Add workflow_dispatch trigger to Maven CI

Mmessage protocol specification

.github/workflows/maven.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+name: Java CI with Maven
+
+on:
+  workflow_dispatch:
+  push:
+    branches: [ "dev", "cleanup" ]
+    tags:
+      - 'v*.*.*'
+  pull_request:
+    branches: [ "main" ]
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up JDK 17
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+      with:
+        java-version: '17'
+        distribution: 'temurin'
+        cache: maven
+    - name: Build with Maven
+      run: mvn -B package
+      working-directory: main
+    - name: Upload built JAR
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: package
+        path: main/target/*.jar
+    - name: Generate dependency graph
+      run: mvn -B -f main/pom.xml com.github.ferstl:depgraph-maven-plugin:4.0.1:graph
+    - name: Upload dependency graph artifact
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: dependency-graph
+        path: main/target/**
+
+  build-windows:
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    steps:
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - name: Set up JDK 17
+      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+      with:
+        java-version: '17'
+        distribution: 'temurin'
+        cache: maven
+    - name: Build with Maven (Skip Tests)
+      run: mvn -B package -DskipTests
+      working-directory: main
+    - name: Create JPackage App Image
+      shell: pwsh
+      run: |
+        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "dist"
+        jpackage --name "DTSS" `
+          --input main/target `
+          --main-jar main-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar `
+          --dest dist `
+          --type app-image `
+          --win-console
+    - name: Inject java.exe
+      shell: pwsh
+      run: |
+        $javaPath = (Get-Command java).Source
+        Copy-Item -Path $javaPath -Destination "dist/DTSS/runtime/bin/"
+    - name: Zip Windows Release
+      shell: pwsh
+      run: |
+        Compress-Archive -Path "dist/DTSS" -DestinationPath "dist/DTSS-Windows.zip"
+    - name: Upload Windows Artifact
+      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: windows-package
+        path: dist/DTSS-Windows.zip
+
+  publish-release:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    needs: [build, build-windows]
+    if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    steps:
+    - name: Download Linux JAR
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: package
+        path: main/target/
+    - name: Download Windows Zip
+      uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+      with:
+        name: windows-package
+        path: windows-dist/
+    - name: Create GitHub Release
+      uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+      with:
+        files: |
+          main/target/*.jar
+          windows-dist/*.zip

