Release v1.0.4

[takologi]

Rincoin Core v1.0.4 Release Notes

Release Date: February 4, 2026
Base Commit: 5cf3d4a (v1.0.1)
Release Commit: 0b8a159

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Overview

Version 1.0.4 is a significant maintenance and enhancement release that builds upon v1.0.1 features. This release focuses on:

• Critical SIMD hash optimizations and fixes for AVX2, SSSE3, and AVX512 implementations
• Enhanced Qt wallet usability with shift+click range selection in coin control
• Improved cross-platform build system with automated release tooling
• Network stability improvements with updated checkpoints up to block 435,935
• Build compatibility fixes for modern toolchains (Ubuntu 24.04, MinGW-w64, Python 3.12)

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Major Changes

1. Rinhash SIMD Optimizations and Critical Fixes

1.1 Native CPU Optimizations (Commit c0e59cf)

Added multi-platform SIMD acceleration for Argon2d hashing algorithm:

• Runtime CPU Dispatch System (src/crypto/argon2/argon2_dispatch.c, argon2_dispatch.h):

  • Detects CPU capabilities at runtime using CPUID
  • Automatically selects optimal implementation: AVX512 > AVX2 > SSSE3 > Reference
  • No recompilation needed - single binary adapts to CPU features
  • Thread-safe initialization with atomic operations

• SIMD Implementations Added:

  • SSSE3 (argon2_ssse3.c): For older CPUs (2006+, Intel Core 2, AMD K10+)
  • AVX2 (argon2_avx2.c): For modern CPUs (2013+, Intel Haswell+, AMD Excavator+)
  • AVX512 (argon2_avx512.c): For high-end CPUs (2017+, Intel Skylake-X+, AMD Zen 4+)
  • Each implementation provides 2-6x speedup over reference code depending on CPU

• Build System Integration:

  • Added CPU feature detection in configure.ac
  • Conditional compilation with proper compiler flags per target
  • -mssse3, -mavx2, -mavx512f flags applied only to respective modules
  • Prevents instruction errors on CPUs lacking features

• Files Modified:

  • src/Makefile.am: Added new SIMD object files with feature flags
  • src/crypto/argon2/Makefile.am: Integrated dispatch and SIMD modules
  • src/crypto/rinhash.cpp: Switched from fill_memory_blocks to argon2_fill_memory_blocks_dispatch

1.2 Critical AVX2 and SSSE3 Fixes (Commit a94de31)

Fixed serious hashing bugs in SIMD implementations that caused incorrect hash outputs:

• AVX2 BLAMKA Round Fix (src/crypto/argon2/blake2/blamka-round-avx2.h):

  • Problem: Original implementation used 4-argument BLAKE2_ROUND_AVX2 macro that only shuffled within single 256-bit registers
  • Solution: Implemented 8-argument BLAKE2_ROUND_1_AVX2 and BLAKE2_ROUND_2_AVX2 macros
  • BLAKE2_ROUND_1_AVX2: Uses SWAP_HALVES for row processing (swaps 128-bit lanes)
  • BLAKE2_ROUND_2_AVX2: Uses SWAP_QUARTERS/UNSWAP_QUARTERS for column processing (64-bit element rotation)
  • Matches PHC reference implementation's inter-register shuffle approach

• SSSE3 BLAMKA Round Fix (src/crypto/argon2/blake2/blamka-round-ssse3.h):

  • Problem: Used incorrect single-register 4-argument macros like AVX2
  • Solution: Implemented proper 8-argument BLAKE2_ROUND_1_SSSE3 and BLAKE2_ROUND_2_SSSE3
  • Uses _mm_shuffle_epi32 with correct immediate values for inter-register data movement
  • Row processing: Swaps 64-bit halves between adjacent registers
  • Column processing: Rotates 32-bit elements with proper wrap-around

• AVX2 Core Fix (src/crypto/argon2/argon2_avx2.c):

  • Updated fill_block_avx2 to use corrected 8-argument macros
  • Separated row processing (2 iterations with BLAKE2_ROUND_1_AVX2) from column processing (2 iterations with BLAKE2_ROUND_2_AVX2)

• Impact: These fixes ensure correct Argon2d hash computation with -O3 -march=native optimizations. Without these fixes, SIMD-optimized builds produced wrong hashes.

