logos-libp2p-module/tutorial/docs/tutorial_0_introduction.md

# Tutorial 0: Introduction and Common Patterns

Welcome to the first `logos-libp2p-module` tutorial!

Before creating nodes or connecting peers, it helps to understand the
conventions used by every tutorial in this series.

The C++ wrapper (`logos-libp2p-module`) exposes a single main class, `Libp2pModuleImpl`.
Most methods on that class return the Logos result type. In C++ module code that
type is named `StdLogosResult`.

`StdLogosResult` has three fields:

| Field | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| `success` | `true` when the call completed successfully |
| `value` | a `nlohmann::json` value returned by the call |
| `error` | a diagnostic string when `success == false` |

## Always Check `success` First

Every tutorial follows the same rule: check unsuccessful outcomes before
using returned data.

```cpp
StdLogosResult info = node.peerInfo();
if (!info.success) {
    fprintf(stderr, "Failed to get peer info: %s\n",
            info.error.c_str());
    return 1;
}
```

This keeps the code predictable: errors are handled immediately, and the
rest of the step can assume the operation succeeded.

## Tutorial Executables Fail Fast

These programs are examples, not long-running services. When a required
operation fails, they print a useful error message to `stderr` and return
`1`. Successful tutorials print progress to `stdout` and return `0`.

The `stdout` stream can be noisy because logs from the wrapped C binding
(`nim-libp2p`) library are also included. This is tracked in
[issue #79](https://github.com/logos-co/logos-libp2p-module/issues/79).

## Convert JSON Values Explicitly

The `value` field is JSON. Convert it to the C++ type you need at the
point where you use it:

```cpp
std::string peerId = info.value["peerId"].get<std::string>();

for (const nlohmann::json& addr : info.value["addrs"]) {
    printf("  %s\n", addr.get<std::string>().c_str());
}
```

Scalar values use `get<T>()`. Objects are accessed by key. Arrays are
iterated with range-for loops.

Tutorial code assumes returned JSON values have the documented type, so it
uses and converts values directly instead of checking the JSON type first.

## Binary Data May Be Encoded

Some APIs carry arbitrary bytes, such as stream reads, DHT values, public
keys, or service discovery records. Those values may be returned as strings
encoded for JSON transport. The tutorials decode them before comparing or
printing human-readable payloads.

-----------

```cpp
#include <cstdio>
#include <string>
#include "plugin.h"

int main()
{
    printf("=== Tutorial 0: Introduction and Common Patterns ===\n\n");

```

## Step 1: Create and start a node

Even the first real operation returns a result. Check it before moving on.
```cpp
    Libp2pModuleImpl node;

    StdLogosResult startRes = node.start();
    if (!startRes.success) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to start node: %s\n",
                startRes.error.c_str());
        return 1;
    }
    printf("Node started\n");

```

## Step 2: Use scalar JSON values

Some calls return a single string, number, or boolean in `value`.
```cpp
    StdLogosResult version = node.getNodeInfo("Version");
    if (!version.success) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to get module version: %s\n",
                version.error.c_str());
        return 1;
    }
    printf("Module version: %s\n",
           version.value.get<std::string>().c_str());

```

## Step 3: Stop cleanly

For production code it should always be better to attempt to gracefully
close all resources first.

The tutorials do not always process every cleanup outcome, such as failures
while stopping a node or closing streams, in order to keep the example code
focused and easy to follow.
```cpp
    StdLogosResult stopRes = node.stop();
    if (!stopRes.success) {
        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to stop node: %s\n",
                stopRes.error.c_str());
        return 1;
    }

    printf("\n=== Tutorial 0 Complete ===\n");

    return 0;
}

```

## Summary

In this tutorial you learned the conventions used everywhere else:
  - Most calls return `StdLogosResult`
  - Check `success` before reading `value`
  - Print `error` when a call fails
  - Convert JSON values with `get<T>()`, object keys, or array iteration
  - Return `1` from tutorial executables when required operations fail

## Run tutorial

Run this tutorial now to check that your environment is set up and the
tutorial executable has already been built:

```bash
./build/tutorial/tutorial_0_introduction
```

If that command fails because the tutorial has not been built yet, build the
tutorials with this command and then run it again:

```bash
nix --extra-experimental-features 'nix-command flakes' develop --command ./tutorial/build_tutorials.sh
```
---

<p align="center"><a href="tutorial_1_node_lifecycle.md">Creating and Starting a libp2p Node &rarr;</a></p>