Fix NixOS GUI issues

Fixes #380, #414

.github/workflows/rust_parallel_release.yml

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ jobs:
       project_version: ${{ env.VERSION }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Getting version
         run: echo "VERSION=${GITHUB_REF#refs/*/}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
@@ -25,57 +25,50 @@ jobs:
     name: Create Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     needs: get_version
-    outputs: 
-      upload_url: ${{ steps.create_release.outputs.upload_url }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Create Release
-        id: create_release
-        uses: actions/create-release@v1
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           VERSION: ${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}
-        with:
-          tag_name: ${{ env.VERSION }}
-          release_name: ${{ env.VERSION }}
-          body: |
-            ## New
+        run: |
+          gh release create "$VERSION" \
+            --title "$VERSION" \
+            --draft \
+            --notes "## New
           * Added new features.
           ## Bug Fixes & Improvements
           * Various fixes and stability improvements.
           ## Documentation & others
-            * Updated documentation.
-          draft: true
-          prerelease: false
+          * Updated documentation."
 
   linux-nogui:
-    name: Create and upload builds
-    needs: [ create_release, get_version ]
+    name: Build Linux nogui (${{ matrix.arch }})
+    needs: [create_release, get_version]
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        arch: [ amd64, i686, armhf, armel, arm64 ]
+        arch: [amd64, i686, armhf, armel, arm64]
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: bash
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
-          sudo apt update
-          sudo apt upgrade
-          sudo apt install libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libxdo-dev libsoup-3.0-dev upx-ucl
-          cargo install cross
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y upx-ucl
+          cargo install cross --git https://github.com/cross-rs/cross
 
       - name: Build and package deb packages
         run: PKGARCH=${{ matrix.arch }} contrib/deb/generate.sh
 
       - name: Upload bins & debs
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
           tag_name="${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}"
           ls -lh ./bin/
@@ -83,62 +76,68 @@ jobs:
           gh release upload "$tag_name" *.deb --clobber
 
   build-and-upload-gui-zips:
-    name: Create and upload builds
-    needs: [ create_release, get_version ]
+    name: Build GUI (${{ matrix.name }})
+    needs: [create_release, get_version]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        os: [ windows-latest, ubuntu-latest, macOS-latest ]
+        include:
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            name: linux-amd64
+            bin_path: ./target/release/alfis
+            archive_cmd: zip
+          - os: windows-latest
+            name: windows-amd64
+            bin_path: target/release/alfis.exe
+            archive_cmd: 7z
+          - os: macos-latest
+            name: darwin-arm64
+            bin_path: ./target/release/alfis
+            archive_cmd: zip
+          - os: macos-latest
+            name: darwin-amd64
+            target: x86_64-apple-darwin
+            bin_path: ./target/x86_64-apple-darwin/release/alfis
+            archive_cmd: zip
 
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: bash
     steps:
       - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      - name: install dependencies
+      - name: Install Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+        with:
+          targets: ${{ matrix.target || '' }}
+
+      - name: Install Linux dependencies
         if: contains(matrix.os, 'ubuntu')
-        run: sudo apt update && sudo apt install --no-install-recommends libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libxdo-dev libsoup-3.0-dev upx-ucl
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+            libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev \
+            libgtk-3-dev \
+            libxdo-dev \
+            libsoup-3.0-dev \
+            libayatana-appindicator3-dev
 
       - name: Build release binaries
-        run: cargo build --release
+        run: cargo build --release ${{ matrix.target && format('--target {0}', matrix.target) || '' }}
 
-      - name: windows
-        if: contains(matrix.os, 'windows')
-        run: echo "BIN_ARCH=windows-amd64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: linux
-        if: contains(matrix.os, 'ubuntu')
-        run: echo "BIN_ARCH=linux-amd64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: macos
-        if: contains(matrix.os, 'mac')
-        run: echo "BIN_ARCH=darwin-amd64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Fill variables
+      - name: Package zip
+        env:
+          ZIP_NAME: alfis-${{ matrix.name }}-${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}.zip
         run: |
-          echo "BIN_PATH=./target/release/alfis" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "ZIP_NAME=alfis-${{env.BIN_ARCH}}-${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}.zip" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-      - name: Windows variables
-        if: contains(matrix.os, 'windows')
-        run: |
-          echo "BIN_PATH=target/release/alfis.exe" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "ZIP_NAME=alfis-${{env.BIN_ARCH}}-${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}.zip" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Packaging
-        uses: papeloto/action-zip@v1
-        with:
-          files: ${{ env.BIN_PATH }} alfis.toml README.md LICENSE adblock.txt
-          dest: ${{ env.ZIP_NAME }}
+          if [ "${{ matrix.archive_cmd }}" = "7z" ]; then
+            7z a "$ZIP_NAME" "${{ matrix.bin_path }}" alfis.toml README.md LICENSE adblock.txt
+          else
+            zip "$ZIP_NAME" "${{ matrix.bin_path }}" alfis.toml README.md LICENSE adblock.txt
+          fi
 
       - name: Upload zip
-        id: upload-zip
-        uses: actions/upload-release-asset@v1
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-        with:
-          upload_url: ${{ needs.create_release.outputs.upload_url }}
-          asset_path: ${{ env.ZIP_NAME }}
-          asset_name: ${{ env.ZIP_NAME }}
-          asset_content_type: application/zip
+          TAG: ${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}
+          ZIP_NAME: alfis-${{ matrix.name }}-${{ needs.get_version.outputs.project_version }}.zip
+        run: gh release upload "$TAG" "$ZIP_NAME" --clobber

Cargo.toml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ getopts = "0.2.24"
 log = "0.4.28"
 simplelog = "0.12.2"
 toml = "1.0.7"
-sha2 = "0.10.9"
+sha2 = "0.11.0"
 ed25519-dalek = "2.2.0"
 x25519-dalek = { version = "2.0.1", features = ["reusable_secrets"] }
 ecies-ed25519-ng = { git = "https://github.com/Revertron/ecies-ed25519-ng", rev = "554ca29", version = "0.5.3" }
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ thread-priority = "3.0.0"
 crossbeam-channel = "0.5.13"
 
 # Optional dependencies regulated by features
-wry = { version = "0.53", optional = true }
-tao = { version = "0.34", optional = true }
-tray-icon = { version = "0.21.2", optional = true }
+wry = { version = "0.55.0", optional = true }
+tao = { version = "0.35.0", optional = true }
+tray-icon = { version = "0.22.0", optional = true }
 tinyfiledialogs = { version = "3.9.1", optional = true }
 open = { version = "5.3.0", optional = true }
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ lto = true
 strip = true  # Automatically strip symbols from the binary.
 
