, though you will be required consensus and this might be longer for some specific designs but it is probable that it will get consensus, so there is not a true consistency also.

So we saw that a Blockchain is not wearing any specific type of shoe, then what it really is?.

NEUTRALIZATION:  When an acid and a base react in a significant quantity to produce a salt, is called a Neutralization reaction. But why have I deviated from Blockchain to Chemistry? If you have so much time and want to write your next research paper then surely go to this gem(http://www.ise.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/fg308/publications/2017/2017-tai-eberhardt-klems-SALT.pdf) by Stefan Tai and his group of Berlin.

They have proposed an alternative to restricted ACID or BASE, and have genuinely classified the distributed storage systems such as our Blockchain.

But again this SALT has two different architectures and either of them wears a responsible hat from time to time, viz Transactional and  Systemic 

When we are talking about Transaction in a Blockchain Database,

Sequential: Each transaction has to follow a specific order which is determined by a winning miner.
Agreed: We have read it so many times that there is always a consensus to reach a final state, either by winning miner or in Proof of Work
Ledgered:  There is a historical ledger folio of every event in a Blockchain, which is a verified state record.
Tamper-Free: You need at least a 51% majority to commit a new transaction, therefore it is nearly immutable at times

This classification really makes a lot of sense for Blockchain and its features, let us now dive towards Systemic context,

Symmetric: Each node has the right to validate its own data (in private chains) although it will not be viable with the research paper as they have assumed a public network
Administration less: Blockchain is autonomous and self-governed as no single node can change the direction and weight of the database
Ledgered: Again, each node maintains its own ledger and has to provide consensus on behalf of it only
Time-Consensual: There is a fixed time for a block to be created (it is approximate though)

After a neck-to-neck classification, still, we cannot surely hit a conclusion, because it is not the Blockchain that uses SALT but the databases which follow SALT property use Blockchain. But no doubt this is the closest we can go as of now and this field needs a lot of research to be done.