core/types, core/vm: improve docs, add JSON marshaling methods

In this commit, core/types's types learn how to encode and decode
themselves as JSON. The encoding is very similar to what the RPC API
uses. The RPC API is missing some output fields (e.g. transaction
signature values) which will be added to the API in a later commit. Some
fields that the API generates are ignored by the decoder methods here.

6 files changed, 462 insertions, 78 deletions

diff --git a/core/types/block.go b/core/types/block.go
index 599359247..559fbdd20 100644
--- a/core/types/block.go
+++ b/core/types/block.go
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@
 package types
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/big"
@@ -33,25 +33,53 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
+var (
+	EmptyRootHash  = DeriveSha(Transactions{})
+	EmptyUncleHash = CalcUncleHash(nil)
+)
+
+var (
+	errMissingHeaderMixDigest = errors.New("missing mixHash in JSON block header")
+	errMissingHeaderFields    = errors.New("missing required JSON block header fields")
+	errBadNonceSize           = errors.New("invalid block nonce size, want 8 bytes")
+)
+
 // A BlockNonce is a 64-bit hash which proves (combined with the
 // mix-hash) that a sufficient amount of computation has been carried
 // out on a block.
 type BlockNonce [8]byte
 
+// EncodeNonce converts the given integer to a block nonce.
 func EncodeNonce(i uint64) BlockNonce {
 	var n BlockNonce
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(n[:], i)
 	return n
 }
 
+// Uint64 returns the integer value of a block nonce.
 func (n BlockNonce) Uint64() uint64 {
 	return binary.BigEndian.Uint64(n[:])
 }
 
+// MarshalJSON implements json.Marshaler
 func (n BlockNonce) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf(`"0x%x"`, n)), nil
 }
 
+// UnmarshalJSON implements json.Unmarshaler
+func (n *BlockNonce) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	var b hexBytes
+	if err := b.UnmarshalJSON(input); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if len(b) != 8 {
+		return errBadNonceSize
+	}
+	copy((*n)[:], b)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Header represents Ethereum block headers.
 type Header struct {
 	ParentHash  common.Hash    // Hash to the previous block
 	UncleHash   common.Hash    // Uncles of this block
@@ -70,10 +98,31 @@ type Header struct {
 	Nonce       BlockNonce
 }
 
+type jsonHeader struct {
+	ParentHash  *common.Hash    `json:"parentHash"`
+	UncleHash   *common.Hash    `json:"sha3Uncles"`
+	Coinbase    *common.Address `json:"miner"`
+	Root        *common.Hash    `json:"stateRoot"`
+	TxHash      *common.Hash    `json:"transactionsRoot"`
+	ReceiptHash *common.Hash    `json:"receiptRoot"`
+	Bloom       *Bloom          `json:"logsBloom"`
+	Difficulty  *hexBig         `json:"difficulty"`
+	Number      *hexBig         `json:"number"`
+	GasLimit    *hexBig         `json:"gasLimit"`
+	GasUsed     *hexBig         `json:"gasUsed"`
+	Time        *hexBig         `json:"timestamp"`
+	Extra       *hexBytes       `json:"extraData"`
+	MixDigest   *common.Hash    `json:"mixHash"`
+	Nonce       *BlockNonce     `json:"nonce"`
+}
+
+// Hash returns the block hash of the header, which is simply the keccak256 hash of its
+// RLP encoding.
 func (h *Header) Hash() common.Hash {
 	return rlpHash(h)
 }
 
+// HashNoNonce returns the hash which is used as input for the proof-of-work search.
 func (h *Header) HashNoNonce() common.Hash {
 	return rlpHash([]interface{}{
 		h.ParentHash,
@@ -92,48 +141,63 @@ func (h *Header) HashNoNonce() common.Hash {
 	})
 }
 
-func (h *Header) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
-	var ext struct {
-		ParentHash string
-		Coinbase   string
-		Difficulty string
-		GasLimit   string
-		Time       *big.Int
-		Extra      string
-	}
-	dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
-	if err := dec.Decode(&ext); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	h.ParentHash = common.HexToHash(ext.ParentHash)
-	h.Coinbase = common.HexToAddress(ext.Coinbase)
-	h.Difficulty = common.String2Big(ext.Difficulty)
-	h.Time = ext.Time
-	h.Extra = []byte(ext.Extra)
-	return nil
+// MarshalJSON encodes headers into the web3 RPC response block format.
+func (h *Header) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(&jsonHeader{
+		ParentHash:  &h.ParentHash,
+		UncleHash:   &h.UncleHash,
+		Coinbase:    &h.Coinbase,
+		Root:        &h.Root,
+		TxHash:      &h.TxHash,
+		ReceiptHash: &h.ReceiptHash,
+		Bloom:       &h.Bloom,
+		Difficulty:  (*hexBig)(h.Difficulty),
+		Number:      (*hexBig)(h.Number),
+		GasLimit:    (*hexBig)(h.GasLimit),
+		GasUsed:     (*hexBig)(h.GasUsed),
+		Time:        (*hexBig)(h.Time),
+		Extra:       (*hexBytes)(&h.Extra),
+		MixDigest:   &h.MixDigest,
+		Nonce:       &h.Nonce,
+	})
 }
 
