Tangent API - A Simple and Efficient Way To Do Client Server Programming

What is Tangent API?
How Does Tangent API Work?
The Tangent API Model
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Example: Sample Application Using C#
Additional Notes for Developers
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The Tangent API Model

Imagine a software solution that requires a number of computers to communicate with one another on a LAN. When using Tangent API in such a solution, the first step is to have one machine assigned as the server.

Choose one machine as the server
Choose one machine as the server

The next step is to assign the clients to run on the other machines. A few important notes: the machine running the server can run a client at the same time too, and any machine can run one or more clients.

Clients assigned to run on machines
Clients assigned to run on machines

Next, there are three communication rules in the Tangent API model:

The following diagram shows a representation of these rules (double-sided arrows represent the ability to communicate):

Client server communication in Tangent API
Client server communication in Tangent API

The third rule states that a client cannot communicate with any other client directly. So what if a client needs to send data to another client? In this case, the data must be sent to the server first, which would then need to forward the data to the client.

Client 1 sending data to Client 2
Client 1 sending data to Client 2

This approach is by design, and actually keeps the Tangent API model simple and more efficient.

Consider what would be necessary if clients were given the ability to send and receive data directly with one another. First, another connection would be necessary between clients that want to send and receive data with each other. In fact, one extra connection would be needed between every two clients that want to send and receive data with one another, leading to a multitude of extra connections. Second, keeping track of all these extra connections comes with cost, leading to a less efficient solution. Because of these reasons, Tangent API was modeled with the rules stated.

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Tangent API Copyright © 2008-2010 Nilesh Humbad. All rights reserved.