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Version: Current

Backend Development

A CradleXC backend is an out-of-process executable that consumes Deployment IR JSON and generates target-specific files. It can be implemented in any language and is discovered as cxc-backend-<name>.

The JSON produced by cxc dump-ir is the practical starting point for backend development. It contains resolved machines, networks, addresses, routes, objects, events and startup order, so backend code does not need to parse the CRADLE language.

important

Start with the complete Hello World Deployment IR walkthrough, then use Building a Backend to turn that JSON into files for your own testbed.

  1. Read Plugin Model to understand the boundary.
  2. Generate IR from a known scenario with cxc dump-ir.
  3. Study every field in the Hello World IR example.
  4. Implement and test the translator in Building a Backend.
  5. Confirm discovery and generate files through cxc build.

The backend boundary keeps target-specific choices outside the CRADLE language and compiler.