Global client manager structure for server-side client coordination. More...

#include <src/server/client.h>

Data Fields
client_info_t	clients [MAX_CLIENTS]
	Array of client_info_t structures (backing storage)

client_info_t *	clients_by_id
	uthash head pointer for O(1) client_id -> client_info_t* lookups

int	client_count
	Current number of active clients.

mutex_t	mutex
	Legacy mutex (mostly replaced by rwlock)

_Atomic uint32_t	next_client_id
	Monotonic counter for unique client IDs (atomic for thread-safety)

Detailed Description

Global client manager structure for server-side client coordination.

Manages all connected clients in the ascii-chat server. Provides O(1) client lookup via hashtable while maintaining array-based storage for iteration. This structure serves as the central coordination point for client lifecycle management.

ARCHITECTURE:

The client manager uses a dual-storage approach:

Array (clients[]): Fast iteration, stable pointers, sequential access
Hashtable (client_hashtable): O(1) lookup by client_id

This design provides:

O(1) lookups via hashtable
O(n) iteration via array (for stats, rendering, etc.)
Stable pointers (array elements don't move)
Linear memory layout (cache-friendly)

THREAD SAFETY:

Protected by g_client_manager_rwlock (reader-writer lock):

Read operations (lookups, stats): Acquire read lock (concurrent)
Write operations (add/remove): Acquire write lock (exclusive)

LOCK ORDERING:

Always acquire g_client_manager_rwlock BEFORE per-client mutexes
Prevents deadlocks in multi-client operations

STRUCTURE FIELDS:

clients[]: Array of client_info_t structures (backing storage)
client_hashtable: Hashtable for O(1) client_id -> client_info_t* lookups
client_count: Current number of active clients
mutex: Legacy mutex (mostly replaced by rwlock)
next_client_id: Monotonic counter for unique client IDs

Note: The hashtable uses client_id as key and points to elements in clients[] array.; next_client_id is atomic for thread-safe ID assignment.; All client access should go through find_client_by_id() or find_client_by_socket() to ensure proper locking.

Definition at line 63 of file src/server/client.h.

Field Documentation

◆ client_count

int client_manager_t::client_count

Current number of active clients.

Definition at line 69 of file src/server/client.h.

Referenced by broadcast_server_state_to_all_clients().

◆ clients

client_info_t client_manager_t::clients[MAX_CLIENTS]

Array of client_info_t structures (backing storage)

Definition at line 65 of file src/server/client.h.

Referenced by any_clients_sending_video(), broadcast_server_state_to_all_clients(), find_client_by_socket(), send_server_state_to_client(), server_main(), stats_logger_thread(), and update_server_stats().

◆ clients_by_id

client_info_t* client_manager_t::clients_by_id

uthash head pointer for O(1) client_id -> client_info_t* lookups

Definition at line 67 of file src/server/client.h.

Referenced by __attribute__(), and server_main().

◆ mutex

mutex_t client_manager_t::mutex

Legacy mutex (mostly replaced by rwlock)

Definition at line 71 of file src/server/client.h.

Referenced by server_main().

◆ next_client_id

_Atomic uint32_t client_manager_t::next_client_id

Monotonic counter for unique client IDs (atomic for thread-safety)

Definition at line 73 of file src/server/client.h.

The documentation for this struct was generated from the following file:

src/server/client.h

Data Fields