Aether Bridge Documentation

What is Aether Bridge Protocol?

Aether Bridge Protocol is a browser-based visualization tool that translates messages between different communication protocols and formats. It's a universal translator playground for understanding how the same data structure can be represented across REST, GraphQL, Webhooks, MQTT, JSON-RPC, CLI commands, and more.

Important: This is a visualization and educational tool, not a real network proxy or bridge. All translation happens client-side in your browser. No data is sent over the network.

This project is open source and available on Codeberg. Feel free to contribute, report issues, or suggest improvements. Pull requests, bug reports, and feature ideas are welcome.

How to Use Aether Bridge

1. Source Protocol Panel

Select a Protocol: Click one of the protocol buttons (HTTP REST, GraphQL, Webhook, MQTT, JSON-RPC, CLI) to choose your source format. The first example for that protocol will automatically load.

Load Examples: Below the code editor, you'll see two example buttons. Click either to load a pre-configured example that demonstrates that protocol's format.

Edit Source: Modify the source code in the editor to match your message structure. You can also use the "Infer Schema from Source" button to automatically extract the message structure.

Collapse Panel: Click the × button in the header to collapse the Source panel and give more space to other panels.

2. Message Schema Panel

Resource: Enter the name of the resource (e.g., "user", "order", "sensor").

Operation: Select the operation type using the buttons: Create, Read, Update, Delete, or Custom.

Fields: Add fields that represent your data structure. For each field:

• Enter the field name
• Select the data type (string, number, boolean, object, array)
• Optionally provide an example value
• Click × to remove a field

Target Protocols: Check the boxes for the protocols you want to see translations for. You can select multiple protocols at once.

Establish Bridge: Click the "◊ Establish Bridge ◊" button to generate translations. This will automatically close the Source panel and open the Protocol Outputs panel.

3. Protocol Outputs Panel

View Translations: After establishing a bridge, you'll see how your message structure translates to each selected protocol. Outputs appear in the same order as your selected protocols.

Copy Sections: Each protocol output is divided into sections (e.g., "cURL Command", "JSON Body"). Click the "Copy" button next to any section to copy just that part to your clipboard.

Collapse Panel: Click the × button to collapse the Outputs panel. On desktop, a slim vertical bar will appear on the right side with a chevron (◀) pointing inward. Click it to restore the panel.

Panel Management

Desktop: Panels can be collapsed independently. When collapsed, slim vertical bars appear on the sides with chevrons pointing inward. Click these bars to restore panels. The Schema panel cannot be collapsed.

Mobile: On screens below 700px, panels stack vertically. Collapsed panels appear as horizontal bars with chevrons (▼ for top, ▲ for bottom) indicating which direction they'll expand.

Use Cases

Aether Bridge is useful for:

• Understanding protocol differences and similarities
• Learning how the same operation maps across different systems
• Prototyping API designs and exploring alternatives
• Documentation and educational purposes
• Quick reference for protocol syntax and structure

How It Works

The Bridge operates on a simple principle: every message has a core structure—a resource, an operation, and fields. This normalized "Message Schema" is the universal language that all protocols can understand.

When you establish a bridge:

1. Define your message structure (or infer it from a source protocol)
2. Select target protocols you want to see translations for
3. The Bridge generates how that same message would look in each protocol
4. Each protocol formatter takes the normalized message and outputs protocol-specific syntax

The Guild of Technomancers

Aether Bridge Protocol is an artifact of the Guild of Technomancers — a semi-diegetic organization that views programming as a form of technomancy, where code is magic and protocols are rituals.

The Guild operates under the philosophy that code is magic, that programming languages are incantations, and that software development is a form of technomancy. We understand that protocols that govern network communication are the sacred rituals of the digital realm.

This tool embodies the Guild's philosophy that understanding the underlying structure of communication allows us to bridge different worlds—whether they be REST APIs, GraphQL schemas, or MQTT topics.