I'm Building an Open-Source MMORPG in Rust and Python — Looking for Contributors

Hi everyone! 👋

I'm currently working on The Last Signal, an open-source post-apocalyptic MMORPG project.

The project is built around Rust and Python, with a strong focus on networking, server architecture, testing, and eventually building a persistent multiplayer world.

The project is still in development, so there are plenty of things to explore, improve, and build.

🎮 What is The Last Signal?

The goal is to create a multiplayer post-apocalyptic world where players can explore, interact, fight, trade, and build their own stories.

Rather than trying to build everything at once, I'm currently focusing on developing the foundations of the project: communication between the client and server, packet handling, testing, CI, and the overall architecture.

🛠️ Current technologies

• 🦀 Rust — server and network-related components
• 🐍 Python — client and tools
• 🌐 Client/server networking
• 📦 Custom network packet system
• 🧪 Automated testing
• ⚙️ GitHub Actions / CI
• 🗄️ Database components
• 🔐 Experimental cryptography — currently at a very early stage

🌐 The networking side

One of the current technical focuses is the communication between the Python client and the Rust server.

The project has its own packet system, with different packet types used for communication between the two sides.

I'm currently working on things such as:

• packet creation
• serialization and deserialization
• handling invalid data
• network error handling
• testing the protocol
• keeping the client and server implementations consistent

This is one of the areas where Rust contributors could have a direct impact on the project.

🔐 Cryptography is only at the beginning

The cryptography side of the project is very experimental and still at an early stage.

I'm experimenting with ideas and exploring how a cryptographic system could fit into the project.

At this point, it is not presented as production-ready or secure cryptography.

I'm actually looking for people who can challenge the design, identify weaknesses and assumptions, and help determine which approaches are worth exploring further.

Someone interested in cryptography, cryptanalysis, or security would be very welcome here.

🤝 I'm looking for contributors

I'm currently looking for people interested in contributing to an open-source project.

🦀 Rust developers

Help with areas such as:

• networking
• packet handling
• server development
• testing
• error handling
• architecture
• performance

🐍 Python developers

Help with:

• client development
• testing
• tools
• automation
• communication with the Rust server

🔐 Security / cryptography contributors

The cryptography work is still at the beginning.

Possible contributions include:

• reviewing the experimental design
• identifying security assumptions
• finding potential weaknesses
• researching alternative approaches
• designing security tests
• discussing the boundary between experimentation and real-world cryptography

You don't need to immediately write cryptographic code. A good technical analysis can already be a valuable contribution.

📚 Documentation contributors

Help make the project easier for new developers to understand:

• architecture documentation
• network protocol documentation
• developer guides
• English documentation

⚙️ CI/CD contributors

The project also has GitHub Actions workflows that can be improved and maintained.

Contributions involving:

• testing
• build workflows
• automation
• reliability
• performance

are welcome.

🧪 Where can you start?

I've created several GitHub Issues specifically designed as entry points for contributors.

Current areas include:

• 🦀 Rust network protocol testing
• 🐍 Python client testing
• 📚 Client/server protocol documentation
• 🔐 Cryptographic design review
• ⚙️ CI/CD improvements
• 🌍 English documentation

You don't have to understand the entire project before contributing.

Small contributions are welcome.

🌱 You don't have to be an expert

If you're learning Rust or Python and want experience working on a real open-source project, you're welcome to contribute.

I'm particularly interested in people who enjoy:

• learning through real projects
• experimenting with technical ideas
• solving difficult problems
• discussing architecture
• reviewing and improving existing code

You can contribute by writing code, testing, documenting, reviewing, or simply providing constructive technical feedback.

🧠 Technical feedback is welcome

The project is still young, so I'm not attached to every current implementation.

If you see a design that could be improved, I'd rather hear a well-reasoned criticism than have a bad design remain in the project.

The goal is to build something better through collaboration and discussion.

🔗 Project

GitHub:
https://github.com/DDCoder23/The-last-signal-

The repository contains the source code, documentation, and open Issues.

If the project interests you, take a look at the repository and feel free to:

• open an Issue
• comment on an existing Issue
• suggest an improvement
• submit a Pull Request

I'm looking forward to meeting people who want to learn, experiment, and build something together. 🦀🐍🚀

Thanks for reading!