 [profile.dev]
-opt-level = 2
+opt-level = 1
 
 [profile.test]
 opt-level = 2

flake.nix

@@ -18,18 +18,30 @@
         "i686-windows"
         "x86_64-windows"
       ];
-
     in flake-utils.lib.eachSystem systems (system:
       let
-
         pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.${system};
-
+        lib = pkgs.lib;
         naersk-lib = naersk.lib.${system};
+        isLinux = pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux;
 
-        alfis = { webgui ? true, doh ? true, edge ? false }:
+        guiBuildInputs = lib.optionals isLinux (with pkgs; [
+          gtk3
+          webkitgtk_4_1
+          xdotool
+          libayatana-appindicator
+        ]);
+
+        guiNativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.pkg-config ]
+          ++ lib.optionals isLinux [ pkgs.makeWrapper pkgs.wrapGAppsHook ];
+
+        guiRuntimeTools = lib.optionals isLinux [ pkgs.kdePackages.kdialog ];
+        guiRuntimeLibPath = lib.optionalString isLinux (lib.makeLibraryPath guiBuildInputs);
+
+        alfis = { webgui ? true, doh ? true }:
           let
             features = builtins.concatStringsSep " " (builtins.concatMap
-              ({ option, features }: pkgs.lib.optionals option features) [
+              ({ option, features }: lib.optionals option features) [
                 {
                   option = webgui;
                   features = [ "webgui" ];
@@ -38,55 +50,40 @@
                   option = doh;
                   features = [ "doh" ];
                 }
-                {
-                  option = edge;
-                  features = [ "edge" ];
-                }
               ]);
           in naersk-lib.buildPackage {
             pname = "alfis";
-            nativeBuildInputs = with pkgs; [ pkg-config webkitgtk kdialog ];
-            dontWrapQtApps = true;
+            root = ./.;
+            nativeBuildInputs = guiNativeBuildInputs;
+            buildInputs = guiBuildInputs;
             cargoBuildOptions = opts:
               opts ++ [ "--no-default-features" ]
-              ++ [ "--features" ''"${features}"'' ];
-            root = ./.;
+              ++ lib.optionals (features != "") [ "--features" features ];
+            preFixup = lib.optionalString isLinux ''
+              gappsWrapperArgs+=(--prefix PATH : "${lib.makeBinPath guiRuntimeTools}")
+              gappsWrapperArgs+=(--prefix LD_LIBRARY_PATH : "${guiRuntimeLibPath}")
+            '';
           };
-
-        isWindows = builtins.elem system [ "i686-windows" "x86_64-windows" ];
       in rec {
-
         packages = {
           alfis = alfis {
             webgui = true;
             doh = true;
-            edge = false;
           };
           alfisWithoutGUI = alfis {
             webgui = false;
             doh = true;
-            edge = false;
-          };
-        } // pkgs.lib.optionalAttrs isWindows {
-          alfisEdge = alfis {
-            webgui = false;
-            doh = true;
-            edge = true;
           };
         };
 
         defaultPackage = packages.alfis;
 
-        apps = with flake-utils.lib;
-          {
+        apps = with flake-utils.lib; {
           alfis = mkApp { drv = packages.alfis; };
           alfisWithoutGUI = mkApp { drv = packages.alfisWithoutGUI; };
-          } // pkgs.lib.optionalAttrs isWindows {
-            alfisEdge = mkApp { drv = packages.alfisEdge; };
         };
+
         defaultApp = apps.alfis;
-
         devShell = import ./shell.nix { inherit pkgs; };
-
       });
 }

shell.nix

@@ -1,6 +1,21 @@
 { pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> { } }:
 
+let
+  runtimeLibs = with pkgs; [
+    gtk3
+    webkitgtk_4_1
+    xdotool
+    libayatana-appindicator
+  ];
+
+  packages = with pkgs; [
+    cargo
+    rustc
+    pkg-config
+    kdePackages.kdialog
+  ] ++ runtimeLibs;
+in
 pkgs.mkShell {
-  buildInputs =
-    [ pkgs.cargo pkgs.rustc pkgs.webkitgtk pkgs.pkg-config pkgs.kdialog ];
+  buildInputs = packages;
+  LD_LIBRARY_PATH = pkgs.lib.makeLibraryPath runtimeLibs;
 }

src/blockchain/chain.rs

@@ -975,13 +975,23 @@ impl Chain {
             return false;
         }
         // If this signers' public key has already locked/signed that block we return error
+        // Use signing_keys cache to avoid repeated DB loads for the same blocks
+        let mut cache = self.signers.borrow_mut();
         for i in (full_block.index + 1)..block.index {
+            let pub_key = if let Some(cached) = cache.signing_keys.get(&i) {
+                cached.clone()
+            } else {
                 let signer = self.get_block(i).expect("Error in DB!");
-            if signer.pub_key == block.pub_key {
+                cache.signing_keys.insert(i, signer.pub_key.clone());
+                signer.pub_key
+            };
+            if pub_key == block.pub_key {
                 warn!("Ignoring block {} from '{:?}', already signed by this key", block.index, &block.pub_key);
                 return false;
             }
         }
+        // Cache this block's pub_key too for future checks
+        cache.signing_keys.insert(block.index, block.pub_key.clone());
         true
     }
 
@@ -1066,6 +1076,7 @@ impl Chain {
         let mut signers = self.signers.borrow_mut();
         signers.index = block.index;
         signers.signers = result.clone();
+        signers.signing_keys.clear();
         result
     }
 
@@ -1087,12 +1098,15 @@ impl Chain {
 
 struct SignersCache {
     index: u64,
-    signers: Vec<Bytes>
+    signers: Vec<Bytes>,
+    /// Cache of block_index → pub_key for signing blocks since last full_block.
+    /// Avoids repeated DB loads in is_good_signer_for_block duplicate check.
+    signing_keys: HashMap<u64, Bytes>,
 }
 
 impl SignersCache {
     pub fn new() -> RefCell<SignersCache> {
-        let cache = SignersCache { index: 0, signers: Vec::new() };
+        let cache = SignersCache { index: 0, signers: Vec::new(), signing_keys: HashMap::new() };
         RefCell::new(cache)
     }
 
@@ -1103,6 +1117,7 @@ impl SignersCache {
     pub fn clear(&mut self) {
         self.index = 0;
         self.signers.clear();
+        self.signing_keys.clear();
     }
 }
 

src/blockchain/filter.rs

@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ impl BlockchainFilter {
     }
 
     fn lookup_from_ns(qname: &str, qtype: QueryType, servers: &[IpAddr], tracker: &RttTracker<IpAddr>) -> Option<DnsPacket> {
-        let mut dns_client = DnsNetworkClient::new();
+        // Disable 0x20 encoding for NS queries - external NS servers may not preserve case
+        let mut dns_client = DnsNetworkClient::new_with_0x20(false);
         dns_client.run().unwrap();
         let timeout = std::time::Duration::from_secs(2);
 

src/dns/buffer.rs

@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ impl VectorPacketBuffer {
 
 impl PacketBuffer for VectorPacketBuffer {
     fn read(&mut self) -> Result<u8> {
+        if self.pos >= self.buffer.len() {
+            return Err(BufferError::EndOfBuffer);
+        }
         let res = self.buffer[self.pos];
         self.pos += 1;
 
