Add option to clique to skip creating empty blocks

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 - Accept `input` and `data` field for the payload of transaction-related RPC methods [#6094](https://github.com/hyperledger/besu/pull/6094)
 - Add APIs to set and get the min gas price a transaction must pay for being selected during block creation [#6097](https://github.com/hyperledger/besu/pull/6097)
 - TraceService: return results for transactions in block [#6086](https://github.com/hyperledger/besu/pull/6086)
+- Clique option to not create empty blocks [#6082]
 
 ### Bug fixes
 

besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/CliqueBesuControllerBuilder.java

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ public class CliqueBesuControllerBuilder extends BesuControllerBuilder {
   private Address localAddress;
   private EpochManager epochManager;
   private long secondsBetweenBlocks;
+  private boolean createEmptyBlocks;
   private final BlockInterface blockInterface = new CliqueBlockInterface();
 
   @Override
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ protected void prepForBuild() {
     final CliqueConfigOptions cliqueConfig = configOptionsSupplier.get().getCliqueConfigOptions();
     final long blocksPerEpoch = cliqueConfig.getEpochLength();
     secondsBetweenBlocks = cliqueConfig.getBlockPeriodSeconds();
+    createEmptyBlocks = cliqueConfig.getCreateEmptyBlocks();
 
     epochManager = new EpochManager(blocksPerEpoch);
   }
@@ -91,7 +93,8 @@ protected MiningCoordinator createMiningCoordinator(
                 protocolContext.getConsensusContext(CliqueContext.class).getValidatorProvider(),
                 localAddress,
                 secondsBetweenBlocks),
-            epochManager);
+            epochManager,
+            createEmptyBlocks);
     final CliqueMiningCoordinator miningCoordinator =
         new CliqueMiningCoordinator(
             protocolContext.getBlockchain(),

besu/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/TransitionControllerBuilderTest.java

@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ public void assertPostMergeScheduleForPostMergeExactlyAtTerminalDifficultyIfNotF
   public void assertCliqueDetachedHeaderValidationPreMerge() {
     BlockHeaderValidator cliqueValidator =
         BlockHeaderValidationRulesetFactory.cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
-                5L, new EpochManager(5L), Optional.of(FeeMarket.london(1L)), true)
+                5L, true, new EpochManager(5L), Optional.of(FeeMarket.london(1L)), true)
             .build();
     assertDetachedRulesForPostMergeBlocks(cliqueValidator);
   }

config/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/config/CliqueConfigOptions.java

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ public class CliqueConfigOptions {
 
   private static final long DEFAULT_EPOCH_LENGTH = 30_000;
   private static final int DEFAULT_BLOCK_PERIOD_SECONDS = 15;
+  private static final boolean DEFAULT_CREATE_EMPTY_BLOCKS = true;
 
   private final ObjectNode cliqueConfigRoot;
 
@@ -59,13 +60,27 @@ public int getBlockPeriodSeconds() {
         cliqueConfigRoot, "blockperiodseconds", DEFAULT_BLOCK_PERIOD_SECONDS);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Whether the creation of empty blocks is allowed.
+   *
+   * @return the create empty block status
+   */
+  public boolean getCreateEmptyBlocks() {
+    return JsonUtil.getBoolean(cliqueConfigRoot, "createemptyblocks", DEFAULT_CREATE_EMPTY_BLOCKS);
+  }
+
   /**
    * As map.
    *
    * @return the map
    */
   Map<String, Object> asMap() {
     return ImmutableMap.of(
-        "epochLength", getEpochLength(), "blockPeriodSeconds", getBlockPeriodSeconds());
+        "epochLength",
+        getEpochLength(),
+        "blockPeriodSeconds",
+        getBlockPeriodSeconds(),
+        "createemptyblocks",
+        getCreateEmptyBlocks());
   }
 }

consensus/clique/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/clique/BlockHeaderValidationRulesetFactory.java

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import org.hyperledger.besu.config.MergeConfigOptions;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.CliqueDifficultyValidationRule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.CliqueExtraDataValidationRule;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.CliqueNoEmptyBlockValidationRule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.CoinbaseHeaderValidationRule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.SignerRateLimitValidationRule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules.VoteValidationRule;
@@ -51,22 +52,29 @@ public class BlockHeaderValidationRulesetFactory {
    * <p>Specifically the set of rules provided by this function are to be used for a Clique chain.
    *
    * @param secondsBetweenBlocks the minimum number of seconds which must elapse between blocks.
+   * @param createEmptyBlocks whether clique should allow the creation of empty blocks.
    * @param epochManager an object which determines if a given block is an epoch block.
    * @param baseFeeMarket an {@link Optional} wrapping {@link BaseFeeMarket} class if appropriate.
    * @return the header validator.
    */
   public static BlockHeaderValidator.Builder cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
       final long secondsBetweenBlocks,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks,
       final EpochManager epochManager,
       final Optional<BaseFeeMarket> baseFeeMarket) {
     return cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
-        secondsBetweenBlocks, epochManager, baseFeeMarket, MergeConfigOptions.isMergeEnabled());
+        secondsBetweenBlocks,
+        createEmptyBlocks,
+        epochManager,
+        baseFeeMarket,
+        MergeConfigOptions.isMergeEnabled());
   }
 