-func (h *Header) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
-	fields := map[string]interface{}{
-		"hash":             h.Hash(),
-		"parentHash":       h.ParentHash,
-		"number":           fmt.Sprintf("%#x", h.Number),
-		"nonce":            h.Nonce,
-		"receiptRoot":      h.ReceiptHash,
-		"logsBloom":        h.Bloom,
-		"sha3Uncles":       h.UncleHash,
-		"stateRoot":        h.Root,
-		"miner":            h.Coinbase,
-		"difficulty":       fmt.Sprintf("%#x", h.Difficulty),
-		"extraData":        fmt.Sprintf("0x%x", h.Extra),
-		"gasLimit":         fmt.Sprintf("%#x", h.GasLimit),
-		"gasUsed":          fmt.Sprintf("%#x", h.GasUsed),
-		"timestamp":        fmt.Sprintf("%#x", h.Time),
-		"transactionsRoot": h.TxHash,
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes headers from the web3 RPC response block format.
+func (h *Header) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	var dec jsonHeader
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(input, &dec); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-
-	return json.Marshal(fields)
+	// Ensure that all fields are set. MixDigest is checked separately because
+	// it is a recent addition to the spec (as of August 2016) and older RPC server
+	// implementations might not provide it.
+	if dec.MixDigest == nil {
+		return errMissingHeaderMixDigest
+	}
+	if dec.ParentHash == nil || dec.UncleHash == nil || dec.Coinbase == nil ||
+		dec.Root == nil || dec.TxHash == nil || dec.ReceiptHash == nil ||
+		dec.Bloom == nil || dec.Difficulty == nil || dec.Number == nil ||
+		dec.GasLimit == nil || dec.GasUsed == nil || dec.Time == nil ||
+		dec.Extra == nil || dec.Nonce == nil {
+		return errMissingHeaderFields
+	}
+	// Assign all values.
+	h.ParentHash = *dec.ParentHash
+	h.UncleHash = *dec.UncleHash
+	h.Coinbase = *dec.Coinbase
+	h.Root = *dec.Root
+	h.TxHash = *dec.TxHash
+	h.ReceiptHash = *dec.ReceiptHash
+	h.Bloom = *dec.Bloom
+	h.Difficulty = (*big.Int)(dec.Difficulty)
+	h.Number = (*big.Int)(dec.Number)
+	h.GasLimit = (*big.Int)(dec.GasLimit)
+	h.GasUsed = (*big.Int)(dec.GasUsed)
+	h.Time = (*big.Int)(dec.Time)
+	h.Extra = *dec.Extra
+	h.MixDigest = *dec.MixDigest
+	h.Nonce = *dec.Nonce
+	return nil
 }
 
 func rlpHash(x interface{}) (h common.Hash) {
@@ -150,6 +214,7 @@ type Body struct {
 	Uncles       []*Header
 }
 
+// Block represents a block in the Ethereum blockchain.
 type Block struct {
 	header       *Header
 	uncles       []*Header
@@ -198,11 +263,6 @@ type storageblock struct {
 	TD     *big.Int
 }
 
-var (
-	EmptyRootHash  = DeriveSha(Transactions{})
-	EmptyUncleHash = CalcUncleHash(nil)
-)
-
 // NewBlock creates a new block. The input data is copied,
 // changes to header and to the field values will not affect the
 // block.
@@ -275,23 +335,7 @@ func CopyHeader(h *Header) *Header {
 	return &cpy
 }
 
-func (b *Block) ValidateFields() error {
-	if b.header == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("header is nil")
-	}
-	for i, transaction := range b.transactions {
-		if transaction == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("transaction %d is nil", i)
-		}
-	}
-	for i, uncle := range b.uncles {
-		if uncle == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("uncle %d is nil", i)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
+// DecodeRLP decodes the Ethereum
 func (b *Block) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	var eb extblock
 	_, size, _ := s.Kind()
@@ -303,6 +347,7 @@ func (b *Block) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// EncodeRLP serializes b into the Ethereum RLP block format.
 func (b *Block) EncodeRLP(w io.Writer) error {
 	return rlp.Encode(w, extblock{
 		Header: b.header,
@@ -322,6 +367,7 @@ func (b *StorageBlock) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 }
 
 // TODO: copies
+
 func (b *Block) Uncles() []*Header          { return b.uncles }
 func (b *Block) Transactions() Transactions { return b.transactions }
 
@@ -409,8 +455,8 @@ func (b *Block) WithBody(transactions []*Transaction, uncles []*Header) *Block {
 	return block
 }
 