@@ -173,10 +176,16 @@ impl PacketBuffer for VectorPacketBuffer {
     }
 
     fn get(&mut self, pos: usize) -> Result<u8> {
+        if pos >= self.buffer.len() {
+            return Err(BufferError::EndOfBuffer);
+        }
         Ok(self.buffer[pos])
     }
 
     fn get_range(&mut self, start: usize, len: usize) -> Result<&[u8]> {
+        if start + len > self.buffer.len() {
+            return Err(BufferError::EndOfBuffer);
+        }
         Ok(&self.buffer[start..start + len as usize])
     }
 

src/dns/client.rs

@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ impl DnsClient for HttpsDnsClient {
                                     Ok(size) => {
                                         let mut bytes: Vec<u8> = Vec::with_capacity(size);
                                         response.into_body().into_reader()
-                                            .take(4096)
+                                            .take(65535)
                                             .read_to_end(&mut bytes)?;
                                         let mut buffer = VectorPacketBuffer::new();
                                         buffer.buffer.extend_from_slice(bytes.as_slice());

src/dns/resolve.rs

@@ -109,17 +109,21 @@ impl DnsResolver for ForwardingDnsResolver {
                 Ok(mut result) => {
                     let elapsed = start.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1000.0;
                     self.context.forwarder_tracker.record_success(upstream, elapsed);
-                    self.context.cache.store(&result.answers)?;
 
-                    // Fix domain names in answers to match original query case
+                    // Fix domain names to match original query case before caching
                     let qname_lower = qname.to_lowercase();
-                    for answer in &mut result.answers {
-                        if let Some(domain) = answer.get_domain() {
+                    for rec in result.answers.iter_mut()
+                        .chain(result.authorities.iter_mut())
+                        .chain(result.resources.iter_mut())
+                    {
+                        if let Some(domain) = rec.get_domain() {
                             if domain.to_lowercase() == qname_lower {
-                                answer.set_domain(qname.to_string());
+                                rec.set_domain(qname.to_string());
                             }
                         }
                     }
+
+                    self.context.cache.store(&result.answers)?;
                     return Ok(result);
                 }
                 Err(e) => {

src/dns_utils.rs

@@ -44,7 +44,19 @@ fn create_server_context(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, settings: &Settings) -> A
     server_context.allow_recursive = true;
     server_context.resolve_strategy = match settings.dns.forwarders.is_empty() {
         true => ResolveStrategy::Recursive,
-        false => ResolveStrategy::Forward { upstreams: settings.dns.forwarders.clone() }
+        false => {
+            let upstreams = settings.dns.forwarders.iter().map(|s| {
+                if s.starts_with("https://") || s.parse::<std::net::SocketAddr>().is_ok() {
+                    s.clone()
+                } else if let Ok(ip) = s.parse::<std::net::IpAddr>() {
+                    std::net::SocketAddr::new(ip, 53).to_string()
+                } else {
+                    warn!("Cannot parse forwarder address: {}", s);
+                    s.clone()
+                }
+            }).collect();
+            ResolveStrategy::Forward { upstreams }
+        }
     };
     // Add host filters
     for host in &settings.dns.hosts {

src/main.rs

@@ -148,6 +148,20 @@ fn main() {
         no_gui = true;
     }
 
+    #[cfg(all(feature = "webgui", target_os = "linux"))]
+    if !no_gui {
+        let running_via_sudo = env::var_os("SUDO_UID").is_some();
+        let has_graphical_session = env::var_os("DISPLAY").is_some() || env::var_os("WAYLAND_DISPLAY").is_some();
+
+        if running_via_sudo {
+            warn!(target: LOG_TARGET_MAIN, "Running GUI via sudo is not supported on Linux, starting without GUI");
+            no_gui = true;
+        } else if !has_graphical_session {
+            warn!(target: LOG_TARGET_MAIN, "No graphical session detected, starting without GUI");
+            no_gui = true;
+        }
+    }
+
     #[cfg(windows)]
     if opt_matches.opt_present("service") {
         let appdata = env::var("PROGRAMDATA").expect("Failed to get APPDATA directory");

src/p2p/mod.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ pub mod network;
 pub mod peer;
 pub mod peers;
 pub mod state;
+pub mod version;
 
 pub use message::Message;
 pub use network::Network;

src/p2p/network.rs

@@ -10,17 +10,22 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, mpsc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use std::{io, thread};
 
+use crossbeam_channel::{bounded, Receiver, Sender};
+
 use byteorder::{BigEndian, ReadBytesExt, WriteBytesExt};
 #[allow(unused_imports)]
 use log::{debug, error, info, trace, warn};
 use mio::event::Event;
 use mio::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
 use mio::{Events, Interest, Poll, Registry, Token};
+use crate::commons::rtt_tracker::RttTracker;
+use crate::p2p::version::Version;
 use rand::{random, Rng, RngCore};
 use rand::prelude::thread_rng;
 use x25519_dalek::{PublicKey, ReusableSecret};
 
 use crate::blockchain::types::BlockQuality;
+use crate::blockchain::hash_utils::{check_block_hash, check_block_signature, hash_difficulty};
 use crate::commons::*;
 use crate::crypto::Chacha;
 use crate::eventbus::{post, register};
@@ -29,6 +34,20 @@ use crate::{Block, Bytes, Context};
 
 const SERVER: Token = Token(0);
 