.gitignore

@@ -47,4 +47,3 @@ build/
 
 # Other
 *.swp
-*.pdf

README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,620 @@
+# Sistema de Simulação de Tráfego Distribuído
+
+Sistema distribuído de simulação de tráfego.
+---
+
+## Índice
+
+- [Visão Geral](#visão-geral)
+- [Arquitetura](#arquitetura)
+- [Protocolo de Comunicação](#protocolo-de-comunicação)
+- [Estrutura do Projeto](#estrutura-do-projeto)
+- [Instalação e Execução](#instalação-e-execução)
+- [Documentação](#documentação)
+- [Desenvolvimento](#desenvolvimento)
+
+---
+
+## Visão Geral
+
+Este projeto implementa uma simulação distribuída de tráfego veicular numa rede de cruzamentos. O sistema utiliza:
+
+- **Processos independentes** para cada cruzamento
+- **Threads** para controlar os semáforos dentro de cada cruzamento
+- **Comunicação via sockets** para transferência de veículos entre cruzamentos
+- **Simulação de eventos discretos** (DES) para gerir o tempo de simulação
+
+### Características Principais
+
+- Simulação determinística e reproduzível
+- Comunicação assíncrona entre processos
+- Protocolo de mensagens baseado em JSON
+- Dashboard em tempo real (planeado)
+- Estatísticas detalhadas de desempenho
+
+---
+
+## Arquitetura
+
+### Visão Geral do Sistema
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│                    SISTEMA DISTRIBUÍDO                           │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│                                                                   │
+│  ┌──────────────┐                          ┌──────────────┐     │
+│  │  Coordenador │ ────────────────────────>│  Dashboard   │     │
+│  │  / Gerador   │                          │              │
+│  └──────┬───────┘                          └──────▲───────┘     │
+│         │                                          │             │
+│         │ Gera veículos                    Stats  │             │
+│         │                                          │             │
+│         ▼                                          │             │
+│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┴──────┐     │
+│  │          Rede de Cruzamentos (Processos)              │     │
+│  │                                                         │     │
+│  │  ┌────┐         ┌────┐         ┌────┐                 │     │
+│  │  │Cr1 │◄───────►│Cr2 │◄───────►│Cr3 │                 │     │
+│  │  └─┬──┘         └─┬──┘         └─┬──┘                 │     │
+│  │    │              │              │                     │     │
+│  │    │         ┌────▼────┐         │                     │     │
+│  │    └────────►│   Cr4   │◄────────┘                     │     │
+│  │              └────┬────┘                               │     │
+│  │                   │                                     │     │
+│  │              ┌────▼────┐                               │     │
+│  │              │   Cr5   │                               │     │
+│  │              └────┬────┘                               │     │
+│  └───────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┤     │
+│                      │                                     │     │
+│                      ▼                                     │     │
+│               ┌──────────────┐                            │     │
+│               │  Nó de Saída │                            │     │
+│               │      (S)     │                            │     │
+│               └──────────────┘                            │     │
+│                                                            │     │
+└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘     │
+```
+
+### Componentes
+
+1. **Coordenador/Gerador**: Gera veículos e injeta no sistema
+2. **Cruzamentos (Cr1-Cr5)**: Processos independentes que gerem tráfego local
+3. **Nó de Saída (S)**: Recolhe estatísticas de veículos que saem do sistema
+4. **Dashboard Server**: Agrega e exibe dados em tempo real
+
+---
+
+## Protocolo de Comunicação
+
+### Formato de Serialização: JSON (Gson)
+
+O sistema utiliza JSON como formato de serialização por ser mais rápido, seguro e legível que a serialização em Java.
+
+### Estrutura de Mensagens
+
+Todas as mensagens seguem o formato base:
+
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "uuid",
+  "type": "MESSAGE_TYPE",
+  "senderId": "sender_id",
+  "destinationId": "destination_id",
+  "timestamp": 1729595234567,
+  "payload": { ... }
+}
+```
+
+### Tipos de Mensagens
+
