Repository: go
Issue: proposal: cross-platform network frame communications package
Labels: Proposal

### Proposal Details

### Proposal: Cross-Platform Network Frame Communications Package

#### Summary
I propose the development of a new Go standard package to support cross-platform network frame communications, covering protocols such as Ethernet, ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), NDP (Neighbor Discovery Protocol), IPv4, and IPv6. This package aims to provide a robust, standardized solution for low-level network operations within the Go ecosystem.

#### Rationale
The Go standard library currently lacks comprehensive support for low-level network frame communications. While third-party libraries exist, they often fall short in terms of cross-platform compatibility, robustness, and maintenance. A standardized package would fill this gap, providing a consistent and reliable toolset for network programming directly within the Go language.

#### Importance
1. **Simplified Development**: A dedicated package will streamline the development process for applications requiring low-level network access, reducing reliance on external dependencies.
2. **Cross-Platform Consistency**: Ensuring compatibility across major operating systems (Linux, Windows, macOS) will enhance the portability of Go applications.
3. **Enhanced Security**: A well-maintained, officially supported package will enable timely updates and adherence to best security practices.
4. **Community Growth**: Addressing this common need can attract more developers to the Go community, fostering innovation and growth.

#### Proposal
- **Package Name**: `netframes` (or an equivalent name indicating network frame handling)
- **Core Features**:
  - **Ethernet**: APIs to construct, parse, and manipulate Ethernet frames for link-layer communication.
  - **ARP**: Functions for handling ARP requests and replies, essential for mapping network layer addresses to link-layer addresses.
  - **NDP**: Support for Neighbor Discovery Protocol functionalities in IPv6, crucial for address autoconfiguration and neighbor discovery.
  - **IPv4/IPv6**: Comprehensive tools for constructing, parsing, and manipulating IPv4 and IPv6 packets, including handling headers, fragmentation, and payloads.

#### Scope
1. **Ethernet Frame Handling**: Creation, parsing, and manipulation of Ethernet frames to facilitate link-layer communication.
2. **ARP Support**: Mechanisms to send and receive ARP requests and replies for address resolution.
3. **NDP Integration**: Implementation of NDP functionalities to support IPv6 networking operations.
4. **IPv4/IPv6 Packet Management**: Full support for building, parsing, and managing IPv4 and IPv6 packets, including headers and payloads.

#### Potential Contributions
I am willing to contribute significantly to this proposal if it is adopted. This includes developing and maintaining the package, ensuring cross-platform compatibility, and providing comprehensive documentation and examples.

#### Advantages and Applications
1. **Network Security**: Building tools for network security analysis and intrusion detection systems.
2. **Software-Defined Networking (SDN)**: Developing SDN tools for dynamic network management and automation.
3. **Network Diagnostics**: Creating diagnostic tools for network monitoring and troubleshooting.

#### Technical Requirements
- **libpcap Dependency**: This standard package should rely on libpcap to ensure robust and efficient packet capturing and injection capabilities across different platforms. Libpcap is widely used and provides the necessary low-level access to network frames, making it an ideal foundation for this package.

By addressing these needs, this package can significantly enhance Go's network programming capabilities, making it a powerful tool for developers working on advanced networking applications.