-// Implement pow.Block
-
+// Hash returns the keccak256 hash of b's header.
+// The hash is computed on the first call and cached thereafter.
 func (b *Block) Hash() common.Hash {
 	if hash := b.hash.Load(); hash != nil {
 		return hash.(common.Hash)
diff --git a/core/types/bloom9.go b/core/types/bloom9.go
index ecf2bffc2..d3945a734 100644
--- a/core/types/bloom9.go
+++ b/core/types/bloom9.go
@@ -31,28 +31,34 @@ type bytesBacked interface {
 
 const bloomLength = 256
 
+// Bloom represents a 256 bit bloom filter.
 type Bloom [bloomLength]byte
 
+// BytesToBloom converts a byte slice to a bloom filter.
+// It panics if b is not of suitable size.
 func BytesToBloom(b []byte) Bloom {
 	var bloom Bloom
 	bloom.SetBytes(b)
 	return bloom
 }
 
+// SetBytes sets the content of b to the given bytes.
+// It panics if d is not of suitable size.
 func (b *Bloom) SetBytes(d []byte) {
 	if len(b) < len(d) {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("bloom bytes too big %d %d", len(b), len(d)))
 	}
-
 	copy(b[bloomLength-len(d):], d)
 }
 
+// Add adds d to the filter. Future calls of Test(d) will return true.
 func (b *Bloom) Add(d *big.Int) {
 	bin := new(big.Int).SetBytes(b[:])
 	bin.Or(bin, bloom9(d.Bytes()))
 	b.SetBytes(bin.Bytes())
 }
 
+// Big converts b to a big integer.
 func (b Bloom) Big() *big.Int {
 	return common.Bytes2Big(b[:])
 }
@@ -69,8 +75,22 @@ func (b Bloom) TestBytes(test []byte) bool {
 	return b.Test(common.BytesToBig(test))
 }
 
+// MarshalJSON encodes b as a hex string with 0x prefix.
 func (b Bloom) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
-	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf(`"%#x"`, b.Bytes())), nil
+	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf(`"%#x"`, b[:])), nil
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON b as a hex string with 0x prefix.
+func (b *Bloom) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	var dec hexBytes
+	if err := dec.UnmarshalJSON(input); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if len(dec) != bloomLength {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid bloom size, want %d bytes", bloomLength)
+	}
+	copy((*b)[:], dec)
+	return nil
 }
 