+#### 1. VEHICLE_TRANSFER
+
+Transfere um veículo entre cruzamentos.
+
+**Estrutura:**
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "a3c5e7f9-1234-5678-90ab-cdef12345678",
+  "type": "VEHICLE_TRANSFER",
+  "senderId": "Cr1",
+  "destinationId": "Cr2",
+  "timestamp": 1729595234567,
+  "payload": {
+    "id": "V123",
+    "type": "LIGHT",
+    "entryTime": 15.7,
+    "route": ["Cr1", "Cr2", "Cr5", "S"],
+    "currentRouteIndex": 1,
+    "totalWaitingTime": 3.2,
+    "totalCrossingTime": 1.8
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**Fluxo:**
+1. Veículo completa travessia no Cr1
+2. Cr1 serializa mensagem VEHICLE_TRANSFER
+3. Envia para Cr2 via socket
+4. Cr2 desserializa e adiciona veículo à fila
+
+#### 2. STATS_UPDATE
+
+Envia estatísticas de um cruzamento para o Dashboard.
+
+**Estrutura:**
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "b4d6e8f0-2345-6789-01bc-def123456789",
+  "type": "STATS_UPDATE",
+  "senderId": "Cr3",
+  "destinationId": "Dashboard",
+  "timestamp": 1729595234789,
+  "payload": {
+    "intersectionId": "Cr3",
+    "queueLengths": {
+      "North": 5,
+      "South": 3,
+      "East": 7,
+      "West": 2
+    },
+    "vehiclesProcessed": 142,
+    "averageWaitTime": 4.5,
+    "currentTime": 123.45
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**Frequência:** A cada 10 segundos (configurável)
+
+#### 3. VEHICLE_EXIT
+
+Notifica quando um veículo sai do sistema.
+
+**Estrutura:**
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "c5e7f9a1-3456-7890-12bc-def123456789",
+  "type": "VEHICLE_EXIT",
+  "senderId": "Cr5",
+  "destinationId": "ExitNode",
+  "timestamp": 1729595234890,
+  "payload": {
+    "id": "V123",
+    "type": "LIGHT",
+    "entryTime": 15.7,
+    "exitTime": 45.2,
+    "totalSystemTime": 29.5,
+    "totalWaitingTime": 8.3,
+    "totalCrossingTime": 4.8,
+    "routeTaken": ["Cr1", "Cr2", "Cr5", "S"]
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### 4. HEARTBEAT
+
+Mantém a ligação ativa e monitoriza a saúde dos processos.
+
+**Estrutura:**
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "d6e8f0a2-4567-8901-23cd-ef1234567890",
+  "type": "HEARTBEAT",
+  "senderId": "Cr1",
+  "destinationId": "Coordinator",
+  "timestamp": 1729595235000,
+  "payload": {
+    "status": "RUNNING",
+    "uptime": 120.5,
+    "vehiclesInQueue": 12
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**Frequência:** A cada 5 segundos
+
+#### 5. LIGHT_CHANGE
+
+Notifica mudança de estado de semáforo (para logging/debugging).
+
+**Estrutura:**
+```json
+{
+  "messageId": "e7f9a1b3-5678-9012-34de-f12345678901",
+  "type": "LIGHT_CHANGE",
+  "senderId": "Cr1-North",
+  "destinationId": "Dashboard",
+  "timestamp": 1729595235100,
+  "payload": {
+    "lightId": "Cr1-North",
+    "previousState": "RED",
+    "newState": "GREEN",
+    "queueSize": 5
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Tipos de Veículos
+
+```json
+{
+  "BIKE": {
+    "probability": 0.20,
+    "crossingTime": 1.5
+  },
+  "LIGHT": {
+    "probability": 0.60,
+    "crossingTime": 2.0
+  },
+  "HEAVY": {
+    "probability": 0.20,
+    "crossingTime": 4.0
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### Estados dos Semáforos
+
+```
+RED    → Veículos aguardam na fila
+GREEN  → Veículos podem atravessar
+```
+
+### Exemplo de Comunicação Completa
+
+```
+Tempo    Processo    Ação                                    Mensagem
+------   ---------   -------------------------------------   ------------------
+15.7s    Gerador     Gera veículo V123                      -
+15.7s    Gerador →   Injeta V123 em Cr1                     VEHICLE_TRANSFER
+18.2s    Cr1         V123 inicia travessia                  -
+20.2s    Cr1         V123 completa travessia                -
+20.2s    Cr1 → Cr2   Transfere V123 para Cr2                VEHICLE_TRANSFER
+23.5s    Cr2         V123 inicia travessia                  -
+25.5s    Cr2         V123 completa travessia                -
+25.5s    Cr2 → Cr5   Transfere V123 para Cr5                VEHICLE_TRANSFER
+28.0s    Cr5         V123 inicia travessia                  -
+30.0s    Cr5         V123 completa travessia                -
+30.0s    Cr5 → Exit  V123 sai do sistema                    VEHICLE_EXIT
+30.0s    Exit → Dash Estatísticas de V123                   STATS_UPDATE
+```
+
+---
+
+## Estrutura do Projeto
+
+```
+Trabalho-Pratico-SD/
+├── README.md                          # Este ficheiro
