Rust-Based Distributed State Management System

This project illustrates a basic implementation of a distributed state management system using Rust. It demonstrates how nodes communicate, propose state changes, and reach a consensus in a distributed network.

Project Summary

The system models a network of nodes where each node can propose changes to its state and achieve consensus with other nodes through a simple protocol. This project aims to provide a foundational understanding of distributed systems, including node interactions, message exchanges, and consensus protocols.

Key Features

• TCP Node Communication: Establishes TCP connections for nodes to exchange messages.
• Proposal Handling: Nodes can propose state changes and handle proposals from other nodes.
• Acknowledgment System: Processes and tracks acknowledgments for received proposals.
• Consensus Protocol: Uses a majority-based approach to commit proposals once a sufficient number of acknowledgments are received.
• State Updates: Nodes update their state based on proposals and consensus.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

To get started with this project, you will need:

• Rust Programming Language: Ensure that Rust is installed on your machine. You can download it from the Rust official site.

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/juliog922/state_machine.git
   cd state_machine

2. Build the Project:

   cargo build

3. Run the Application:

   Start the application using:

   cargo run

   This command initiates two nodes that will simulate proposal broadcasting and consensus.

System Components

The project includes the following main components:

• Node: Represents an individual node in the network. It handles sending and receiving messages, and processes state changes based on proposals.

• Message: Defines the format of messages exchanged between nodes. This includes proposals, acknowledgments, and commit messages.

• State: An enumeration describing the possible states a node can be in, such as Init, Running, or Stopped.

• MessageType: An enumeration for different message types like Proposal, Acknowledgment, and Commit.

Running Tests

To verify the functionality of the system, run the provided tests:

cargo test