+/// Job sent to validation worker threads
+struct ValidationJob {
+    token: Token,
+    block: Block,
+}
+
+/// Result from validation worker threads after CPU-intensive checks
+enum PreValidationResult {
+    /// Block passed hash and signature checks, needs DB validation
+    NeedsDbValidation(Token, Block),
+    /// Block failed basic validation
+    Invalid(Token, Block),
+}
+
 pub struct Network {
     context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>,
     secret_key: ReusableSecret,
@@ -37,7 +56,14 @@ pub struct Network {
     // States of peer connections, and some data to send when sockets become writable
     peers: Peers,
     // Orphan blocks from future
-    future_blocks: HashMap<u64, Block>
+    future_blocks: HashMap<u64, Block>,
+    // Validation thread pool channels
+    validation_sender: Sender<ValidationJob>,
+    validation_receiver: Receiver<PreValidationResult>,
+    // Track pending block requests: block_index -> (request_time, peer_token)
+    pending_requests: HashMap<u64, (Instant, Token)>,
+    // Track peer response times for adaptive selection
+    peer_rtt: RttTracker<Token>,
 }
 
 impl Network {
@@ -47,7 +73,88 @@ impl Network {
         let secret_key = ReusableSecret::random_from_rng(&mut thread_rng);
         let public_key = PublicKey::from(&secret_key);
         let peers = Peers::new();
-        Network { context, secret_key, public_key, token: Token(1), peers, future_blocks: HashMap::new() }
+
+        // Create validation thread pool
+        let cpus = num_cpus::get();
+        let num_workers = cpus.min((cpus / 2).max(1)); // At most half cpus
+        info!("Starting {num_workers} validation threads");
+        let channel_capacity = (num_workers * 4).max(100);
+        let (job_sender, job_receiver) = bounded::<ValidationJob>(channel_capacity);
+        let (result_sender, result_receiver) = bounded::<PreValidationResult>(channel_capacity);
+
+        // Spawn validation worker threads
+        for i in 0..num_workers {
+            let job_rx = job_receiver.clone();
+            let result_tx = result_sender.clone();
+
+            thread::Builder::new()
+                .name(format!("block-validator-{}", i))
+                .spawn(move || {
+                    Self::validation_worker(job_rx, result_tx);
+                })
+                .expect("Failed to spawn validation worker thread");
+        }
+
+        // Drop the extra senders/receivers we don't need
+        drop(result_sender);
+
+        Network {
+            context,
+            secret_key,
+            public_key,
+            token: Token(1),
+            peers,
+            future_blocks: HashMap::new(),
+            validation_sender: job_sender,
+            validation_receiver: result_receiver,
+            pending_requests: HashMap::new(),
+            peer_rtt: RttTracker::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Worker thread that performs CPU-intensive block validation
+    fn validation_worker(
+        job_receiver: Receiver<ValidationJob>,
+        result_sender: Sender<PreValidationResult>,
+    ) {
+        loop {
+            match job_receiver.recv() {
+                Ok(job) => {
+                    let ValidationJob { token, block } = job;
+
+                    // Perform CPU-intensive validation without holding any locks
+                    // These checks don't require database access
+
+                    // Check 1: Verify block hash
+                    if !check_block_hash(&block) {
+                        debug!("Block {} failed hash validation", block.index);
+                        let _ = result_sender.send(PreValidationResult::Invalid(token, block));
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    // Check 2: Verify block signature
+                    if !check_block_signature(&block) {
+                        debug!("Block {} failed signature validation", block.index);
+                        let _ = result_sender.send(PreValidationResult::Invalid(token, block));
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    // Check 3: Verify hash difficulty matches claimed difficulty
+                    if hash_difficulty(&block.hash) < block.difficulty {
+                        debug!("Block {} hash difficulty doesn't match claimed difficulty", block.index);
+                        let _ = result_sender.send(PreValidationResult::Invalid(token, block));
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    // Block passed CPU-intensive checks, send for DB validation
+                    let _ = result_sender.send(PreValidationResult::NeedsDbValidation(token, block));
+                }
+                Err(_) => {
+                    // Channel closed, exit worker thread
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn start(&mut self) {
@@ -175,6 +282,9 @@ impl Network {
                         };
                         let _ = debug_send.send(format!("Handle connection event: {:?} for peer {}", &event, &peer));
                         if !self.handle_connection_event(poll.registry(), event, &mut seen_blocks, &mut buffer) {
+                            // Record failure and remove pending requests for this peer
+                            self.peer_rtt.record_failure(&token);
+                            self.pending_requests.retain(|_index, (_time, t)| *t != token);
                             let _ = self.peers.close_peer(poll.registry(), &token);
                             let blocks = self.context.lock().unwrap().chain.get_height();
                             let keys = self.context.lock().unwrap().chain.get_users_count();
@@ -185,6 +295,11 @@ impl Network {
                 }
             }
             let _ = debug_send.send(String::from("After events iter"));
+
+            // Process validation results from worker threads
+            let _ = debug_send.send(String::from("Process validation results"));
+            self.process_validation_results();
+
             if last_events_time.elapsed().as_secs() > MAX_IDLE_SECONDS {
                 if self.peers.get_peers_count() > 0 {
                     warn!("Something is wrong with swarm connections, closing all.");
@@ -239,8 +354,20 @@ impl Network {
                     (blocks, max_height, context.chain.get_last_hash())
                 };
 
