proxf

Proxf is a software framework designed to simplify the creation and use of proxied remote procedure calls in distributed systems. It provides a uniform API for defining service interfaces, generating client proxies, and handling server-side request routing, with the aim of decoupling business logic from transport concerns.

Design and scope: Proxf supports pluggable transport backends, including HTTP, gRPC, and WebSocket, as well as pluggable serialization codecs such as JSON, MessagePack, and Protocol Buffers. The framework emphasizes asynchronous operation and streaming where available, and targets microservices, edge deployments, and serverless setups that seek to minimize boilerplate in inter-service communication.

Architecture: The core consists of a proxy layer that separates a service interface from its transport. Client proxies invoke methods as if they were local, while the transport module handles serialization, framing, and network I/O. The codec and transport modules are designed to be replaceable, enabling custom backends and language bindings. Built-in features include retry strategies, timeout handling, load balancing, and hooks for distributed tracing.

Usage and ecosystem: Developers define a service interface and either generate a client proxy or use dynamic proxying to consume remote methods. Server side components register handlers that implement the interface. Proxf libraries exist for multiple programming languages and can be integrated into existing build and deployment pipelines; community contributions extend backends and code generators.

Reception and licensing: Proxf is used in a range of projects from startups to larger teams. Advocates highlight reduced boilerplate and clearer separation of concerns, while critics point to potential abstraction overhead and the need for careful error handling in failure scenarios. The project is published under a permissive license and invites community involvement.

See also: RPC frameworks; proxy libraries; inter-service communication.