libp2p/rust-libp2p

rust-libp2p is the Rust implementation of libp2p, a set of networking protocols designed for building peer-to-peer applications. In a peer-to-peer system, computers connect directly to each other rather than through a central server. libp2p handles the mechanics of finding other nodes on the network, establishing connections, and sending data between them. This library is used as a building block by developers who want to write decentralized software in Rust. The library is organized into several layers. The core layer defines fundamental abstractions for transports (how data physically travels, for example over TCP) and stream multiplexing (running multiple independent conversations over a single connection). On top of that sit specific transport implementations, protocol upgrades for encryption and compression, and application-level protocols. The swarm layer ties these together and is where developers plug in their own application logic. The repository also includes a folder of worked examples showing how to use the built-in protocols with common network configurations. Developers new to the library are directed to the documentation on docs.rs, where the full API is explained in detail. Real-world projects built on rust-libp2p include Lighthouse (an Ethereum node), Substrate (the framework behind the Polkadot blockchain), Forest (a Filecoin implementation), and several IPFS implementations. This gives a sense of the typical use case: blockchain nodes, distributed storage systems, and other software that needs reliable peer-to-peer communication without depending on a central server. The project is maintained by two named maintainers and follows the IPFS community code of conduct. Security issues should be reported privately rather than as public GitHub issues. Discussions happen on GitHub Discussions and a separate community forum.