docs for wallet and coin selection

src/wallet/coinselection.h

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ static constexpr CAmount MIN_CHANGE{COIN / 100};
 //! final minimum change amount after paying for fees
 static const CAmount MIN_FINAL_CHANGE = MIN_CHANGE/2;
 
+/** A UTXO under consideration for use in funding a new transaction. */
 class CInputCoin {
 public:
     CInputCoin(const CTransactionRef& tx, unsigned int i)
@@ -56,31 +57,58 @@ class CInputCoin {
     }
 };
 
+/** Parameters for filtering which OutputGroups we may use in coin selection.
+ * We start by being very selective and requiring multiple confirmations and
+ * then get more permissive if we cannot fund the transaction. */
 struct CoinEligibilityFilter
 {
+    /** Minimum number of confirmations for outputs that we sent to ourselves.
+     * We may use unconfirmed UTXOs sent from ourselves, e.g. change outputs. */
     const int conf_mine;
+    /** Minimum number of confirmations for outputs received from a different
+     * wallet. We never spend unconfirmed foreign outputs as we cannot rely on these funds yet. */
     const int conf_theirs;
+    /** Maximum number of total unconfirmed ancestors for all UTXOs in the OutputGroup. */
     const uint64_t max_ancestors;
+    /** Maximum number of descendants that a single UTXO in the OutputGroup may have. */
     const uint64_t max_descendants;
-    const bool m_include_partial_groups{false}; //! Include partial destination groups when avoid_reuse and there are full groups
+    /** When avoid_reuse=true and there are full groups (OUTPUT_GROUP_MAX_ENTRIES), whether or not to use any partial groups.*/
+    const bool m_include_partial_groups{false};
 
     CoinEligibilityFilter(int conf_mine, int conf_theirs, uint64_t max_ancestors) : conf_mine(conf_mine), conf_theirs(conf_theirs), max_ancestors(max_ancestors), max_descendants(max_ancestors) {}
     CoinEligibilityFilter(int conf_mine, int conf_theirs, uint64_t max_ancestors, uint64_t max_descendants) : conf_mine(conf_mine), conf_theirs(conf_theirs), max_ancestors(max_ancestors), max_descendants(max_descendants) {}
     CoinEligibilityFilter(int conf_mine, int conf_theirs, uint64_t max_ancestors, uint64_t max_descendants, bool include_partial) : conf_mine(conf_mine), conf_theirs(conf_theirs), max_ancestors(max_ancestors), max_descendants(max_descendants), m_include_partial_groups(include_partial) {}
 };
 
+/** A group of UTXOs paid to the same output script. */
 struct OutputGroup
 {
+    /** The list of UTXOs contained in this output group. */
     std::vector<CInputCoin> m_outputs;
+    /** Whether the UTXOs were sent by the wallet to itself. This is relevant because we may want at
+     * least certain number of confirmations on UTXOs received from outside wallets while trusting
+     * our own UTXOs more. */
     bool m_from_me{true};
+    /** The total value of the UTXOs in sum. */
     CAmount m_value{0};
+    /** The minimum number of confirmations the UTXOs in the group have. Unconfirmed is 0. */
     int m_depth{999};
+    /** The aggregated count of unconfirmed ancestors of all UTXOs in this
+     * group. Not deduplicated and may overestimate when ancestors are shared. */
     size_t m_ancestors{0};
+    /** The maximum count of descendants of a single UTXO in this output group. */
     size_t m_descendants{0};
+    /** The value of the UTXOs after deducting the cost of spending them at the effective feerate. */
     CAmount effective_value{0};
+    /** The fee to spend these UTXOs at the effective feerate. */
     CAmount fee{0};
+    /** The target feerate of the transaction we're trying to build. */
     CFeeRate m_effective_feerate{0};
+    /** The fee to spend these UTXOs at the long term feerate. */
     CAmount long_term_fee{0};
+    /** The feerate for spending a created change output eventually (i.e. not urgently, and thus at
+     * a lower feerate). Calculated using long term fee estimate. This is used to decide whether
+     * it could be economical to create a change output. */
     CFeeRate m_long_term_feerate{0};
 
     OutputGroup() {}

src/wallet/wallet.cpp

@@ -2478,7 +2478,7 @@ bool CWallet::SelectCoins(const std::vector<COutput>& vAvailableCoins, const CAm
         }
     }
 
