### `toDot` Method Specification for `VerkleTrie` #### Description The enhancement of `VerkleTrie` includes two key features: 1. **Implementation of `toDot` Method for String Representation:** - The `toDot` method is designed to provide a human-readable string representation of `VerkleTrie` in Dot format, aiding in debugging and visualizing the trie structure. The method will include: - `BranchNodes` featuring a `commitment` attribute. - `StemNodes` with attributes such as `stem`, `leftCommitment`, and `rightCommitment`. - `LeafNodes` that include `suffix` and `value` attributes. - A unique `location` attribute for each node for identification purposes. 2. **File Storing Mechanism for `toDot` Output:** - The method will have the capability to save its output in a file, enhancing usability for further analysis or sharing. Key features include: - User-friendly saving of the Dot format output. - Error handling for write permissions or file system issues. - Optional specification of file path and name for output storage. #### Expected Behavior - The `toDot` method returns the `VerkleTrie` representation in Dot format, detailing different node types with their specific attributes. - It allows users to save this output into a file, providing a practical tool for debugging and analysis. #### Example Running the test function available at [GitHub - go-verkle](https://github.com/ethereum/go-verkle/blob/76183efeacf48494e9ff1849851fbb83d6405eee/tree_test.go#L931) using the command `go test . -run TestToDot -v` generates a Dot file representation of the `VerkleTrie`. Here's an example of the tree generated from the test: \```dot digraph D { internal [label="I: b8f1..."] leaf00 [label="L: 080d... C: 5677... C₁: 38f3... C₂:0000..."] internal -> leaf00 val0000 [label="0000..."] leaf00 -> val0000 ... internal40 -> leaf4020 val402000 [label="0000..."] leaf4020 -> val402000 } \``` This output results from inserting a value at specific keys. The leaves and stems in the `VerkleTrie` are represented accordingly, with leaves on the Geth side being either Leaf or Stem Nodes in the codebase. #### Identifiers in the Dot File Regarding identifiers such as `leaf00c7 -> val00c700`, they are derived from the traversal path within the `VerkleTrie`. For instance, `leaf00c7` indicates a key that passes through child `00` in the first branch node and child `c7` in the second one. These identifiers help in understanding the structure and relationships within the trie. # Verkle Trie Representation in Dot Format ## Overview This document describes the representation of a `VerkleTrie` in Dot format, based on the test output from the Ethereum `go-verkle` implementation. ## Internal Nodes - **Description**: Internal nodes represent branches in the trie. - **Examples**: - `internal [label="I: b8f166af..."]`: Root node of the trie. - `internal40 [label="I: f8772f82..."]`: Another internal node. ## Leaf Nodes - **Description**: Leaf nodes are the endpoints of the trie where values are stored. - **Unique Identifier**: Each leaf node is indicated by `L: [hexadecimal value]`. - **Commitment Attributes**: Represented by `C`, `C₁`, `C₂`, etc. - **Examples**: - `leaf00 [label="L: 080d832a..."]`: A leaf node connected to the root internal node. - `leaf4000 [label="L: 0882d10c..."]` and `leaf4020 [label="L: 140dcec1..."]`: Leaf nodes connected to the `internal40` node. ## Values - **Description**: Represents the data stored in the leaf nodes. - **Examples**: - `val0000 [label="00000000..."]`: Value stored in `leaf00`. - `val400000 [label="00000000..."]` and `val402000 [label="00000000..."]`: Values stored in `leaf4000` and `leaf4020`, respectively. ## Edges - **Description**: Show the connections between nodes. - **Examples**: - `internal -> leaf00` and `internal40 -> leaf4000`: Connections from internal nodes to their respective leaf nodes. - `leaf00 -> val0000`, `leaf4000 -> val400000`, and `leaf4020 -> val402000`: Connections from leaf nodes to their respective value nodes. ## Insertion Context - The tree is the result of inserting the value `0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000` at keys: - `4020000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000` - `4000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000` - `0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000` - This results in the creation of internal nodes (`internal`, `internal40`) and leaf nodes (`leaf00`, `leaf4000`, `leaf4020`), each storing the same value (`val0000`, `val400000`, `val402000`). --- *Generated from the `VerkleTrie` Dot format output in Ethereum's `go-verkle` implementation.*