 func CreateBloom(receipts Receipts) Bloom {
diff --git a/core/types/json.go b/core/types/json.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..403e79899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/types/json.go
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+// Copyright 2016 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package types
+
+import (
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
+)
+
+// JSON unmarshaling utilities.
+
+type hexBytes []byte
+
+func (b *hexBytes) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	if len(input) < 2 || input[0] != '"' || input[len(input)-1] != '"' {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot unmarshal non-string into hexBytes")
+	}
+	input = input[1 : len(input)-1]
+	if len(input) < 2 || input[0] != '0' || input[1] != 'x' {
+		return fmt.Errorf("missing 0x prefix in hexBytes input %q", input)
+	}
+	dec := make(hexBytes, (len(input)-2)/2)
+	if _, err := hex.Decode(dec, input[2:]); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	*b = dec
+	return nil
+}
+
+type hexBig big.Int
+
+func (b *hexBig) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	raw, err := checkHexNumber(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	dec, ok := new(big.Int).SetString(string(raw), 16)
+	if !ok {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid hex number")
+	}
+	*b = (hexBig)(*dec)
+	return nil
+}
+
+type hexUint64 uint64
+
+func (b *hexUint64) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	raw, err := checkHexNumber(input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = fmt.Sscanf(string(raw), "%x", b)
+	return err
+}
+
+func checkHexNumber(input []byte) (raw []byte, err error) {
+	if len(input) < 2 || input[0] != '"' || input[len(input)-1] != '"' {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot unmarshal non-string into hex number")
+	}
+	input = input[1 : len(input)-1]
+	if len(input) < 2 || input[0] != '0' || input[1] != 'x' {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing 0x prefix in hex number input %q", input)
+	}
+	if len(input) == 2 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("empty hex number")
+	}
+	raw = input[2:]
+	if len(raw)%2 != 0 {
+		raw = append([]byte{'0'}, raw...)
+	}
+	return raw, nil
+}
diff --git a/core/types/json_test.go b/core/types/json_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5f422b873
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/types/json_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+package types
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+)
+
+var unmarshalHeaderTests = map[string]struct {
+	input     string
+	wantHash  common.Hash
+	wantError error
+}{
+	"block 0x1e2200": {
+		input:    `{"difficulty":"0x311ca98cebfe","extraData":"0x7777772e62772e636f6d","gasLimit":"0x47db3d","gasUsed":"0x43760c","hash":"0x3724bc6b9dcd4a2b3a26e0ed9b821e7380b5b3d7dec7166c7983cead62a37e48","logsBloom":"0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","miner":"0xbcdfc35b86bedf72f0cda046a3c16829a2ef41d1","mixHash":"0x1ccfddb506dac5afc09b6f92eb09a043ffc8e08f7592250af57b9c64c20f9b25","nonce":"0x670bd98c79585197","number":"0x1e2200","parentHash":"0xd3e13296d064e7344f20c57c57b67a022f6bf7741fa42428c2db77e91abdf1f8","receiptRoot":"0xeeab1776c1fafbe853a8ee0c1bafe2e775a1b6fdb6ff3e9f9410ddd4514889ff","sha3Uncles":"0x5fbfa4ec8b089678c53b6798cc0d9260ea40a529e06d5300aae35596262e0eb3","size":"0x57f","stateRoot":"0x62ad2007e4a3f31ea98e5d2fd150d894887bafde36eeac7331a60ae12053ec76","timestamp":"0x579b82f2","totalDifficulty":"0x24fe813c101d00f97","transactions":["0xb293408e85735bfc78b35aa89de8b48e49641e3d82e3d52ea2d44ec42a4e88cf","0x124acc383ff2da6faa0357829084dae64945221af6f6f09da1d11688b779f939","0xee090208b6051c442ccdf9ec19f66389e604d342a6d71144c7227ce995bef46f"],"transactionsRoot":"0xce0042dd9af0c1923dd7f58ca6faa156d39d4ef39fdb65c5bcd1d4b4720096db","uncles":["0x6818a31d1f204cf640c952082940b68b8db6d1b39ee71f7efe0e3629ed5d7eb3"]}`,
+		wantHash: common.HexToHash("0x3724bc6b9dcd4a2b3a26e0ed9b821e7380b5b3d7dec7166c7983cead62a37e48"),
+	},
+	"bad nonce": {
+		input:     `{"difficulty":"0x311ca98cebfe","extraData":"0x7777772e62772e636f6d","gasLimit":"0x47db3d","gasUsed":"0x43760c","hash":"0x3724bc6b9dcd4a2b3a26e0ed9b821e7380b5b3d7dec7166c7983cead62a37e48","logsBloom":"0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","miner":"0xbcdfc35b86bedf72f0cda046a3c16829a2ef41d1","mixHash":"0x1ccfddb506dac5afc09b6f92eb09a043ffc8e08f7592250af57b9c64c20f9b25","nonce":"0x670bd98c7958","number":"0x1e2200","parentHash":"0xd3e13296d064e7344f20c57c57b67a022f6bf7741fa42428c2db77e91abdf1f8","receiptRoot":"0xeeab1776c1fafbe853a8ee0c1bafe2e775a1b6fdb6ff3e9f9410ddd4514889ff","sha3Uncles":"0x5fbfa4ec8b089678c53b6798cc0d9260ea40a529e06d5300aae35596262e0eb3","size":"0x57f","stateRoot":"0x62ad2007e4a3f31ea98e5d2fd150d894887bafde36eeac7331a60ae12053ec76","timestamp":"0x579b82f2","totalDifficulty":"0x24fe813c101d00f97","transactions":["0xb293408e85735bfc78b35aa89de8b48e49641e3d82e3d52ea2d44ec42a4e88cf","0x124acc383ff2da6faa0357829084dae64945221af6f6f09da1d11688b779f939","0xee090208b6051c442ccdf9ec19f66389e604d342a6d71144c7227ce995bef46f"],"transactionsRoot":"0xce0042dd9af0c1923dd7f58ca6faa156d39d4ef39fdb65c5bcd1d4b4720096db","uncles":["0x6818a31d1f204cf640c952082940b68b8db6d1b39ee71f7efe0e3629ed5d7eb3"]}`,
+		wantError: errBadNonceSize,
+	},
+	"missing mixHash": {
+		input:     `{"difficulty":"0x311ca98cebfe","extraData":"0x7777772e62772e636f6d","gasLimit":"0x47db3d","gasUsed":"0x43760c","hash":"0x3724bc6b9dcd4a2b3a26e0ed9b821e7380b5b3d7dec7166c7983cead62a37e48","logsBloom":"0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","miner":"0xbcdfc35b86bedf72f0cda046a3c16829a2ef41d1","nonce":"0x670bd98c79585197","number":"0x1e2200","parentHash":"0xd3e13296d064e7344f20c57c57b67a022f6bf7741fa42428c2db77e91abdf1f8","receiptRoot":"0xeeab1776c1fafbe853a8ee0c1bafe2e775a1b6fdb6ff3e9f9410ddd4514889ff","sha3Uncles":"0x5fbfa4ec8b089678c53b6798cc0d9260ea40a529e06d5300aae35596262e0eb3","size":"0x57f","stateRoot":"0x62ad2007e4a3f31ea98e5d2fd150d894887bafde36eeac7331a60ae12053ec76","timestamp":"0x579b82f2","totalDifficulty":"0x24fe813c101d00f97","transactions":["0xb293408e85735bfc78b35aa89de8b48e49641e3d82e3d52ea2d44ec42a4e88cf","0x124acc383ff2da6faa0357829084dae64945221af6f6f09da1d11688b779f939","0xee090208b6051c442ccdf9ec19f66389e604d342a6d71144c7227ce995bef46f"],"transactionsRoot":"0xce0042dd9af0c1923dd7f58ca6faa156d39d4ef39fdb65c5bcd1d4b4720096db","uncles":["0x6818a31d1f204cf640c952082940b68b8db6d1b39ee71f7efe0e3629ed5d7eb3"]}`,