   /**
    * Clique block header validator. Visible for testing.
    *
    * @param secondsBetweenBlocks the seconds between blocks
+   * @param createEmptyBlocks whether clique should allow the creation of empty blocks.
    * @param epochManager the epoch manager
    * @param baseFeeMarket the base fee market
    * @param isMergeEnabled the is merge enabled
@@ -75,6 +83,7 @@ public static BlockHeaderValidator.Builder cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
   @VisibleForTesting
   public static BlockHeaderValidator.Builder cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
       final long secondsBetweenBlocks,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks,
       final EpochManager epochManager,
       final Optional<BaseFeeMarket> baseFeeMarket,
       final boolean isMergeEnabled) {
@@ -99,6 +108,10 @@ public static BlockHeaderValidator.Builder cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
       builder.addRule(new BaseFeeMarketBlockHeaderGasPriceValidationRule(baseFeeMarket.get()));
     }
 
+    if (!createEmptyBlocks) {
+      builder.addRule(new CliqueNoEmptyBlockValidationRule());
+    }
+
     var mixHashRule =
         new ConstantFieldValidationRule<>("MixHash", BlockHeader::getMixHash, Hash.ZERO);
     var voteValidationRule = new VoteValidationRule();

consensus/clique/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/clique/CliqueProtocolSchedule.java

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ public static ProtocolSchedule create(
                     applyCliqueSpecificModifications(
                         epochManager,
                         cliqueConfig.getBlockPeriodSeconds(),
+                        cliqueConfig.getCreateEmptyBlocks(),
                         localNodeAddress,
                         builder)),
             privacyParameters,
@@ -107,16 +108,19 @@ public static ProtocolSchedule create(
   private static ProtocolSpecBuilder applyCliqueSpecificModifications(
       final EpochManager epochManager,
       final long secondsBetweenBlocks,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks,
       final Address localNodeAddress,
       final ProtocolSpecBuilder specBuilder) {
 
     return specBuilder
         .blockHeaderValidatorBuilder(
             baseFeeMarket ->
-                getBlockHeaderValidator(epochManager, secondsBetweenBlocks, baseFeeMarket))
+                getBlockHeaderValidator(
+                    epochManager, secondsBetweenBlocks, createEmptyBlocks, baseFeeMarket))
         .ommerHeaderValidatorBuilder(
             baseFeeMarket ->
-                getBlockHeaderValidator(epochManager, secondsBetweenBlocks, baseFeeMarket))
+                getBlockHeaderValidator(
+                    epochManager, secondsBetweenBlocks, createEmptyBlocks, baseFeeMarket))
         .blockBodyValidatorBuilder(MainnetBlockBodyValidator::new)
         .blockValidatorBuilder(MainnetProtocolSpecs.blockValidatorBuilder())
         .blockImporterBuilder(MainnetBlockImporter::new)
@@ -128,11 +132,14 @@ private static ProtocolSpecBuilder applyCliqueSpecificModifications(
   }
 
   private static BlockHeaderValidator.Builder getBlockHeaderValidator(
-      final EpochManager epochManager, final long secondsBetweenBlocks, final FeeMarket feeMarket) {
+      final EpochManager epochManager,
+      final long secondsBetweenBlocks,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks,
+      final FeeMarket feeMarket) {
     Optional<BaseFeeMarket> baseFeeMarket =
         Optional.of(feeMarket).filter(FeeMarket::implementsBaseFee).map(BaseFeeMarket.class::cast);
 
     return BlockHeaderValidationRulesetFactory.cliqueBlockHeaderValidator(
-        secondsBetweenBlocks, epochManager, baseFeeMarket);
+        secondsBetweenBlocks, createEmptyBlocks, epochManager, baseFeeMarket);
   }
 }

consensus/clique/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/clique/blockcreation/CliqueBlockMiner.java

@@ -20,16 +20,23 @@
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.blockcreation.AbstractBlockScheduler;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.blockcreation.BlockMiner;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.chain.MinedBlockObserver;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.Block;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockHeader;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.ProtocolSchedule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.util.Subscribers;
 
 import java.util.function.Function;
 
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
 /** The Clique block miner. */
 public class CliqueBlockMiner extends BlockMiner<CliqueBlockCreator> {
+  private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(CliqueBlockMiner.class);
+  private static final int WAIT_BETWEEN_EMPTY_BUILD_ATTEMPTS = 1_000;
 
   private final Address localAddress;
+  private final boolean createEmptyBlocks;
 