+                // Periodic sync maintenance: gap retries and idle peer kicks
+                if height < max_height {
+                    self.sync_maintain(height, max_height);
+                } else if height >= max_height && !self.future_blocks.is_empty() {
+                    // We've caught up but have stale future_blocks — clean them up
+                    self.future_blocks.clear();
+                    self.pending_requests.clear();
+                    post(crate::event::Event::SyncFinished);
+                }
+
                 let _ = debug_send.send(String::from("Peers update"));
-                let have_blocks: HashSet<u64> = self.future_blocks.values().map(|block| block.index).collect();
+                let mut have_blocks: HashSet<u64> = self.future_blocks.keys().copied().collect();
+                // Also include blocks that are pending validation to avoid re-requesting them
+                have_blocks.extend(self.pending_requests.keys().copied());
                 self.peers.update(poll.registry(), hash, height, max_height, have_blocks);
                 ui_timer = Instant::now();
             }
@@ -454,6 +581,14 @@ impl Network {
                     peer.set_state(State::idle());
                 }
                 State::Idle { from } => {
+                    if peer.has_queued_messages() {
+                        // Send ONE queued message at a time to avoid flooding remote peer
+                        if let Some(queued_data) = peer.pop_message() {
+                            if let Ok(data) = encode_bytes(&queued_data, peer.get_cipher()) {
+                                send_message(peer.get_stream(), &data).unwrap_or_else(|e| warn!("Error sending queued message {}", e));
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } else {
                         debug!("Odd version of pings for {}", peer.get_addr().ip());
                         if from.elapsed().as_secs() >= 120 {
                             let data: Vec<u8> = {
@@ -464,6 +599,7 @@ impl Network {
                             send_message(peer.get_stream(), &data).unwrap_or_else(|e| warn!("Error sending ping {}", e));
                         }
                     }
+                }
                 State::Error => {}
                 State::Banned => {}
                 State::Offline { .. } => {}
@@ -504,6 +640,7 @@ impl Network {
                 } else if origin.eq(my_origin) {
                     let peer = self.peers.get_mut_peer(token).unwrap();
                     debug!("Incoming v{} on {}", &app_version, peer.get_addr().ip());
+                    peer.set_version(Version::parse(&app_version));
                     let app_version = self.context.lock().unwrap().app_version.clone();
                     if version == my_version {
                         peer.set_public(public);
@@ -538,6 +675,7 @@ impl Network {
                 let peer = self.peers.get_mut_peer(token).unwrap();
                 // TODO check rand_id whether we have this peers connection already
                 debug!("Outgoing v{} on {}", &app_version, peer.get_addr().ip());
+                peer.set_version(Version::parse(&app_version));
                 peer.set_height(height);
                 peer.set_active(true);
                 peer.set_public(public);
@@ -564,10 +702,20 @@ impl Network {
                     return State::message(Message::pong(my_height, my_hash));
                 }
                 if peer.is_higher(my_height) {
+                    let max_height = {
                         let mut context = self.context.lock().unwrap();
                         context.chain.update_max_height(height);
-                    info!("Peer is higher, requesting block {} from {}", my_height + 1, peer.get_addr().ip());
-                    State::message(Message::GetBlock { index: my_height + 1 })
+                        context.chain.get_max_height()
+                    };
+                    // Start pipeline: queue a block request, then send pong
+                    if let Some(idx) = self.next_block_to_request(my_height, max_height) {
+                        let peer = self.peers.get_mut_peer(token).unwrap();
+                        if peer.can_send() {
+                            peer.queue_message(Message::GetBlock { index: idx });
+                            self.pending_requests.insert(idx, (Instant::now(), *token));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    State::message(Message::pong(my_height, my_hash))
                 } else if my_height == height && hash.ne(&my_hash) {
                     info!("Hashes are different, requesting block {} from {}", my_height, peer.get_addr().ip());
                     info!("My hash: {:?}, their hash: {:?}", &my_hash, &hash);
@@ -585,10 +733,17 @@ impl Network {
                     return State::idle();
                 }
                 if peer.is_higher(my_height) {
+                    let max_height = {
                         let mut context = self.context.lock().unwrap();
                         context.chain.update_max_height(height);
-                    info!("Peer is higher, requesting block {} from {}", my_height + 1, peer.get_addr().ip());
-                    State::message(Message::GetBlock { index: my_height + 1 })
+                        context.chain.get_max_height()
+                    };
+                    // Start pipeline: request next needed block from this peer
+                    if let Some(idx) = self.next_block_to_request(my_height, max_height) {
+                        self.pending_requests.insert(idx, (Instant::now(), *token));
+                        return State::message(Message::GetBlock { index: idx });
+                    }
+                    State::idle()
                 } else if my_height == height && hash.ne(&my_hash) {
                     info!("Hashes are different, requesting block {} from {}", my_height, peer.get_addr().ip());
                     info!("My hash: {:?}, their hash: {:?}", &my_hash, &hash);
@@ -636,12 +791,46 @@ impl Network {
                 if index != block.index {
                     return State::Banned;
                 }
-                debug!("Received block {} with hash {:?}", block.index, &block.hash);
-                if !seen_blocks.contains(&block.hash) {
-                    self.handle_block(token, block, seen_blocks)
-                } else {
-                    State::idle()
+                let peer_addr = self.peers.get_peer(token).map_or("unknown".to_string(), |p| p.get_addr().ip().to_string());
+                debug!("Received block {} with hash {:?} from {}", block.index, &block.hash, &peer_addr);
+                // Record RTT but keep in pending_requests until validation completes
+                // (prevents re-requesting while block is in validation channel)
+                if let Some((request_time, peer_token)) = self.pending_requests.get(&block.index) {
+                    let rtt_ms = request_time.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1000.0;
+                    self.peer_rtt.record_success(peer_token, rtt_ms);
                 }
+                if !seen_blocks.contains(&block.hash) {
+                    seen_blocks.insert(block.hash.clone());
+                    // Send block to validation worker threads for parallel processing
+                    match self.validation_sender.try_send(ValidationJob {
+                        token: *token,
+                        block,
+                    }) {
+                        Ok(_) => {},
+                        Err(crossbeam_channel::TrySendError::Full(job)) => {
+                            debug!("Validation queue full, deferring block {}", job.block.index);
+                            self.future_blocks.insert(job.block.index, job.block);
+                        },
+                        Err(crossbeam_channel::TrySendError::Disconnected(_)) => {
+                            warn!("Validation worker threads have stopped");
+                        },
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Pipeline: immediately request the next needed block from this peer
+                let (my_height, max_height) = {
+                    let c = self.context.lock().unwrap();
+                    (c.chain.get_height(), c.chain.get_max_height())
+                };
+                if my_height < max_height {
+                    if let Some(next_idx) = self.next_block_to_request(my_height, max_height) {
+                        let peer_addr = self.peers.get_peer(token).map_or("unknown".to_string(), |p| p.get_addr().ip().to_string());
+                        debug!("Requesting block {next_idx} from {}", &peer_addr);
+                        self.pending_requests.insert(next_idx, (Instant::now(), *token));
+                        return State::message(Message::GetBlock { index: next_idx });
+                    }
+                }
+                State::idle()
             }
             Message::Twin => State::Twin,
             Message::Loop => State::Loop
@@ -649,79 +838,282 @@ impl Network {
         answer
     }
 
-    fn handle_block(&mut self, token: &Token, block: Block, seen_blocks: &mut HashSet<Bytes>) -> State {
-        seen_blocks.insert(block.hash.clone());
-        let peers_count = self.peers.get_peers_active_count();
-        let peer = self.peers.get_mut_peer(token).unwrap();
-        peer.set_received_block(block.index);
-        trace!("New block from {}", &peer.get_addr());
+    /// Find the next block that needs to be requested within the sync window.
+    /// Returns None if all blocks in the window are already requested or received.
+    fn next_block_to_request(&self, my_height: u64, max_height: u64) -> Option<u64> {
+        const SYNC_WINDOW: u64 = 500;
+        // Don't pipeline until genesis block is added — other blocks would just
+        // queue as "future" and spam warnings since last_block is None.
+        let window = if my_height == 0 { 1 } else { SYNC_WINDOW };
+        let end = max_height.min(my_height + window);
+        for idx in (my_height + 1)..=end {
+            if !self.future_blocks.contains_key(&idx) && !self.pending_requests.contains_key(&idx) {
+                return Some(idx);
+            }
+        }
+        None
+    }
 
