rpc align debug trace flags with execution-apis spec (#762)

.github/workflows/qa-rpc-integration-tests-gnosis.yml

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/cache@v5
         with:
           path: ${{ runner.workspace }}/rpc-tests
-          key: rpc-tests-${{ runner.os }}-${{ runner.arch }}-v2.7.0
+          key: rpc-tests-${{ runner.os }}-${{ runner.arch }}-v2.8.1
 
       - name: Run RPC Integration Tests
         id: test_step

.github/workflows/qa-rpc-integration-tests.yml

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/cache@v5
         with:
           path: ${{ runner.workspace }}/rpc-tests
-          key: rpc-tests-${{ runner.os }}-${{ runner.arch }}-v2.7.0
+          key: rpc-tests-${{ runner.os }}-${{ runner.arch }}-v2.8.1
 
       - name: Run RPC Integration Tests
         id: test_step

.github/workflows/scripts/run_rpc_tests_ethereum.sh

@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ DISABLED_TEST_LIST=(
 DISABLED_TESTS=$(IFS=,; echo "${DISABLED_TEST_LIST[*]}")
 
 # Call the main test runner script with the required and optional parameters
-"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.7.0 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"
+"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.8.1 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"

.github/workflows/scripts/run_rpc_tests_ethereum_latest.sh

@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ DISABLED_TEST_LIST=(
 DISABLED_TESTS=$(IFS=,; echo "${DISABLED_TEST_LIST[*]}")
 
 # Call the main test runner script with the required and optional parameters
-"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.7.0 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR" "latest" "$REFERENCE_HOST" "do-not-compare-error-message" "$DUMP_RESPONSE"
+"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.8.1 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR" "latest" "$REFERENCE_HOST" "do-not-compare-error-message" "$DUMP_RESPONSE"

.github/workflows/scripts/run_rpc_tests_gnosis.sh

@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ DISABLED_TEST_LIST=(
 DISABLED_TESTS=$(IFS=,; echo "${DISABLED_TEST_LIST[*]}")
 
 # Call the main test runner script with the required and optional parameters
-"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" gnosis v2.7.0 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"
+"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" gnosis v2.8.1 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"
 

.github/workflows/scripts/run_rpc_tests_remote_ethereum.sh

@@ -31,4 +31,4 @@ DISABLED_TEST_LIST=(
 DISABLED_TESTS=$(IFS=,; echo "${DISABLED_TEST_LIST[*]}")
 
 # Call the main test runner script with the required and optional parameters
-"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.7.0 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"
+"$(dirname "$0")/run_rpc_tests.sh" mainnet v2.8.1 "$DISABLED_TESTS" "$WORKSPACE" "$RESULT_DIR"

ChangeLog.md

@@ -1,5 +1,44 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [3.5.0] – 2026-04-25
+
+### Breaking Changes
+
+#### `debug_trace*` RPC: `enableMemory` / `enableReturnData` replace `disableMemory` / `disableReturnData`
+
+Aligns Erigon with the execution-apis specification ([ethereum/execution-apis#762](https://github.com/ethereum/execution-apis/pull/762)) and Geth behavior.
+
+**What changed:**
+
+| Field | Before (Erigon) | After (Erigon / Geth / Spec) |
+|-------|-----------------|------------------------------|
+| Memory in trace | `disableMemory` (default: included) | `enableMemory` (default: excluded) |
+| Return data in trace | `disableReturnData` (default: included) | `enableReturnData` (default: excluded) |
+
+The change is **twofold**:
+1. The JSON key is renamed (`disable*` → `enable*`).
+2. The default value is inverted: previously memory and return data were **included** by default (opt-out model); now they are **excluded** by default (opt-in model), matching the spec and Geth.
+
+**Migration:**
+
+```jsonc
+// Before — disable memory explicitly
+{ "disableMemory": true }
+
+// After — enable memory explicitly
+{ "enableMemory": true }
+
+// Before — memory included by default (no flag needed)
+{}
+
+// After — must opt in
+{ "enableMemory": true }
+```
+
+Affected RPC methods: `debug_traceTransaction`, `debug_traceBlockByHash`, `debug_traceBlockByNumber`, `debug_traceCall`.
+
+---
+
 ## [3.3.0] – 2025-11-17
 
