Project Description

Version: 3.1.8

The purpose of the project is to develop a portable programming framework that facilitates distributed and multi-threaded programming for C++, Java, and Python. MADARA was originally developed as an agent-based middleware specifically for real-time, distributed artificial intelligence, but is now more general purpose for distributed timing, control, knowledge and reasoning, and quality-of-service.

MADARA is composed of several tools and middleware, and the main entry point into the system is the Knowledge and Reasoning Language (KaRL) Engine, which provides a real-time scripting language for nanosecond execution times hooked into a flexible transport layer for distributed reasoning. The KaRL engine also supports object-oriented C++, Java, and Python programming through Containers, classes that provide abstractions and references for variable location within the KaRL Knowledge Base.

Getting Help

Installation

• Self-Extracting Installers (recommended for new users testing a version)
• Installation from Source (recommended for installation and maintenance)
• License

Usage

• C++ Guide Series: Architecture | Knowledge Base | Networking | Containers | Threads | Optimizations | KaRL
• Java Guide Series: Architecture | Knowledge Base | Networking | Containers | Threads | KaRL
• Python Guide Series: Architecture | Knowledge Base | Networking | KaRL
• Library Documentation: C++ | Java
• Presentations: Code Examples | Ongoing Projects Using MADARA
• Tutorials: README.txt | Source Code
• For code examples, see $MADARA_ROOT/tests

Features

Legend: Supported | Unsupported but planned

Distributed Knowledge Engine

The KaRL engine can be used in a variety of ways, including as a high-performance NoSQL database, a standalone reasoning engine or as a networked reasoner to accomplish computation, quality-of-service, timing, and control. The following is a non-exhaustive list of some of the more interesting features.

• Distributed knowledge base
  • Support for integers, strings, doubles, arrays, byte buffers, images
  • Binary and text-based state checkpointing and rollback
  • Consistency enforcement via clocks and quality
  • Export of a range of variables to STL containers
• High performance scripting language
• Cached expression trees for one time compilation of logics
• Capable of interfacing to and calling C++/Java/Python functions
• Timed waits, evaluates, and get/set capabilities
• Pluggable knowledge transport
• IP Unicast, Multicast Broadcast
• ZeroMQ
• OMG DDS (PrismTech and RTI)
• Highly extensible to other transports
• Optional AES 256 bit encryption
• Asynchronous, Non-blocking--built for contested or highly disconnected environments
• Bandwidth monitoring and reactive filtering
• Simulation of network interruptions and packet drops at transport layer
• Deadline filtering per message
• Rules evaluated on data arrival/synthesis
• Support for rebroadcasting/routing
• Threading
• Periodic hertz or full throttle rates
• Distributed context-enabled
• Languages
• C++ (full)
• Java (full)
• Python (partial)
• Platforms
• Intel (x86, x64) (full)
• Arm 3+ (full)
• Android (full)
• Logger with support for stderr, files, and sysloggers
• Nanosecond operation execution times

Special Thanks

This software has been contributed to and used by students and staff at: