# Ector is an open source async, no-alloc actor framework for embedded devices. 

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Ector is an open source async, no-alloc actor framework for embedded devices. It integrates with [embassy](https://github.com/embassy-rs/embassy), the embedded async project.

## Actor System

An _actor system_ is a framework that allows for isolating state within narrow contexts, making it easier to reason about system.
Within a actor system, the primary component is an _Actor_, which represents the boundary of state usage.
Each actor has exclusive access to its own state and only communicates with other actors through message-passing.

## Example

```rust
#![macro_use]
#![feature(generic_associated_types)]
#![feature(type_alias_impl_trait)]

use ector::*;

/// A Counter that we wish to create an Actor for.
pub struct Counter {
    count: u32,
}

// The message our actor will handle.
pub struct Increment;

/// An Actor implements the Actor trait.
impl Actor for Counter {
    /// The Message associated type is the message types that the Actor can receive.
    type Message = Increment;

    /// An actor has to implement the on_mount method. on_mount() is invoked when the internals of an actor is ready,
    /// and the actor can begin to receive messages from an inbox.
    ///
    /// The following arguments are provided:
    /// * The address to 'self'
    /// * An inbox from which the actor can receive messages
    async fn on_mount<M>(&mut self, _: Address<Self::Message<'m>>, mut inbox: M) -> !
        where M: Inbox<Self::Message<'m>> {
    {
        loop {
            // Await the next message and increment the counter
            let _ = inbox.next().await;
            self.count += 1;
        }
    }
}

 /// The entry point of the application is using the embassy runtime.
 #[embassy::main]
 async fn main(spawner: embassy::executor::Spawner) {

     // Mounting the Actor will spawn an embassy task
     let addr = ector::actor!(spawner, counter, Counter, Counter { count  0 });

     // The actor address may be used in any embassy task to communicate with the actor.
     let _ = addr.notify(Increment).await;
 }
```

## Building

To build `ector`, you must install the [nightly rust toolchain](https://rustup.rs/). Once
installed, you can build and test the framework by running

~~~shell
cargo test
~~~

## Directory layout

* `ector` - an actor framework
* `macros` - macros used by drogue-device and application code


## Contributing

See the document [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).

## Community

* [Drogue IoT Matrix Chat Room](https://matrix.to/#/#drogue-iot:matrix.org)
* We have bi-weekly calls at 9:00 AM (GMT). [Check the calendar](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=ofuctjec399jr6kara7n0uidqg@group.calendar.google.com&pli=1) to see which week we are having the next call, and feel free to join!
* [Drogue IoT Forum](https://discourse.drogue.io/)
* [Drogue IoT YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7GZUy2hKidvY6V_3QZfCcA)
* [Follow us on Twitter!](https://twitter.com/DrogueIoT)