SIMD-0433: Loader V3: Set Program Data to ELF Length

proposals/0433-loader-v3-set-program-data-to-elf-length.md

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+---
+simd: '0433'
+title: 'Loader V3: Set Program Data to ELF Length'
+authors:
+    - Joe Caulfield (Anza)
+    - Dean Little (Blueshift)
+category: Standard
+type: Core
+status: Review
+created: 2025-12-14
+feature: (fill in with feature key and github tracking issues once accepted)
+---
+
+## Summary
+
+This SIMD proposes changing the default behavior of program upgrades to resize
+the program data account to the length of the ELF being deployed, refunding any
+surplus lamports to a spill account.
+
+## Motivation
+
+Currently, Loader v3 program data accounts may be extended but cannot be
+retracted. As program sizes decrease due to SDK improvements such as Pinocchio,
+this limitation results in program data accounts remaining larger than
+necessary, with no mechanism to reclaim the rent paid for unused bytes. This
+unnecessarily increases rent costs and program loading overhead.
+
+## New Terminology
+
+No new terminology is introduced by this proposal.
+
+## Detailed Design
+
+The `Upgrade` instruction will be updated to automatically resize the program
+data account to match the length of the ELF in the buffer being deployed.
+
+If the new ELF is larger than the current program data account, the upgrade will
+fail. The account must first be extended to at least the required size via the
+`ExtendProgram` instruction.
+
+If the new ELF is smaller than the current program data account, the account
+will be retracted and surplus lamports will be refunded to the spill account.
+
+This change will be a feature-gated behavioral change to the existing `Upgrade`
+instruction.
+
+## Alternatives Considered
+
+An alternative approach would be to add a new `WithdrawExcessLamports`
+instruction, similar to the instruction of the same name in the Token-2022
+program. This would allow the program's upgrade authority to claim excess
+lamports after the auto-resizing from `Upgrade`.
+
+## Impact
+
+This proposal results in a lower program footprint in Accounts DB, incentivizes
+developers to upgrade to newer, more performant libraries and SDKs, and enables
+the recovery of surplus lamports, including those accidentally sent to the
+program data address.
+
+## Security Considerations
+
+N/A
+
+## Backwards Compatibility
+
+This change modifies an existing Loader v3 instruction and therefore requires a
+feature gate for consensus safety. From an API and tooling perspective, the
+change is backwards compatible.