CASE STUDY · 1337 / 42 validated project
ft_irc
An IRC server written in C++98 with non-blocking socket I/O.
- Role
- Network Architecture Lead
- Access
- 1337 / 42 validated project
Context
An IRC server written in C++98 with non-blocking socket I/O. It manages multiple clients, channels, messaging commands, channel operators, permissions, and fragmented network input.
My responsibility
Built and validated through the 1337 / 42 project curriculum, with direct responsibility for implementation, debugging, testing, and evaluation requirements.
System scheme
Engineering scheme
Non-blocking IRC event loop
One poll-driven server coordinates socket readiness, per-client buffers, command dispatch, channel state, and outbound replies.
- 01
Listening socket
Accept connections without blocking the server loop.
- 02
poll event loop
Track readable and writable descriptors across clients.
- 03
Input buffers
Accumulate fragmented bytes into complete IRC messages.
- 04
Command parser
Validate registration, channel, message, and operator commands.
- 05
State model
Maintain clients, channels, membership, modes, and permissions.
- 06
Protocol replies
Send numeric replies, broadcasts, errors, and disconnect cleanup.
Implementation breakdown
- 01
System design
An event loop uses `poll()` to multiplex client sockets and routes parsed IRC commands through client, channel, and server state objects.
Technical scope
Implementation details
- ✓Complete implementation of standard IRC protocols (JOIN, PART, PRIVMSG, KICK).
- ✓Channel operator privileges and permission checks.
- ✓Compatibility testing with standard IRC clients such as Irssi.
Engineering constraints
- →Buffering partial and fragmented socket reads until complete IRC messages are available.
- →Maintaining client-channel membership and operator permissions consistently.
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