5.4 OCapN: The Object Capabilities Network

OCapN stands for “Object Capability Network” and is a suite of protocols for communication between distributed, networked objects. In other words, it’s how Goblins actors can talk to actors running on another computer.

OCapN uses the Capability Transport Protocol (CapTP) as the core protocol for enabling distributed programming in a mutually suspicious network. It originated in the E programming language but has since appeared in Cap’N Proto, Waterken, Agoric’s SwingSet, and now Goblins.

CAUTION: CapTP support is still in its early days. Please do not rely on the protocol being stable at this time.