+    /// Periodic sync maintenance: retry gap blocks, kick idle peers into the pipeline.
+    fn sync_maintain(&mut self, my_height: u64, max_height: u64) {
+        const GAP_TIMEOUT_MSECS: u128 = 1500;
+
+        let now = Instant::now();
+
+        // Record failures for timed-out requests before cleanup
+        let timed_out: Vec<Token> = self.pending_requests.iter()
+            .filter(|(_, (t, _))| t.elapsed().as_millis() >= GAP_TIMEOUT_MSECS)
+            .map(|(_, (_, tok))| *tok)
+            .collect();
+        for tok in &timed_out {
+            self.peer_rtt.record_failure(tok);
+        }
+
+        // Clean up stale requests: timed out or peer no longer active
+        self.pending_requests.retain(|_index, (request_time, token)| {
+            if request_time.elapsed().as_millis() >= GAP_TIMEOUT_MSECS * 2 {
+                return false;
+            }
+            match self.peers.get_peer(token) {
+                Some(peer) => peer.active(),
+                None => false,
+            }
+        });
+
+        let raw_peers = self.peers.get_active_peer_tokens();
+        if raw_peers.is_empty() {
+            return;
+        }
+        let active_peers = self.peer_rtt.select_ordered(&raw_peers);
+
+        // Retry gap blocks with shorter timeout — push to FRONT of fastest peer's queue
+        let min_future_block = self.future_blocks.keys().min().copied();
+        if let Some(min_future) = min_future_block {
+            // active_peers is already ranked by RTT (fastest first)
+            let mut gap_peer_idx = 0;
+            for block_index in (my_height + 1)..min_future {
+                if self.future_blocks.contains_key(&block_index) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                if let Some((req_time, old_token)) = self.pending_requests.get(&block_index) {
+                    if req_time.elapsed().as_millis() < GAP_TIMEOUT_MSECS {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    self.peer_rtt.record_failure(old_token);
+                    // Skip the failed peer
+                    if let Some(pos) = active_peers.iter().position(|t| t == old_token) {
+                        if pos == gap_peer_idx {
+                            gap_peer_idx = (gap_peer_idx + 1) % active_peers.len();
+                        }
+                    }
+                    debug!("Gap block {} timed out, re-requesting (have future from {})", block_index, min_future);
+                }
+
+                // Find a peer that can accept a message (old nodes only allow 1 in flight)
+                let mut sent = false;
+                for _ in 0..active_peers.len() {
+                    let peer_token = active_peers[gap_peer_idx % active_peers.len()];
+                    gap_peer_idx = (gap_peer_idx + 1) % active_peers.len();
+                    if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&peer_token) {
+                        if !peer.can_send() {
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        peer.queue_priority_message(Message::GetBlock { index: block_index });
+                        self.pending_requests.insert(block_index, (now, peer_token));
+                        debug!("Requesting gap block {} from {} (priority)", block_index, peer.get_addr().ip());
+                        sent = true;
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+                if !sent {
+                    break; // All peers busy, try next cycle
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Kick idle peers into the pipeline (peers with no pending requests)
+        for t in &active_peers {
+            let has_pending = self.pending_requests.values().any(|(_, tk)| tk == t);
+            if has_pending {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_peer(t) {
+                if !peer.get_state().is_idle() || peer.has_queued_messages() {
+                    continue;
+                }
+            }
+            if let Some(idx) = self.next_block_to_request(my_height, max_height) {
+                if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(t) {
+                    peer.queue_message(Message::GetBlock { index: idx });
+                    self.pending_requests.insert(idx, (now, *t));
+                    debug!("Kicking idle peer {} with block {}", peer.get_addr().ip(), idx);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Process validation results from worker threads and add validated blocks to chain
+    fn process_validation_results(&mut self) {
+        // Process all available validation results without blocking
+        while let Ok(result) = self.validation_receiver.try_recv() {
+            match result {
+                PreValidationResult::NeedsDbValidation(token, block) => {
+                    // CPU-intensive validation passed, now do DB-dependent validation
+                    let peers_count = self.peers.get_peers_active_count();
+
+                    // Update peer state
+                    if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&token) {
+                        peer.set_received_block(block.index);
+                        trace!("Validated block {} from {}", block.index, peer.get_addr());
+                    } else {
+                        // Peer disconnected, but we can still process the block
+                        trace!("Validated block {} from disconnected peer", block.index);
+                    }
+
+                    // Lock context only for DB operations
                     let mut context = self.context.lock().unwrap();
                     let max_height = context.chain.get_max_height();
+
+                    // Do remaining DB-dependent validation and add to chain
                     match context.chain.check_new_block(&block) {
                         BlockQuality::Good => {
+                            let block_index = block.index;
                             let mut next_index = block.index + 1;
                             context.chain.add_block(block);
-                // If we have some consequent blocks in a bucket of 'future blocks', we add them
+
+                            // Clean up pending request for this block
+                            self.pending_requests.remove(&block_index);
+
+                            // Process future blocks that are now ready
                             while let Some(block) = self.future_blocks.remove(&next_index) {
                                 if context.chain.check_new_block(&block) == BlockQuality::Good {
                                     debug!("Added block {} from future blocks", next_index);
                                     context.chain.add_block(block);
+                                    self.pending_requests.remove(&next_index);
                                 } else {
                                     warn!("Block {} in future blocks is bad!", block.index);
                                     break;
                                 }
                                 next_index += 1;
                             }
+
                             let my_height = context.chain.get_height();
                             post(crate::event::Event::BlockchainChanged { index: my_height });
-                // If it was the last block to sync
-                if my_height == max_height {
+
+                            // Check if sync is finished
+                            if my_height >= max_height {
                                 post(crate::event::Event::SyncFinished);
                                 self.future_blocks.clear();
                             } else {
-                    let event = crate::event::Event::Syncing { have: my_height, height: max(max_height, my_height) };
+                                let event = crate::event::Event::Syncing {
+                                    have: my_height,
+                                    height: max(max_height, my_height)
+                                };
                                 post(event);
                             }
+
                             let domains = context.chain.get_domains_count();
                             let keys = context.chain.get_users_count();
-                post(crate::event::Event::NetworkStatus { blocks: my_height, domains, keys, nodes: peers_count });
+                            post(crate::event::Event::NetworkStatus {
+                                blocks: my_height,
+                                domains,
+                                keys,
+                                nodes: peers_count
+                            });
+                        }
+                        BlockQuality::Twin => {
+                            debug!("Ignoring duplicate block {}", block.index);
                         }
-            BlockQuality::Twin => { debug!("Ignoring duplicate block {}", block.index); }
                         BlockQuality::Future => {
                             debug!("Got future block {}", block.index);
+                            let block_index = block.index;
                             self.future_blocks.insert(block.index, block);
+                            // Clean up pending request since we have this block now
+                            self.pending_requests.remove(&block_index);
                         }
                         BlockQuality::Bad => {
-                // TODO save bad public keys to banned table
-                debug!("Ignoring bad block from {}:\n{:?}", peer.get_addr(), &block);
+                            debug!("Block {} failed DB validation", block.index);
+                            if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&token) {
+                                debug!("Banning peer {} for bad block", peer.get_addr());
+                                // Mark peer for banning
+                                peer.set_state(State::Banned);
+                            }
                             let height = context.chain.get_height();
                             if height + 1 == block.index {
                                 context.chain.update_max_height(height);
                                 post(crate::event::Event::SyncFinished);
                             }
-                return State::Banned;
                         }
                         BlockQuality::Rewind => {
-                debug!("Got some orphan block, requesting its parent");
-                return State::message(Message::GetBlock { index: block.index - 1 });
+                            debug!("Got orphan block {}, requesting parent", block.index);
+                            // Save the block so it can be processed after the rewind resolves
+                            let block_index = block.index;
+                            self.future_blocks.insert(block.index, block);
+                            self.pending_requests.remove(&block_index);
+                            if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&token) {
+                                peer.set_state(State::message(Message::GetBlock {
+                                    index: block_index - 1
+                                }));
+                            }
                         }
                         BlockQuality::Fork => {
                             debug!("Got forked block {} with hash {:?}", block.index, block.hash);
-                // If we are very much behind of blockchain
-                let lagged = block.index == context.chain.get_height() && block.index + LIMITED_CONFIDENCE_DEPTH <= max_height;
-                let our_block = context.chain.get_block(block.index).unwrap();
+                            let lagged = block.index == context.chain.get_height()
+                                && block.index + LIMITED_CONFIDENCE_DEPTH <= max_height;
+
+                            if let Some(our_block) = context.chain.get_block(block.index) {
                                 if block.is_better_than(&our_block) || lagged {
-                    context.chain.replace_block(block).expect("Error replacing block with fork");
-                    let index = context.chain.get_height();
-                    post(crate::event::Event::BlockchainChanged { index });
+                                    let fork_index = block.index;
+                                    context.chain.replace_block(block)
+                                        .expect("Error replacing block with fork");
+                                    let mut next_index = fork_index + 1;
+                                    // Process future blocks that may now be valid after fork switch
+                                    while let Some(fb) = self.future_blocks.remove(&next_index) {
+                                        if context.chain.check_new_block(&fb) == BlockQuality::Good {
+                                            debug!("Added block {} from future blocks after fork", next_index);
+                                            context.chain.add_block(fb);
+                                            self.pending_requests.remove(&next_index);
                                         } else {
-                    debug!("Fork in not better than our block, dropping.");
-                    return State::message(Message::block(our_block.index, our_block.as_bytes()));
+                                            debug!("Future block {} not good after fork", next_index);
+                                            break;
+                                        }
+                                        next_index += 1;
+                                    }
+                                    let my_height = context.chain.get_height();
+                                    post(crate::event::Event::BlockchainChanged { index: my_height });
+                                    if my_height >= max_height {
+                                        post(crate::event::Event::SyncFinished);
+                                        self.future_blocks.clear();
+                                    } else {
+                                        post(crate::event::Event::Syncing {
+                                            have: my_height,
+                                            height: max(max_height, my_height)
+                                        });
+                                    }
+                                } else {
+                                    debug!("Fork is not better than our block, dropping");
+                                    if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&token) {
+                                        peer.set_state(State::message(Message::block(
+                                            our_block.index,
+                                            our_block.as_bytes()
+                                        )));
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    // Context lock is dropped here
+                }
+                PreValidationResult::Invalid(token, block) => {
+                    // Block failed CPU-intensive validation
+                    debug!("Block {} failed pre-validation (hash/signature)", block.index);
+                    if let Some(peer) = self.peers.get_mut_peer(&token) {
+                        debug!("Banning peer {} for invalid block", peer.get_addr());
+                        peer.set_state(State::Banned);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
-        State::idle()
     }
 
