Newsgroups: alt.lang.intercal
From: Claudio Calvelli <news@uilebheist.spamtrap.spamtrap>
Subject: Networking proposal (Re: INTERCAL for the FUTURE)
References: <1165445578.461743.50720@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com> <slrnenfnuu.5nm.news@intercal.dyn-o-saur.com> <1165616760.921117.82220@f1g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <slrnenkteb.61u.news@intercal.dyn-o-saur.com> <slrnenkung.64n.news@intercal.dyn-o-saur.com> <1165744397.238197.97530@j72g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <slrnennpd2.5oj.news@intercal.dyn-o-saur.com>
Organization: No thanks
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Date: 10 Dec 2006 18:46:04 GMT

I was discussing INTERcal NETworking with a friend and we came up with
a proposal. I am going to implement that for CLC-INTERCAL, but of course
I will welcome a C-INTERCAL implementation, compatible or otherwise.

Note that the proposal is at present IPv4 only, but discussion on how to
extend this to IPv6 is encouraged.

1) STEAL (variable) ON (expression) FROM (expression)

   This does a destructive copy of a variable from another process. The
   process ID is specified by the first expression, the IP address by the
   second expression. The first expression can be omitted (STEAL variable
   FROM expression) to select a random PID, and both expressions can be
   omitted (STEAL variable) to select a random IP adddress by broadcasting
   on the LAN.

   If a variable is IGNOREd it cannot be stolen. This is because stealing
   the variable will change its value and this can't be done. However...

2) SMUGGLE (variable) ON (expression) FROM (expression)

   will copy (non-destructively) a variable, provided it is IGNOREd. If
   the variable is not IGNOREd it cannot be smuggled.

3) CASE (expression) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
   OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

   This will look so familiar you'll think you know what it does. WRONG.
   This is the replacement for broadcasting you've been waiting for, but
   it also does other things. In any case, the effect of the statement
   is first to assign numbers to all the variables, then execute all the
   statements. Note that all the statements are always executed,
   independently on what values are assigned to the variables or what
   result is produced by the expression. This is likely to differ from
   the way other languages implement CASE or similar statements.

   The type and value of the expression determines what values are
   assigned to the variables. If there are more values than variables,
   some values are discarded; if there aren't enough values, some will
   be duplicated. It is the programmer's responsibility to check for
   this.

   If any of the variables is an array, its elements will be assigned in
   sequence.

   3.1) CASE (array) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
        OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

        This is a DNS query. The name to be looked up is obtained from
        the array using the same conversion as READ OUT. The resulting
        IP addresses will be assigned to variable1, variable2, etc. as
        per the above description.

   3.2) CASE (numeric-expression) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
        OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

        The numeric expression can evaluate to an IP address, the broadcast
        address of one of the local network interface, or INADDR_ANY
        (0.0.0.0).  In each case, a list of numbers is stored in the
        variables, using mechanism described, then all the statements are
        executed. The three separate cases are discussed:

        3.2.1) CASE (IP-address) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
               OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

               The computer located at IP address provides a list of
               process IDs from which one can STEAL (or SMUGGLE). The
               list stored is the list of PIDs.

        3.2.2) CASE (broadcast-address) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
               OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

               A broadcast request on the specified network interface
               determines which IP addresses can be used for STEALING or
               SMUGGLING. These IP addresses are stored in the variables.
   
        3.2.3) CASE (INADDR_ANY) IN (variable1) THEN (statement1)
               OR (variable2) THEN (statement2) ... ESAC

               This produces a broadcast request on every available
               interface, producing a list of IP addresses.

4) ABSTAIN and REINSTATE

   It will be possible to ABSTAIN FROM SMUGGLING + STEALING and the
   corresponding REINSTATE. It is not possible to ABSTAIN FROM being
   robbed or similar. But a careful use of IGNORE / REMEMBER will allow
   to select whether a variable can be stolen or smuggled

5) The theft server.

   This is a process running on every computer where Networked INTERCAL
   programs are running. It accepts connections from other computers to
   allow the execution of STEAL, SMUGGLE and the IP-address version of
   CASE. Additionally, it will listen to broadcast requests to assists

   with the broadcast and INADDR_ANY version of CASE. There is not at
   present an official port assignment for this service, but I see no
   reason why I shouldn't apply to the IANA for one...

   The server will listen for UDP packets on the "smuggle port" and
   reply with a packet indicating that a server is active. This will
   normally be used in conjunction with broadcast to implement the
   broadcast version of CASE. Note that the contents of the packets is
   ignored.

   The server will also listen for TCP connections on the "smuggle port".
   The protocol employed on this connection will be described elsewhere
   (I intend to write a proper RFC, and watch the RFC editor having a
   fit), however a short example will indicate what it would look like.
   (C indicates lines sent by the Client to the Server, S indicates
   replies from the Server to the Client):

   C:   (opens connection on the smuggle port)
   S:   200 INTERNET server running on intercal.domain.com
   C:   STEAL .1 FROM 156
   S:   512 No such process
   C:   CASE
   S:   220 OK, 2 processes running:
   S:   9132
   S:   1561
   S:   .
   C:   STEAL ,2 FROM 1561
   S:   514 Cannot steal that. Try smuggling
   C:   STEAL ,1 FROM 1561
   S:   210 OK, here comes your array:
   S:   ,1 <- #2 BY #3
   S:   ,1 SUB #1 SUB #1 <- #12
   S:   ,1 SUB #1 SUB #2 <- #2
   S:   ,1 SUB #1 SUB #3 <- #72
   S:   ,1 SUB #2 SUB #1 <- #91
   S:   ,1 SUB #2 SUB #2 <- #55
   S:   ,1 SUB #2 SUB #3 <- #7
   S:   .
   C:   STEAL :1 FROM 9131
   S:   210 OK, here is the value:
   S:   :1 <- #9872~#19276
   S:   .
   C:   THANKS
   S:   241 You are welcome
   (connection is closed)

That's it for now. Discussion is welcome before I start implementing.

C.