= Synapse =

[[Image(synapse.png)]]

“Synapses are the connections between neurons in the brain through which nervous impulses pass.”

== News ==

07-10-2010: http://www.internetpapier.nl online for testing. 

22-09-2010: The source code also is avaiable via git on http://code.dyne.org/ . Thanks jaromil!


== Introduction ==

Synapse is an advanced event framework in C++:

 * Modulair plugin system
 * Easy to write modules
 * Easy to send and receive message, while maintaining code readability
 * Session management
 * Build in authentication 
 * Fine grained access control on sending and receiving of events
 * Events can be handled by multiple threads if desired (max-threads is adjustable per session and per module)

== Architecture diagram ==

On a abtract level, Synapse tries to split up the Internet application layer in to OSI model layers:

[[Image(layers.png)]]

 * Modules can send and receive arbitrary data via a clean thin C++ API
 * A module can have 1 or more sessions.
 * The module specifys the event they wish to send and the destination session id.
 * The core keeps track of sessions and knows which module(s) to deliver the message to.
 * The core knows which users are allowed or receive the specified event.
 * Modules don't need to be aware of the node they run on.
 * If the session is running somewhere else, one of the connectors transports it to the correct node.
 * Nodes even can be multiple hops away. (e.g. simple routing of messages)
 * This even allows you to build a high performance, high availability cluster without modifying your application.

 * tcp/json connector: 
  * A special module to transparently transport messages to other modules. 
  * Incoming message src is mapped to local session.
 * http/json connector: 
  * A special module to allow javascript instances in browsers to connect and communicate with each other.

== Connector implementation ==

Because of the unique way Synapse is build, the actual connectors can be implemented as modules as well:
[[Image(connectors.png)]]

 * Keeps the core code clean.
 * Easier to debug and maintain.
 * All connectors can only be loaded when needed.
 * The TCP/IP connector is both client and server. Once the connection is established this doesn't matter anymore.

== Other documentation ==

Whitepaper/notes (still dutch and messy, but nice drawings ;): http://open.syn3.nl/syn3/trac/default/export/latest/trunk/projects/synapse/docs/synapse.odt

Module documentation: http://open.syn3.nl/syn3/trac/default/browser/trunk/projects/synapse/modules/docs/html

== Download ==

Note: The code is also syncronised with git on http://code.dyne.org/ .

Download:
{{{
psy@r3m0t3h0st ~/test $ svn co --username=anonymous --password=anonymous http://open.syn3.nl/syn3/svndav/default/trunk/projects/synapse
...
Checked out revision 311.
}}}


Configure/compile:
{{{
psy@r3m0t3h0st ~/test $ cd synapse/
psy@r3m0t3h0st ~/test/synapse $ cmake .
...
psy@r3m0t3h0st ~/test/synapse $ make
...
}}}

Run test module:
{{{
psy@r3m0t3h0st ~/test/synapse $ ./synapse modules/test.module/libtest.so
...
}}}


 * Connect to http://localhost:10080/debug.html to see some stuff. Login with admin/bs. 
 * Login from a second browser window, and move the slider. The slider of the other window should also move with it realtime.
 * Use Firebug or Chromium development mode to see the events between the server and browser. (might require are fresh)


= Automatic asterisk operator panel =

This is the first serious project built on top of the synapse platform.

 * Multi server
 * Multi tennant
 * Minimal configuration
 * Auto detection of SIP devices
 * Web based
 * Login is done by calling a special number, so no additional password and user management is neccesary.
 * Tested with configurations generated by: 
  * Asterisk_GUI
  * Thirdlane.
  * FreePBX (use AMPEXTENSIONS=deviceanduser in /etc/amportal.conf to be able to set the description)   

Used synapse modules:
 * asterisk_ami: Asterisk ami connector: tcp connects to asterisk server and sends/receives raw ami events.
 * asterisk: asterisk call tracking module. translates raw events from asterisk_ami to usefull data.
 * http_json: Build-in webserver for full-duplex events. Serves asterisk.html and sends/receives events to/from browser.
 * conn_json: A connector module to connect two synapse instances to each other via tcp/json.
 * marquee: Module to control our serial marquee.
 * asterisk_marquee: Collects data from asterisk module. Sends marquee texts with call info to marquee modules.

[[Image(asterisk.png)]]

== Roadmap ==

Current version:
 * Tracking of all calls, channels and sip devices.
 * Html panel that shows all sip devices and channels in realtime.
 * Still read-only
 * Authentication by calling a special number from your sip-device
 * Multi tennant support. 
 * Better user interface.

Next version:
 * Multiple marquee support.

Future versions:
 * Transfer calls
 * Make calls 
 * etc.

= Media player =

 * Based on libvlc
 * Like Media Player Deamon (MPD) but also for videos.
 * Realtime web interface
 * Easy programmable for remote control via synapse event mapper.
 * Control output on marquee
 * MPD compatible so you can use your favorite MPD client.