+		wantError: errMissingHeaderMixDigest,
+	},
+	"missing fields": {
+		input:     `{"gasLimit":"0x47db3d","gasUsed":"0x43760c","hash":"0x3724bc6b9dcd4a2b3a26e0ed9b821e7380b5b3d7dec7166c7983cead62a37e48","logsBloom":"0x00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","miner":"0xbcdfc35b86bedf72f0cda046a3c16829a2ef41d1","mixHash":"0x1ccfddb506dac5afc09b6f92eb09a043ffc8e08f7592250af57b9c64c20f9b25","nonce":"0x670bd98c79585197","number":"0x1e2200","parentHash":"0xd3e13296d064e7344f20c57c57b67a022f6bf7741fa42428c2db77e91abdf1f8","receiptRoot":"0xeeab1776c1fafbe853a8ee0c1bafe2e775a1b6fdb6ff3e9f9410ddd4514889ff","sha3Uncles":"0x5fbfa4ec8b089678c53b6798cc0d9260ea40a529e06d5300aae35596262e0eb3","size":"0x57f","stateRoot":"0x62ad2007e4a3f31ea98e5d2fd150d894887bafde36eeac7331a60ae12053ec76","timestamp":"0x579b82f2","totalDifficulty":"0x24fe813c101d00f97","transactions":["0xb293408e85735bfc78b35aa89de8b48e49641e3d82e3d52ea2d44ec42a4e88cf","0x124acc383ff2da6faa0357829084dae64945221af6f6f09da1d11688b779f939","0xee090208b6051c442ccdf9ec19f66389e604d342a6d71144c7227ce995bef46f"],"transactionsRoot":"0xce0042dd9af0c1923dd7f58ca6faa156d39d4ef39fdb65c5bcd1d4b4720096db","uncles":["0x6818a31d1f204cf640c952082940b68b8db6d1b39ee71f7efe0e3629ed5d7eb3"]}`,
+		wantError: errMissingHeaderFields,
+	},
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, test := range unmarshalHeaderTests {
+		var head *Header
+		err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(test.input), &head)
+		if !checkError(t, name, err, test.wantError) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if head.Hash() != test.wantHash {
+			t.Errorf("test %q: got hash %x, want %x", name, head.Hash(), test.wantHash)
+			continue
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var unmarshalTransactionTests = map[string]struct {
+	input     string
+	wantHash  common.Hash
+	wantFrom  common.Address
+	wantError error
+}{
+	"value transfer": {
+		input:    `{"blockHash":"0x0188a05dcc825bd1a05dab91bea0c03622542683446e56302eabb46097d4ae11","blockNumber":"0x1e478d","from":"0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689","gas":"0x15f90","gasPrice":"0x4a817c800","hash":"0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9","input":"0x","nonce":"0x58d","to":"0x88f252f674ac755feff877abf957d4aa05adce86","transactionIndex":"0x1","value":"0x19f0ec3ed71ec00","v":"0x1c","r":"0x53829f206c99b866672f987909d556cd1c2eb60e990a3425f65083977c14187b","s":"0x5cc52383e41c923ec7d63749c1f13a7236b540527ee5b9a78b3fb869a66f60e"}`,
+		wantHash: common.HexToHash("0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9"),
+		wantFrom: common.HexToAddress("0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689"),
+	},
+	"bad signature fields": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0x0188a05dcc825bd1a05dab91bea0c03622542683446e56302eabb46097d4ae11","blockNumber":"0x1e478d","from":"0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689","gas":"0x15f90","gasPrice":"0x4a817c800","hash":"0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9","input":"0x","nonce":"0x58d","to":"0x88f252f674ac755feff877abf957d4aa05adce86","transactionIndex":"0x1","value":"0x19f0ec3ed71ec00","v":"0x58","r":"0x53829f206c99b866672f987909d556cd1c2eb60e990a3425f65083977c14187b","s":"0x5cc52383e41c923ec7d63749c1f13a7236b540527ee5b9a78b3fb869a66f60e"}`,
+		wantError: ErrInvalidSig,
+	},
+	"missing signature v": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0x0188a05dcc825bd1a05dab91bea0c03622542683446e56302eabb46097d4ae11","blockNumber":"0x1e478d","from":"0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689","gas":"0x15f90","gasPrice":"0x4a817c800","hash":"0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9","input":"0x","nonce":"0x58d","to":"0x88f252f674ac755feff877abf957d4aa05adce86","transactionIndex":"0x1","value":"0x19f0ec3ed71ec00","r":"0x53829f206c99b866672f987909d556cd1c2eb60e990a3425f65083977c14187b","s":"0x5cc52383e41c923ec7d63749c1f13a7236b540527ee5b9a78b3fb869a66f60e"}`,
+		wantError: errMissingTxSignatureFields,
+	},
+	"missing signature fields": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0x0188a05dcc825bd1a05dab91bea0c03622542683446e56302eabb46097d4ae11","blockNumber":"0x1e478d","from":"0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689","gas":"0x15f90","gasPrice":"0x4a817c800","hash":"0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9","input":"0x","nonce":"0x58d","to":"0x88f252f674ac755feff877abf957d4aa05adce86","transactionIndex":"0x1","value":"0x19f0ec3ed71ec00"}`,
+		wantError: errMissingTxSignatureFields,
+	},
+	"missing fields": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0x0188a05dcc825bd1a05dab91bea0c03622542683446e56302eabb46097d4ae11","blockNumber":"0x1e478d","from":"0xf36c3f6c4a2ce8d353fb92d5cd10d19ce69ae689","hash":"0xd91c08f1e27c5ce7e1f57d78d7c56a9ee446be07b9635d84d0475660ea8905e9","input":"0x","nonce":"0x58d","to":"0x88f252f674ac755feff877abf957d4aa05adce86","transactionIndex":"0x1","value":"0x19f0ec3ed71ec00","v":"0x1c","r":"0x53829f206c99b866672f987909d556cd1c2eb60e990a3425f65083977c14187b","s":"0x5cc52383e41c923ec7d63749c1f13a7236b540527ee5b9a78b3fb869a66f60e"}`,
+		wantError: errMissingTxFields,
+	},
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalTransaction(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, test := range unmarshalTransactionTests {
+		var tx *Transaction
+		err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(test.input), &tx)