     /// Gets new token from old token, mutating the last

src/p2p/peer.rs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::fmt::Display;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::time::Instant;
@@ -5,13 +6,16 @@ use std::time::Instant;
 use mio::net::TcpStream;
 
 use crate::crypto::Chacha;
+use crate::p2p::message::Message;
 use crate::p2p::State;
+use crate::p2p::version::Version;
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Peer {
     addr: SocketAddr,
     stream: TcpStream,
     state: State,
+    outgoing: VecDeque<Vec<u8>>,
     id: String,
     height: u64,
     inbound: bool,
@@ -21,7 +25,8 @@ pub struct Peer {
     reconnects: u32,
     received_block: u64,
     sent_height: u64,
-    cipher: Option<Chacha>
+    cipher: Option<Chacha>,
+    version: Version,
 }
 
 impl Peer {
@@ -30,6 +35,7 @@ impl Peer {
             addr,
             stream,
             state,
+            outgoing: VecDeque::new(),
             id: String::new(),
             height: 0,
             inbound,
@@ -39,7 +45,8 @@ impl Peer {
             reconnects: 0,
             received_block: 0,
             sent_height: 0,
-            cipher: None
+            cipher: None,
+            version: Version::default(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -78,6 +85,52 @@ impl Peer {
         self.state = state;
     }
 
+    /// Queue a message for sending. Does not change peer state.
+    pub fn queue_message(&mut self, msg: Message) {
+        let data = serde_cbor::to_vec(&msg).unwrap();
+        self.outgoing.push_back(data);
+    }
+
+    /// Queue a high-priority message at the front (e.g. gap block requests)
+    pub fn queue_priority_message(&mut self, msg: Message) {
+        let data = serde_cbor::to_vec(&msg).unwrap();
+        self.outgoing.push_front(data);
+    }
+
+    pub fn has_queued_messages(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.outgoing.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    pub fn queued_count(&self) -> usize {
+        self.outgoing.len()
+    }
+
+    pub fn pop_message(&mut self) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
+        self.outgoing.pop_front()
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_version(&mut self, version: Version) {
+        self.version = version;
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_version(&self) -> &Version {
+        &self.version
+    }
+
+    /// Old nodes (< 0.8.9) overwrite outgoing messages, can only have 1 in flight
+    pub fn supports_queue(&self) -> bool {
+        self.version >= Version { major: 0, minor: 8, patch: 9 }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if we can send another message to this peer
+    pub fn can_send(&self) -> bool {
+        if self.supports_queue() {
+            true
+        } else {
+            self.outgoing.is_empty()
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn get_id(&self) -> &str {
         &self.id
     }

