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+# Dogecoin Core 1.7 Alpha
+=========================
+
+Dogecoin Core 1.7 is a complete re-architecture of Dogecoin, changing from
+using the Litecoin client as its base, to Bitcoin 0.9. It's still Dogecoin,
+same Scrypt PoW algorithm, same reward schedule, but there's a lot of
+changes under the hood.
+
+
+For the full Bitcoin 0.9 changelog, please see https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=522014
+
+Please note that this is a very early release, and a full audit of the code
+is still in progress. The client has been hard-coded to only work with testnet
+for now, to avoid risks of damaging real wallets.
+
+
+Downgrading
+-----------
+
+First and foremost, please note that downgrading from 1.7 to 1.6 is not trivial.
+1.7 now uses Berkeley DB 5.1 as its default database (in place of 4.8), and as
+such may create database files which are incompatible with previous versions.
+
+Rebranding to Dogecoin Core
+---------------------------
+
+Following in the footsteps of Bitcoin (Core), the Dogecoin reference client
+has been rebranded as "Dogecoin Core". This helps separate its identity
+from Dogecoin (the network).
+
+dogecoin-cli
+------------
+
+Where previously commands were sent to dogecoind by running
+"dogecoind <command>", 1.7 adopts the model from Bitcoin Core 0.9 where there is
+a separate "dogecoin-cli" executable which us used instead. This avoids the risk
+of accidentally trying to start two daemons at the same time, for example.
+
+
+Transaction malleability-related fixes
+--------------------------------------
+
+Fixes for risk-cases involving transaction malleability have been added; this
+is particularly important for any merchants or exchanges using the built-in
+wallet system. 
+
+Testnet
+-------
+
+As mentioned at the start of this document, the alpha-client is for use on the
+Dogecoin testnet only. This is an alternative Dogecoin blockchain which is
+not used for real transactions, and instead is intended for testing of experimental
+clients. Wallets and addresses are incompatible with the normal Dogecoin
+network, in order to isolate the two.
+
+As "test Doge" is essentially valueless, it can be acquired easily for testing,
+either by mining, or from a faucet such as http://testdoge.lionservers.de/