Use writer instead of RawSocket in Client

Use this from the relay message

build.zig

@@ -1,71 +1,121 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 
-// Although this function looks imperative, note that its job is to
-// declaratively construct a build graph that will be executed by an external
-// runner.
+// Although this function looks imperative, it does not perform the build
+// directly and instead it mutates the build graph (`b`) that will be then
+// executed by an external runner. The functions in `std.Build` implement a DSL
+// for defining build steps and express dependencies between them, allowing the
+// build runner to parallelize the build automatically (and the cache system to
+// know when a step doesn't need to be re-run).
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    // Standard target options allows the person running `zig build` to choose
+    // Standard target options allow the person running `zig build` to choose
     // what target to build for. Here we do not override the defaults, which
     // means any target is allowed, and the default is native. Other options
     // for restricting supported target set are available.
     const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-
     // Standard optimization options allow the person running `zig build` to select
     // between Debug, ReleaseSafe, ReleaseFast, and ReleaseSmall. Here we do not
     // set a preferred release mode, allowing the user to decide how to optimize.
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    // It's also possible to define more custom flags to toggle optional features
+    // of this build script using `b.option()`. All defined flags (including
+    // target and optimize options) will be listed when running `zig build --help`
+    // in this directory.
 
-    const lib_mod = b.createModule(.{
+    // This creates a module, which represents a collection of source files alongside
+    // some compilation options, such as optimization mode and linked system libraries.
+    // Zig modules are the preferred way of making Zig code available to consumers.
+    // addModule defines a module that we intend to make available for importing
+    // to our consumers. We must give it a name because a Zig package can expose
+    // multiple modules and consumers will need to be able to specify which
+    // module they want to access.
+    const mod = b.addModule("zaprus", .{
+        // The root source file is the "entry point" of this module. Users of
+        // this module will only be able to access public declarations contained
+        // in this file, which means that if you have declarations that you
+        // intend to expose to consumers that were defined in other files part
+        // of this module, you will have to make sure to re-export them from
+        // the root file.
         .root_source_file = b.path("src/root.zig"),
+        // Later on we'll use this module as the root module of a test executable
+        // which requires us to specify a target.
         .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
     });
 
-    // We will also create a module for our other entry point, 'main.zig'.
-    const exe_mod = b.createModule(.{
-        // `root_source_file` is the Zig "entry point" of the module. If a module
-        // only contains e.g. external object files, you can make this `null`.
-        // In this case the main source file is merely a path, however, in more
-        // complicated build scripts, this could be a generated file.
-        .root_source_file = b.path("src/main.zig"),
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-    });
+    mod.addImport("network", b.dependency("network", .{}).module("network"));
+    mod.addImport("gatorcat", b.dependency("gatorcat", .{}).module("gatorcat"));
 
-    lib_mod.addImport("network", b.dependency("network", .{}).module("network"));
-
-    exe_mod.addImport("zaprus", lib_mod);
-    exe_mod.addImport("clap", b.dependency("clap", .{}).module("clap"));
-
-    const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
-        .linkage = .static,
-        .name = "zaprus",
-        .root_module = lib_mod,
-    });
-
-    b.installArtifact(lib);
-
-    // This creates another `std.Build.Step.Compile`, but this one builds an executable
-    // rather than a static library.
+    // Here we define an executable. An executable needs to have a root module
+    // which needs to expose a `main` function. While we could add a main function
+    // to the module defined above, it's sometimes preferable to split business
+    // business logic and the CLI into two separate modules.
+    //
+    // If your goal is to create a Zig library for others to use, consider if
+    // it might benefit from also exposing a CLI tool. A parser library for a
+    // data serialization format could also bundle a CLI syntax checker, for example.
+    //
+    // If instead your goal is to create an executable, consider if users might
+    // be interested in also being able to embed the core functionality of your
+    // program in their own executable in order to avoid the overhead involved in
+    // subprocessing your CLI tool.
+    //
+    // If neither case applies to you, feel free to delete the declaration you
+    // don't need and to put everything under a single module.
     const exe = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "zaprus",
-        .root_module = exe_mod,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            // b.createModule defines a new module just like b.addModule but,
+            // unlike b.addModule, it does not expose the module to consumers of
+            // this package, which is why in this case we don't have to give it a name.
+            .root_source_file = b.path("src/main.zig"),
+            // Target and optimization levels must be explicitly wired in when
+            // defining an executable or library (in the root module), and you
+            // can also hardcode a specific target for an executable or library
+            // definition if desireable (e.g. firmware for embedded devices).
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            // List of modules available for import in source files part of the
+            // root module.
+            .imports = &.{
+                // Here "zaprus" is the name you will use in your source code to
+                // import this module (e.g. `@import("zaprus")`). The name is
+                // repeated because you are allowed to rename your imports, which
+                // can be extremely useful in case of collisions (which can happen
+                // importing modules from different packages).
+                .{ .name = "zaprus", .module = mod },
+                .{ .name = "clap", .module = b.dependency("clap", .{}).module("clap") },
+            },
+        }),
     });
 
