WebSocket Transport Missing Features

Summary

The Python libp2p WebSocket transport implementation is missing several critical features present in the Go implementation. This issue tracks the implementation of these missing features to bring py-libp2p to parity with go-libp2p.

Reference Documentation

• GitHub Discussion: Websocket Status #937

Implementation Tasks

🔥 High Priority Tasks

• Create Real-World WSS Examples

  • What: Build working WSS examples to validate secure WebSocket functionality
  • Why: Critical to ensure WSS actually works before adding advanced features
  • Files: examples/wss_demo.py, examples/browser_wss_demo.py
  • Implementation: Complete WSS client/server examples with TLS certificates

• Create Production Chat Application

  • What: Build end-to-end chat application using WebSocket transport
  • Why: Essential for validating complete WebSocket functionality
  • Files: examples/chat_websocket/main.py
  • Implementation: Complete chat app with peer discovery and real-time messaging

• Fix Interop Testing

  • What: Re-enable and fix JavaScript libp2p interop tests
  • Why: Critical for cross-language compatibility validation
  • Files: tests/interop/test_js_ws_ping.py
  • Status: Currently skipped due to dependency issues

• Create Browser Integration Examples

  • What: Build browser-to-Python WebSocket connectivity examples
  • Why: Essential for real-world adoption and validation
  • Files: examples/browser_integration/
  • Implementation: HTML/JS client connecting to Python WebSocket server

🚀 Medium Priority Tasks

• Add Proxy Support (SOCKS)

  • What: Implement SOCKS proxy configuration for WebSocket connections
  • Why: Essential for production use behind corporate firewalls
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add WithProxy() configuration option

• Implement Handshake Timeout Configuration

  • What: Add configurable handshake timeouts for WebSocket connections
  • Why: Critical for reliability and preventing hanging connections
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add WithHandshakeTimeout() option

• Add Concurrent Connection Management

  • What: Implement proper concurrent connection handling and testing
  • Why: Required for scalability and preventing race conditions
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/connection.py
  • Implementation: Add concurrent close testing and state management

• Add Multiaddr Resolution

  • What: Implement Resolve() method for WebSocket transport
  • Why: Important for flexibility in address handling
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add multiaddr resolution logic

• Implement Listener Address Management

  • What: Add Multiaddr() method to WebSocket listener
  • Why: Needed for proper address tracking and management
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add listener address tracking

🔧 Low Priority Tasks

• Add Advanced TLS Configuration

  • What: Implement WithTLSClientConfig() and SNI support
  • Why: Required for advanced security configurations
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add client TLS config and SNI support

• Create AutoTLS Browser Integration

  • What: Build AutoTLS example for browser connectivity
  • Why: Essential for browser-to-Python WebSocket connections
  • Files: examples/autotls_browser/main.py
  • Implementation: Certificate management and WSS support

• Add Zero-byte Write Handling

  • What: Implement proper handling of zero-byte writes
  • Why: Edge case testing for robustness
  • Files: tests/core/transport/test_websocket.py
  • Implementation: Add zero-byte write testing

• Implement Connection State Management

  • What: Add atomic state management for connections
  • Why: Optimization and proper lifecycle management
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/connection.py
  • Implementation: Add atomic state tracking

• Add Comprehensive Error Handling

  • What: Implement error recovery mechanisms
  • Why: Essential for robustness in production
  • Files: libp2p/transport/websocket/transport.py
  • Implementation: Add error recovery and comprehensive error handling

• Create Production Deployment Examples

  • What: Build Docker deployment configuration
  • Why: Important for real-world usage and deployment
  • Files: docker-compose.yml, Dockerfile
  • Implementation: Multi-node setup with load balancing

Current Status

• WebSocket Transport: ✅ Basic WS/WSS support implemented
• Interop Testing: ❌ JavaScript tests currently skipped
• Proxy Support: ❌ SOCKS proxy not supported
• Real-world Examples: ❌ Missing production examples
• Browser Integration: ❌ No AutoTLS or browser connectivity examples

Impact

These missing features significantly limit the production readiness and adoption of py-libp2p's WebSocket transport, especially for:

• Cross-language compatibility
• Production deployments behind firewalls
• Browser-based applications
• Real-world use cases

Implementation Strategy

Phase 1: Validation and Testing (High Priority)

1. Create real-world WSS examples
2. Create production chat application
3. Fix interop testing
4. Create browser integration examples

Phase 2: Core Functionality (Medium Priority)

1. Add proxy support
2. Implement handshake timeouts
3. Add concurrent connection management
4. Add multiaddr resolution
5. Implement listener address management

Phase 3: Advanced Features (Low Priority)

1. Add advanced TLS configuration
2. Create AutoTLS browser integration
3. Add zero-byte write handling
4. Implement connection state management
5. Add comprehensive error handling
6. Create production deployment examples

Success Criteria

• Real-world WSS examples work end-to-end
• Production chat application works end-to-end
• Browser connectivity via WSS is functional
• All interop tests pass
• WebSocket transport supports SOCKS proxy
• Handshake timeouts are configurable
• Concurrent connections are properly managed
• Production deployment examples are available

Labels

• enhancement
• websocket
• transport
• help-wanted
• good-first-issue

References

• GitHub Discussion #937 - Complete feature analysis
• Go libp2p WebSocket Implementation - Reference implementation
• Go libp2p AutoTLS Example - Browser integration reference