src/p2p/peers.rs

@@ -202,6 +202,13 @@ impl Peers {
         count
     }
 
+    pub fn get_active_peer_tokens(&self) -> Vec<Token> {
+        self.peers.iter()
+            .filter(|(_, peer)| peer.active())
+            .map(|(token, _)| *token)
+            .collect()
+    }
+
     pub fn is_tween_connect(&self, id: &str) -> bool {
         for (_, peer) in self.peers.iter() {
             if peer.active() && peer.get_id() == id {
@@ -255,7 +262,10 @@ impl Peers {
         let mut stale_tokens = Vec::new();
         for (token, peer) in self.peers.iter_mut() {
             if let State::Idle { from } = peer.get_state() {
-                if from.elapsed().as_secs() >= PING_PERIOD + random_time {
+                if peer.has_queued_messages() {
+                    let stream = peer.get_stream();
+                    registry.reregister(stream, *token, Interest::WRITABLE).unwrap();
+                } else if from.elapsed().as_secs() >= PING_PERIOD + random_time {
                     // Sometimes we check for new peers instead of pinging
                     let message = if nodes < MAX_NODES && random::<bool>() {
                         Message::GetPeers
@@ -273,7 +283,7 @@ impl Peers {
                     stale_tokens.push((token.clone(), peer.get_addr()));
                     continue;
                 }
-                if matches!(peer.get_state(), State::Message {..}) {
+                if matches!(peer.get_state(), State::Message {..}) || peer.has_queued_messages() {
                     let stream = peer.get_stream();
                     registry.reregister(stream, *token, Interest::WRITABLE).unwrap();
                 }
@@ -288,7 +298,7 @@ impl Peers {
         self.ignored.retain(|_addr, time| { time.elapsed().as_secs() < 600 });
 
         // If someone has more blocks we sync
-        if nodes >= MIN_CONNECTED_NODES_START_SYNC && height < max_height {
+        if nodes >= MIN_CONNECTED_NODES_START_SYNC && height < max_height && have_blocks.is_empty() {
             // Give some opportunity to get more peers instead of requests for blocks only
             let request_blocks = nodes >= 10 || random::<bool>();
             if request_blocks {

src/p2p/version.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+use std::fmt;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Version {
+    pub major: u16,
+    pub minor: u16,
+    pub patch: u16,
+}
+
+impl Version {
+    pub fn parse(s: &str) -> Version {
+        let parts: Vec<&str> = s.split('.').collect();
+        Version {
+            major: parts.get(0).and_then(|s| s.parse().ok()).unwrap_or(0),
+            minor: parts.get(1).and_then(|s| s.parse().ok()).unwrap_or(0),
+            patch: parts.get(2).and_then(|s| s.parse().ok()).unwrap_or(0),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for Version {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Version { major: 0, minor: 0, patch: 0 }
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialOrd for Version {
+    fn partial_cmp(&self, other: &Self) -> Option<std::cmp::Ordering> {
+        Some(self.cmp(other))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Ord for Version {
+    fn cmp(&self, other: &Self) -> std::cmp::Ordering {
+        self.major.cmp(&other.major)
+            .then(self.minor.cmp(&other.minor))
+            .then(self.patch.cmp(&other.patch))
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Version {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "{}.{}.{}", self.major, self.minor, self.patch)
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_version_comparison() {
+        assert!(Version::parse("0.8.9") >= Version::parse("0.8.9"));
+        assert!(Version::parse("0.8.10") > Version::parse("0.8.9"));
+        assert!(Version::parse("0.8.8") < Version::parse("0.8.9"));
+        assert!(Version::parse("0.9.0") > Version::parse("0.8.99"));
+        assert!(Version::parse("1.0.0") > Version::parse("0.99.99"));
+    }
+}

src/web_ui.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ extern crate serde;
 extern crate serde_json;
 extern crate tinyfiledialogs as tfd;
 
+use std::panic::{self, AssertUnwindSafe};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, MutexGuard};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
 use std::thread;
@@ -61,13 +62,8 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
     #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
     let icon = load_icon_from_png();
 
-    let tray_icon = TrayIconBuilder::new()
-        .with_menu(Box::new(tray_menu))
-        .with_tooltip(&title)
-        .with_icon(icon)
-        .with_menu_on_left_click(false)
-        .build()
-        .unwrap();
+    let tray_icon = build_tray_icon(&title, tray_menu, icon);
+    let tray_available = tray_icon.is_some();
 
     let window_size = tao::dpi::LogicalSize::new(1024, 720);
     // Get primary monitor and calculate center position
@@ -90,7 +86,7 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
         .with_inner_size(window_size)
         .with_min_inner_size(tao::dpi::LogicalSize::new(773, 350))
         .with_resizable(true)
-        .with_visible(!hide);
+        .with_visible(!hide || !tray_available);
 
     if let Some(position) = position {
         builder = builder.with_position(position);
@@ -319,6 +315,7 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
         true
     });
 
+    if tray_available {
         let proxy = event_loop.create_proxy();
         TrayIconEvent::set_event_handler(Some(move |event| {
             let _ = proxy.send_event(UserEvent::TrayIconEvent(event));
@@ -328,6 +325,7 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
         MenuEvent::set_event_handler(Some(move |event| {
             let _ = proxy.send_event(UserEvent::MenuEvent(event));
         }));
+    }
 
     let proxy = event_loop.create_proxy();
 
@@ -340,7 +338,14 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
                 event: WindowEvent::CloseRequested,
                 ..
             } => {
+                if tray_available {
                     window.set_visible(false);
+                } else {
+                    info!("Interface closed, exiting");
+                    post(Event::ActionQuit);
+                    thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100));
+                    *control_flow = ControlFlow::Exit;
+                }
             }
             TaoEvent::UserEvent(user_event) => {
                 let wv = webview_clone.lock().unwrap();
@@ -364,6 +369,7 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
                         show_warning(&wv, &text);
                     }
                     UserEvent::TrayIconEvent(event) => {
+                        if let Some(tray_icon) = tray_icon.as_ref() {
                             match event {
                                 TrayIconEvent::DoubleClick { button, .. } => {
                                     if button == tray_icon::MouseButton::Left {
@@ -379,6 +385,7 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
                                 _ => {}
                             }
                         }
+                    }
                     UserEvent::MenuEvent(event) => {
                         if event.id == show_item.id() {
                             window.set_visible(true);
@@ -396,6 +403,34 @@ pub fn run_interface(context: Arc<Mutex<Context>>, miner: Arc<Mutex<Miner>>, hid
     });
 }
 
+fn build_tray_icon(title: &str, tray_menu: Menu, icon: tray_icon::Icon) -> Option<tray_icon::TrayIcon> {
+    let previous_hook = panic::take_hook();
+    panic::set_hook(Box::new(|_| {}));
+
+    let result = panic::catch_unwind(AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
+        TrayIconBuilder::new()
+            .with_menu(Box::new(tray_menu))
+            .with_tooltip(title)
+            .with_icon(icon)
+            .with_menu_on_left_click(false)
+            .build()
+    }));
+
+    panic::set_hook(previous_hook);
+
+    match result {
+        Ok(Ok(tray_icon)) => Some(tray_icon),
+        Ok(Err(error)) => {
+            warn!("Tray icon is unavailable: {error}");
+            None
+        }
+        Err(_) => {
+            warn!("Tray icon is unavailable: failed to load appindicator library, continuing without tray support");
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 enum UserEvent {
     EvalJs(String),