Measurement Converter RMI

Description

This project is a distributed Measurement Converter application built in Java using Remote Method Invocation (RMI). It allows a client to perform various unit conversions (temperature, distance, weight, time, and height) by invoking methods on a remote server.

Technologies

• Java SE
• Java RMI (Remote Method Invocation)
• TCP/IP (Protocol used by RMI for network communication)

Features

• Distributed Architecture: Decouples the user interface (client) from the business logic (server).
• Multiple Conversion Categories: Supports Celsius/Fahrenheit, Kilometers/Miles, Kilograms/Pounds, and more.
• Remote Logging: The server logs every requested operation to its console for monitoring.
• Network Support: Can be executed on a single machine via localhost or across different machines in a local network.

How to Run

1. Compile the Project

Open your terminal in the project root and run:

javac *.java

2. Start the Server

Run the server application:

java ServerConverter

The server will initialize the RMI registry on port 2001 and wait for connections.

3. Start the Client

In a new terminal, run the client:

java ClientConverter

If you are running across a network, provide the server's IP address as an argument:

java ClientConverter <SERVER_IP>

Project Structure

• Converter.java: The Remote Interface that defines the available conversion methods.

• ServerConverter.java: The server implementation that contains the math logic for conversions and exports the remote object.

• ClientConverter.java: The client application providing a command-line interface for the user to input values.

• .gitignore: Specifies files and directories (like .class files or IDE configs) to be ignored by Git.

• README.md: Project documentation.

What I Learned

• Distributed Systems Concepts: Implementing the RMI lifecycle, including defining interfaces, exporting remote objects, and using the RMI Registry.
• Network Programming: Configuring system properties (like java.rmi.server.hostname) to allow communication between different hosts on a LAN.
• Stub/Skeleton Mechanism: Understanding how Java handles proxy objects to make remote calls feel like local method calls.

Future Improvements

• GUI Implementation: Replace the command-line interface with a JavaFX or Swing graphical interface.
• Dynamic Port Allocation: Allow the port number to be passed as a command-line argument instead of being hardcoded to 2001.
• Enhanced Security: Implement a Security Manager or SSL/TLS for encrypted RMI communication.