| # NFD - Named Data Networking Forwarding Daemon |
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| [](https://github.com/named-data/NFD/actions/workflows/ci.yml) |
| [](https://github.com/named-data/NFD/actions/workflows/docs.yml) |
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| ## Overview |
| |
| NFD is a network forwarder that implements and evolves together with the Named Data |
| Networking (NDN) [protocol](https://named-data.net/doc/NDN-packet-spec/current/). |
| Since the initial public release in 2014, NFD has been a core component of the |
| [NDN Platform](https://named-data.net/codebase/platform/). |
| |
| The main design goal of NFD is to support diverse experimentation of NDN technology. The |
| design emphasizes *modularity* and *extensibility* to allow easy experiments with new |
| protocol features, algorithms, new applications. We have not fully optimized the code for |
| performance. The intention is that performance optimizations are one type of experiments |
| that developers can conduct by trying out different data structures and different |
| algorithms; over time, better implementations may emerge within the same design framework. |
| |
| NFD will keep evolving in three aspects: improvement of the modularity framework, keeping |
| up with the NDN protocol spec, and addition of other new features. We hope to keep the |
| modular framework stable and lean, allowing researchers to implement and experiment with |
| various features, some of which may eventually work into the protocol spec. |
| |
| ## Documentation |
| |
| See [`docs/INSTALL.rst`](docs/INSTALL.rst) for compilation and installation instructions. |
| |
| Extensive documentation is available on NFD's [homepage](https://named-data.net/doc/NFD/). |
| |
| ## Reporting bugs |
| |
| Bug reports and feedback are highly appreciated and can be submitted through the |
| [NFD issue tracker](https://redmine.named-data.net/projects/nfd/issues) or the |
| [ndn-interest mailing list](http://www.lists.cs.ucla.edu/mailman/listinfo/ndn-interest). |
| |
| ## Contributing |
| |
| NFD is developed by a community effort. Although the first release was mostly done by the |
| members of [NSF-sponsored NDN project team](https://named-data.net/project/participants/), |
| it already contains significant contributions from people outside the project team (see |
| [`AUTHORS.md`](AUTHORS.md)). We strongly encourage participation from all interested parties, |
| since broader community support is key for NDN to succeed as a new Internet architecture. |
| |
| If you are new to the NDN software community, please read [`README-dev.md`](README-dev.md) |
| and the [Contributor's Guide](https://github.com/named-data/.github/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) |
| to get started. |
| |
| ## License |
| |
| NFD is a free and open-source software package licensed under the GPL version 3 and |
| is the centerpiece of our committement to making NDN's core technology free and open |
| to all Internet users and developers. For more information about licensing, refer to |
| [`COPYING.md`](COPYING.md). |