Messenger Library (original) (raw)

About This File

Advanced messaging made simple!

Messenger Library is a library for message passing using a variety of powerful Messaging Patterns, and a set of Templates for easily creating parallel modules to interact with those Patterns. Together, these comprise a powerful and deep framework for rapid application development.

Communication patterns supported and other features include:

• -- Request-and-wait-for-Reply
• -- Asynchronous Request-Reply, where the reply is sent to a "reply address" attached to the request
• -- Scatter-Gather: Requests sent to multiple addresses, with all Replies gathered together in order
• -- Register-Notify, where one process sends a registration message to another in order to subscribe to published messages.
• -- Future Token, a reference to a future Reply not yet made
• -- Asynchronous Dialog: query the User without blocking (User's response sent as a message)
• -- Delayed Request: message sent with a set asynchronous delay
• -- Metronome, a source of precisely-timed periodic messages
• -- Timeout Watchdog: trigger an action if something expected doesn't happen

Freely intermix communication by Queues, User Events or Notifiers.

First-class support for TCP communication, allowing easy interaction of multiple executables using any of the Messaging Patterns. Also supports UDP, including multicast.

Module Templates are simple, consisting of a single VI and a single loop, and are robust against race conditions (unlike the more complex "Producer Consumer" NI templates)

Includes two utilities under the menu "Tools>>Messenger Library":

• -- a utility to create a new parallel modules from a set of well-tested templates
• -- a Manager utility to see all running Modules

Multiple Examples are included. Of particular interest are:

• -- An example developed over a series of YouTube videos (linked below)
• -- A redo of the standard "Continuous Measurement and Logging" Example using Messenger Library
• -- TCP Reconnecting Example, showing easy network communication with handling of temporary disconnects

Note: Messenger Library is intended to promote actor-oriented design, but is not related to the Actor Framework.

***Introductory Videos are on a YouTube channel.***

***A great summary of many Messenger Library sources, provided by Bob W Edwards***

JDP Science Tools group on NI.com.

Edited January 8 by drjdpowell
Update

What's New in Version 2.1.7 See changelog

Released January 8

• Significantly-improved palette layout.
• Better Icons, especially for Register-Notify API;
• Better "Create Actor from Template" Tool, with Template Descriptions.
• TCP Cient and Sever Templates. "DEV Top Level"
• Template now includes Config File done with JSONtext.