     // This declares intent for the executable to be installed into the
-    // standard location when the user invokes the "install" step (the default
-    // step when running `zig build`).
+    // install prefix when running `zig build` (i.e. when executing the default
+    // step). By default the install prefix is `zig-out/` but can be overridden
+    // by passing `--prefix` or `-p`.
     b.installArtifact(exe);
+    b.installArtifact(b.addLibrary(.{
+        .linkage = .static,
+        .name = "zaprus",
+        .root_module = mod,
+    }));
 
-    // This *creates* a Run step in the build graph, to be executed when another
-    // step is evaluated that depends on it. The next line below will establish
-    // such a dependency.
+    // This creates a top level step. Top level steps have a name and can be
+    // invoked by name when running `zig build` (e.g. `zig build run`).
+    // This will evaluate the `run` step rather than the default step.
+    // For a top level step to actually do something, it must depend on other
+    // steps (e.g. a Run step, as we will see in a moment).
+    const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the app");
+
+    // This creates a RunArtifact step in the build graph. A RunArtifact step
+    // invokes an executable compiled by Zig. Steps will only be executed by the
+    // runner if invoked directly by the user (in the case of top level steps)
+    // or if another step depends on it, so it's up to you to define when and
+    // how this Run step will be executed. In our case we want to run it when
+    // the user runs `zig build run`, so we create a dependency link.
     const run_cmd = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
 
-    // By making the run step depend on the install step, it will be run from the
+    // By making the run step depend on the default step, it will be run from the
     // installation directory rather than directly from within the cache directory.
-    // This is not necessary, however, if the application depends on other installed
-    // files, this ensures they will be present and in the expected location.
     run_cmd.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
 
     // This allows the user to pass arguments to the application in the build
@@ -74,21 +124,42 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         run_cmd.addArgs(args);
     }
 
-    // This creates a build step. It will be visible in the `zig build --help` menu,
-    // and can be selected like this: `zig build run`
-    // This will evaluate the `run` step rather than the default, which is "install".
-    const run_step = b.step("run", "Run the app");
-    run_step.dependOn(&run_cmd.step);
-
-    const exe_unit_tests = b.addTest(.{
-        .root_module = exe_mod,
+    // Creates an executable that will run `test` blocks from the provided module.
+    // Here `mod` needs to define a target, which is why earlier we made sure to
+    // set the releative field.
+    const mod_tests = b.addTest(.{
+        .root_module = mod,
     });
 
-    const run_exe_unit_tests = b.addRunArtifact(exe_unit_tests);
+    // A run step that will run the test executable.
+    const run_mod_tests = b.addRunArtifact(mod_tests);
 
-    // Similar to creating the run step earlier, this exposes a `test` step to
-    // the `zig build --help` menu, providing a way for the user to request
-    // running the unit tests.
-    const test_step = b.step("test", "Run unit tests");
-    test_step.dependOn(&run_exe_unit_tests.step);
+    // Creates an executable that will run `test` blocks from the executable's
+    // root module. Note that test executables only test one module at a time,
+    // hence why we have to create two separate ones.
+    const exe_tests = b.addTest(.{
+        .root_module = exe.root_module,
+    });
+
+    // A run step that will run the second test executable.
+    const run_exe_tests = b.addRunArtifact(exe_tests);
+
+    // A top level step for running all tests. dependOn can be called multiple
+    // times and since the two run steps do not depend on one another, this will
+    // make the two of them run in parallel.
+    const test_step = b.step("test", "Run tests");
+    test_step.dependOn(&run_mod_tests.step);
+    test_step.dependOn(&run_exe_tests.step);
+
+    // Just like flags, top level steps are also listed in the `--help` menu.
+    //
+    // The Zig build system is entirely implemented in userland, which means
+    // that it cannot hook into private compiler APIs. All compilation work
+    // orchestrated by the build system will result in other Zig compiler
+    // subcommands being invoked with the right flags defined. You can observe
+    // these invocations when one fails (or you pass a flag to increase
+    // verbosity) to validate assumptions and diagnose problems.
+    //
+    // Lastly, the Zig build system is relatively simple and self-contained,
+    // and reading its source code will allow you to master it.
 }

build.zig.zon

@@ -37,12 +37,16 @@
     // internet connectivity.
     .dependencies = .{
         .network = .{
-            .url = "https://github.com/ikskuh/zig-network/archive/c76240d2240711a3dcbf1c0fb461d5d1f18be79a.zip",
-            .hash = "network-0.1.0-AAAAAOwlAQAQ6zKPUrsibdpGisxld9ftUKGdMvcCSpaj",
+            .url = "git+https://github.com/ikskuh/zig-network#7947237eec317d9458897f82089f343a05450c2b",
+            .hash = "network-0.1.0-Pm-Agl8xAQBmkwohveGOfTk4zQnuqDs0Ptfbms4KP5Ce",
         },
         .clap = .{
-            .url = "git+https://github.com/Hejsil/zig-clap?ref=0.10.0#e47028deaefc2fb396d3d9e9f7bd776ae0b2a43a",
-            .hash = "clap-0.10.0-oBajB434AQBDh-Ei3YtoKIRxZacVPF1iSwp3IX_ZB8f0",
+            .url = "git+https://github.com/Hejsil/zig-clap#9cfa61596cd44ef7be35f8d2e108d2025e09868e",
+            .hash = "clap-0.10.0-oBajB_TnAQB0l5UdW9WYhhJDEswbedvwFOzzZwGknYeR",
+        },
+        .gatorcat = .{
+            .url = "git+https://github.com/jeffective/gatorcat#db73d0f7780331d82e785e85773d1afaf154c2e6",
+            .hash = "gatorcat-0.3.11-WcrpTQn0BwArrCFVHy9FPBIPDJQqPrFdJlhiyH7Ng5x4",
         },
     },
     .paths = .{

