# Gavin Andresen
# 2011-03-23 21:14:20
# https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4847.msg70860#msg70860

@s{quotedtext}
@s{quotedtext}
 @p{brk}
No.  The end of the chain can, and does, fork, but the forks are short and the network pretty quickly decides on the One True Chain. @p{par}


@s{quotedtext}
@s{quotedtext}
Yes. @p{brk}

@s{quotedtext}
@s{quotedtext}
Short answer: no. @p{par}

Longer answer:  it is complicated, and what you need depends on whether or not you're trying to generate new blocks.  To keep it simple, the original client downloads everything.  @p{brk}