Gatra,
I am happy to take a look. However, new to this field, would you please describe what is the current problem with current riecoin code? What do you expect to be done by "merging Bitcoin Core 0.16.0" and how would that address Poloniex's request? Should we first take a look at current riecoin code, apply fixes in Bitcoin Core 0.16.0, or reversely, replace the POW in Bitcoin Core 0.16.0 so it can talk to Riecoin network?
Bitcoin Core 0.16.0 should have segwit? Should we remove it?
Thank you.
hopguide, dga:
Just noticed that you also seem to understand what needs to be done here. If you guys could provide more detailed pointers I will be happy to devote a few weeks in the summer on this project.
Nice to hear a voice from a volunter. Actually, I do not know much more than you, I have superficial understanding of how the things work but no any experience in programming a wallet.
You should try to get more precise information from Gatra. As you pointed out, there are so many ways to do what Gatra asks, this might actually be the main problem. Else, I think that the asked work is not very hard and 0.6 BTC is a neat reward for something like a summer crypto job. Try to PM him or contact him with other social media or email. DGA has probably much more experience than me too. And maybe the pool operators, XpoolX, Ziiip, Simba 84, they might have tips for you.
About Poloniex, a brand new wallet might make them consider to finally enable the deposits and withdrawals again. Maybe since 0.10.2 (2014 I think), there were so many changes that they cannot (or are too lazy to) get the RIC wallets to work normally.
Long term development might be nice to plan too. We would not want to have again an outdated wallet in 5 years with RIC 0.16 when Bitcoin will be 1.00.0.