camera-ui-rpc 1.0.1

RPC Client for camera.ui

RPC Library for Python

A high-performance, type-safe RPC library built on NATS messaging system for Python applications.

Features

• 🚀 High Performance: Achieves 300-1500+ MB/s throughput with sub-millisecond latency
• 🔒 Type Safety: Full type annotations and runtime type checking
• 🌊 Streaming: Async generators with push/pull patterns
• 🔄 Auto-reconnection: Resilient connection management
• 📦 Auto-chunking: Transparent handling of large payloads
• 🎯 Service Discovery: Automatic service registration and discovery
• ⚖️ Load Balancing: Built-in queue-based load distribution
• 🔀 Channels: Bidirectional real-time communication
• 🎨 Decorators: Clean API with Python decorators
• 🤝 Cross-language: Full compatibility with TypeScript implementation

Installation

pip install camera-ui-rpc

Quick Start

Basic RPC Handlers

For simple RPC endpoints without service discovery:

from camera_ui_rpc import create_rpc_client, RPCClass
import asyncio

# Define your handlers
@RPCClass
class MathHandlers:
    async def add(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
        return a + b
    
    async def multiply(self, a: float, b: float) -> float:
        return a * b
    
    # Streaming method
    async def fibonacci(self, n: int):
        a, b = 0, 1
        for _ in range(n):
            yield a
            a, b = b, a + b

async def main():
    # Server: Register RPC handlers
    server = create_rpc_client({
        'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],
        'name': 'math-server'
    })
    
    await server.connect()
    
    # Register handlers under a namespace
    await server.register_handler('math', MathHandlers())
    
    print('Math RPC handlers registered')
    await asyncio.Event().wait()

asyncio.run(main())

# Client: Use RPC proxy
async def main():
    client = create_rpc_client({
        'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],
        'name': 'math-client'
    })
    
    await client.connect()
    
    # Create a typed proxy (no service discovery)
    math = client.create_proxy('math')
    
    # Call methods
    result = await math.add(5, 3)
    print(f'5 + 3 = {result}')  # 8
    
    # Use streaming
    async for num in math.fibonacci(10):
        print(f'Fibonacci: {num}')

asyncio.run(main())

NATS Micro Services

For production services with discovery, monitoring, and load balancing:

from camera_ui_rpc import ServiceConfig

# Server: Register as NATS micro service
async def main():
    server = create_rpc_client({
        'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],
        'name': 'math-service'
    })
    
    await server.connect()
    
    # Register as a proper NATS micro service
    await server.service.register_handler(
        ServiceConfig(
            name='math',
            version='1.0.0',
            description='Math operations service',
            queue_group='math-workers'  # For load balancing
        ),
        MathHandlers()
    )
    
    print('Math micro service is running')
    await asyncio.Event().wait()

# Client: Discover and use service
async def main():
    client = create_rpc_client({
        'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],
        'name': 'client'
    })
    
    await client.connect()
    
    # Discover service by name (with load balancing)
    math = await client.create_service_proxy('math')
    
    # Use the service
    result = await math.add(10, 20)

Core Concepts

RPC Client

The foundation of all operations:

from camera_ui_rpc import create_rpc_client

client = create_rpc_client({
    'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],
    'name': 'my-app',
    'auth': {'user': 'app', 'pass': 'secret'},
    'timeout': 5000,  # 5 second default timeout
    'reconnect': True,
    'maxReconnectAttempts': -1  # infinite
})

await client.connect()

RPC Handlers vs NATS Services

RPC Handlers (register_handler):

• Simple namespace-based RPC endpoints
• Direct addressing via namespace
• No automatic discovery or load balancing
• Lightweight for internal communication

NATS Micro Services (service.register_handler):

• Full NATS micro service features
• Service discovery via name
• Automatic load balancing with queue groups
• Monitoring and stats
• Ideal for production microservices

Handler Organization

from camera_ui_rpc import RPCClass, RPCNested
from typing import Dict, List, Optional

@RPCClass
class UserHandlers:
    def __init__(self):
        self.users: Dict[str, User] = {}
    
    async def get_user(self, user_id: str) -> Optional[User]:
        return self.users.get(user_id)
    
    async def create_user(self, data: UserData) -> User:
        user = User(id=generate_id(), **data)
        self.users[user.id] = user
        return user
    
