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Layered protocols - by Gordon Brander - Subconscious

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Layering is a special form of modularity that restricts interactions between modules. A module assigned to a layer can use any of the modules in the same or in a lower layer; however, it cannot use a module belonging to a higher layer.

Following up on The Internet is Modular, and Compositional Components, Emergent Protocols, a few more thoughts on modularity, this time on layering: Layering is a special form of modularity that restricts interactions between modules. A module assigned to a layer can use any of the modules in the same or in a lower layer; however, it cannot use a module belonging to a higher layer. (Barbara van Schewick, 2010. Internet Architecture and Innovation.) A modular design breaks a system down into units with boundaries that communicate over protocols, but does not specify how these modules…

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