Apostol

Apostol is a framework for developing server-side (backend) applications, with source code in C++.

The key element of the platform is an HTTP server with direct access to the PostgreSQL database.

The uniqueness of the solution lies in the fact that both the HTTP server and PostgreSQL sockets are in a single event processing loop, which allows data to be instantly transmitted from the HTTP server to the database. In other words, there are no intermediaries between the HTTP server and the database, which are usually represented by scripting programming languages. This, in turn, allows queries to be executed against the database with maximum efficiency and minimal time delays.

• The main advantages:
  • Autonomy: After building, you get a fully ready-to-use binary file in the form of a system service (daemon) under Linux OS;
  • Speed: Queries to the HTTP server and the database are executed as fast as the operating system and DBMS allow;
  • Connection pool: Apostol has its own customizable connection pool with PostgreSQL.

DESCRIPTION

Apostol is implemented as a framework for developing server software (system services) using an asynchronous programming model based on the epoll API with direct access to the PostgreSQL (through the library: libpq), specifically for highly loaded systems.

MODULES

The framework has a modular design, built-in HTTP server, and PostgreSQL client.

This build comes with two modules:

• WebServer (Web server);

  • Provides the Swagger UI which will be available at http://localhost:8080 in your browser after launching Apostol.

• PGFetch (Postgres Fetch);

  • Enables receiving and sending HTTP requests in the PL/pgSQL programming language.

With additional modules, Apostol can be turned into:

• AuthServer (Authorization server OAuth 2.0);
• AppServer (Application server);
• MessageServer (Message server: SMTP/FCM/API);
• FileServer (File server);
• Replication (Database replication);
• StreamServer (Streaming data server).

Apostol has built-in WebSocket support: WebSocket API.

Combining all the above, you can create an information system CRM System, Central system for charging points or Telegram bot on PL/pgSQL why not ;-).

With Apostol your possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Projects

Projects implemented at Apostol:

• CopyFrog (AI-powered platform for creating unique images, Ad Copy, video creatives, marketing descriptions for products and services)
• OCPP CSS (Central System as Service for Charging Points)
• BitDeals (Bitcoin payment processing service)
• Ship Safety ERP (ERP system for organization of production activities of the shipping company)
• PlugMe (CRM system for charging stations and owners of electric vehicles)
• DEBT Master (A system for automating debt collection)

Docker

You can build an image yourself or get a ready-made one from Docker Hub:

Build

docker build -t apostol .

Get

docker pull apostoldevel/apostol

Run

If you built it yourself:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -p 8081:8081 -p 5433:5432 --rm --name apostol apostol

If you got a ready-made image:

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -p 8081:8081 -p 5433:5432 --rm --name apostol apostoldevel/apostol

Swagger UI will be available at http://localhost:8080 or http://host-ip:8080 in your browser.

Pgweb is a web-based database explorer for PostgreSQL will be available at http://localhost:8081 or http://host-ip:8081 in your browser.

Instead of pgweb, you can use any other tool for working with databases. PostgreSQL from the container will be available on port 5433.

DIRECTORY STRUCTURE

auto/                       contains scripts files
cmake-modules/              contains CMake modules files
conf/                       contains configuration files
src/                        contains source code files
├─app/                      contains source code files: Apostol
├─core/                     contains source code files: Apostol Core
├─lib/                      contains source code files for libraries
| └─delphi/                 contains source code files for the library*: Delphi classes for C++
└─modules/                  contains source code files for add-ons (modules)
www/                        contains files for the website

BUILD AND INSTALLATION

To install Apostol, you will need:

1. C++ compiler;
2. CMake or an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with CMake support;
3. libpq-dev library (libraries and headers for C language frontend development);
4. postgresql-server-dev-all library (libraries and headers for C language backend development).

Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)

To install the C++ compiler and necessary libraries on Ubuntu, run:

sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev make cmake gcc g++

A detailed description of how to install C++, CMake, IDE, and other components required for the project build is not included in this guide.

PostgreSQL

To install PostgreSQL, use the instructions at this link.

Database

To install the database, you need to perform the following steps:

1. Specify the name of the database in the db/sql/sets.conf file (by default: web)
2. Specify the passwords for the DBMS users libpq-pgpass:

   $ sudo -iu postgres -H vim .pgpass
   

   *:*:*:http:http
   

3. Specify in the configuration file /etc/postgresql/{version}/main/pg_hba.conf:

   # TYPE  DATABASE        USER            ADDRESS                 METHOD
   local  web    http          md5
   

4. Apply the settings:

   $ sudo pg_ctlcluster <version> main reload
   

5. Execute:

   $ cd db/
   $ ./install.sh --make
   

The --make parameter is required to install the database for the first time. After that, the installation script can be run without parameters or with the --install parameter.

To install Apostol (without Git), you need to:

1. Download Apostol;
2. Unpack it;
3. Configure CMakeLists.txt (if necessary);
4. Build and compile (see below).

To install Apostol using Git, execute:

git clone https://github.com/apostoldevel/apostol.git

Build:

cd apostol
./configure

Compilation and installation:

cd cmake-build-release
make
sudo make install

By default, the apostol binary will be installed in:

/usr/sbin

The configuration file and files required for operation, depending on the installation option, will be located in:

/etc/apostol
or
~/apostol

LAUNCH

If INSTALL_AS_ROOT is set to ON.

apostol is a Linux system service (daemon). To manage apostol, use standard service management commands.

To launch apostol, execute:

sudo systemctl start apostol

To check the status, execute:

sudo systemctl status apostol

The result should be something like this:

● apostol.service - Apostol
     Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/apostol.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sat 2019-04-06 00:00:00 MSK; 3y ago
    Process: 461158 ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/rm -f /run/apostol.pid (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
    Process: 461160 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/apostol -t (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
    Process: 461162 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/apostol (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
   Main PID: 461163 (apostol)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 77011)
     Memory: 2.6M
        CPU: 44ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/apostol.service
             ├─461163 apostol: master process /usr/sbin/apostol
             └─461164 apostol: worker process ("pq fetch", "web server")

MANAGEMENT

apostol can be managed using signals. The main process number is written by default to the /run/apostol.pid file. You can change the name of this file during the build configuration or in the apostol.conf [daemon] section with the pid key.

The main process supports the following signals:

Signal	Action
TERM, INT	fast shutdown
QUIT	graceful shutdown
HUP	configuration change, launching new worker processes with new configuration, graceful shutdown of old worker processes
WINCH	graceful shutdown of worker processes

There is no need to manage worker processes individually. Nevertheless, they also support some signals:

Signal	Action
TERM, INT	fast shutdown
QUIT	graceful shutdown