 ### Added

cmd/evm/internal/t8ntool/transition.go

@@ -121,10 +121,10 @@ func Main(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if ctx.Bool(TraceFlag.Name) {
 		// Configure the EVM logger
 		logConfig := &trace_logger.LogConfig{
-			DisableStack:      ctx.Bool(TraceDisableStackFlag.Name),
-			DisableMemory:     ctx.Bool(TraceDisableMemoryFlag.Name),
-			DisableReturnData: ctx.Bool(TraceDisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
-			Debug:             true,
+			DisableStack:     ctx.Bool(TraceDisableStackFlag.Name),
+			EnableMemory:     !ctx.Bool(TraceDisableMemoryFlag.Name),
+			EnableReturnData: !ctx.Bool(TraceDisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
+			Debug:            true,
 		}
 		var prevFile *os.File
 		// This one closes the last file

cmd/evm/runner.go

@@ -151,11 +151,11 @@ func runCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		log.Root().SetHandler(log.LvlFilterHandler(log.Lvl(ctx.Int(VerbosityFlag.Name)), log.StderrHandler))
 	}
 	logconfig := &logger.LogConfig{
-		DisableMemory:     ctx.Bool(DisableMemoryFlag.Name),
-		DisableStack:      ctx.Bool(DisableStackFlag.Name),
-		DisableStorage:    ctx.Bool(DisableStorageFlag.Name),
-		DisableReturnData: ctx.Bool(DisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
-		Debug:             ctx.Bool(DebugFlag.Name),
+		EnableMemory:     !ctx.Bool(DisableMemoryFlag.Name),
+		DisableStack:     ctx.Bool(DisableStackFlag.Name),
+		DisableStorage:   ctx.Bool(DisableStorageFlag.Name),
+		EnableReturnData: !ctx.Bool(DisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
+		Debug:            ctx.Bool(DebugFlag.Name),
 	}
 
 	var (

cmd/evm/staterunner.go

@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ func stateTestCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 
 	// Configure the EVM logger
 	config := &logger.LogConfig{
-		DisableMemory:     ctx.Bool(DisableMemoryFlag.Name),
-		DisableStack:      ctx.Bool(DisableStackFlag.Name),
-		DisableStorage:    ctx.Bool(DisableStorageFlag.Name),
-		DisableReturnData: ctx.Bool(DisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
+		EnableMemory:     !ctx.Bool(DisableMemoryFlag.Name),
+		DisableStack:     ctx.Bool(DisableStackFlag.Name),
+		DisableStorage:   ctx.Bool(DisableStorageFlag.Name),
+		EnableReturnData: !ctx.Bool(DisableReturnDataFlag.Name),
 	}
 	cfg := vm.Config{}
 	if machineFriendlyOutput {

execution/tests/state_test.go

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func withTrace(t *testing.T, test func(vm.Config) error) {
 	t.Error(err)
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	w := bufio.NewWriter(buf)
-	tracer := logger.NewJSONLogger(&logger.LogConfig{DisableMemory: true}, w)
+	tracer := logger.NewJSONLogger(&logger.LogConfig{EnableMemory: false}, w)
 	config.Tracer = tracer.Tracer().Hooks
 	err2 := test(config)
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(err, err2) {

execution/tracing/tracers/logger/json_stream.go

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/holiman/uint256"
 