+		if !checkError(t, name, err, test.wantError) {
+			continue
+		}
+		if tx.Hash() != test.wantHash {
+			t.Errorf("test %q: got hash %x, want %x", name, tx.Hash(), test.wantHash)
+			continue
+		}
+		from, err := tx.From()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("test %q: From error %v", name, err)
+		}
+		if from != test.wantFrom {
+			t.Errorf("test %q: sender mismatch: got %x, want %x", name, from, test.wantFrom)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var unmarshalReceiptTests = map[string]struct {
+	input     string
+	wantError error
+}{
+	"ok": {
+		input: `{"blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","contractAddress":null,"cumulativeGasUsed":"0x10cea","from":"0xdf21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","gasUsed":"0xbae2","logs":[{"address":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413","topics":["0xddf252ad1be2c89b69c2b068fc378daa952ba7f163c4a11628f55a4df523b3ef","0x000000000000000000000000df21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","0x00000000000000000000000032be343b94f860124dc4fee278fdcbd38c102d88"],"data":"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000027cfefc4f3f392700","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","transactionIndex":"0x1","transactionHash":"0x0b4cc7844537023b709953390e3881ec5b233703a8e8824dc03e13729a1bd95a","blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","logIndex":"0x0"}],"logsBloom":"0x00000000000000020000000000020000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000000000000001000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","root":"0x6e8a06b2dac39ac5c9d4db5fb2a2a94ef7a6e5ec1c554079112112caf162998a","to":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413","transactionHash":"0x0b4cc7844537023b709953390e3881ec5b233703a8e8824dc03e13729a1bd95a","transactionIndex":"0x1"}`,
+	},
+	"missing post state": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","contractAddress":null,"cumulativeGasUsed":"0x10cea","from":"0xdf21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","gasUsed":"0xbae2","logs":[{"address":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413","topics":["0xddf252ad1be2c89b69c2b068fc378daa952ba7f163c4a11628f55a4df523b3ef","0x000000000000000000000000df21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","0x00000000000000000000000032be343b94f860124dc4fee278fdcbd38c102d88"],"data":"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000027cfefc4f3f392700","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","transactionIndex":"0x1","transactionHash":"0x0b4cc7844537023b709953390e3881ec5b233703a8e8824dc03e13729a1bd95a","blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","logIndex":"0x0"}],"logsBloom":"0x00000000000000020000000000020000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000000000000001000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","to":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413","transactionHash":"0x0b4cc7844537023b709953390e3881ec5b233703a8e8824dc03e13729a1bd95a","transactionIndex":"0x1"}`,
+		wantError: errMissingReceiptPostState,
+	},
+	"missing fields": {
+		input:     `{"blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","contractAddress":null,"cumulativeGasUsed":"0x10cea","from":"0xdf21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","gasUsed":"0xbae2","logs":[{"address":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413","topics":["0xddf252ad1be2c89b69c2b068fc378daa952ba7f163c4a11628f55a4df523b3ef","0x000000000000000000000000df21fa922215b1a56f5a6d6294e6e36c85a0acfb","0x00000000000000000000000032be343b94f860124dc4fee278fdcbd38c102d88"],"data":"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000027cfefc4f3f392700","blockNumber":"0x1e773b","transactionIndex":"0x1","transactionHash":"0x0b4cc7844537023b709953390e3881ec5b233703a8e8824dc03e13729a1bd95a","blockHash":"0xad20a0f78d19d7857067a9c06e6411efeab7673e183e4a545f53b724bb7fabf0","logIndex":"0x0"}],"logsBloom":"0x00000000000000020000000000020000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000040000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000008000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000800000010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010000000000000000000001000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000002002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","root":"0x6e8a06b2dac39ac5c9d4db5fb2a2a94ef7a6e5ec1c554079112112caf162998a","to":"0xbb9bc244d798123fde783fcc1c72d3bb8c189413"}`,
+		wantError: errMissingReceiptFields,
+	},
+}
+
+func TestUnmarshalReceipt(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, test := range unmarshalReceiptTests {
+		var r *Receipt
+		err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(test.input), &r)
+		checkError(t, name, err, test.wantError)
+	}
+}
+
+func checkError(t *testing.T, testname string, got, want error) bool {
+	if got == nil {
+		if want != nil {
+			t.Errorf("test %q: got no error, want %q", testname, want)
+			return false
+		}
+		return true
+	}
+	if want == nil {
+		t.Errorf("test %q: unexpected error %q", testname, got)
+	} else if got.Error() != want.Error() {
+		t.Errorf("test %q: got error %q, want %q", testname, got, want)
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/core/types/receipt.go b/core/types/receipt.go
index 5f847fc5c..9f820eb18 100644
--- a/core/types/receipt.go
+++ b/core/types/receipt.go
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 package types
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/big"
@@ -26,6 +28,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
+var (
+	errMissingReceiptPostState = errors.New("missing post state root in JSON receipt")
+	errMissingReceiptFields    = errors.New("missing required JSON receipt fields")
+)
+
 // Receipt represents the results of a transaction.
 type Receipt struct {
 	// Consensus fields
@@ -34,12 +41,22 @@ type Receipt struct {
 	Bloom             Bloom
 	Logs              vm.Logs
 