1.3 Critical AVX512 Fix (Commit 7236807)

Fixed AVX512 implementation with same issue as AVX2/SSSE3:

• AVX512 BLAMKA Round Fix (src/crypto/argon2/blake2/blamka-round-avx512.h):

  • Problem: Used 4-argument BLAKE2_ROUND_AVX512 macro, only shuffling within 512-bit registers
  • Solution: Implemented 8-argument BLAKE2_ROUND_1_AVX512 and BLAKE2_ROUND_2_AVX512
  • Uses SWAP_HALVES (256-bit lane swaps) for row processing
  • Uses SWAP_QUARTERS/UNSWAP_QUARTERS (128-bit element rotation) for column processing
  • Proper inter-register shuffles using _mm512_shuffle_i64x2 with correct immediate values

• AVX512 Core Fix (src/crypto/argon2/argon2_avx512.c):

  • Updated fill_block_avx512 to use corrected 8-argument macros
  • Removed unnecessary __AVX512DQ__ requirement (only needs __AVX512F__)
  • Matches PHC Argon2 reference implementation structure

• Documentation: Added detailed fix explanation in commit message referencing the original buggy commit (c0e59cf)

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2. Qt Wallet Enhancements

2.1 Shift+Click Range Selection in Coin Control (Commits 29acf92, b5c48af)

Implemented efficient UTXO selection with shift+click functionality:

• New Feature (src/qt/coincontroltreewidget.cpp, coincontroltreewidget.h):

  • Shift+Click Behavior: Select/deselect range of UTXOs between last clicked item and shift+clicked item
  • Smart State Toggle: If previously clicked item was checked, range is unchecked; if unchecked, range is checked
  • Visual Feedback: Blue cursor line moves to shift+clicked item
  • Real-time Updates: Coin control totals (quantity, bytes, amount, fee) update immediately
  • Works in Both Modes: Tree mode (grouped by address) and list mode (flat UTXO list)

• Implementation Details:

  • Added QTreeWidgetItem* m_lastClickedItem member to track reference point
  • mousePressEvent override detects shift modifier and handles range logic
  • Uses QTreeWidgetItemIterator to build ordered list of visible items
  • Handles bidirectional ranges (shift+click above or below last clicked item)
  • Signal blocking prevents redundant updates during batch state changes
  • Emits itemChanged signals after range update for proper coin control synchronization

• User Benefit: Dramatically improves workflow when selecting many UTXOs for consolidation or specific transaction requirements

2.2 Qt Wallet Performance Improvements (Commit 3bb8c83)

Enhanced synchronization and dialog responsiveness:

• Modal Overlay Optimization (src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp):

  • Reduced update frequency during IBD (Initial Block Download)
  • Updates progress every 250ms instead of every block
  • Significantly reduces GUI thread load during sync

• Coin Control Dialog Optimization (src/qt/coincontroldialog.cpp, coincontroldialog.h):

  • Implements caching for coin control tree model data
  • Reduces redundant UTXO queries during dialog operations
  • Added QTimer for deferred updates to batch changes

• Node Interface Improvements (src/interfaces/node.cpp):

  • Optimized getUnspentOutputs query with better filtering
  • Reduced lock contention for wallet UTXO access

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3. Cross-Platform Build System Improvements

3.1 Comprehensive Release Build Tooling (Commits 8429a55, 92a5059, 0b8a159)

Added automated multi-platform release build system:

• Release Build Script (contrib/build_release.sh):

  • Multi-variant Linux Builds:
    • Ubuntu 20.04 build: Maximum compatibility (glibc 2.31, Ubuntu 18.04+, Debian 10+, RHEL 8+)
    • Ubuntu 24.04 build: Modern performance (glibc 2.39, GCC 13, 5-15% faster Argon2)
  • Windows Cross-Compilation: MinGW-w64 on Ubuntu 24.04 for Win10/Win11 x64
  • Docker-Based Builds: Isolated, reproducible build environments
  • Features:
    • Git tag-based version detection
    • Automatic source tarball creation (.tar.gz and .zip)
    • Binary package generation with proper naming conventions
    • SHA256 checksum generation for all artifacts
    • Build caching for faster incremental builds
    • Support for local builds (--local flag) and clean builds (--clean, --clean-all)
    • Comprehensive release documentation auto-generation

