What you need to know about forks: from blockchain to programming

If you follow the world of cryptocurrencies or programming, you have surely heard of “fork.” This term constantly circulates in tech circles, but what does it really mean? In this article, you will discover how forks work in blockchain, software development, and other sectors, and why they are important for anyone operating in the digital world.

The true essence of a fork

Where does the term come from?

The word ‘fork’ comes from English and literally means “fork.” If you think of a fork, you’ll notice it has a bifurcated end—that’s exactly what a fork represents in a technical sense. It’s a point where something divides, branches out, creating separate paths.

In a technical context, a fork indicates the creation of an independent version of a project, whether it’s source code, a blockchain, or an application. That new version evolves autonomously from the original, maintaining some characteristics of the base but developing its own features.

Although the term originated in programming, its usefulness has spread well beyond this initial scope—today you find it in cryptocurrencies, operating systems, multimedia applications, and even as the name of cyber threats.

Why is the term used everywhere?

The beauty of the concept of a fork is its universality. Whether you are splitting a blockchain, copying a repository, or creating a new version of an operating system, the essence remains the same: take an existing base and create something new and independent.

This versatility has made the term convenient across many sectors. However, because it is used so widely, it can also lead to confusion. A fork in Git works differently from a fork in blockchain, even though both share the fundamental idea of separation and creation.

Fork in blockchain: when rules change

What happens when a blockchain forks?

Imagine Bitcoin as a system of shared rules followed by all network participants. When a fork occurs in blockchain, it means that part of the community has decided to modify these rules, creating a divergence.

A blockchain is built on linked blocks containing transactions. All nodes in the network must adhere to the same protocols to maintain the integrity of the chain. When new rules become incompatible with the old ones, the network splits into two separate chains, each with its own participants, miners, and developers.

When and why do forks happen?

Forks occur for various reasons:

• To increase network capacity by modifying block size
• To introduce new technical features like smart contracts
• To fix security vulnerabilities or protocol errors
• To resolve ideological or philosophical disagreements within the community

These changes often generate intense debates because they affect not only the technical aspect but also the economy of the currency and the project’s vision.

Hard fork and soft fork: two different worlds

Not all forks are the same. There are two main categories:

Hard fork — represents a radical and incompatible change. Nodes that do not update their software can no longer communicate with the new chain. A hard fork often results in the creation of a completely independent new cryptocurrency. In 2017, part of the Bitcoin community wanted faster transactions by increasing block size from 1 MB to 8 MB. This hard fork led to Bitcoin Cash, which is now traded as a separate currency on markets.

Soft fork — is a more conservative and backward-compatible change. Nodes with outdated software can continue to operate on the network, albeit with some limitations. A soft fork does not create a new chain but simply modifies the existing one, maintaining network unity. Bitcoin’s SegWit upgrade is a classic example: it optimized transaction structure without splitting the network.

Hard forks tend to generate more controversy because they force a choice: accept the new rules or stay on the original chain. Soft forks, on the other hand, allow gradual evolution while maintaining unity.

Historical cases that changed the market

Ethereum’s (2016) split

Ethereum underwent a hard fork after an attack on the project The DAO, during which a significant amount of Ether was stolen. Most of the community voted to reverse the stolen transaction, modifying the blockchain to recover the funds. A minority refused to accept this solution, preferring the absolute immutability of the blockchain. The result: the original chain became Ethereum Classic, while the majority continued with Ethereum. This fork represented a clash of values—from one side, practical efficiency, and from the other, immutable principles.

Bitcoin Cash and scalability ambitions (2017)

As mentioned, Bitcoin Cash was born from the desire to solve Bitcoin’s speed issues. Supporters believed that increasing block capacity was the right solution to scale the network. Today, Bitcoin Cash remains a distinct currency with its own ecosystem and holders.

Bitcoin SV: the fork of the fork (2018)

Bitcoin Cash itself experienced a hard fork when a group of developers wanted to further increase block size to 128 MB, aligning with what they called Satoshi Nakamoto’s “original vision.” Thus, Bitcoin SV was born as a third independent currency, demonstrating how forks can create chains of successive divisions.

How forks influence traders

For traders, forks represent both risks and opportunities. When an hard fork occurs, holders of the original coin typically receive an equivalent amount of the new currency. This expands the portfolio, but price volatility during these events can be significant.

Forks in programming: the engine of innovation

How does a fork work in Git

In software development, a fork means creating an independent copy of a repository—the set of code files and their change history. On platforms dedicated to version control, a fork resides in your personal account, allowing you to work completely independently of the original version.