src/Client.zig

@@ -1,22 +1,84 @@
-var rand: ?Random = null;
+const base64Enc = std.base64.Base64Encoder.init(std.base64.standard_alphabet_chars, '=');
+const base64Dec = std.base64.Base64Decoder.init(std.base64.standard_alphabet_chars, '=');
 
-pub fn init() !void {
+rand: Random,
+writer: *std.Io.Writer,
+
+const Self = @This();
+
+const max_message_size = 2048;
+
+pub fn init(writer: *std.Io.Writer) !Self {
     var prng = Random.DefaultPrng.init(blk: {
         var seed: u64 = undefined;
         try posix.getrandom(mem.asBytes(&seed));
         break :blk seed;
     });
-    rand = prng.random();
-    try network.init();
+    const rand = prng.random();
+
+    return .{
+        .rand = rand,
+        .writer = writer,
+    };
 }
 
-pub fn deinit() void {
-    network.deinit();
+pub fn deinit(self: *Self) void {
+    self.writer.flush() catch {};
 }
 
-fn broadcastSaprusMessage(msg: SaprusMessage, udp_port: u16, allocator: Allocator) !void {
-    const msg_bytes = try msg.toBytes(allocator);
-    defer allocator.free(msg_bytes);
+/// Used for relay messages and connection handshake.
+/// Assumes Client .init has been called.
+fn broadcastInitialInterestMessage(self: *Self, msg_bytes: []align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) u8) !void {
+    var packet_bytes: [max_message_size]u8 = comptime blk: {
+        var b: [max_message_size]u8 = @splat(0);
+
+        // Destination MAC addr to FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF
+        for (0..6) |i| {
+            b[i] = 0xff;
+        }
+
+        // Set Ethernet type to IPv4
+        b[0x0c] = 0x08;
+        b[0x0d] = 0x00;
+
+        // Set IPv4 version to 4
+        b[0x0e] = 0x45;
+
+        // Destination broadcast
+        for (0x1e..0x22) |i| {
+            b[i] = 0xff;
+        }
+
+        // Set TTL
+        b[0x16] = 0x40;
+
+        // Set IPv4 protocol to UDP
+        b[0x17] = 0x11;
+
+        // Set interest filter value to 8888.
+        b[0x24] = 0x22;
+        b[0x25] = 0xb8;
+        break :blk b;
+    };
+    var msg: *SaprusMessage = try .bytesAsValue(msg_bytes);
+    try msg.networkFromNativeEndian();
+    defer msg.nativeFromNetworkEndian() catch unreachable;
+
+    // The byte position within the packet that the saprus message starts at.
+    const saprus_start_byte = 42;
+    @memcpy(packet_bytes[saprus_start_byte .. saprus_start_byte + msg_bytes.len], msg_bytes);
+
+    const writer = self.writer;
+    _ = try writer.write(packet_bytes[0 .. saprus_start_byte + msg_bytes.len]);
+    try writer.flush();
+}
+
+// fn broadcastSaprusMessage(msg_bytes: []align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) u8) !void {}
+
+fn broadcastSaprusMessage(msg_bytes: []align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) u8, udp_port: u16) !void {
+    const msg: *SaprusMessage = try .bytesAsValue(msg_bytes);
+    try msg.networkFromNativeEndian();
+    defer msg.nativeFromNetworkEndian() catch unreachable;
 
     var sock = try network.Socket.create(.ipv4, .udp);
     defer sock.close();
@@ -36,54 +98,57 @@ fn broadcastSaprusMessage(msg: SaprusMessage, udp_port: u16, allocator: Allocato
 
     try sock.bind(bind_addr);
 
+    std.debug.print("{x}\n", .{msg_bytes});
+
     _ = try sock.sendTo(dest_addr, msg_bytes);
 }
 
-pub fn sendRelay(payload: []const u8, dest: [4]u8, allocator: Allocator) !void {
-    const msg = SaprusMessage{
-        .relay = .{
-            .header = .{ .dest = dest },
-            .payload = payload,
-        },
-    };
+pub fn sendRelay(self: *Self, payload: []const u8, dest: [4]u8) !void {
+    var buf: [max_message_size]u8 align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) = undefined;
+    const msg_bytes = buf[0..try SaprusMessage.calcSize(
+        .relay,
+        base64Enc.calcSize(payload.len),
+    )];
+    const msg: *SaprusMessage = .init(.relay, msg_bytes);
 
