G-SDK Introduction

In addition to the integration method using BioStar2 SW API or BioStar2 Device SDK, G-SDK is recently released as a new integration option for device management, user management, and log management.


What is G-SDK?

G-SDK is one of the integration options for communicating with BioStar 2 devices. It is a lightweight, scalable, and cross-platform solution which will expedite your development.

How G-SDK works?

[Figure 1. G-SDK architecture]


G-SDK consists of Device Gateway in gRPC Server and gRPC Client Libraries.
Based on gRPC, it supports many programming languages such as Java, C#, Python, Node.js, Go, etc.
(gRPC (gRPC Remote Procedure Calls) is an open source remote procedure call (RPC) system initially developed at Google in 2015.)

Multi-language support

  • Language-neutral IDL
  • Native client libraries


Device Gateway that communicates with BioStar 2 device can be run on a server or cloud. Core modules use BioStar 2 protocols and written by GO language.

[Figure 2. Device Gateway Structure]



What is different from BioStar 2 Device SDK?

Existing BioStar 2 Device SDK provides C++ library with C#. G-SDK is released to provide flexible development for those who would like to meet the requirements below.

Let's take a look for an easy comparison between BioStar 2 Device SDK and G-SDK.

[Figure 3. BioStar 2 Device SDK vs G-SDK]


One of the biggest advantages of G-SDK compare to Device SDK is that it supports various languages. For the last years, Device SDK users have had difficulty using development language other than C++ or C# which is in the sample code.
Since BioStar 2 Device SDK can communicate with C++ library, you have to use C++ language or need to marshall all the APIs and structures in the library into other languages. Currently BioStar 2 Device SDK provides only C# marshalling sample.
This is a limitation of BioStar 2 Device SDK due to the structure.

[Figure 4. BioStar 2 Device SDK structure]

 


How G-SDK can support so many languages?
It is because G-SDK is based on gRPC. gRPC is an open RPC framework that supports many languages developed by Google.
Basically, the device gateway is the one that communicates with BioStar 2 device. Your client applications can connect to it using gRPC client libraries.

[Figure 5. G-SDK structure]



What are the next features?

 

1. Master Gateway
G-SDK can support up to 1000 device connections with a Device gateway.
Currently, Master gateway that will support up to 100,000 device connections is under development.
Master Gateway helps you handle multiple Device gateways and it can be deployed on a cloud server or provide mobile direct accessibility too.

[Figure 6. Device Gateway vs Master Gateway]

2. Advanced AC API
G-SDK doesn't support advanced AC such as Zone, Wiegand or RS485 but it supports only simple configurations & features.
In the future, G-SDK will support all the APIs that are supported in the BioStar 2 Device SDK : Zone, Wiegand, RS485, etc.

3. More language support samples
G-SDK provides C#, Java, Python, Go and Node samples. Furthermore, G-SDK is planning to support Android, iOS, Ruby samples.



Summary of G-SDK

* Supported OS
Windows, x86/Arm Linux, Mac OS

* Maximum number of devices
Up to 1,000

* Supported Language
C++, Java, Python, Go, Ruby, C#, Node.js, Android Java, Objective-C, PHP, Web

* Supported API
The basic AC APIs(Access control, User management, Event log etc) except advanced features such as Zone, Wiegand, RS485 features.

* Supported Device
All BioStar 2 devices

* Not Supported Device
All BioStar 1 Devices
(BioEntry Plus v2, BioEntry W v2, XPass v2, XPS2 v2, and BLN v2 are not supported.Gen 1 devices are not supported)

* Download
https://github.com/biostar-dev/g-sdk/

* Manual
https://biostar-dev.github.io/g-sdk/  (Expired)

https://supremainc.github.io/g-sdk/ (New Link)