-	// Implementation fields
+	// Implementation fields (don't reorder!)
 	TxHash          common.Hash
 	ContractAddress common.Address
 	GasUsed         *big.Int
 }
 
+type jsonReceipt struct {
+	PostState         *common.Hash    `json:"root"`
+	CumulativeGasUsed *hexBig         `json:"cumulativeGasUsed"`
+	Bloom             *Bloom          `json:"logsBloom"`
+	Logs              *vm.Logs        `json:"logs"`
+	TxHash            *common.Hash    `json:"transactionHash"`
+	ContractAddress   *common.Address `json:"contractAddress"`
+	GasUsed           *hexBig         `json:"gasUsed"`
+}
+
 // NewReceipt creates a barebone transaction receipt, copying the init fields.
 func NewReceipt(root []byte, cumulativeGasUsed *big.Int) *Receipt {
 	return &Receipt{PostState: common.CopyBytes(root), CumulativeGasUsed: new(big.Int).Set(cumulativeGasUsed)}
@@ -67,13 +84,34 @@ func (r *Receipt) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// RlpEncode implements common.RlpEncode required for SHA3 derivation.
-func (r *Receipt) RlpEncode() []byte {
-	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(r)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes the web3 RPC receipt format.
+func (r *Receipt) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	var dec jsonReceipt
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(input, &dec); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-	return bytes
+	// Ensure that all fields are set. PostState is checked separately because it is a
+	// recent addition to the RPC spec (as of August 2016) and older implementations might
+	// not provide it. Note that ContractAddress is not checked because it can be null.
+	if dec.PostState == nil {
+		return errMissingReceiptPostState
+	}
+	if dec.CumulativeGasUsed == nil || dec.Bloom == nil ||
+		dec.Logs == nil || dec.TxHash == nil || dec.GasUsed == nil {
+		return errMissingReceiptFields
+	}
+	*r = Receipt{
+		PostState:         (*dec.PostState)[:],
+		CumulativeGasUsed: (*big.Int)(dec.CumulativeGasUsed),
+		Bloom:             *dec.Bloom,
+		Logs:              *dec.Logs,
+		TxHash:            *dec.TxHash,
+		GasUsed:           (*big.Int)(dec.GasUsed),
+	}
+	if dec.ContractAddress != nil {
+		r.ContractAddress = *dec.ContractAddress
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // String implements the Stringer interface.
@@ -122,7 +160,7 @@ func (r *ReceiptForStorage) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Receipts is a wrapper around a Receipt array to implement types.DerivableList.
+// Receipts is a wrapper around a Receipt array to implement DerivableList.
 type Receipts []*Receipt
 
