multiplex uni-/bidirectional streams onto stdin/stdout

The ut utility performs multiplexing of upto 254 uni- (in or out) or bidirectional channels onto its stdin/stdout pair of file descriptors.

The multiplexing is done by using special prefixes on the main (stdin/stdout) channel, in order to identify the client channels, the command channel and the debug/message channel. Input on the main channel is strictly line based, i.e., content extends from the end of the prefix to, and including, the end-of-line (\n). For the output on the main channel, this is mostly the same, except that a special prefix type exists, which signals that the end-of-line has to be discarded.

ut is not meant to be used as a standalone tool, but mainly for use by other (ut aware) programs, which too perform the prefix based mux/demux scheme.

Holger Rasch rasch@bytemine.net

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