   /**
    * Instantiates a new Clique block miner.
@@ -41,6 +48,7 @@ public class CliqueBlockMiner extends BlockMiner<CliqueBlockCreator> {
    * @param scheduler the scheduler
    * @param parentHeader the parent header
    * @param localAddress the local address
+   * @param createEmptyBlocks whether clique should allow the creation of empty blocks.
    */
   public CliqueBlockMiner(
       final Function<BlockHeader, CliqueBlockCreator> blockCreator,
@@ -49,9 +57,11 @@ public CliqueBlockMiner(
       final Subscribers<MinedBlockObserver> observers,
       final AbstractBlockScheduler scheduler,
       final BlockHeader parentHeader,
-      final Address localAddress) {
+      final Address localAddress,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks) {
     super(blockCreator, protocolSchedule, protocolContext, observers, scheduler, parentHeader);
     this.localAddress = localAddress;
+    this.createEmptyBlocks = createEmptyBlocks;
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -63,4 +73,18 @@ protected boolean mineBlock() throws InterruptedException {
 
     return true; // terminate mining.
   }
+
+  @Override
+  protected boolean shouldImportBlock(final Block block) throws InterruptedException {
+    if (createEmptyBlocks) {
+      return true;
+    }
+
+    final boolean isEmpty = block.getBody().getTransactions().isEmpty();
+    if (isEmpty) {
+      LOG.debug("Skipping empty block");
+      Thread.sleep(WAIT_BETWEEN_EMPTY_BUILD_ATTEMPTS);
+    }
+    return !isEmpty;
+  }
 }

consensus/clique/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/clique/blockcreation/CliqueMinerExecutor.java

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ public class CliqueMinerExecutor extends AbstractMinerExecutor<CliqueBlockMiner>
   private final Address localAddress;
   private final NodeKey nodeKey;
   private final EpochManager epochManager;
+  private final boolean createEmptyBlocks;
 
   /**
    * Instantiates a new Clique miner executor.
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ public class CliqueMinerExecutor extends AbstractMinerExecutor<CliqueBlockMiner>
    * @param miningParams the mining params
    * @param blockScheduler the block scheduler
    * @param epochManager the epoch manager
+   * @param createEmptyBlocks whether clique should allow the creation of empty blocks.
    */
   public CliqueMinerExecutor(
       final ProtocolContext protocolContext,
@@ -66,11 +68,13 @@ public CliqueMinerExecutor(
       final NodeKey nodeKey,
       final MiningParameters miningParams,
       final AbstractBlockScheduler blockScheduler,
-      final EpochManager epochManager) {
+      final EpochManager epochManager,
+      final boolean createEmptyBlocks) {
     super(protocolContext, protocolSchedule, transactionPool, miningParams, blockScheduler);
     this.nodeKey = nodeKey;
     this.localAddress = Util.publicKeyToAddress(nodeKey.getPublicKey());
     this.epochManager = epochManager;
+    this.createEmptyBlocks = createEmptyBlocks;
     miningParams.setCoinbase(localAddress);
   }
 
@@ -98,7 +102,8 @@ public CliqueBlockMiner createMiner(
         observers,
         blockScheduler,
         parentHeader,
-        localAddress);
+        localAddress,
+        createEmptyBlocks);
   }
 
   @Override

consensus/clique/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/clique/headervalidationrules/CliqueNoEmptyBlockValidationRule.java

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright ConsenSys AG.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
+ * the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on
+ * an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+package org.hyperledger.besu.consensus.clique.headervalidationrules;
+
+import org.hyperledger.besu.datatypes.Hash;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.core.BlockHeader;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.DetachedBlockHeaderValidationRule;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+
+/** The No empty block validation rule. */
+public class CliqueNoEmptyBlockValidationRule implements DetachedBlockHeaderValidationRule {
+
+  private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(CliqueNoEmptyBlockValidationRule.class);
+
+  /**
+   * Responsible for ensuring there are no empty transactions. This is used when createEmptyBlocks
+   * is false, to ensure that no empty blocks are created.
+   *
+   * @param header the block header to validate
+   * @param parent the block header corresponding to the parent of the header being validated.
+   * @return true if the transactionsRoot in the header is not the empty trie hash.
+   */
+  @Override
+  public boolean validate(final BlockHeader header, final BlockHeader parent) {
+    final boolean hasTransactions = !header.getTransactionsRoot().equals(Hash.EMPTY_TRIE_HASH);
+    if (!hasTransactions) {
+      LOG.info(
+          "Invalid block header: {} has no transactions but create empty blocks is not enabled",
+          header.getNumber());
+    }
+    return hasTransactions;
+  }
+}