user86833: I would like to take a look inside fee_estimates.dat to understand a bit better how the RPC command estimatesmartfee works. However, when I open the file in a text editor, the content is not readable. 
Is there a way to read the information inside fee_estimates.dat?

user101498: You need to take a look at how fee_estimates.dat is written and interpreted. It is a binary file composed of:
MIN_VERSION
CURRENT_VERSION
CURRENT_TIP
TIP_AT_LAST_START
TIP_AT_LAST_STOP
[ESTIMATES]
[STATS]

With CURRENT being "when writing", i.e. when stopping bitcoind.
Here is the method writing the file, and here is the method reading this file (at startup). I think the latter can help you to parse it.

86833: <p>I would like to take a look inside <code>fee_estimates.dat</code> to understand a bit better how the RPC command <code>estimatesmartfee</code> works. However, when I open the file in a text editor, the content is not readable. </p>

<p>Is there a way to read the information inside <code>fee_estimates.dat</code>?</p>
 101498: <p>You need to take a look at how <code>fee_estimates.dat</code> is written and interpreted. It is a binary file composed of:</p>
<pre><code>MIN_VERSION
CURRENT_VERSION
CURRENT_TIP
TIP_AT_LAST_START
TIP_AT_LAST_STOP
[ESTIMATES]
[STATS]
</code></pre>
<p>With <code>CURRENT</code> being &quot;when writing&quot;, i.e. when stopping <code>bitcoind</code>.</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/593f5e239f277e3fd917737122c2aed3c615430c/src/policy/fees.cpp#L864" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> is the method writing the file, and <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/593f5e239f277e3fd917737122c2aed3c615430c/src/policy/fees.cpp#L889" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> is the method reading this file (at startup). I think the latter can help you to parse it.</p>