-    try broadcastSaprusMessage(msg, 8888, allocator);
+    const relay = (try msg.getSaprusTypePayload()).relay;
+    relay.dest = dest;
+    _ = base64Enc.encode(relay.getPayload(), payload);
+
+    try self.broadcastInitialInterestMessage(msg_bytes);
 }
 
-fn randomPort() u16 {
-    var p: u16 = 0;
-    if (rand) |r| {
-        p = r.intRangeAtMost(u16, 1024, 65000);
-    } else unreachable;
-
-    return p;
+fn randomPort(self: Self) u16 {
+    return self.rand.intRangeAtMost(u16, 1024, 65000);
 }
 
-pub fn sendInitialConnection(payload: []const u8, initial_port: u16, allocator: Allocator) !SaprusMessage {
-    const dest_port = randomPort();
-    const msg = SaprusMessage{
-        .connection = .{
-            .header = .{
-                .src_port = initial_port,
-                .dest_port = dest_port,
-            },
-            .payload = payload,
-        },
-    };
+pub fn sendInitialConnection(
+    self: Self,
+    payload: []const u8,
+    output_bytes: []align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) u8,
+    initial_port: u16,
+) !*SaprusMessage {
+    const dest_port = self.randomPort();
+    const msg_bytes = output_bytes[0..try SaprusMessage.calcSize(
+        .connection,
+        base64Enc.calcSize(payload.len),
+    )];
+    const msg: *SaprusMessage = .init(.connection, msg_bytes);
 
-    try broadcastSaprusMessage(msg, 8888, allocator);
+    const connection = (try msg.getSaprusTypePayload()).connection;
+    connection.src_port = initial_port;
+    connection.dest_port = dest_port;
+    _ = base64Enc.encode(connection.getPayload(), payload);
+
+    try broadcastSaprusMessage(msg_bytes, 8888);
 
     return msg;
 }
 
-pub fn connect(payload: []const u8, allocator: Allocator) !?SaprusMessage {
-    var initial_port: u16 = 0;
-    if (rand) |r| {
-        initial_port = r.intRangeAtMost(u16, 1024, 65000);
-    } else unreachable;
+pub fn connect(self: Self, payload: []const u8) !?SaprusConnection {
+    const initial_port = self.randomPort();
 
-    var initial_conn_res: ?SaprusMessage = null;
-    errdefer if (initial_conn_res) |c| c.deinit(allocator);
+    var initial_conn_res: ?*SaprusMessage = null;
 
     var sock = try network.Socket.create(.ipv4, .udp);
     defer sock.close();
@@ -98,21 +163,26 @@ pub fn connect(payload: []const u8, allocator: Allocator) !?SaprusMessage {
     try sock.setReadTimeout(1 * std.time.us_per_s);
     try sock.bind(bind_addr);
 
-    const msg = try sendInitialConnection(payload, initial_port, allocator);
+    var sent_msg_bytes: [max_message_size]u8 align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) = undefined;
+    const msg = try self.sendInitialConnection(payload, &sent_msg_bytes, initial_port);
 
-    var response_buf: [4096]u8 = undefined;
+    var response_buf: [max_message_size]u8 align(@alignOf(SaprusMessage)) = undefined;
     _ = try sock.receive(&response_buf); // Ignore message that I sent.
     const len = try sock.receive(&response_buf);
 
-    initial_conn_res = try SaprusMessage.fromBytes(response_buf[0..len], allocator);
+    initial_conn_res = try .networkBytesAsValue(response_buf[0..len]);
 
     // Complete handshake after awaiting response
-    try broadcastSaprusMessage(msg, randomPort(), allocator);
+    try broadcastSaprusMessage(msg.asBytes(), self.randomPort());
 
-    return initial_conn_res;
+    if (false) {
+        return initial_conn_res.?;
+    }
+    return null;
 }
 
 const SaprusMessage = @import("message.zig").Message;
+const SaprusConnection = @import("Connection.zig");
 
 const std = @import("std");
 const Random = std.Random;
@@ -120,5 +190,3 @@ const posix = std.posix;
 const mem = std.mem;
 
 const network = @import("network");
-
-const Allocator = mem.Allocator;

src/RawSocketWriter.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const gcat = @import("gatorcat");
+const Writer = @This();
+const assert = std.debug.assert;
+
+interface: std.Io.Writer,
+socket: gcat.nic.RawSocket,
+alloc: std.mem.Allocator,
+
+fn drain(io_w: *std.Io.Writer, data: []const []const u8, splat: usize) std.Io.Writer.Error!usize {
+    const w: *Writer = @alignCast(@fieldParentPtr("interface", io_w));
+    const buffered = io_w.buffered();
+    var res: usize = 0;
+    if (buffered.len > 0) {
+        w.socket.linkLayer().send(buffered) catch return error.WriteFailed;
+        _ = io_w.consumeAll();
+    }
+
+    for (data[0 .. data.len - 1]) |d| {
+        w.socket.linkLayer().send(d) catch return error.WriteFailed;
+        res += d.len;
+    }
+
+    if (splat > 0 and data[data.len - 1].len > 0) {
+        var splatBuffer: std.ArrayList(u8) = .empty;
+        defer splatBuffer.deinit(w.alloc);
+        for (0..splat) |_| {
+            splatBuffer.appendSlice(w.alloc, data[data.len - 1]) catch return error.WriteFailed;
+        }
+        w.socket.linkLayer().send(splatBuffer.items) catch return error.WriteFailed;
+    }
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+pub fn init(interface_name: [:0]const u8, buffer: []u8, alloc: std.mem.Allocator) !Writer {
+    return .{
+        .interface = .{
+            .vtable = &.{ .drain = drain },
+            .buffer = buffer,
+        },
+        .socket = try .init(interface_name),
+        .alloc = alloc,
+    };
+}