The main reasons to fork are:

• Make improvements: If you find a bug or want to add a feature to an open-source project but lack direct access, you can fork the repository, make your changes, and propose them via a pull request for the authors to evaluate.

• Create a personal version: A fork allows you to take a project as a foundation and develop it in a completely new direction with unique features.

• Test without risks: You can experiment with radical ideas without the danger of damaging the original code.

Fork vs clone: they are not the same

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they represent different actions:

Fork is an operation on the server—you create a copy of the repository in your remote account. This copy remains completely independent of the original.

Clone is a local action—you download a copy of the repository onto your computer to work offline. You can clone both the original repository and your personal fork.

A typical workflow might be: fork a project on the server, then clone it onto your local machine to start developing.

Beyond Git: forks of operating systems and applications

The concept of fork in programming extends beyond repositories. In the software world, fork also indicates creating new versions of operating systems or programs.

In the open-source operating system sector, many distributions are forks of others. Ubuntu is a fork of Debian, adapted for a broader audience. Linux Mint, in turn, is a fork of Ubuntu, adding a graphical interface and custom tools. These forks allow developers to specialize the operating system for specific tasks.

In application software, the Brave browser is a fork of Chromium, the open-source project behind Chrome. Brave has maintained the core technology but added built-in privacy, ad blocking, and even a cryptocurrency system. Forks of applications arise when developers see an opportunity to add missing features or want to completely change the commercial approach.

Forks in unexpected sectors

ForkPlayer: the fork for streaming on Smart TV

ForkPlayer is an application for Smart TVs that allows access to multimedia content from the internet—movies, TV series, IPTV channels, and more. It is essentially a fork of an original media player, modified to make accessing online resources easier.

Main features include support for public playlists, the ability to add links and custom playlists, and simplified configuration for different TV models. ForkPlayer gained popularity for its flexibility and practicality.

It is important to remember that using copyrighted content through such applications may violate the law. Always choose legitimate sources for proper use.

Fork bomb: the dark side of forks

A fork bomb is a malicious script that creates an indefinite number of processes in the operating system, consuming all available resources—memory, CPU—until causing system freeze or complete crash.

The mechanism exploits the native ability of operating systems (like Linux and macOS) to generate new processes via fork. Imagine a program that spawns two processes, each of which spawns two more, and so on in a geometric progression. In seconds, the system exhausts its resources.

Fork bombs pose a serious threat to servers because they can take entire web services offline. To prevent them, system administrators set limits on the maximum number of processes each user can generate. Users, in turn, should avoid running scripts from unverified or unknown sources.

How to properly use the term ‘fork’

Colloquial vs formal language

The verb “fork” is natural among developers and crypto enthusiasts, but it may sound strange to those not immersed in technology. In informal technical environments—forums, chat between colleagues, social media discussions—“fork” is perfectly appropriate and concise:

• “I forked the repository to add a new feature”
• “The blockchain was forked to create Bitcoin Cash”

However, in official documents, formal articles, or corporate presentations, it is preferable to use neutral language:

• “I created a fork of the repository”
• “A blockchain fork occurred”
• “I split the project into two versions”

These formulations sound more professional and are understandable to a broader audience.

Synonyms and when to use them

The right term depends on the context:

• In programming: copy, branch, derivation
• In blockchain: split, upgrade, branching
• In applications: version, adaptation, derivative

Choosing the appropriate synonym reduces confusion. For example, saying “copy” in Git is imprecise because a fork is not just a duplication—it’s the creation of an independent project. Similarly, in blockchain, “split” better communicates the technical aspect than “fork,” which might sound too informal.

Conclusion: why forks matter

A fork is a universal tool that fuels innovation across various sectors. In blockchain, forks give rise to new cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum Classic, and allow technology to adapt to new needs. In programming, forks empower developers—they enable experimentation, collective improvement, and the creation of innovative software like Ubuntu and Brave.

Even in consumer technologies like Smart TVs, forks like ForkPlayer make content more accessible.

Understanding what a fork is and in which context it is used helps you navigate the modern tech landscape. For cryptocurrency traders, knowledge of forks is crucial: these events can generate significant volatility and open new profit opportunities. For developers, forks are a way to contribute to global open-source projects or create unique software. For ordinary users, understanding forks makes technology less mysterious and more transparent.

Whether you are interested in investing in cryptocurrencies, developing software, or simply want to better configure your TV, knowing about forks will allow you to leverage modern technology in an informed and advantageous way.