This article aims to shed light on what Recursive Inscriptions and Cursed Inscriptions are and why they are significant within the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Recursive Inscriptions
Recursive inscriptions enable files to reference and utilize content from other inscriptions, opening up new possibilities for innovation.
Breaking the limitations
Traditionally, inscriptions on the Bitcoin blockchain were self-contained and unaware of other inscribed files. However, recursive inscriptions introduce a new syntax:
"/-/content/:inscription_id,"
This allows inscriptions to request and incorporate content from other inscriptions. This fundamental change eliminates the previous limitations and paves the way for a more interconnected and efficient system.
Benefits and use cases
Recursive inscriptions offer several compelling benefits and use cases:
Efficient storage: Instead of individually inscribing a large number of files, recursive inscriptions allow for a more efficient approach. For instance, in a Profile Picture (PFP) collection, inscribing the collection's traits once and creating recursive inscriptions that request traits can significantly reduce transaction fees and improve storage efficiency.
Package accessibility: Recursive inscriptions enable the inscription of code packages that can be universally accessed. With recursion, developers can call fully inscribed code packages, such as p5.js and Three.js, from other inscriptions. This democratizes access to powerful code packages, facilitating the creation of generative art and promoting collaboration.
Repository of packages: Recursive inscriptions lay the foundation for a vast repository of code packages inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain. This repository would provide developers with a wide range of resources to build upon, fostering innovation and enabling previously unimaginable use cases.
Cursed Inscriptions
Cursed Inscriptions, are a unique subset of Inscriptions that were not initially counted by the ord indexer. As a result, they did not appear in wallets or marketplaces. The exclusion of Cursed Inscriptions from the original definition of an Ordinal led to their omission from the protocol.
Discovery and debate
The existence of Cursed Inscriptions was a known issue within the community for several months. Passionate debates and discussions took place, with community members sharing their perspectives on how to incorporate these Inscriptions into the protocol.
The inclusion of Cursed Inscriptions posed technical challenges and raised concerns about disrupting the existing numbering system of Inscriptions. Since some collectors had prized Inscriptions with specific numbers, such as Ordinal #69, any changes to the numbering system had significant implications.
The decision
After careful consideration, a decision was reached regarding Cursed Inscriptions. Two key determinations were made:
Negative numbering: Cursed Inscriptions would be numbered negatively, distinguishing them from traditional Inscriptions and highlighting their unique nature.
Future consideration: A pre-determined block height, would mark the point at which all newly inscribed Cursed Inscriptions would be officially recognized as Inscriptions. Existing Cursed Inscriptions will continue to be numbered negatively, preserving their distinctive status. For collectors, these Cursed Inscriptions hold historical value.