What is a Pipeline?

Version: 0.1.0 Date: October 08, 2025 SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause License File: See the LICENSE file in the project root. Copyright: © 2025 Michael Gardner, A Bit of Help, Inc. Authors: Michael Gardner Status: Draft

Introduction to pipelines and their purpose.

What is a Pipeline?

A pipeline is a series of connected processing stages that transform data from input to output. Each stage performs a specific operation, and data flows through the stages sequentially or in parallel.

Think of it like a factory assembly line:

  • Raw materials (input file) enter at one end
  • Each station (stage) performs a specific task
  • The finished product (processed file) exits at the other end

Real-World Analogy

Assembly Line

Imagine an automobile assembly line:

Raw Materials → Welding → Painting → Assembly → Quality Check → Finished Car

In our pipeline system:

Input File → Compression → Encryption → Validation → Output File

Each stage:

  • Receives data from the previous stage
  • Performs its specific transformation
  • Passes the result to the next stage

Why Use a Pipeline?

Modularity

Each stage does one thing well. You can:

  • Add new stages easily
  • Remove stages you don't need
  • Reorder stages as needed

Example: Need encryption? Add an encryption stage. Don't need compression? Remove the compression stage.

Reusability

Stages can be used in multiple pipelines:

  • Use the same compression stage in different workflows
  • Share validation logic across projects
  • Build libraries of reusable components

Testability

Each stage can be tested independently:

  • Unit test individual stages
  • Mock stage inputs/outputs
  • Verify stage behavior in isolation

Scalability

Pipelines can process data efficiently:

  • Process file chunks in parallel
  • Distribute work across CPU cores
  • Handle files of any size

Our Pipeline System

The Adaptive Pipeline provides:

File Processing: Transform files through configurable stages

  • Input: Any file type
  • Stages: Compression, encryption, validation
  • Output: Processed .adapipe file
  • Memory-mapped files for efficient processing of huge files

Flexibility: Configure stages for your needs

  • Enable/disable stages
  • Choose algorithms (Brotli, LZ4, Zstandard for compression)
  • Set security levels (Public → Top Secret)

Performance: Handle large files efficiently

  • Stream processing (low memory usage)
  • Parallel chunk processing
  • Optimized algorithms

Security: Protect sensitive data

  • AES-256-GCM encryption
  • Argon2 key derivation
  • Integrity verification with checksums

Pipeline Flow

Here's how data flows through the pipeline:

Pipeline Flow

  1. Input: Read file from disk
  2. Chunk: Split into manageable pieces (default 1MB)
  3. Process: Apply stages to each chunk
    • Compress (optional)
    • Encrypt (optional)
    • Calculate checksum (always)
  4. Store: Write processed data and metadata
  5. Verify: Confirm integrity of output

What You Can Do

With this pipeline, you can:

✅ Compress files to save storage space ✅ Encrypt files to protect sensitive data ✅ Validate integrity to detect corruption ✅ Process large files without running out of memory ✅ Customize workflows with configurable stages ✅ Track metrics to monitor performance

Next Steps

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