+├── TODO.md                            # Plano de desenvolvimento
+├── main/
+│   ├── pom.xml                        # Configuração do Maven
+│   ├── docs/
+│   │   ├── README.md                  # Índice da documentação
+│   │   ├── SERIALIZATION_SPECIFICATION.md
+│   │   ├── SERIALIZATION_DECISION.md
+│   │   ├── SERIALIZATION_SUMMARY.md
+│   │   └── SERIALIZATION_ARCHITECTURE.md
+│   ├── src/
+│   │   ├── main/java/sd/
+│   │   │   ├── Entry.java             # Ponto de entrada
+│   │   │   ├── config/
+│   │   │   │   └── SimulationConfig.java
+│   │   │   ├── engine/
+│   │   │   │   └── SimulationEngine.java
+│   │   │   ├── model/
+│   │   │   │   ├── Event.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── EventType.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── Intersection.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── Message.java          # Estrutura de mensagens
+│   │   │   │   ├── MessageType.java      # Tipos de mensagens
+│   │   │   │   ├── TrafficLight.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── Vehicle.java
+│   │   │   │   └── VehicleType.java
+│   │   │   ├── serialization/            # Sistema de serialização
+│   │   │   │   ├── MessageSerializer.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── SerializationException.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── JsonMessageSerializer.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── SerializerFactory.java
+│   │   │   │   ├── SerializationExample.java
+│   │   │   │   └── README.md
+│   │   │   └── util/
+│   │   │       ├── RandomGenerator.java
+│   │   │       ├── StatisticsCollector.java
+│   │   │       └── VehicleGenerator.java
+│   │   └── test/java/
+│   │       ├── SimulationTest.java
+│   │       └── sd/serialization/
+│   │           └── SerializationTest.java
+│   └── target/                        # Ficheiros compilados
+└── .vscode/                           # Configuração do VS Code
+```
+
+---
+
+## Instalação e Execução
+
+### Pré-requisitos
+
+- **Java 17** ou superior
+- **Maven 3.8+**
+- **Git**
+
+### Instalação
+
+```bash
+# Clonar o repositório
+git clone https://github.com/davidalves04/Trabalho-Pratico-SD.git
+cd Trabalho-Pratico-SD/main
+
+# Compilar o projeto
+mvn clean compile
+
+# Executar os testes
+mvn test
+```
+
+### Execução
+
+#### Simulação Básica (Single Process)
+
+```bash
+mvn exec:java -Dexec.mainClass="sd.Entry"
+```
+
+#### Exemplo de Serialização
+
+```bash
+mvn exec:java -Dexec.mainClass="sd.serialization.SerializationExample"
+```
+
+#### Configuração
+
+Editar `src/main/resources/simulation.properties`:
+
+```properties
+# Duração da simulação (segundos)
+simulation.duration=60.0
+
+# Modelo de chegada: FIXED ou POISSON
+arrival.model=POISSON
+
+# Taxa de chegada (veículos/segundo)
+arrival.rate=0.5
+
+# Intervalo de atualização de estatísticas (segundos)
+stats.update.interval=10.0
+
+# Distribuição de tipos de veículos
+vehicle.type.bike.probability=0.20
+vehicle.type.light.probability=0.60
+vehicle.type.heavy.probability=0.20
+
+# Tempos de travessia por tipo (segundos)
+vehicle.type.bike.crossing.time=1.5
+vehicle.type.light.crossing.time=2.0
+vehicle.type.heavy.crossing.time=4.0
+```
+
+---
+
+## Documentação
+
+### Documentação de Serialização
+
+A documentação completa sobre o protocolo de serialização está disponível em:
+
+- **[Índice Completo](./main/docs/README.md)** - Navegação da documentação
+- **[Especificação](./main/docs/SERIALIZATION_SPECIFICATION.md)** - Design detalhado
+- **[Guia de Decisão](./main/docs/SERIALIZATION_DECISION.md)** - Porquê JSON?
+- **[Resumo](./main/docs/SERIALIZATION_SUMMARY.md)** - Estado de implementação
+- **[Arquitetura](./main/docs/SERIALIZATION_ARCHITECTURE.md)** - Diagramas visuais
+
+### Guias de Utilização
+
+- **[Serialization README](./main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/README.md)** - Como utilizar os serializers
+
+### Exemplos de Código
+
+```java
+// Criar serializer
+MessageSerializer serializer = SerializerFactory.createDefault();
+
+// Serializar mensagem
+Vehicle vehicle = new Vehicle("V123", VehicleType.LIGHT, 10.5, route);
+Message message = new Message(
+    MessageType.VEHICLE_TRANSFER,
+    "Cr1",
+    "Cr2",
+    vehicle
+);
+byte[] data = serializer.serialize(message);
+
+// Enviar via socket
+outputStream.write(data);
+
+// Receber e desserializar
+byte[] received = inputStream.readAllBytes();
+Message msg = serializer.deserialize(received, Message.class);