    # Nested object for organization
    @RPCNested
    class admin:
        def __init__(self, parent):
            self.parent = parent
        
        async def list_users(self) -> List[User]:
            return list(self.parent.users.values())
        
        async def delete_user(self, user_id: str) -> bool:
            return self.parent.users.pop(user_id, None) is not None

# Register as handlers or service
await client.register_handler('users', UserHandlers())  # Simple RPC
# OR
await client.service.register_handler(                  # NATS service
    ServiceConfig(
        name='users',
        version='1.0.0',
        queue_group='user-workers'
    ),
    UserHandlers()
)

Channels

Real-time bidirectional communication between multiple clients:

# Server/Client A - Join channel and listen
client_a = create_rpc_client({'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'], 'name': 'client-a'})
await client_a.connect()

chat_a = await client_a.channel('room:general')

def on_message_a(msg):
    print(f"[Client A received] {msg['user']}: {msg['text']}")

chat_a.on('message', on_message_a)

# Client B - Join same channel
client_b = create_rpc_client({'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'], 'name': 'client-b'})
await client_b.connect()

chat_b = await client_b.channel('room:general')

def on_message_b(msg):
    print(f"[Client B received] {msg['user']}: {msg['text']}")

chat_b.on('message', on_message_b)

# Send messages - all clients in channel receive them
await chat_a.send({'user': 'Alice', 'text': 'Hello everyone!'})
# Output on Client B: [Client B received] Alice: Hello everyone!

await chat_b.send({'user': 'Bob', 'text': 'Hi Alice!'})
# Output on Client A: [Client A received] Bob: Hi Alice!

# Request/Reply pattern in channels
# Client B handles requests
async def handle_info_request(msg):
    if msg.get('type') == 'get-info':
        return {'users': 2, 'topic': 'general chat'}

await chat_b.on_request(handle_info_request)

# Client A makes request
info = await chat_a.request({'type': 'get-info'})
print(f"Channel info: {info}")  # {'users': 2, 'topic': 'general chat'}

Private Channels

Direct one-to-one communication between specific clients:

# Client A (Alice) - Create private channel to Bob
alice_client = create_rpc_client({'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'], 'name': 'alice'})
await alice_client.connect()

# Both clients must use the same channel_id and specify the target client
alice_to_bob = await alice_client.private_channel('secret-chat', 'bob')

def on_alice_message(msg):
    print(f"[Alice received from Bob] {msg}")

alice_to_bob.on('message', on_alice_message)

# Client B (Bob) - Create private channel to Alice
bob_client = create_rpc_client({'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'], 'name': 'bob'})
await bob_client.connect()

# Bob must use the same channel_id ('secret-chat') to connect
bob_to_alice = await bob_client.private_channel('secret-chat', 'alice')

def on_bob_message(msg):
    print(f"[Bob received from Alice] {msg}")

bob_to_alice.on('message', on_bob_message)

# Exchange private messages
await alice_to_bob.send({'text': 'Hi Bob, this is private!', 'timestamp': '10:00'})
# Output: [Bob received from Alice] {'text': 'Hi Bob, this is private!', 'timestamp': '10:00'}

await bob_to_alice.send({'text': 'Hi Alice, got your message!', 'timestamp': '10:01'})
# Output: [Alice received from Bob] {'text': 'Hi Alice, got your message!', 'timestamp': '10:01'}

# Private channels are isolated - other clients cannot see these messages
charlie_client = create_rpc_client({'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'], 'name': 'charlie'})
await charlie_client.connect()
# Charlie cannot see Alice-Bob messages even if trying to listen

Advanced Features

Streaming

Two streaming patterns for different use cases:

# Push-based (server controls flow) - better performance
async def generate_data(self, count: int):
    # Method name includes "generate" for push-based iteration
    for i in range(count):
        yield {'index': i, 'data': b'x' * (1024 * 1024)}  # 1MB

# Pull-based (client controls flow) - better backpressure
async def pull_data(self, count: int):
    # Method name includes "pull" for pull-based iteration
    for i in range(count):
        yield {'index': i, 'data': await self.load_data(i)}

# Client usage
service = client.create_proxy('data')

async for item in service.generate_data(100):
    # Process as fast as server sends
    pass

async for item in service.pull_data(100):
    # Pull items at client's pace
    await process_item(item)

Error Handling

from camera_ui_rpc import RPCException, ErrorCode

service = client.create_proxy('myservice')

try:
    await service.some_method()
except RPCException as e:
    if e.code == ErrorCode.METHOD_NOT_FOUND:
        print('Method does not exist')
    elif e.code == ErrorCode.TIMEOUT:
        print('Request timed out')
    elif e.code == ErrorCode.CONNECTION_CLOSED:
        print('Connection lost')

Auto-chunking

Large payloads are automatically chunked:

service = client.create_proxy('data')

# Automatically chunks data > server limit
large_data = b'x' * (100 * 1024 * 1024)  # 100MB
await service.process_large_data(large_data)  # Works transparently!