 	"github.com/erigontech/erigon/common"
+	"github.com/erigontech/erigon/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/erigontech/erigon/execution/tracing"
 	"github.com/erigontech/erigon/execution/tracing/tracers"
 	"github.com/erigontech/erigon/execution/types"
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ func (l *JsonStreamLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, typ byte, gas, cost uint64, scope
 		}
 		l.stream.WriteArrayEnd()
 	}
-	if !l.cfg.DisableMemory {
+	if l.cfg.EnableMemory {
 		l.stream.WriteMore()
 		l.stream.WriteObjectField("memory")
 		l.stream.WriteArrayStart()
@@ -212,6 +213,11 @@ func (l *JsonStreamLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, typ byte, gas, cost uint64, scope
 		}
 		l.stream.WriteArrayEnd()
 	}
+	if l.cfg.EnableReturnData && len(rData) > 0 {
+		l.stream.WriteMore()
+		l.stream.WriteObjectField("returnData")
+		l.stream.WriteString(hexutil.Encode(rData))
+	}
 	if outputStorage {
 		l.stream.WriteMore()
 		l.stream.WriteObjectField("storage")

execution/tracing/tracers/logger/json_stream_test.go

@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ func (m *mockIBS) GetRefund() mdgas.MdGas               { return mdgas.MdGas{} }
 // It closes the stream the same way ExecuteTraceTx does after execution.
 // storageKey/storageVal are pushed onto the stack for SSTORE (top=key, below=val).
 func captureOnOpcode(t *testing.T, cfg *LogConfig, memory []byte, storageKey, storageVal *common.Hash) map[string]json.RawMessage {
+	return captureOnOpcodeWithReturnData(t, cfg, memory, nil, storageKey, storageVal)
+}
+
+func captureOnOpcodeWithReturnData(t *testing.T, cfg *LogConfig, memory []byte, rData []byte, storageKey, storageVal *common.Hash) map[string]json.RawMessage {
 	t.Helper()
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
 	stream := jsonstream.New(&buf)
@@ -84,7 +88,7 @@ func captureOnOpcode(t *testing.T, cfg *LogConfig, memory []byte, storageKey, st
 		scope.stack = []uint256.Int{val, key} // bottom=val, top=key
 	}
 
-	l.OnOpcode(0, byte(op), 100, 3, scope, nil, 1, nil)
+	l.OnOpcode(0, byte(op), 100, 3, scope, rData, 1, nil)
 
 	// Mirror what ExecuteTraceTx does to close the stream after execution.
 	stream.WriteArrayEnd()
@@ -153,7 +157,7 @@ func TestJsonStreamLogger_MemoryEncoding(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			obj := captureOnOpcode(t, nil, tt.memory, nil, nil)
+			obj := captureOnOpcode(t, &LogConfig{EnableMemory: true}, tt.memory, nil, nil)
 			raw, ok := obj["memory"]
 			if !ok {
 				t.Fatal("missing 'memory' field")
@@ -201,6 +205,54 @@ func TestJsonStreamLogger_StorageEncoding(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestJsonStreamLogger_EnableMemory verifies that the memory field is present when
+// EnableMemory is true and absent when false (the default).
+func TestJsonStreamLogger_EnableMemory(t *testing.T) {
+	mem := bytes.Repeat([]byte{0xab}, 32)
+
+	t.Run("enableMemory=true includes memory field", func(t *testing.T) {
+		obj := captureOnOpcode(t, &LogConfig{EnableMemory: true}, mem, nil, nil)
+		if _, ok := obj["memory"]; !ok {
+			t.Error("expected 'memory' field to be present, but it was absent")
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("enableMemory=false excludes memory field", func(t *testing.T) {
+		obj := captureOnOpcode(t, &LogConfig{EnableMemory: false}, mem, nil, nil)
+		if _, ok := obj["memory"]; ok {
+			t.Error("expected 'memory' field to be absent, but it was present")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+// TestJsonStreamLogger_EnableReturnData verifies that the returnData field is present
+// when EnableReturnData is true and absent when false (the default).
+func TestJsonStreamLogger_EnableReturnData(t *testing.T) {
+	rData := []byte{0xde, 0xad, 0xbe, 0xef}
+
+	t.Run("enableReturnData=true includes returnData field", func(t *testing.T) {
+		obj := captureOnOpcodeWithReturnData(t, &LogConfig{EnableReturnData: true}, nil, rData, nil, nil)
+		raw, ok := obj["returnData"]
+		if !ok {
+			t.Fatal("expected 'returnData' field to be present, but it was absent")
+		}
+		var got string
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &got); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("cannot parse returnData: %v", err)
+		}
+		if got != "0xdeadbeef" {
+			t.Errorf("returnData: got %s, want 0xdeadbeef", got)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("enableReturnData=false excludes returnData field", func(t *testing.T) {
+		obj := captureOnOpcodeWithReturnData(t, &LogConfig{EnableReturnData: false}, nil, rData, nil, nil)
+		if _, ok := obj["returnData"]; ok {
+			t.Error("expected 'returnData' field to be absent, but it was present")
+		}
+	})
+}
+
 // TestStructLog_ErrorOmitempty verifies that the 'error' field is omitted from
 // MarshalJSON output when there is no error, and present when there is.
 func TestStructLog_ErrorOmitempty(t *testing.T) {