+Vehicle v = msg.getPayloadAs(Vehicle.class);
+```
+
+---
+
+## Desenvolvimento
+
+### Estado do Projeto
+
+| Componente | Estado | Notas |
+|------------|--------|-------|
+| Modelo de Dados | Completo | Vehicle, Message, Event, etc. |
+| Simulação DES | Completo | Single-process funcional |
+| Serialização | Completo | JSON e Java implementados |
+| Testes | 14/14 | Suite de serialização |
+| Processos Distribuídos | Planeado | Próxima etapa |
+| Comunicação Sockets | Planeado | Em design |
+| Dashboard | Planeado | UI web |
+
+### Roteiro de Desenvolvimento
+
+#### Fase 1: Fundações (Concluído)
+- Modelação de classes
+- Simulação DES single-process
+- Design de protocolo de serialização
+- Implementação JSON/Java serialization
+- Testes unitários
+
+#### Fase 2: Distribuição (Em Curso)
+- Implementar comunicação via sockets
+- Separar cruzamentos em processos
+- Implementar threads de semáforos
+- Testar comunicação entre processos
+
+#### Fase 3: Dashboard e Monitorização
+- Dashboard server
+- UI web em tempo real
+- Visualização de estatísticas
+- Logs estruturados
+
+#### Fase 4: Optimização e Análise
+- Testes de carga
+- Análise de diferentes políticas
+- Recolha de métricas
+- Relatório final
+
+### Executar Testes
+
+```bash
+# Todos os testes
+mvn test
+
+# Apenas testes de serialização
+mvn test -Dtest=SerializationTest
+
+# Com relatório de cobertura
+mvn test jacoco:report
+```
+
+### Contribuir
+
+1. Fork o projeto
+2. Criar uma branch para a funcionalidade (`git checkout -b feature/MinhaFuncionalidade`)
+3. Commit das alterações (`git commit -m 'Adiciona MinhaFuncionalidade'`)
+4. Push para a branch (`git push origin feature/MinhaFuncionalidade`)
+5. Abrir um Pull Request
+
+---
+
+## Métricas de Desempenho
+
+### Serialização
+
+| Formato | Tamanho | Latência | Throughput |
+|---------|---------|----------|------------|
+| JSON | 300 bytes | 40.79 μs | ~24k msgs/s |
+| Java | 657 bytes | 33.34 μs | ~30k msgs/s |
+
+**Conclusão**: JSON é 54% menor com overhead desprezível (7 μs)
+
+### Simulação
+
+- **Veículos gerados/s**: ~0.5-1.0 (configurável)
+- **Throughput**: ~0.2 veículos/s (saída)
+- **Tempo de execução**: 140ms para 60s de simulação
+- **Overhead**: < 0.25% do tempo simulado
+
+---
+
+## Protocolo de Mensagens - Resumo
+
+### Formato Base
+
+```
++------------------+
+| Message Header   |
+|------------------|
+| messageId        | UUID único
+| type             | Enum MessageType
+| senderId         | ID do processo remetente
+| destinationId    | ID do processo destino (null = broadcast)
+| timestamp        | Tempo de criação (ms)
++------------------+
+| Payload          |
+|------------------|
+| Object           | Dados específicos do tipo de mensagem
++------------------+
+```
+
+### Serialização
+
+- **Formato**: JSON (UTF-8)
+- **Biblioteca**: Gson 2.10.1
+- **Codificação**: UTF-8
+- **Compressão**: Opcional (gzip)
+
+### Transporte
+
+- **Protocolo**: TCP/IP
+- **Porta base**: 5000+ (configurável)
+- **Timeout**: 30s
+- **Keep-alive**: Heartbeat a cada 5s
+
+---
+
+## Segurança
+
+### Considerações
+
+1. **Validação de Mensagens**
+   - Verificar tipos esperados
+   - Validar intervalos de valores
+   - Rejeitar mensagens malformadas
+
+2. **Autenticação** (Planeado)
+   - Autenticação baseada em token
+   - Whitelist de processos
+
+3. **Encriptação** (Opcional)
+   - TLS/SSL para produção
+   - Não necessário para ambiente de desenvolvimento local
+
+---
+
+## Licença
+
+Este projeto é desenvolvido para fins académicos no âmbito da disciplina de Sistemas Distribuídos (SD) do Instituto Politécnico do Porto.
+
+---
+
+## Equipa
+
+**Instituição**: Instituto Politécnico do Porto  
+**Curso**: Sistemas Distribuídos  
+**Ano Letivo**: 2025-2026 (1º Semestre)
+
+---
+
+## Suporte
+
+Para questões ou problemas:
+
+1. Consultar a [documentação](./main/docs/README.md)
+2. Ver [exemplos de código](./main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/SerializationExample.java)
+3. Executar testes: `mvn test`
+4. Abrir issue no GitHub
+
+---
+
+## Ligações Úteis
+
+- [Documentação do Projeto](./main/docs/README.md)
+- [Plano de Desenvolvimento](./TODO.md)
+- [Especificação de Serialização](./main/docs/SERIALIZATION_SPECIFICATION.md)
+- [Guia de Serialização](./main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/README.md)
+
+---
+
+**Última actualização**: 23 de outubro de 2025  
+**Versão**: 1.0.0  
+**Estado**: Em Desenvolvimento Activo