-    // remove preset inputs from vCoins
+    // remove preset inputs from vCoins so that Coin Selection doesn't pick them.
     for (std::vector<COutput>::iterator it = vCoins.begin(); it != vCoins.end() && coin_control.HasSelected();)
     {
         if (setPresetCoins.count(it->GetInputCoin()))
@@ -2490,9 +2490,9 @@ bool CWallet::SelectCoins(const std::vector<COutput>& vAvailableCoins, const CAm
     unsigned int limit_ancestor_count = 0;
     unsigned int limit_descendant_count = 0;
     chain().getPackageLimits(limit_ancestor_count, limit_descendant_count);
-    size_t max_ancestors = (size_t)std::max<int64_t>(1, limit_ancestor_count);
-    size_t max_descendants = (size_t)std::max<int64_t>(1, limit_descendant_count);
-    bool fRejectLongChains = gArgs.GetBoolArg("-walletrejectlongchains", DEFAULT_WALLET_REJECT_LONG_CHAINS);
+    const size_t max_ancestors = (size_t)std::max<int64_t>(1, limit_ancestor_count);
+    const size_t max_descendants = (size_t)std::max<int64_t>(1, limit_descendant_count);
+    const bool fRejectLongChains = gArgs.GetBoolArg("-walletrejectlongchains", DEFAULT_WALLET_REJECT_LONG_CHAINS);
 
     // form groups from remaining coins; note that preset coins will not
     // automatically have their associated (same address) coins included
@@ -2502,16 +2502,53 @@ bool CWallet::SelectCoins(const std::vector<COutput>& vAvailableCoins, const CAm
         // explicitly shuffling the outputs before processing
         Shuffle(vCoins.begin(), vCoins.end(), FastRandomContext());
     }
-    bool res = value_to_select <= 0 ||
-        SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(1, 6, 0), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used) ||
-        SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(1, 1, 0), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used) ||
-        (m_spend_zero_conf_change && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, 2), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) ||
-        (m_spend_zero_conf_change && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, std::min((size_t)4, max_ancestors/3), std::min((size_t)4, max_descendants/3)), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) ||
-        (m_spend_zero_conf_change && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, max_ancestors/2, max_descendants/2), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) ||
-        (m_spend_zero_conf_change && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, max_ancestors-1, max_descendants-1, true /* include_partial_groups */), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) ||
-        (m_spend_zero_conf_change && !fRejectLongChains && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max(), std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max(), true /* include_partial_groups */), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used));
 
-    // because SelectCoinsMinConf clears the setCoinsRet, we now add the possible inputs to the coinset
+    // Coin Selection attempts to select inputs from a pool of eligible UTXOs to fund the
+    // transaction at a target value and feerate. If an attempt fails, more attempts may be made
+    // using a more permissive CoinEligibilityFilter.
+    const bool res = [&] {
+        // Pre-selected inputs already cover the target amount.
+        if (value_to_select <= 0) return true;
+
+        // If possible, fund the transaction with confirmed UTXOs only. Prefer at least six
+        // confirmations on outputs received from other wallets and only spend confirmed change.
+        if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(1, 6, 0), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) return true;
+        if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(1, 1, 0), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) return true;
+
+        // Fall back to using zero confirmation change (but with as few ancestors in the mempool as
+        // possible) if we cannot fund the transaction otherwise. We never spend unconfirmed
+        // outputs received from other wallets.
+        if (m_spend_zero_conf_change) {
+            if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, 2), vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) return true;
+            if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, std::min((size_t)4, max_ancestors/3), std::min((size_t)4, max_descendants/3)),
+                                   vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, max_ancestors/2, max_descendants/2),
+                                   vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            // If partial groups are allowed, relax the requirement of spending OutputGroups (groups
+            // of UTXOs sent to the same address, which are obviously controlled by a single wallet)
+            // in their entirety.
+            if (SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select, CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, max_ancestors-1, max_descendants-1, true /* include_partial_groups */),
+                                   vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            // Try with unlimited ancestors/descendants. The transaction will still need to meet
+            // mempool ancestor/descendant policy to be accepted to mempool and broadcasted, but
+            // OutputGroups use heuristics that may overestimate ancestor/descendant counts.
+            if (!fRejectLongChains && SelectCoinsMinConf(value_to_select,
+                                      CoinEligibilityFilter(0, 1, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max(), std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max(), true /* include_partial_groups */),
+                                      vCoins, setCoinsRet, nValueRet, coin_selection_params, bnb_used)) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        // Coin Selection failed.
+        return false;
+    }();
+
+    // SelectCoinsMinConf clears setCoinsRet, so add the preset inputs from coin_control to the coinset
     util::insert(setCoinsRet, setPresetCoins);
 
     // add preset inputs to the total value selected