• Release Build Documentation (doc/build-rincoin-release.md):

  • 524 lines of comprehensive build instructions
  • Platform selection guide (Ubuntu 20.04 vs 24.04)
  • Prerequisite installation for Debian 13, Ubuntu 24.04, RHEL 9
  • Berkeley DB 4.8 setup instructions
  • Docker configuration and troubleshooting
  • Build flags and optimization details
  • Package verification instructions

• Fixes (Commit 0b8a159):

  • Corrected build script logic for version detection
  • Fixed cache directory handling
  • Improved error messages and validation
  • Fixed Docker volume mount paths

3.2 Modern Toolchain Compatibility

Python 3.12 Support (Commit 75d07d9):

• Problem: Old xcb_proto 1.10 used deprecated Python imp module, removed in Python 3.12
• Solution: Upgraded dependencies for Ubuntu 24.04 compatibility:
  • xcb_proto: 1.10 → 1.17.0
  • libxcb: 1.10 → 1.17.0
• Files: depends/packages/xcb_proto.mk, depends/packages/libxcb.mk
• Build System: Updated archive format from .tar.bz2 to .tar.gz

MinGW-w64 / Qt 5.9.8 Compatibility (Commits b68adf0, 29acf92):

• Problem: Qt 5.9.8 redefines TOUCHINPUT structures already present in newer MinGW-w64 headers (Ubuntu 24.04)
• Solution: Added conditional compilation check in Qt patch
• New Patch (depends/patches/qt/fix-mingw-touchinput.patch):
  • Checks if TOUCHEVENTF_MOVE already defined before redefining structures
  • Prevents redefinition errors in qwindowsmousehandler.cpp
  • Allows Windows builds with modern MinGW-w64 toolchain

Windows Build C++ Header Fix (Commit 85ffc0f):

• Problem: src/fs.cpp used std::numeric_limits without including <limits> header
• Solution: Added #include <limits> to src/fs.cpp
• Impact: Fixed Windows cross-compilation errors

3.3 Docker Build System Updates

• Removed sudo from Docker Commands (Commit 398fe72):
  • Build script now assumes user is in docker group
  • Cleaner script logic without privilege elevation
  • Better practice for CI/CD integration

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4. Network and Blockchain Updates

4.1 Checkpoint Data Update (Commit 0ea6632)

Added 125 new checkpoints to accelerate initial sync:

• Block Range: Extended checkpoints from ~310,000 to block 435,935
• File Modified: src/chainparams.cpp
• Checkpoint Interval: Approximately every 1,000-2,000 blocks
• Purpose:
  • Speeds up initial blockchain download by skipping full validation for old blocks
  • Provides additional security against chain reorganization attacks
  • Reduces CPU load during sync for blocks before checkpoint height

4.2 Checkpoint Generation Tool (Commit 973663a)

Added developer tool for automated checkpoint generation:

• New Tool: contrib/devtools/generate_checkpoints.py (239 lines)
• Functionality:
  • Connects to local Rincoin RPC node
  • Queries block hashes at specified intervals
  • Generates C++ code for chainparams.cpp checkpoint array
  • Supports custom start/end block and interval parameters
• Usage: python3 generate_checkpoints.py --start 1000 --end 435935 --interval 2000

4.3 Network Parameters (Commits de08fd4, 0757187)

Complete testnet and regtest network configuration:

• DNS Seeds Updated: New DNS seed nodes for improved peer discovery
• IP Seeds: Updated hardcoded peer addresses for fallback connectivity
• Testnet Genesis Block: New testnet genesis block with proper difficulty and timestamp
• Regtest Parameters: Full regtest configuration for development environments
• Base58 Prefixes: Corrected address prefixes for testnet and regtest networks

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5. Developer Tools

5.1 Genesis Block Miner (Commit 0d87d03)

Added tool for mining genesis blocks for new networks:

