Implement a significant portion of the TCP/IP networking stack from scratch in user-space. Your program will use a TUN/TAP virtual network interface to receive raw IP packets from the kernel and will handle them according to protocol standards. This project offers an unparalleled deep-dive into the mechanics of modern networking.
What you'll build
This project entails the ground-up development of a high-performance, user-space TCP/IP stack in the C programming language. You will not be using the operating system's built-in networking stack; instead, your program will communicate directly with a virtual network interface (TUN/TAP) to process raw network packets. The core of the project is to meticulously implement the Internet Protocol Suite (IP, ICMP, UDP, and TCP) according to their official RFC specifications. You will handle everything from parsing packet headers and validating checksums to managing complex TCP connection states, ensuring reliable data transfer, and implementing congestion control. The project is designed to be a portfolio masterpiece, culminating in a custom 'socket-like' API that allows other applications to use your networking stack. As an enhancement, the architecture will be planned for performance, with potential future steps including zero-copy mechanisms and advanced congestion control algorithms, laying the groundwork for a specialized, high-performance networking solution that could be developed into a commercial product.
What you'll learn
Roadmap
10 steps · 93 tasks