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LibraryCompleted2025
mDNS Explorer
The discovery library that Beam is built on - small, fast, and dependency-free.
mdns - main
+ video
Overview
Extracted from Beam, mDNS Explorer is a focused library for announcing and discovering services on a LAN.
The problem
Existing crates were heavy or did more than I needed for simple local discovery.
The solution
A minimal, well-tested mDNS implementation with a tiny API surface and no runtime dependencies.
Architecture
A non-blocking socket loop parses and emits mDNS records through a small event API.
architecture diagram
Features
Tiny API
Announce and browse in a few lines.
No deps
Zero runtime dependencies.
Async-friendly
Plugs into any runtime.
Well tested
Covered against real responders.
Technical decisions
Extract from Beam
Isolating discovery made both projects simpler.
No async runtime lock-in
Stays usable everywhere.
Challenges & lessons
mDNS has many quirky responders in the wild; conformance testing was the bulk of the work.
A library is an API contract first and code second.
Tech stack
RustNetworking
Timeline
2025
v0.4 released
2025
Extracted from Beam
Changelog
v0.4.22025
Responder compatibility fixes.
v0.1.02025
First release.
Roadmap
DNS-SD helpersPLANNED
Core discoverySHIPPED
FAQ
Is it used in production?
Yes - it powers Beam's discovery.
License?
Apache-2.0.
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