src/main.zig

@@ -37,42 +37,37 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         .allocator = gpa,
     }) catch |err| {
         // Report useful error and exit.
-        diag.report(std.io.getStdErr().writer(), err) catch {};
+        try diag.reportToFile(.stderr(), err);
         return err;
     };
     defer res.deinit();
 
-    try SaprusClient.init();
-    defer SaprusClient.deinit();
-
     if (res.args.help != 0) {
-        return clap.help(std.io.getStdErr().writer(), clap.Help, &params, .{});
+        return clap.helpToFile(.stderr(), clap.Help, &params, .{});
     }
 
+    var sock_buffer: [2048]u8 = undefined;
+    var rawSocketWriter: RawSocketWriter = try .init("enp7s0", &sock_buffer, gpa); // /proc/net/dev
+    var client = try SaprusClient.init(&rawSocketWriter.interface);
+    defer client.deinit();
+
     if (res.args.relay) |r| {
-        const dest = parseDest(res.args.dest) catch .{ 70, 70, 70, 70 };
-        try SaprusClient.sendRelay(
+        const dest = parseDest(res.args.dest);
+        try client.sendRelay(
             if (r.len > 0) r else "Hello darkness my old friend",
             dest,
-            gpa,
         );
         // std.debug.print("Sent: {s}\n", .{r});
         return;
     } else if (res.args.connect) |c| {
-        const conn_res: ?SaprusMessage = SaprusClient.connect(if (c.len > 0) c else "Hello darkness my old friend", gpa) catch |err| switch (err) {
+        _ = client.connect(if (c.len > 0) c else "Hello darkness my old friend") catch |err| switch (err) {
             error.WouldBlock => null,
             else => return err,
         };
-        defer if (conn_res) |r| r.deinit(gpa);
-        if (conn_res) |r| {
-            std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{r.connection.payload});
-        } else {
-            std.debug.print("No response from connection request\n", .{});
-        }
         return;
     }
 
-    return clap.help(std.io.getStdErr().writer(), clap.Help, &params, .{});
+    return clap.helpToFile(.stderr(), clap.Help, &params, .{});
 }
 
 fn parseDest(in: ?[]const u8) [4]u8 {
@@ -86,7 +81,7 @@ fn parseDest(in: ?[]const u8) [4]u8 {
         const addr = std.net.Ip4Address.parse(dest, 0) catch return "FAIL".*;
         return @bitCast(addr.sa.addr);
     }
-    return "zap".*;
+    return "zap\x00".*;
 }
 
 const builtin = @import("builtin");
@@ -97,5 +92,6 @@ const ArrayList = std.ArrayList;
 const zaprus = @import("zaprus");
 const SaprusClient = zaprus.Client;
 const SaprusMessage = zaprus.Message;
+const RawSocketWriter = zaprus.RawSocketWriter;
 
 const clap = @import("clap");

src/message.zig

@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-const base64Enc = std.base64.Base64Encoder.init(std.base64.standard_alphabet_chars, '=');
-const base64Dec = std.base64.Base64Decoder.init(std.base64.standard_alphabet_chars, '=');
-
 /// Type tag for Message union.
 /// This is the first value in the actual packet sent over the network.
 pub const PacketType = enum(u16) {
@@ -23,155 +20,255 @@ pub const ConnectionOptions = packed struct(u8) {
     opt8: bool = false,
 };
 
-pub const Error = error{
+pub const MessageTypeError = error{
     NotImplementedSaprusType,
     UnknownSaprusType,
 };
+pub const MessageParseError = MessageTypeError || error{
+    InvalidMessage,
+};
 
+// ZERO COPY STUFF
+// &payload could be a void value that is treated as a pointer to a [*]u8
 /// All Saprus messages
-pub const Message = union(PacketType) {
-    pub const Relay = struct {
-        pub const Header = packed struct {
+pub const Message = packed struct {
+    const Relay = packed struct {
         dest: @Vector(4, u8),
+        payload: void,
+
+        pub fn getPayload(self: *align(1) Relay) []u8 {
+            const len: *u16 = @ptrFromInt(@intFromPtr(self) - @sizeOf(u16));
+            return @as([*]u8, @ptrCast(&self.payload))[0 .. len.* - @bitSizeOf(Relay) / 8];
+        }
     };
-        header: Header,
-        payload: []const u8,
-    };
-    pub const Connection = struct {
-        pub const Header = packed struct {
+    const Connection = packed struct {
         src_port: u16, // random number > 1024
         dest_port: u16, // random number > 1024
         seq_num: u32 = 0,
         msg_id: u32 = 0,
         reserved: u8 = 0,
         options: ConnectionOptions = .{},
-        };
-        header: Header,
-        payload: []const u8,
-    };
-    relay: Relay,
-    file_transfer: void, // unimplemented
-    connection: Connection,
+        payload: void,
 