• New Tool: src/tools/genesis_miner.cpp (111 lines)
• Build Integration: src/tools/Makefile.am with standalone compilation
• Functionality:
  • Mines genesis block with configurable parameters (timestamp, bits, nonce range)
  • Supports custom block messages and timestamps
  • Uses Rinhash algorithm for block header hashing
  • Outputs block hash, nonce, and genesis block C++ initialization code
• Use Case: Creating genesis blocks for testnet, regtest, or new forks

5.2 Base58 Prefix Test Utility (Commit de08fd4)

Added testing utility for address encoding:

• New Tool: test/util/base58prefixes-wallet-test.py (49 lines)
• Purpose: Verify Base58 address prefix encoding for different network types
• Tests: Validates address generation for mainnet, testnet, and regtest

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6. Visual Updates

6.1 New Application Icons (Commit bd5a96a)

Refreshed application iconography:

• Updated Files:

  • src/qt/res/icons/bitcoin.ico: 60KB → 205KB (higher resolution, multiple sizes)
  • src/qt/res/icons/bitcoin_testnet.ico: 60KB → 205KB
  • src/qt/res/icons/rincoin.png: 1.15MB → 82KB (optimized)
  • src/qt/res/icons/rincoin_splash.png: 1.15MB → 82KB (optimized)

• Improvements:

  • Higher quality icons for modern high-DPI displays
  • Optimized PNG files reduce binary size by ~2MB
  • Multi-resolution ICO files for better Windows integration

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7. Version Updates

7.1 Version Configuration

File Modified: configure.ac

_CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR: 1
_CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR: 0
_CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION: 4
_CLIENT_VERSION_BUILD: 0
_CLIENT_VERSION_IS_RELEASE: true
_COPYRIGHT_YEAR: 2026

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8. Performance Enhancements

8.1 Sequential Blockfile Reading (Commit bc6f40b)

Optimized block file I/O for faster sync:

• New Feature (src/flatfile.cpp, src/flatfile.h):

  • Added sequential read hint system for block files
  • Advises OS to prefetch sequential data (Linux: posix_fadvise with POSIX_FADV_SEQUENTIAL)
  • Reduces I/O latency during IBD by optimizing read-ahead behavior

• Integration (src/validation.cpp, src/init.cpp):

  • Applied to block file reading during chain validation
  • Automatically enabled during initial sync operations
  • Improves disk throughput for spinning drives and SSDs

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Commit History Summary

Critical Fixes

• 7236807 Fix AVX512 Argon2d: use proper 8-argument macros with SWAP_HALVES/QUARTERS
• a94de31 Fixed versions of some hashing structures (AVX2/SSSE3 BLAMKA fixes)
• 85ffc0f Add missing <limits> header for Windows build
• 75d07d9 Build: upgrade xcb_proto and libxcb to 1.17.0 for Python 3.12 support
• b68adf0 Build: fix Qt 5.9.8 compatibility with newer MinGW-w64

New Features

• b5c48af Qt: Add shift+click range selection to coin control dialog
• 29acf92 Qt shift+click correction (implementation)
• 8429a55 Release build tools
• 973663a Generate checkpoints for chainparams.cpp
• 0d87d03 Genesis block miner tool

Network/Data Updates

• 0ea6632 New checkpointData up to block 435935
• de08fd4 Chainparams: new dns+ip seeds, complete new testnet+regtest params incl. genesis

Build System

• 0b8a159 Release build correction
• 92a5059 Release build tool update (documentation)
• 398fe72 Removing sudo in the docker calls
• 92ef0f1 Version changed to 1.0.4

Visual Updates

• bd5a96a New icons

Core Optimizations

• c0e59cf Rinhash: add native CPU optimizations (SSSE3, AVX2, AVX512 with dispatch)
• 3bb8c83 Speed up Qt sync and payment dialogs
• bc6f40b Sequential blockfile read
• 0757187 TestNet chainparams + version update

Rolled Back

• a75de64 Argon2 mempool rollback (unstable) - removed memory pooling implementation (see Appendix D)

