🚀 Enhance Protocol Support: Add HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC)

[ajaynegi45]

Problem Overview

The current version of our HTTP server only supports HTTP/1.x, which limits its performance and scalability, especially under high load conditions. Modern web applications expect faster, more efficient protocols, and without support for HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC), our server might struggle to handle concurrent connections effectively. This results in slower response times, inefficiencies in handling multiplexed requests, and increased latency for users—issues that modern web standards have already addressed.

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Why This is Important:

• Performance Gains: HTTP/2 offers significant improvements like multiplexing, header compression, and server push, reducing latency and improving resource load times.
• Future-Proofing: HTTP/3 (built on QUIC) is designed for even faster connections and improved security. It's already widely adopted by leading tech companies, and adding support for it will keep our server competitive and future-proof.
• Scalability: With improved protocol support, the server can handle many more concurrent requests efficiently, reducing bottlenecks in high-traffic scenarios.

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Proposed Enhancement

The goal is to implement support for both HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC) to make the server more performant, secure, and future-ready. Libraries such as Jetty or Netty provide built-in support for these protocols, which can be leveraged to extend the existing codebase.

Key Areas of Focus:

1. Multiplexing: HTTP/2 allows multiple requests over a single TCP connection, reducing overhead. This will need to be integrated into the server’s connection management.
2. Header Compression: Implement support for HPACK (HTTP/2) and QPACK (HTTP/3) to reduce the size of headers sent between the client and server.
3. Server Push: HTTP/2 introduces server push capabilities, where the server can push resources to the client without the client explicitly requesting them. This could be an optional feature for users of the server.
4. Security: HTTP/3 is built on top of QUIC, which works over UDP rather than TCP. Implementing this means addressing security concerns associated with UDP, such as potential amplification attacks.

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Requirements for Contributors:

Before diving into this task, please explain in detail how you plan to implement the new protocol support, including:

1. Which libraries or frameworks (Jetty, Netty, etc.) you plan to use. Custom code is much appreciated
2. Step-by-step breakdown of how you will integrate HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 support into the current server architecture.
   • How will you modify the ServerListenerThread to handle HTTP/2 connections?
   • How will you modify the HttpConnectionWorkerThread to support multiplexed streams?
   • How will you integrate QUIC (for HTTP/3) into the server’s networking stack?
3. Backward Compatibility: How will you ensure that HTTP/1.x support is retained for older clients?
4. Testing Strategy: How do you plan to test the new features, especially for performance improvements and multiplexing? Please include unit tests, integration tests, and load tests.
5. Error Handling: How will errors specific to these newer protocols be managed and logged?

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Contribution Guidelines:

If you're interested in working on this, please comment below with your detailed plan on how you intend to implement this feature. Once your plan is reviewed and approved, you can begin work.

• Important: Before making any contributions, please read the README.md file carefully to understand the project's goals and purpose. This will give you clarity on our mission.
• For first-time contributors, please also review the CONTRIBUTING.md file, which contains important guidelines to make the contribution process smoother, especially for newcomers.

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Helpful Resources:

• Jetty HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 Documentation
• Netty Documentation
• HTTP/2 Specification
• HTTP/3 (QUIC) Specification

Let's make our server faster, more efficient, and ready for the future!

[manishrw]

@ajaynegi45 I can take this up if it's still available.

[ajaynegi45]

@ajaynegi45 I can take this up if it's still available.

Hi there! 👋

Thank you for your interest in contributing! Yes, this issue is still available, and I’m happy to assign it to you. When working on the Enhancement: Protocol Support for HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC), please keep a few things in mind:

• Security is key 🔐—make sure that implementing HTTP/3 (QUIC) doesn’t compromise on security. Address any potential vulnerabilities (like those related to UDP and QUIC) with care.

• Our primary focus is to maintain a lightweight and highly efficient server. While integrating these protocols, ensure that we stick to our goal of minimal resource usage without sacrificing functionality. Please avoid adding anything that might make the server heavier.

Looking forward to your implementation! Feel free to ask any questions or request clarifications as you work on this.
Best of luck! 🚀

[ajaynegi45]

@ajaynegi45 I can take this up if it's still available.

Hi @manishrw,

I hope you're doing well! I wanted to check in and ask how things are progressing with the implementation of HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC) support for the server. Have you made any updates or progress so far? Please feel free to share any work done or insights you’ve gathered.

Let me know if you need any assistance or have any questions.