-    /// Should be called for any Message that was declared using a function that you pass an allocator to.
-    pub fn deinit(self: Message, allocator: Allocator) void {
-        switch (self) {
-            .relay => |r| allocator.free(r.payload),
-            .connection => |c| allocator.free(c.payload),
+        pub fn getPayload(self: *align(1) Connection) []u8 {
+            const len: *u16 = @ptrFromInt(@intFromPtr(self) - @sizeOf(u16));
+            return @as([*]u8, @ptrCast(&self.payload))[0 .. len.* - @bitSizeOf(Connection) / 8];
+        }
+
+        fn nativeFromNetworkEndian(self: *align(1) Connection) void {
+            self.src_port = bigToNative(@TypeOf(self.src_port), self.src_port);
+            self.dest_port = bigToNative(@TypeOf(self.dest_port), self.dest_port);
+            self.seq_num = bigToNative(@TypeOf(self.seq_num), self.seq_num);
+            self.msg_id = bigToNative(@TypeOf(self.msg_id), self.msg_id);
+        }
+
+        fn networkFromNativeEndian(self: *align(1) Connection) void {
+            self.src_port = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.src_port), self.src_port);
+            self.dest_port = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.dest_port), self.dest_port);
+            self.seq_num = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.seq_num), self.seq_num);
+            self.msg_id = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.msg_id), self.msg_id);
+        }
+    };
+
+    const Self = @This();
+    const SelfBytes = []align(@alignOf(Self)) u8;
+
+    type: PacketType,
+    length: u16,
+    bytes: void = {},
+
+    /// Takes a byte slice, and returns a Message struct backed by the slice.
+    /// This properly initializes the top level headers within the slice.
+    /// This is used for creating new messages. For reading messages from the network,
+    /// see: networkBytesAsValue.
+    pub fn init(@"type": PacketType, bytes: []align(@alignOf(Self)) u8) *Self {
+        std.debug.assert(bytes.len >= @sizeOf(Self));
+        const res: *Self = @ptrCast(bytes.ptr);
+        res.type = @"type";
+        res.length = @intCast(bytes.len - @sizeOf(Self));
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    /// Compute the number of bytes required to store a given payload size for a given message type.
+    pub fn calcSize(comptime @"type": PacketType, payload_len: usize) MessageTypeError!u16 {
+        const header_size = @bitSizeOf(switch (@"type") {
+            .relay => Relay,
+            .connection => Connection,
+            .file_transfer => return MessageTypeError.NotImplementedSaprusType,
+            else => return MessageTypeError.UnknownSaprusType,
+        }) / 8;
+        return @intCast(payload_len + @sizeOf(Self) + header_size);
+    }
+
+    fn getRelay(self: *Self) *align(1) Relay {
+        return std.mem.bytesAsValue(Relay, &self.bytes);
+    }
+    fn getConnection(self: *Self) *align(1) Connection {
+        return std.mem.bytesAsValue(Connection, &self.bytes);
+    }
+
+    /// Access the message Saprus payload.
+    pub fn getSaprusTypePayload(self: *Self) MessageTypeError!(union(PacketType) {
+        relay: *align(1) Relay,
+        file_transfer: void,
+        connection: *align(1) Connection,
+    }) {
+        return switch (self.type) {
+            .relay => .{ .relay = self.getRelay() },
+            .connection => .{ .connection = self.getConnection() },
+            .file_transfer => MessageTypeError.NotImplementedSaprusType,
+            else => MessageTypeError.UnknownSaprusType,
+        };
+    }
+
+    /// Convert the message to native endianness from network endianness in-place.
+    pub fn nativeFromNetworkEndian(self: *Self) MessageTypeError!void {
+        self.type = @enumFromInt(bigToNative(
+            @typeInfo(@TypeOf(self.type)).@"enum".tag_type,
+            @intFromEnum(self.type),
+        ));
+        self.length = bigToNative(@TypeOf(self.length), self.length);
+        errdefer {
+            // If the payload specific headers fail, revert the top level header values
+            self.type = @enumFromInt(nativeToBig(
+                @typeInfo(@TypeOf(self.type)).@"enum".tag_type,
+                @intFromEnum(self.type),
+            ));
+            self.length = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.length), self.length);
+        }
+        switch (try self.getSaprusTypePayload()) {
+            .relay => {},
+            .connection => |*con| con.*.nativeFromNetworkEndian(),
+            // We know other values are unreachable,
+            // because they would have returned an error from the switch condition.
             else => unreachable,
         }
     }
 