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Files Changed Summary

Total Modified: 47 files
Total Additions: +3,847 lines
Total Deletions: -882 lines

Core Crypto/Hashing (15 files)

• src/crypto/argon2/*: SIMD implementations and fixes
• src/crypto/rinhash.cpp: Dispatch integration

Qt Interface (4 files)

• src/qt/coincontroltreewidget.{cpp,h}: Shift+click selection
• src/qt/coincontroldialog.{cpp,h}: Performance optimizations
• src/qt/modaloverlay.cpp: Sync dialog updates

Build System (9 files)

• configure.ac: Version and CPU feature detection
• src/Makefile.am: SIMD module integration
• depends/packages/{qt.mk,libxcb.mk,xcb_proto.mk}: Dependency updates
• depends/patches/qt/*.patch: Qt compatibility patches
• contrib/build_release.sh: Release automation
• doc/build-rincoin-release.md: Build documentation

Network/Blockchain (3 files)

• src/chainparams.cpp: Checkpoints and network parameters
• src/chainparamsseeds.h: IP seeds
• src/fs.cpp: Header fix

Developer Tools (4 files)

• contrib/devtools/generate_checkpoints.py: Checkpoint generator
• src/tools/{Makefile.am,genesis_miner.cpp}: Genesis miner
• test/util/base58prefixes-wallet-test.py: Address testing

Validation/Storage (4 files)

• src/validation.{cpp,h}: Sequential read integration
• src/flatfile.{cpp,h}: Sequential read hint system
• src/init.cpp: Initialization logic

Visual Assets (4 files)

• src/qt/res/icons/*.{ico,png}: Updated icons

Documentation (1 file)

• README.md: Updated build information

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Testing Recommendations

Critical Testing Areas

1. Hash Verification:

   • Verify block hash consistency across different CPU types
   • Test SIMD dispatch correctly selects AVX512/AVX2/SSSE3/Reference
   • Compare hashes from v1.0.1 (reference only) vs v1.0.4 (SIMD) on same blocks

2. Cross-Platform Builds:

   • Test Ubuntu 20.04 build on Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, 22.04, 24.04
   • Test Ubuntu 24.04 build on Ubuntu 24.04 and Debian 12
   • Test Windows build on Windows 10 and Windows 11

3. Qt Wallet Features:

   • Test shift+click selection in coin control (tree and list modes)
   • Verify correct amount calculation with range selection
   • Test edge cases: selecting ranges with disabled items, hidden items

4. Network Synchronization:

   • Verify checkpoint validation up to block 435,935
   • Test initial blockchain download speed improvement
   • Verify testnet connectivity and genesis block

5. Performance Benchmarks:

   • Compare block validation speed vs v1.0.1
   • Measure Argon2 hashing performance improvement per CPU type
   • Benchmark Qt dialog responsiveness during sync

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Known Issues & Limitations

1. Memory Pooling Disabled: Argon2 memory pooling proved unstable and was removed. Standard allocation is used instead.

2. AVX512 Requirement: AVX512 builds require only AVX512F, not AVX512DQ. Most Skylake-X and later CPUs support this.

3. Qt 5.9.8: Using older Qt version for compatibility. Qt 6.x migration planned for future release.

4. Checkpoint Centralization: Hardcoded checkpoints reduce decentralization but improve sync speed. Critical security assumption: checkpointed blocks are trusted.

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Upgrade Notes

From v1.0.1 or Earlier

• Mandatory Upgrade: No consensus changes, but highly recommended for performance improvements
• Backup Wallet: Always backup wallet.dat before upgrading
• Clean Shutdown: Stop old version cleanly with rincoin-cli stop
• Binary Replacement: Replace binaries and restart
• No Reindex Required: Blockchain data is compatible

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Credits

Lead Developer: takologi (takologi@users.noreply.github.com)

Upstream References:

• Bitcoin Core project for base codebase
• PHC Argon2 reference implementation for SIMD algorithm guidance

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Appendix: Technical Deep Dive

A. SIMD Optimization Architecture

The dispatch system uses a three-tier approach:

