ZeroMQ - Overview

In this chapter, we are dedicated to knowing the details of ZeroMQ, such as its definition, usage, history, inventor, and development. Let us understand each section one by one.

What is ZeroMQ?

TheZeroMQis a lightweight open-source universal messaging library that enables asynchronous communication between distributed systems, applications, and services. It supplies a simple socket-like API which is used to create scalable, concurrent, and fault-tolerant architectures. It is written in C++.

Asynchronous communication between distributed systems: It is a method that works for message exchange where the sending and receiving processes operate independently and do not need to wait for each other to complete their tasks.

ZeroMQ supports common messaging patterns such as pub or sub, request or reply, and client or server. It also supports various protocols like TCP, in-process, inter-process, multi-cast, and web socket.

ZeroMQ Use Cases

It can be used as the fabric for the cluster products and is designed to simplify the development of the complex messaging pattern.

Who invented ZeroMQ?

ZeroMQ is an universal messaging library discovered in 2007 by Belgian software engineer Pieter Hintjens. Hintjens's goal in building ZeroMQ was to create a flexible, high-performance and easy-to-use messaging library. ZeroMQ has had a great role on the future of asynchronous communication, not only due to its architecture, but also because of Hintjens continuous improvement of the ZeroMQ library.

History & Evolution

Following is the history and evolution of ZeroMQ −

Early Days: 2007 - 2009

• ZeroMQ was invented in 2007 by Pieter Hintjens, a Belgian software developer.
• Initially, it was designed by iMatrix Corporation, a software company founded by Hintjens.

Rapid Growth: 20102012

• ZeroMQ gained popularity in the 2010s as a messaging library for distributed systems and cloud computing.
• It attracted a large community of contributors, and the library supported several programming languages, including Python, Java, and C-Sharp.
• ZeroMQ 2.0 was launched in 2010, introducing a new API and improved performance.

Founding of the ZeroMQ Organization: 2011

• The ZeroMQ organization was formed in 2011 to design and oversee the library.
• The organization established a governance model that ensured the project remained community-driven and open-source.

Expansion and Maturity: 2013 - 2016

• ZeroMQ 3.0 was launched in 2012, including a new security framework and improved support for WebSockets.
• The library continued to gain popularity with support from the following industries: Finance, Healthcare, and IoT.
• The ZeroMQ organization joined the Linux Foundation in 2014, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project.

Recent Development: 2017 - Present

• ZeroMQ 4.0 was launched in 2017, featuring improved performance, security, and support for new protocols.
• ZeroMQ remains a popular choice for building distributed systems, cloud applications, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

Throughout its development process, ZeroMQ has focused on ease of use, scalability, and flexibility, contributing to its support as a framework for building distributed systems, cloud applications, and IoT solutions.