-    fn toBytesAux(
-        header: anytype,
-        payload: []const u8,
-        buf: *std.ArrayList(u8),
-        allocator: Allocator,
-    ) !void {
-        const Header = @TypeOf(header);
-        // Create a growable string to store the base64 bytes in.
-        // Doing this first so I can use the length of the encoded bytes for the length field.
-        var payload_list = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator);
-        defer payload_list.deinit();
-        const buf_w = payload_list.writer();
-
-        // Write the payload bytes as base64 to the growable string.
-        try base64Enc.encodeWriter(buf_w, payload);
-
-        // At this point, payload_list contains the base64 encoded payload.
-
-        // Add the payload length to the output buf.
-        try buf.*.appendSlice(
-            asBytes(&nativeToBig(u16, @intCast(payload_list.items.len + @bitSizeOf(Header) / 8))),
-        );
-
-        // Add the header bytes to the output buf.
-        var header_buf: [@sizeOf(Header)]u8 = undefined;
-        var header_buf_stream = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&header_buf);
-        try header_buf_stream.writer().writeStructEndian(header, .big);
-        // Add the exact number of bits in the header without padding.
-        try buf.*.appendSlice(header_buf[0 .. @bitSizeOf(Header) / 8]);
-
-        try buf.*.appendSlice(payload_list.items);
+    /// Convert the message to network endianness from native endianness in-place.
+    pub fn networkFromNativeEndian(self: *Self) MessageTypeError!void {
+        try switch (try self.getSaprusTypePayload()) {
+            .relay => {},
+            .connection => |*con| con.*.networkFromNativeEndian(),
+            .file_transfer => MessageTypeError.NotImplementedSaprusType,
+            else => MessageTypeError.UnknownSaprusType,
+        };
+        self.type = @enumFromInt(nativeToBig(
+            @typeInfo(@TypeOf(self.type)).@"enum".tag_type,
+            @intFromEnum(self.type),
+        ));
+        self.length = nativeToBig(@TypeOf(self.length), self.length);
     }
 
-    /// Caller is responsible for freeing the returned bytes.
-    pub fn toBytes(self: Message, allocator: Allocator) ![]u8 {
-        // Create a growable list of bytes to store the output in.
-        var buf = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator);
-        errdefer buf.deinit();
-
-        // Start with writing the message type, which is the first 16 bits of every Saprus message.
-        try buf.appendSlice(asBytes(&nativeToBig(u16, @intFromEnum(self))));
-
-        // Write the proper header and payload for the given packet type.
-        switch (self) {
-            .relay => |r| try toBytesAux(r.header, r.payload, &buf, allocator),
-            .connection => |c| try toBytesAux(c.header, c.payload, &buf, allocator),
-            .file_transfer => return Error.NotImplementedSaprusType,
+    /// Convert network endian bytes to a native endian value in-place.
+    pub fn networkBytesAsValue(bytes: SelfBytes) MessageParseError!*Self {
+        const res = std.mem.bytesAsValue(Self, bytes);
+        try res.nativeFromNetworkEndian();
+        return .bytesAsValue(bytes);
     }
 
-        // Collect the growable list as a slice and return it.
-        return buf.toOwnedSlice();
+    /// Create a structured view of the bytes without initializing the length or type,
+    /// and without converting the endianness.
+    pub fn bytesAsValue(bytes: SelfBytes) MessageParseError!*Self {
+        const res = std.mem.bytesAsValue(Self, bytes);
+        return switch (res.type) {
+            .relay, .connection => if (bytes.len == res.length + @sizeOf(Self))
+                res
+            else
+                MessageParseError.InvalidMessage,
+            .file_transfer => MessageParseError.NotImplementedSaprusType,
+            else => MessageParseError.UnknownSaprusType,
+        };
     }
 
-    fn fromBytesAux(
-        comptime packet: PacketType,
-        len: u16,
-        r: std.io.FixedBufferStream([]const u8).Reader,
-        allocator: Allocator,
-    ) !Message {
-        const Header = @field(@FieldType(Message, @tagName(packet)), "Header");
-
-        // Read the header for the current message type.
-        var header_bytes: [@sizeOf(Header)]u8 = undefined;
-        _ = try r.read(header_bytes[0 .. @bitSizeOf(Header) / 8]);
-        var header_stream = std.io.fixedBufferStream(&header_bytes);
-        const header = try header_stream.reader().readStructEndian(Header, .big);
-
-        // Read the base64 bytes into a list to be able to call the decoder on it.
-        const payload_buf = try allocator.alloc(u8, len - @bitSizeOf(Header) / 8);
-        defer allocator.free(payload_buf);
-        _ = try r.readAll(payload_buf);
-
-        // Create a buffer to store the payload in, and decode the base64 bytes into the payload field.
-        const payload = try allocator.alloc(u8, try base64Dec.calcSizeForSlice(payload_buf));
-        try base64Dec.decode(payload, payload_buf);
-
-        // Return the type of Message specified by the `packet` argument.
-        return @unionInit(Message, @tagName(packet), .{
-            .header = header,
-            .payload = payload,
-        });
-    }
-
-    /// Caller is responsible for calling .deinit on the returned value.
-    pub fn fromBytes(bytes: []const u8, allocator: Allocator) !Message {
-        var s = std.io.fixedBufferStream(bytes);
-        const r = s.reader();
-
-        // Read packet type
-        const packet_type = @as(PacketType, @enumFromInt(try r.readInt(u16, .big)));
-
-        // Read the length of the header + base64 encoded payload.
-        const len = try r.readInt(u16, .big);
-
-        switch (packet_type) {
-            .relay => return fromBytesAux(.relay, len, r, allocator),
-            .connection => return fromBytesAux(.connection, len, r, allocator),
-            .file_transfer => return Error.NotImplementedSaprusType,
-            else => return Error.UnknownSaprusType,
-        }
+    /// Deprecated.
+    /// If I need the bytes, I should just pass around the slice that is backing this to begin with.
+    pub fn asBytes(self: *Self) SelfBytes {
+        const size = @sizeOf(Self) + self.length;
+        return @as([*]align(@alignOf(Self)) u8, @ptrCast(self))[0..size];
     }
 };
 
