FLECS: A Data-Driven Framework for Rapid Protocol Prototyping

Flecs is a framework for facilitating rapid implementation of packet forwarding protocols. Forwarding functionality of communication protocols can be modeled by a combination of packet processing components called abstract switching elements or Ases. Each Ase is constrained by the axioms of communication which enables us to formally analyze forwarding mechanisms in communication networks. Ases can be connected in a directed graph to define complex forwarding functionality. In this paper we present Flecs, a framework that compiles meta language protocol specification into its Click implementation. It allows rapid prototyping through configuration, as well as specialized implementation of performance-critical functionality through inheritance.