 // Len returns the number of receipts in this list.
diff --git a/core/types/transaction.go b/core/types/transaction.go
index c71c98aa7..d369d7772 100644
--- a/core/types/transaction.go
+++ b/core/types/transaction.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package types
 import (
 	"container/heap"
 	"crypto/ecdsa"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -28,12 +29,15 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/logger/glog"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
-var ErrInvalidSig = errors.New("invalid v, r, s values")
+var ErrInvalidSig = errors.New("invalid transaction v, r, s values")
+
+var (
+	errMissingTxSignatureFields = errors.New("missing required JSON transaction signature fields")
+	errMissingTxFields          = errors.New("missing required JSON transaction fields")
+)
 
 type Transaction struct {
 	data txdata
@@ -53,6 +57,20 @@ type txdata struct {
 	R, S            *big.Int // signature
 }
 
+type jsonTransaction struct {
+	Hash         *common.Hash    `json:"hash"`
+	AccountNonce *hexUint64      `json:"nonce"`
+	Price        *hexBig         `json:"gasPrice"`
+	GasLimit     *hexBig         `json:"gas"`
+	Recipient    *common.Address `json:"to"`
+	Amount       *hexBig         `json:"value"`
+	Payload      *hexBytes       `json:"input"`
+	V            *hexUint64      `json:"v"`
+	R            *hexBig         `json:"r"`
+	S            *hexBig         `json:"s"`
+}
+
+// NewContractCreation creates a new transaction with no recipient.
 func NewContractCreation(nonce uint64, amount, gasLimit, gasPrice *big.Int, data []byte) *Transaction {
 	if len(data) > 0 {
 		data = common.CopyBytes(data)
@@ -69,6 +87,7 @@ func NewContractCreation(nonce uint64, amount, gasLimit, gasPrice *big.Int, data
 	}}
 }
 
+// NewTransaction creates a new transaction with the given fields.
 func NewTransaction(nonce uint64, to common.Address, amount, gasLimit, gasPrice *big.Int, data []byte) *Transaction {
 	if len(data) > 0 {
 		data = common.CopyBytes(data)
@@ -95,10 +114,12 @@ func NewTransaction(nonce uint64, to common.Address, amount, gasLimit, gasPrice
 	return &Transaction{data: d}
 }
 
+// DecodeRLP implements rlp.Encoder
 func (tx *Transaction) EncodeRLP(w io.Writer) error {
 	return rlp.Encode(w, &tx.data)
 }
 
+// DecodeRLP implements rlp.Decoder
 func (tx *Transaction) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	_, size, _ := s.Kind()
 	err := s.Decode(&tx.data)
@@ -108,6 +129,42 @@ func (tx *Transaction) DecodeRLP(s *rlp.Stream) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+// UnmarshalJSON decodes the web3 RPC transaction format.
+func (tx *Transaction) UnmarshalJSON(input []byte) error {
+	var dec jsonTransaction
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(input, &dec); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Ensure that all fields are set. V, R, S are checked separately because they're a
+	// recent addition to the RPC spec (as of August 2016) and older implementations might
+	// not provide them. Note that Recipient is not checked because it can be missing for
+	// contract creations.
+	if dec.V == nil || dec.R == nil || dec.S == nil {
+		return errMissingTxSignatureFields
+	}
+	if !crypto.ValidateSignatureValues(byte(*dec.V), (*big.Int)(dec.R), (*big.Int)(dec.S), false) {
+		return ErrInvalidSig
+	}
+	if dec.AccountNonce == nil || dec.Price == nil || dec.GasLimit == nil || dec.Amount == nil || dec.Payload == nil {
+		return errMissingTxFields
+	}
+	// Assign the fields. This is not atomic but reusing transactions
+	// for decoding isn't thread safe anyway.
+	*tx = Transaction{}
+	tx.data = txdata{
+		AccountNonce: uint64(*dec.AccountNonce),
+		Recipient:    dec.Recipient,
+		Amount:       (*big.Int)(dec.Amount),
+		GasLimit:     (*big.Int)(dec.GasLimit),
+		Price:        (*big.Int)(dec.Price),
+		Payload:      *dec.Payload,
+		V:            byte(*dec.V),
+		R:            (*big.Int)(dec.R),
+		S:            (*big.Int)(dec.S),
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (tx *Transaction) Data() []byte       { return common.CopyBytes(tx.data.Payload) }
 func (tx *Transaction) Gas() *big.Int      { return new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.GasLimit) }
 func (tx *Transaction) GasPrice() *big.Int { return new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.Price) }
@@ -215,6 +272,7 @@ func (tx *Transaction) Cost() *big.Int {
 	return total
 }
 
+// SignatureValues returns the ECDSA signature values contained in the transaction.
 func (tx *Transaction) SignatureValues() (v byte, r *big.Int, s *big.Int) {
 	return tx.data.V, new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.R), new(big.Int).Set(tx.data.S)
 }
@@ -235,7 +293,6 @@ func (tx *Transaction) publicKey(homestead bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	hash := tx.SigHash()
 	pub, err := crypto.Ecrecover(hash[:], sig)
 	if err != nil {
-		glog.V(logger.Error).Infof("Could not get pubkey from signature: ", err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if len(pub) == 0 || pub[0] != 4 {