+test "testing variable length zero copy struct" {
+    {
+        // Relay test
+        const payload = "Hello darkness my old friend";
+        var msg_bytes: [try Message.calcSize(.relay, payload.len)]u8 align(@alignOf(Message)) = undefined;
+
+        // Create a view of the byte slice as a Message
+        const msg: *Message = .init(.relay, &msg_bytes);
+
+        {
+            // Set the message values
+            {
+                // These are both set by the init call.
+                // msg.type = .relay;
+                // msg.length = payload_len;
+            }
+            const relay = (try msg.getSaprusTypePayload()).relay;
+            relay.dest = .{ 1, 2, 3, 4 };
+            @memcpy(relay.getPayload(), payload);
+        }
+
+        {
+            // Print the message as hex using the network byte order
+            try msg.networkFromNativeEndian();
+            // We know the error from nativeFromNetworkEndian is unreachable because
+            // it would have returned an error from networkFromNativeEndian.
+            defer msg.nativeFromNetworkEndian() catch unreachable;
+            std.debug.print("relay network bytes: {x}\n", .{msg_bytes});
+            std.debug.print("bytes len: {d}\n", .{msg_bytes.len});
+        }
+
+        if (false) {
+            // Illegal behavior
+            std.debug.print("{any}\n", .{(try msg.getSaprusTypePayload()).connection});
+        }
+
+        try std.testing.expectEqualDeep(msg, try Message.bytesAsValue(msg.asBytes()));
+    }
+
+    {
+        // Connection test
+        const payload = "Hello darkness my old friend";
+        var msg_bytes: [try Message.calcSize(.connection, payload.len)]u8 align(@alignOf(Message)) = undefined;
+
+        // Create a view of the byte slice as a Message
+        const msg: *Message = .init(.connection, &msg_bytes);
+
+        {
+            // Initializing connection header values
+            const connection = (try msg.getSaprusTypePayload()).connection;
+            connection.src_port = 1;
+            connection.dest_port = 2;
+            connection.seq_num = 3;
+            connection.msg_id = 4;
+            connection.reserved = 5;
+            connection.options = @bitCast(@as(u8, 6));
+            @memcpy(connection.getPayload(), payload);
+        }
+
+        {
+            // Print the message as hex using the network byte order
+            try msg.networkFromNativeEndian();
+            // We know the error from nativeFromNetworkEndian is unreachable because
+            // it would have returned an error from networkFromNativeEndian.
+            defer msg.nativeFromNetworkEndian() catch unreachable;
+            std.debug.print("connection network bytes: {x}\n", .{msg_bytes});
+            std.debug.print("bytes len: {d}\n", .{msg_bytes.len});
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 const std = @import("std");
 const Allocator = std.mem.Allocator;
 
 const asBytes = std.mem.asBytes;
 const nativeToBig = std.mem.nativeToBig;
+const bigToNative = std.mem.bigToNative;
 
 test "Round trip Relay toBytes and fromBytes" {
+    if (false) {
         const gpa = std.testing.allocator;
         const msg = Message{
             .relay = .{
@@ -187,9 +284,12 @@ test "Round trip Relay toBytes and fromBytes" {
         defer from_bytes.deinit(gpa);
 
         try std.testing.expectEqualDeep(msg, from_bytes);
+    }
+    return error.SkipZigTest;
 }
 
 test "Round trip Connection toBytes and fromBytes" {
+    if (false) {
         const gpa = std.testing.allocator;
         const msg = Message{
             .connection = .{
@@ -208,4 +308,10 @@ test "Round trip Connection toBytes and fromBytes" {
         defer from_bytes.deinit(gpa);
 
         try std.testing.expectEqualDeep(msg, from_bytes);
+    }
+    return error.SkipZigTest;
+}
+
+test {
+    std.testing.refAllDeclsRecursive(@This());
 }

src/root.zig

@@ -1,2 +1,12 @@
 pub const Client = @import("Client.zig");
-pub usingnamespace @import("message.zig");
+pub const Connection = @import("Connection.zig");
+pub const RawSocketWriter = @import("RawSocketWriter.zig");
+
+const msg = @import("message.zig");
+
+pub const PacketType = msg.PacketType;
+pub const foo = msg.foo;
+pub const ConnectionOptions = msg.ConnectionOptions;
+pub const MessageTypeError = msg.MessageTypeError;
+pub const MessageParseError = msg.MessageParseError;
+pub const Message = msg.Message;