Isolated Connections

Isolated connections provide separate NATS connections for specific operations, preventing blocking of the main connection. They're available for:

• Proxies: create_proxy() and create_service_proxy()
• Handlers: register_handler()
• Channels: channel() and private_channel()

# 1. Isolated proxy (returns object with proxy and close method)
isolated = client.create_proxy('service', isolated_connection=True)
result = await isolated.proxy.heavy_computation(params)
await isolated.close()  # Close when done

# 2. Isolated service proxy
service_isolated = await client.create_service_proxy('service', 
    isolated_connection=True
)
await service_isolated.proxy.process_large_dataset()
await service_isolated.close()

# 3. Isolated handler (for CPU-intensive services)
cleanup = await client.register_handler('heavy-service', handlers, 
    isolated_connection=True
)
# Later: await cleanup() to unregister and close

# 4. Isolated channel
channel = await client.channel('data-stream', isolated_connection=True)

Important:

• Isolated connections must be closed explicitly when no longer needed
• Alternatively, closing the main client (client.disconnect()) will automatically close all isolated connections and channels
• Use isolated connections for: CPU-intensive operations, high-throughput streaming, or operations that might block

Property Access

Expose class properties for remote access using descriptors:

from camera_ui_rpc import RPCClass, RPCProperty

@RPCClass
class ConfigService:
    # Use RPCProperty descriptor
    name = RPCProperty()
    version = RPCProperty()
    max_connections = RPCProperty()
    
    def __init__(self):
        self.name = 'Config Service'
        self.version = '1.0.0'
        self.max_connections = 100

# Client usage
config = client.create_proxy('config')

# Read properties
name = await config.name
version = await config.version

# Update properties via setter methods
await config.setName('Updated Service')
await config.setMaxConnections(200)

Configuration

Client Options

from camera_ui_rpc.types import RPCClientOptions

options: RPCClientOptions = {
    'servers': ['nats://localhost:4222'],  # NATS servers
    'name': 'my-client',                   # Client identifier
    'auth': {                              # Authentication
        'user': 'username',
        'pass': 'password',
        'token': 'auth_token',
        'jwt': 'jwt_token'
    },
    'tls': {                               # TLS configuration
        'cert': 'path/to/cert.pem',
        'key': 'path/to/key.pem',
        'ca': 'path/to/ca.pem'
    },
    'timeout': 5000,                       # Default timeout (ms)
    'reconnect': True,                     # Auto-reconnect
    'max_reconnect_attempts': -1,          # -1 for infinite
    'reconnect_time_wait': 2000,           # Reconnect delay (ms)
    'max_payload_size': 4194304            # Override server limit
}

Service Options

from camera_ui_rpc import ServiceConfig

service_config = ServiceConfig(
    name='my-service',                     # Service name
    version='1.0.0',                       # Semantic version
    description='My service',              # Service description
    queue_group='my-service-queue',        # Load balancing group
    metadata={                             # Custom metadata
        'region': 'us-east',
        'environment': 'production'
    }
)

# Register service
await server.service.register_handler(service_config, MyHandlers())

Cross-Language Compatibility

This library is fully compatible with the TypeScript/Node.js implementation:

• Identical wire protocol and message format
• Same feature set and API patterns
• Seamless service interoperability
• Shared channel communication

Example: Python calling TypeScript service

# TypeScript service running
math = await client.create_service_proxy('math-service')
result = await math.calculate(10, 20)  # Works seamlessly!

Examples

Check the examples/ directory for complete examples:

• service.py - Basic service implementation
• channel_communication.py - Channel messaging
• streaming.py - Streaming patterns
• multi_service.py - Multiple services interaction
• large_data_transfer.py - Handling large payloads
• And 17 more examples...

License

MIT

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Part of the camera.ui ecosystem - A comprehensive camera management solution.