Lightweight client-like implementation to query a DHT network

[Yashvardhan-A]

Hey!

I want to know if it is possible to write a lightweight client in C that would not participate in a DHT network but would only be able to make queries to get stored information. The idea is to be able to deploy this 'client' on constrained devices that could get some kind of data from the network in which more powerful nodes are participating.

Thank you for your time and help.

[AmarOk1412]

https://github.com/savoirfairelinux/opendht/wiki/REST-API

Indeed the REST API can be used because you are not doing a node of the network, just querying infos

[Yashvardhan-A]

Thank you for pointing that out. I'll try and use it for my purpose and also contribute to its documentation. Could tell me if it is possible to compile client mode separately as a very minimal, barebones build? If so it could be used for multiple platforms without having library dependency issues.

[aberaud]

Just did some digging in the code and figured it was never fully implemented. Adding it now, along with the config flag.

Dependencies like msgpack and gnutls would still be required for the client mode.

[Yashvardhan-A]

By fully implemented you mean the CMake side or the code implementation? Well, whichever it is, looking forward to using it. Yeah some dependencies can't be shaken off. I am starting to understand the library based on whatever little experience I have with it till now, could you guide me as how can I go about understanding it better as well where may I start if I wish to contribute to its development.

[aberaud]

The code was only implemented on the receiver side, which means that the "client" flag in dht network packets is already respected, but never sent.
I implemented adding the flag on the sender side (allowing an opendht node to act as a "client").
Thanks for the proposal, you can review the pull request here: #706

[Yashvardhan-A]

Thanks!