/// <summary>
/// Creates a serialized string used in script signature.
/// </summary>
/// <remarks>
/// </remarks>
/// <example>
/// python: http://runnable.com/U3Mya-5oZntF5Ira/bitcoin-coinbase-serialize-string-python
/// nodejs: https://github.com/zone117x/node-stratum-pool/blob/dfad9e58c661174894d4ab625455bb5b7428881c/lib/util.js#L153
/// </example>
/// <param name="input"></param>
/// <returns></returns>
public static byte[] SerializeString(string input)
{
if (input.Length < 253)
{
return(ArrayHelpers.Combine(new[] { (byte)input.Length }, Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(input)));
}
// if input string is >=253, we need need a special format.
byte[] result;
using (var stream = new MemoryStream())
{
if (input.Length < 0x10000)
{
stream.WriteValueU8(253);
stream.WriteValueU16(((UInt16)input.Length).LittleEndian()); // write packed length.
}
else if ((long)input.Length < 0x100000000)
{
stream.WriteValueU8(254);
stream.WriteValueU32(((UInt32)input.Length).LittleEndian()); // write packed length.
}
else
{
stream.WriteValueU8(255);
stream.WriteValueU16(((UInt16)input.Length).LittleEndian()); // write packed length.
}
stream.WriteString(input);
result = stream.ToArray();
}
return(result);
}