Files
alknet/docs/architecture/crates/call/README.md
glm-5.1 6219a323b6 docs(architecture): untangle TLS identity use cases, remove phase framing, add ADR-013 Rust canonical + agent crate
- Rewrite OQ-12: separate two distinct TLS identity use cases (RFC 7250
  raw keys as default for P2P, X.509 for domain-hosted/browsers) instead
  of conflating them as 'file paths now, ACME later'. ACME is a proven
  pattern from the reverse-proxy project, not speculative future work.

- Resolve OQ-13 and OQ-14: remove 'Phase 1' framing from core crate
  specs. /{service}/{op} is the correct design for alknet-call, not a
  simplification. Batch as correlated call.requested events is the correct
  protocol design. Core crates need to be done right from the start.

- Add ADR-013: Rust as canonical implementation language. TypeScript
  @alkdev/operations is a reference that informed the design, not a
  parallel implementation. The only JS use case is browser SDK adaptation.
  Five reasons: memory safety, LLM competence, supply chain attacks,
  performance, browser-only JS.

- Add alknet-agent crate to the crate graph (depends on alknet-call, not
  alknet-core). Agent service uses call protocol client for tool dispatch
  and vault/derive for provider keys — no env vars for secrets. ALPN
  alknet/agent added to the registry.

- Add OQ-15: call protocol client and adapter contract. alknet-call needs
  both server (CallAdapter) and client (remote invocation over QUIC), plus
  the adapter traits (from_*, to_*) that enable composition.

- Clarify alknet-napi as thin NAPI projection layer, not business logic.

- Fix bugs: ProtocolController → ProtocolHandler typo, OperationEnv
  invoke() path format inconsistency, RateLimitConfig comment confusion.

- Update endpoint.md TLS section: comprehensive identity model comparison
  table, RFC 7250 as default mode, ACME as proven pattern.
2026-06-17 09:32:44 +00:00

3.3 KiB

status, last_updated
status last_updated
draft 2026-06-17

alknet-call

Structured RPC over QUIC: operations, request/response, streaming subscriptions, and service discovery. Implements ProtocolHandler on ALPN alknet/call.

Documents

Document Status Description
call-protocol.md draft CallAdapter, EventEnvelope framing, stream model, PendingRequestMap, bidirectional calls
operation-registry.md draft OperationSpec, Handler, OperationRegistry, AccessControl, service discovery, irpc integration

Applicable ADRs

ADR Title Relevance
001 ALPN-Based Protocol Dispatch CallAdapter registers on ALPN alknet/call
002 ProtocolHandler Trait CallAdapter implements ProtocolHandler
003 Crate Decomposition alknet-call depends on alknet-core and irpc
004 Auth as Shared Core AuthContext passed to call handlers
005 irpc as Call Protocol Foundation irpc provides framing and service dispatch
006 ALPN String Convention alknet/call ALPN, one ALPN per connection
007 BiStream Type Definition CallAdapter receives Connection, not BiStream
008 Vault Integration Point Vault operations exposed via call protocol
012 Call Protocol Stream Model Bidirectional streams, EventEnvelope, ID-based correlation

Relevant Open Questions

OQ Title Status Relevance
OQ-07 Call protocol scope within a connection resolved (ADR-012) Stream model, multiplexing, scope
OQ-13 Operation path format and routing scope resolved /{service}/{op} is the correct design; remote dispatch is a separate layer
OQ-14 Batch operation semantics resolved Correlated call.requested events is the correct protocol design

Key Design Principles

  1. One connection, full access: An alknet/call connection gives access to the entire operation registry — calls, subscriptions, batch, schema.
  2. Protocol is symmetric: Both sides can initiate calls. The server calling a client uses the same EventEnvelope format and correlation.
  3. Stream-agnostic correlation: PendingRequestMap correlates by request ID, not by stream. The protocol works with any stream arrangement.
  4. Operation registry is dynamic: Operations are registered at startup by the CLI binary. The registry supports JSON Schema discovery.
  5. irpc is one dispatch backend: Local operations dispatch directly. irpc service calls (vault, auth) are internal. The call protocol is the external interface.
  6. Local dispatch only: The operation registry dispatches to local handlers. Remote dispatch (federation, head/worker routing) would be a separate mechanism at a different layer, not a modification to alknet-call's path format.