STEP2_SUMMARY.md

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+# 🏁 Single-Process Prototype — Implementation Summary
+
+**Status:** ✅ Complete
+**Date:** October 22, 2025
+**Branch:** `8-single-process-prototype`
+
+---
+
+## Overview
+
+The single-process prototype implements a **discrete event simulation (DES)** of a 3×3 urban grid with five intersections, realistic vehicle behavior, and fully synchronized traffic lights. Everything runs under one process, laying the groundwork for the distributed architecture in Phase 3.
+
+---
+
+## Core Architecture
+
+### **SimulationEngine**
+
+Drives the DES loop with a priority queue of timestamped events — vehicles, lights, crossings, and periodic stats updates. Handles five intersections (Cr1–Cr5) and six event types.
+
+**Main loop:**
+
+```
+while (events && time < duration):
+    event = nextEvent()
+    time = event.timestamp
+    handle(event)
+```
+
+### **VehicleGenerator**
+
+Spawns vehicles via:
+
+* **Poisson arrivals** (λ = 0.5 veh/s) or fixed intervals
+* **Probabilistic routes** from E1–E3
+* **Type distribution**: 20% BIKE, 60% LIGHT, 20% HEAVY
+
+### **StatisticsCollector**
+
+Tracks system-wide and per-type metrics: throughput, avg. wait, queue sizes, light cycles — updated every 10 s and at simulation end.
+
+---
+
+## Model Highlights
+
+* **Vehicle** – type, route, timings, lifecycle.
+* **Intersection** – routing tables, traffic lights, queues.
+* **TrafficLight** – red/green cycles with FIFO queues.
+* **Event** – timestamped, comparable; 6 types for all DES actions.
+
+---
+
+## Configuration (`simulation.properties`)
+
+```properties
+simulation.duration=60.0
+simulation.arrival.model=POISSON
+simulation.arrival.rate=0.5
+
+vehicle.bike.crossingTime=1.5
+vehicle.light.crossingTime=2.0
+vehicle.heavy.crossingTime=4.0
+
+statistics.update.interval=10.0
+```
+
+**Speed logic:**
+`t_bike = 0.5×t_car`, `t_heavy = 2×t_car`.
+
+---
+
+## Topology
+
+```
+E1→Cr1→Cr4→Cr5→S
+E2→Cr2→Cr5→S
+E3→Cr3→S
+Bi-dir: Cr1↔Cr2, Cr2↔Cr3
+```
+
+---
+
+## Results
+
+**Unit Tests:** 7/7 ✅
+**60-Second Simulation:**
+
+* Generated: 22 vehicles
+* Completed: 5 (22.7%)
+* Avg system time: 15.47 s
+* Throughput: 0.08 veh/s
+* All lights & intersections operational
+
+**Performance:**
+~0.03 s real-time run (≈2000× speed-up), < 50 MB RAM.
+
+---
+
+## Code Structure
+
+```
+sd/
+├── engine/SimulationEngine.java
+├── model/{Vehicle,Intersection,TrafficLight,Event}.java
+├── util/{VehicleGenerator,StatisticsCollector}.java
+└── config/SimulationConfig.java
+```
+
+---
+
+## Key Flow
+
+1. Initialize intersections, lights, first events.
+2. Process events chronologically.
+3. Vehicles follow routes → queue → cross → exit.
+4. Lights toggle, queues drain, stats update.
+5. Print summary and performance metrics.
+
+---
+
+## Next Steps — Phase 3
+
+* Split intersections into independent **processes**.
+* Add **socket-based communication**.
+* Run **traffic lights as threads**.
+* Enable **distributed synchronization** and fault handling.
+
+---
+
+## TL;DR
+
+Solid single-process DES ✅
+Everything’s working — traffic lights, routing, vehicles, stats.
+Ready to go distributed next.

