Descriptor wallet support timeline (Core v30 compatibility)

[nmfretz]

Hey @theborakompanioni -

Currently on umbrelOS all bitcoin node implementations (Core, Knots, Libre Relay) set -deprecatedrpc=create_bdb to ensure compatibility with Jam.

However, v30 has completely removed bdb legacy wallets

BDB legacy wallets can no longer be created or loaded. They can be migrated to the new descriptor wallet format. Refer to the migratewallet RPC for more details.

So as soon as any of the node apps update to include that wallet change, Jam will no longer work correct? Is descriptor wallet support imminent by chance so that Jam users don't get locked out of funds? I imagine this would be a similar issue across other OS's that have Jam as an app.

[theborakompanioni]

Hey @nmfretz!

So as soon as any of the node apps update to include that wallet change, Jam will no longer work correct?

Correct.

Is descriptor wallet support imminent by chance so that Jam users don't get locked out of funds?

JoinMarket merged support for descriptor wallets but has not yet had a new release published. I want to stress that nobody is ever being locked out of any funds as a Bitcoin Core wallet is only used as watchonly wallet, and users are in full control of their keys.

I imagine this would be a similar issue across other OS's that have Jam as an app.

Yes.

[nmfretz]

https://github.com/JoinMarket-Org/joinmarket-clientserver/pull/1775 but has not yet had a new release published.

Got it. Okay, what we're planning to do is updating the Bitcoin Node app with the functionality to choose a Bitcoin Core version to run (right now it just defaults to the latest we package it with). So for now, we can keep the startup cli arg deprecatedrpc=create_bdb (v30 will not error with it) so that if needed a user can downgrade to 29.2 and have it work with Jam until descriptor wallet support is available in a release.

I want to stress that nobody is ever being locked out of any funds as a Bitcoin Core wallet is only used as watchonly wallet, and users are in full control of their keys.

Oh ya, good clarification. I had meant that from a user's perspective they would be "locked out" when specifically using the Jam app on umbrelOS after they update the Bitcoin Node app because there is no way right now to downgrade. But we can solve that with version choice in the app.

[nmfretz]

@theborakompanioni we just issued an app update for the Bitcoin Node app that let's users choose their Bitcoin Core version within the app https://x.com/umbrel/status/1981353059004666034

If anyone running Core v30 reaches out with issues connecting their Jam app they can:

• Open the Bitcoin Node app
• Go to Settings > Bitcoin Core Version > select v29.2 and click "Save changes"
• Restart the Jam app from the umbrelOS homescreen by right clicking on the app and selecting "Restart"

Here's a video of the process

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5cc3c002-46f5-4d98-9c68-eb22b6bf7c34

[theborakompanioni]

Here's a video of the process

Wow.. this is great. Thank you so much for your efforts @nmfretz. 🙏 I will make sure we are compatible with the new updates as soon as JM publishes a v30 compatible release.