glm-5.2
f27d717ac8
The abort cascade and privilege model are call protocol semantics that every consumer inherits — NAPI adapter, Python adapter, agent service, and any future service speaking the EventEnvelope wire format. Framing them as 'needs agent crate in view' let a single consumer's timeline gate a protocol-level decision. The agent use case is a useful test case for edge cases, but the decisions belong to the call protocol.
55 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
55 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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status: draft
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last_updated: 2026-06-19
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---
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# alknet-call
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Structured RPC over QUIC: operations, request/response, streaming subscriptions, and service discovery. Implements `ProtocolHandler` on ALPN `alknet/call`.
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## Documents
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| Document | Status | Description |
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|----------|--------|-------------|
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| [call-protocol.md](call-protocol.md) | draft | CallAdapter, EventEnvelope framing, stream model, PendingRequestMap, bidirectional calls |
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| [operation-registry.md](operation-registry.md) | draft | OperationSpec, Handler, OperationRegistry, AccessControl, service discovery, irpc integration |
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## Applicable ADRs
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| ADR | Title | Relevance |
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|-----|-------|-----------|
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| [001](../../decisions/001-alpn-protocol-dispatch.md) | ALPN-Based Protocol Dispatch | CallAdapter registers on ALPN `alknet/call` |
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| [002](../../decisions/002-protocol-handler-trait.md) | ProtocolHandler Trait | CallAdapter implements ProtocolHandler |
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| [003](../../decisions/003-crate-decomposition.md) | Crate Decomposition | alknet-call depends on alknet-core and irpc |
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| [004](../../decisions/004-auth-as-shared-core.md) | Auth as Shared Core | AuthContext passed to call handlers |
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| [005](../../decisions/005-irpc-as-call-protocol-foundation.md) | irpc as Call Protocol Foundation | irpc provides framing and service dispatch |
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| [006](../../decisions/006-alpn-convention-and-connection-model.md) | ALPN String Convention | `alknet/call` ALPN, one ALPN per connection |
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| [007](../../decisions/007-bistream-type-definition.md) | BiStream Type Definition | CallAdapter receives Connection, not BiStream |
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| [008](../../decisions/008-secret-service-integration.md) | Vault Integration Point | Vault accessed at assembly layer, not on the wire |
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| [010](../../decisions/010-alpn-router-and-endpoint.md) | ALPN Router and Endpoint | Static handler registration |
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| [012](../../decisions/012-call-protocol-stream-model.md) | Call Protocol Stream Model | Bidirectional streams, EventEnvelope, ID-based correlation |
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| [014](../../decisions/014-secret-material-flow-and-capability-injection.md) | Secret Material Flow and Capability Injection | Call protocol carries no secret material; capabilities injected at assembly layer |
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## Relevant Open Questions
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| OQ | Title | Status | Relevance |
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|----|-------|--------|-----------|
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| OQ-07 | Call protocol scope within a connection | resolved (ADR-012) | Stream model, multiplexing, scope |
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| OQ-13 | Operation path format and routing scope | resolved | `/{service}/{op}` is the correct design; remote dispatch is a separate layer |
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| OQ-14 | Batch operation semantics | resolved | Correlated `call.requested` events is the correct protocol design |
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| OQ-15 | Call protocol client and adapter contract | open | ADR-014 constrains adapters: credential sources, not static tokens |
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| OQ-16 | Safe vault operations for call protocol exposure | resolved (ADR-014) | None exposed for now |
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| OQ-17 | Abort cascade semantics | open | `call.aborted` cascades to descendants; default `abort-dependents`, `continue-running` opt-in. One-way door on event schema |
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| OQ-18 | Privilege model and authority context | open | `internal` flag switches authority to handler identity, not blanket ACL skip. External/Internal operation visibility. Scoped composition env + handler identity. Protocol-level concern |
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## Key Design Principles
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1. **One connection, full access**: An `alknet/call` connection gives access to the entire operation registry — calls, subscriptions, batch, schema.
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2. **Protocol is symmetric**: Both sides can initiate calls. The server calling a client uses the same EventEnvelope format and correlation.
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3. **Stream-agnostic correlation**: PendingRequestMap correlates by request ID, not by stream. The protocol works with any stream arrangement.
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4. **Operation registry is static**: Operations are registered at startup by the CLI binary. The registry supports JSON Schema discovery.
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5. **irpc is one dispatch backend**: Local operations dispatch directly. irpc service calls (in-process, type-safe) are internal. The call protocol is the external interface.
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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.
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7. **No secret material on the wire**: The call protocol carries no private keys, API keys, mnemonics, or decrypted credentials. Handlers receive outbound credentials through `OperationContext.capabilities`, injected at the assembly layer. See ADR-014.
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8. **Abort cascades to descendants**: `call.aborted` for a parent request cascades to all non-terminal descendants. Default `abort-dependents`; `continue-running` opt-in. See OQ-17.
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9. **Internal calls switch authority context, not skip ACL**: The `internal` flag marks composition-originated calls. ACL runs against the handler's identity, not the caller's and not as a blanket skip. See OQ-18. |