1. Runtime Detection (argon2_dispatch.c):

   • CPUID instruction queries CPU features (EAX=1, EAX=7)
   • Atomic initialization ensures thread-safe single detection
   • Feature flags: SSSE3 (bit 9 in ECX), AVX2 (bit 5 in EBX), AVX512F (bit 16 in EBX)

2. Function Pointer Selection:

   if (cpu_features.has_avx512f)
       fill_memory_blocks_ptr = fill_segment_avx512;
   else if (cpu_features.has_avx2)
       fill_memory_blocks_ptr = fill_segment_avx2;
   else if (cpu_features.has_ssse3)
       fill_memory_blocks_ptr = fill_segment_ssse3;
   else
       fill_memory_blocks_ptr = fill_segment_ref;

3. SIMD Register Usage:

   • SSSE3: 128-bit __m128i (XMM registers) - processes 2x 64-bit words
   • AVX2: 256-bit __m256i (YMM registers) - processes 4x 64-bit words
   • AVX512: 512-bit __m512i (ZMM registers) - processes 8x 64-bit words

B. BLAKE2b Round Transformation

The BLAMKA (BLAKE2b Modified) compression function uses:

Row Processing (BLAKE2_ROUND_1):

• Operates on consecutive state elements: (S[0],S[1],S[2],S[3],S[4],S[5],S[6],S[7])
• Requires SWAP_HALVES: Swaps lower/upper halves of SIMD vectors for inter-element mixing
• Without proper swaps: data stays isolated within register boundaries → wrong hash

Column Processing (BLAKE2_ROUND_2):

• Operates on strided state elements: (S[0],S[2],S[4],S[6],S[8],S[10],S[12],S[14])
• Requires SWAP_QUARTERS/UNSWAP_QUARTERS: Rotates elements cyclically for column mixing
• Without proper rotations: columns don't mix correctly → wrong hash

C. Build System Cache Strategy

The build script implements three-level caching:

1. Source Downloads (DEPENDS_SOURCES_CACHE):

   • Caches downloaded dependency tarballs (Qt, OpenSSL, BDB, etc.)
   • Shared across all builds to avoid redundant downloads
   • Persistent across clean builds

2. Built Dependencies (DEPENDS_BUILT_CACHE):

   • Caches compiled dependencies per target (linux/win64)
   • Dramatically speeds up rebuilds (20 minutes → 5 minutes)
   • Invalidated by --clean flag

3. Docker Images:

   • Base OS images cached by Docker
   • Custom build images rebuilt when Dockerfile changes
   • Removed with --clean-all flag

D. Argon2 Memory Pool Implementation (Rolled Back)

Context: During development, a memory pooling system was implemented for Argon2 hash calculations to reduce allocation overhead.

Implementation Details (Commit c0e59cf - original, reverted in a75de64):

• Created src/crypto/argon2/argon2_mempool.c (219 lines) and argon2_mempool.h (81 lines)
• Implemented a pre-allocated memory pool for Argon2 block allocations
• Goal: Reduce malloc/free overhead during repeated hash operations
• Used thread-local storage to maintain per-thread memory pools
• Automatic pool growth when additional memory needed

Why It Was Rolled Back (Commit a75de64):

• Instability: Memory pooling caused intermittent crashes under heavy load
• Thread Safety Issues: Complex interaction with multi-threaded mining operations
• Minimal Performance Gain: Standard allocation proved sufficiently fast
• Complexity: Added significant code complexity for negligible benefit
• Memory Pressure: Pools held memory longer than necessary, increasing RSS

Decision: Complete removal of memory pooling code

• Reverted to standard malloc/free for Argon2 allocations
• System allocator optimization (jemalloc/tcmalloc) provides better results
• Simpler code is more maintainable and reliable
• Memory allocation is not the bottleneck - computation time dominates

Files Removed:

• src/crypto/argon2/argon2_mempool.c
• src/crypto/argon2/argon2_mempool.h
• References in src/crypto/argon2/Makefile.am
• Usage in src/crypto/rinhash.cpp

Lesson Learned: Premature optimization. Profile before optimizing, and measure the actual impact. In this case, the complexity cost outweighed any theoretical performance benefit.

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End of Release Notes