TODO.md

@@ -1,3 +1,26 @@
+## ✅ SINGLE-PROCESS PROTOTYPE - COMPLETED
+
+### Phase 2 Status: DONE ✅
+
+All components for the single-process prototype have been successfully implemented and tested:
+
+- ✅ **SimulationEngine** - Priority queue-based discrete event simulation
+- ✅ **VehicleGenerator** - Poisson and Fixed arrival models
+- ✅ **StatisticsCollector** - Comprehensive metrics tracking
+- ✅ **Entry point** - Main simulation runner
+- ✅ **60s test simulation** - Successfully validated event processing and routing
+
+### Test Results:
+- All 7 unit tests passing
+- 60-second simulation completed successfully
+- Generated 22 vehicles with 5 completing their routes
+- Traffic light state changes working correctly
+- Vehicle routing through intersections validated
+
+---
+
+## NEXT: Distributed Architecture Implementation
+
 ### Compreender os Conceitos Fundamentais
 
 Primeiro, as tecnologias e paradigmas chave necessários para este projeto devem ser totalmente compreendidos.
@@ -16,7 +39,7 @@ Primeiro, as tecnologias e paradigmas chave necessários para este projeto devem
         
     - Uma **lista de eventos** central, frequentemente uma fila de prioridades, será necessária para armazenar eventos futuros, ordenados pelo seu timestamp. O ciclo principal da simulação retira o próximo evento da lista, processa-o e adiciona quaisquer novos eventos que resultem dele.
         
-- **Processo de Poisson:** Para o modelo "mais realista" de chegadas de veículos, é especificado um processo de Poisson. A principal conclusão é que o tempo _entre_ chegadas consecutivas de veículos segue uma **distribuição exponencial**. Em Java, este intervalo pode ser gerado usando `Math.log(1 - Math.random()) / -lambda`, onde `lambda` (λi​) é a taxa de chegada especificada.
+- **Processo de Poisson:** Para o modelo 'mais realista' de chegadas de veículos, é especificado um processo de Poisson. A principal conclusão é que o tempo _entre_ chegadas consecutivas de veículos segue uma **distribuição exponencial**. Em Java, este intervalo pode ser gerado usando `Math.log(1 - Math.random()) / -lambda`, onde `lambda` (λi​) é a taxa de chegada especificada.
     
