dont do runtime pruning

core/blockchain.go

@@ -764,22 +764,20 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) initializeHistoryPruning(latest uint64) error {
 		log.Error("Database pruned beyond configured history mode", "tail", freezerTail, "target", target, "mode", policy.Mode)
 		return fmt.Errorf("database pruned beyond requested history (tail=%d, target=%d)", freezerTail, target)
 	}
-	// Need to prune (freezerTail < target). Ensure the target is frozen.
-	if latest < target+params.FullImmutabilityThreshold {
-		return fmt.Errorf("chain not far enough past target block %d, need %d more blocks",
-			target, target+params.FullImmutabilityThreshold-latest)
-	}
-	// For static prune points, verify the canonical hash matches.
-	if policy.Target != nil {
-		hash := bc.GetCanonicalHash(target)
-		if hash != policy.Target.BlockHash {
-			return fmt.Errorf("target block hash mismatch at block %d: got %s, want %s", target, hash.Hex(), policy.Target.BlockHash.Hex())
+	// Need to prune (freezerTail < target).
+	switch policy.Mode {
+	case history.KeepPostMerge, history.KeepPostPrague:
+		// Static modes require the user to run 'geth prune-history' offline
+		// rather than blocking startup for hours (tx index pruning is slow).
+		return fmt.Errorf("history not pruned to target block %d (current tail %d), run 'geth prune-history --history.chain=%s' first", target, freezerTail, policy.Mode)
+
+	case history.KeepRecent:
+		// The rolling pruner will gradually catch up in the background.
+		if freezerTail > 0 {
+			bc.updateHistoryPrunePoint(freezerTail)
 		}
+		log.Warn("Chain history is behind pruning target, rolling pruner will catch up", "tail", freezerTail, "target", target)
 	}
-	if err := bc.pruneChainHistory(target); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to prune chain history: %w", err)
-	}
-	log.Info("Pruned chain history at startup", "from", freezerTail, "to", target)
 	return nil
 }
 

core/history_pruner_test.go

@@ -156,36 +156,45 @@ func TestPruneChainHistory(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestInitHistoryPruningStartupPrune(t *testing.T) {
-	if testing.Short() {
-		t.Skip("skipping slow test")
-	}
-	db, gspec, blocks := newTestChain(t, 91000)
+func TestInitHistoryPruningStaticModeRequiresPruneHistory(t *testing.T) {
+	db, gspec, blocks := newTestChain(t, 200)
 	defer db.Close()
 
-	// Reopen with a static target at block 500. The chain is long enough
-	// (91000 >= 500 + 90000) so initializeHistoryPruning should prune.
+	// Reopen with a static target at block 50. The database is not yet
+	// pruned to that target, so startup should fail and tell the user to
+	// run 'geth prune-history'.
 	policy := history.HistoryPolicy{
 		Mode: history.KeepPostMerge,
 		Target: &history.PrunePoint{
-			BlockNumber: 500,
-			BlockHash:   blocks[499].Hash(),
+			BlockNumber: 50,
+			BlockHash:   blocks[49].Hash(),
 		},
 	}
+	_, err := reopenChain(db, gspec, policy)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error when history not pruned to static target, got nil")
+	}
+
+	// Freezer tail should remain at 0 — no pruning happened.
+	tail, _ := db.Tail()
+	if tail != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("freezer tail: got %d, want 0 (startup should not prune)", tail)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInitHistoryPruningKeepRecentAllowsStartup(t *testing.T) {
+	db, gspec, _ := newTestChain(t, 200)
+	defer db.Close()
+
+	// Reopen with KeepRecent and a small window. The tail (0) is behind the
+	// target but KeepRecent should still allow startup — the rolling pruner
+	// handles catch-up in the background.
+	policy := history.HistoryPolicy{Mode: history.KeepRecent, Window: 50}
 	chain, err := reopenChain(db, gspec, policy)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
 	defer chain.Stop()
-
-	tail, _ := db.Tail()
-	if tail != 500 {
-		t.Errorf("freezer tail: got %d, want 500", tail)
-	}
-	cutoff, _ := chain.HistoryPruningCutoff()
-	if cutoff != 500 {
-		t.Errorf("prune cutoff: got %d, want 500", cutoff)
-	}
 }
 
 func TestInitHistoryPruningStaticModeBeyondTarget(t *testing.T) {