execution/tracing/tracers/logger/logger.go

@@ -52,12 +52,12 @@ func (s Storage) Copy() Storage {
 
 // LogConfig are the configuration options for structured logger the EVM
 type LogConfig struct {
-	DisableMemory     bool `json:"disableMemory"`     // disable memory capture
-	DisableStack      bool `json:"disableStack"`      // disable stack capture
-	DisableStorage    bool `json:"disableStorage"`    // disable storage capture
-	DisableReturnData bool `json:"disableReturnData"` // disable return data capture
-	Debug             bool `json:"debug"`             // print output during capture end
-	Limit             int  `json:"limit"`             // maximum length of output, but zero means unlimited
+	EnableMemory     bool `json:"enableMemory"`     // enable memory capture
+	DisableStack     bool `json:"disableStack"`     // disable stack capture
+	DisableStorage   bool `json:"disableStorage"`   // disable storage capture
+	EnableReturnData bool `json:"enableReturnData"` // enable return data capture
+	Debug            bool `json:"debug"`            // print output during capture end
+	Limit            int  `json:"limit"`            // maximum length of output, but zero means unlimited
 	// Chain overrides, can be used to execute a trace using future fork rules
 	Overrides *chain.Config `json:"overrides,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ func (l *StructLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, opcode byte, gas, cost uint64, scope
 
 	// Copy a snapshot of the current memory state to a new buffer
 	var mem []byte
-	if !l.cfg.DisableMemory {
+	if l.cfg.EnableMemory {
 		mem = make([]byte, len(memory))
 		copy(mem, memory)
 	}
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func (l *StructLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, opcode byte, gas, cost uint64, scope
 		storage = l.storage[contractAddr].Copy()
 	}
 	var rdata []byte
-	if !l.cfg.DisableReturnData {
+	if l.cfg.EnableReturnData {
 		rdata = make([]byte, len(rData))
 		copy(rdata, rData)
 	}

execution/tracing/tracers/logger/logger_json.go

@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func (l *JSONLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, typ byte, gas, cost uint64, scope traci
 		RefundCounter: l.env.IntraBlockState.GetRefund().Total(),
 		Err:           err,
 	}
-	if !l.cfg.DisableMemory {
+	if l.cfg.EnableMemory {
 		log.Memory = memory
 	}
 	if !l.cfg.DisableStack {
@@ -92,6 +92,9 @@ func (l *JSONLogger) OnOpcode(pc uint64, typ byte, gas, cost uint64, scope traci
 		}
 		log.Stack = logstack
 	}
+	if l.cfg.EnableReturnData {
+		log.ReturnData = rData
+	}
 	_ = l.encoder.Encode(log)
 }