EthioRide: Distributed Ride-Sharing & Transport System

EthioRide is a high-concurrency, distributed transport management system designed to solve urban mobility challenges in Addis Ababa. Built with a robust Client-Server architecture, it leverages Java Sockets and Multithreading to facilitate real-time driver-passenger matching, fare calculation, and trip lifecycle management.

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Key Engineering Features

• High-Concurrency Server: Utilizes an ExecutorService thread pool to handle simultaneous requests from multiple concurrent users without blocking.

• Real-time Communication: Custom TCP/IP socket protocol for low-latency synchronization between the Passenger and Driver applications.

• Intelligent Matching Engine: Implements a location-aware algorithm to connect passengers with the nearest available drivers, minimizing "dead mileage."

• Persistent Data Layer: ACID-compliant storage using JDBC and MySQL for secure user data and trip history.

• Fault Tolerance: Implements Object Serialization for system state snapshots and logging for audit trails.

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System Architecture & Design

The system follows a Three-Tier Architecture to ensure modularity and scalability.

• Client Layer (JavaFX): Separate interfaces for Passengers (ride requests, fare estimation) and Drivers (availability toggle, trip fulfillment).

• Application Server: The central engine managing the MatchmakingEngine, SessionManager, and TransactionCoordinator.

• Data Layer: A relational schema optimized for ride telemetry and role-based access control (RBAC).

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System Architecture

Folder Structure

EthioRide/
│
├── pom.xml                        
├── README.md
├── .gitignore
│
├── docs/
│   ├── architecture/
│   ├── diagrams/
│   ├── api-specs/
│   └── workflow/
│
├── scripts/
│   ├── start-server.sh
│   ├── start-passenger.sh
│   ├── start-driver.sh
│   └── docker/
│       ├── Dockerfile.server
│       └── docker-compose.yml
│
├── data/                           
│   ├── logs/
│   ├── snapshots/
│   └── exports/
│
├── shared/                         
│   ├── pom.xml
│   └── src/
│       ├── main/
│       └── test/
│
├── server/
│   ├── pom.xml
│   └── src/
│       ├── main/
│       └── test/
│
├── client-passenger/
│   ├── pom.xml
│   └── src/
│
├── client-driver/
│   ├── pom.xml
│   └── src/
│
└── tests/
    ├── unit/
    ├── integration/
    └── stress/

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Technical Challenges & Solutions

• Double-Booking Problem:
  ReentrantLocks are implemented in the MatchingEngine to ensure atomic state updates.

• Network Resiliency:
  Heartbeat mechanism and GracefulShutdown hook clean server resources.

• Low-Bandwidth Optimization:
  Lightweight serialized DTO protocol supports slower networks.

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Tech Stack

• Language: Java 17+
• Networking: Java Sockets (TCP), RMI (Optional)
• Concurrency: Threads, ThreadPools
• GUI: JavaFX / CSS
• Persistence: JDBC, MySQL, File I/O (CSV Reports)

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Installation

Clone

git clone https://github.com/Maxd646/EthioRide.git
cd EthioRide

Configure Database

Update:

server/src/main/resources/db.properties

Add your MySQL credentials.

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Build & Run

# Start the Server
java -cp bin com.ethioride.server.Main

# Start Passenger Client
java -cp bin com.ethioride.client.PassengerApp