Protocol Stack Developer

Who is Protocol Stack Developer ?

Protocol Stack developer or development, its something that seems way too complicated even from its name. However, rest assured because it is not as complex as it sounds and is quite flexible for many people to understand. Quite trendy nowadays, it is no surprise that many people want to know more about Protocol Stack developers and what is it they specifically do. Even though it is not much difficult to learn about protocol stack developers, many people are eventually stuck due to confusion. The primary most reason for that is they don’t properly understand the fundamentals of it. To understand a particular area, it is very important to first educate yourselves about its fundamental features. In simple, you have to learn a little bit about what protocol stack development actually is. Because this way you won’t face any troubles regarding your further queries related to it as well.

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What Is Protocol Stack Development?

The generic arrangements of protocols utilized mostly in a communications network. The protocol stack can simply be defined as an endorsed hierarchy of various layers of primary software. Initiating from the layer at the top called application layer which is the primary method of the ongoing data towards the base layer simultaneously transmitting bits. The stack dwells in every client, user as well as the server. Notably, the layered methodology lets various protocols be exchanged in and out to oblige diverse and quality different network models. It can be explained basically as a combination of protocol layers of a network that operates altogether. Not to mention that the OSI Model defining the seven layers of protocols is often referred to as a stack.

Now that you understand what Protocol stacks are and a very clear idea of how they operate, you might already know what a developer does. Specifically any full stack developer can be defined as someone who posses the skills to develop both server software as well as client software. In addition to basic web and server development qualities, a protocol stack developer also posses the ability to program several other things such as a browser. Their knowledge is more than any casual web developer as they master JavaScript, jQuery, Vue, Angular and many more in programming browsers. On the other hand they also can program servers using ASP, Node, Python or even PHP.

These developers have a very well understanding of the programming language in which the protocol stack is written (most of the stacks are written in C++), algorithms and OS principles (RTOS). Thorough knowledge of the protocol they are usually working on, several tasks such as need to understand the LTE eNodeB protocols, layers etc. Basically, protocol stack is a scheduler which schedules packets over the communicating medium. Rest it does is encapsulating packets as per different layers throughout the course of their experience.

Their knowledge of various communication fundamentals including networking principles and methodologies, socket communication, antennas (MIMO, SISO etc), various modulation schemes as well as multiplexing schemes (OFDM) and many more related tasks. Not to mention that one of their key strengths also comes form their fundamental knowledge of embedded systems as well as communication mediums and layers.

What type of projects do they handle?

A protocol stack developer handle several types of projects out of which most are pretty linear towards a focused achievement while some are very complex. Their project often includes the designing as well as the development of network generations like 5G L2/L3 protocol stack (RAN & UE). Authorizations and contributions to software design, development, validation, and documentation to deliver high-quality products in the world of 5G and networks. Contribution to the integration with enabling technologies. Some tasks require them to provide basic status reporting for your work. All of this need high amount work, continuous learning improvement, and development skills in 5G and most advance cellular technologies.

Their projects are usually associated with the skills we mentioned above and therefore it is need that they have certain skillsets and qualities. Specifically excellent C programming skills with strong debugging and troubleshooting skills over the Linux platform. With a good understanding of UDP/ TCP/IP and well versed with the Linux environment. Exposure to DPDK is usually desired as well. The design and delivery experience with switches, routers and be able to provide quality work with independently with little supervision delivering to aggressive timelines.

How much time does it take to become a Linux protocol stack developer?

Now this is a very common and inevitable question when you are in a prescribing topic like this and the answer to this is pretty simple too. Now even though many can pursue a bachelor’s degree of four years or two year diploma in this particular area, mostly it all depends on skills. Many people often summarize that three months is generally the minimum amount of time required, and this timeline tends to be best suited to highly-motivated learners. Which clearly means that it mostly depends on your ability to grasp the basic fundamentals of this overall system.

To properly become a Protocol Stack Developer, you must learn some of the crucial fundamentals of its development. That includes the ability of Reading standards from ietf/3gpp etc. and understanding what that protocol is meant to do. Alongside C/C++ programming skills such as Bit manipulation: helps is forming headers and Structure padding: helps in forming packets of desired length. You should have a clear Understanding of state machine and it’s design When you receive a packet, move to a state and process the packet and move the state. Utilisation of packet generation tools, so that we can make the packets and feed into the code and see if we see result packets as expected. Like Ostinato (open source) Spirent (proprietary) you should master the Usage of packet analysers Like Wireshark (initially called ethereal) andThere are other packet sniffers, but mostly wireshark. If you want to get hands on work. in an open source software, you may need to write a module to analyse the packets via wireshark. That can be easily downloaded and added a new packet to be parsed.

The skills I have mentioned above are generic and will be useful in working on different protocol levels of stacks developed for different systems. The big concentration of protocol stack team is on a development of software which includes your programming, documenting and an algorithmic and coding skill. Rest of the knowledge you will learn with time and would be highly specified to a particular technology. The experience you will get will definitely serve you for a long and useful time in your career if you chose to pursue it in this particular area.

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