 
 ---
@@ -172,4 +195,4 @@ Assim que o sistema completo estiver a funcionar, as experiências exigidas pela
     
 - **Debugging:** Debugging de sistemas distribuídos podem ser difíceis. Uma framework de logging (como Log4j 2 ou SLF4J) pode ser usada para registar eventos//alterações de estado nos diferentes processos.
     
-- **Configuração:** Valores como endereços IP, números de porta ou parâmetros da simulação não devem ser "hardcoded". Um ficheiro de configuração (ex: um ficheiro `.properties` ou `.json`) torna a aplicação mais fácil de executar e testar.
+- **Configuração:** Valores como endereços IP, números de porta ou parâmetros da simulação não devem ser "hardcoded". Um ficheiro de configuração (ex: um ficheiro `.properties` ou `.json`) torna a aplicação mais fácil de executar e testar.

main/pom.xml

@@ -22,6 +22,47 @@
             <version>5.10.0</version>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
+
+        <!-- Gson for JSON serialization -->
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>com.google.code.gson</groupId>
+            <artifactId>gson</artifactId>
+            <version>2.10.1</version>
+        </dependency>
     </dependencies>
 
+    <build>
+        <plugins>
+            <!-- Maven Exec Plugin for running examples -->
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.codehaus.mojo</groupId>
+                <artifactId>exec-maven-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.1.0</version>
+                <configuration>
+                    <mainClass>sd.Entry</mainClass>
+                </configuration>
+            </plugin>
+            <plugin>
+                <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+                <artifactId>maven-shade-plugin</artifactId>
+                <version>3.5.2</version>
+                <executions>
+                    <execution>
+                        <phase>package</phase>
+                        <goals>
+                            <goal>shade</goal>
+                        </goals>
+                        <configuration>
+                            <transformers>
+                                <transformer implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ManifestResourceTransformer">
+                                    <mainClass>sd.Entry</mainClass>
+                                </transformer>
+                            </transformers>
+                        </configuration>
+                    </execution>
+                </executions>
+            </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+    </build>
+
 </project>

main/src/main/java/sd/config/SimulationConfig.java

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public class SimulationConfig {
          * (por exemplo quando executado a partir do classpath/jar),
          * faz fallback para carregar a partir do classpath usando o ClassLoader.
         */
-        IOException lastException = null;
+        IOException lastException = null; //FIXME: melhorar esta parte para reportar erros de forma mais clara
 
         try {
             try (InputStream input = new FileInputStream(filePath)) {

main/src/main/java/sd/engine/SimulationEngine.java

@@ -264,32 +264,19 @@ public class SimulationEngine {
      */
     private void processEvent(Event event) {
         switch (event.getType()) {
-            case VEHICLE_GENERATION:
+            case VEHICLE_GENERATION -> handleVehicleGeneration();
-                handleVehicleGeneration();
-                break;
                 
-            case VEHICLE_ARRIVAL:
+            case VEHICLE_ARRIVAL -> handleVehicleArrival(event);
-                handleVehicleArrival(event);
-                break;
                 
-            case TRAFFIC_LIGHT_CHANGE:
+            case TRAFFIC_LIGHT_CHANGE -> handleTrafficLightChange(event);
-                handleTrafficLightChange(event);
-                break;
                 
-            case CROSSING_START:
+            case CROSSING_START -> handleCrossingStart(event);
-                handleCrossingStart(event);
-                break;
                 
-            case CROSSING_END:
+            case CROSSING_END -> handleCrossingEnd(event);
-                handleCrossingEnd(event);
-                break;
                 
-            case STATISTICS_UPDATE:
+            case STATISTICS_UPDATE -> handleStatisticsUpdate();
-                handleStatisticsUpdate();
-                break;
                 
-            default:
+            default -> System.err.println("Unknown event type: " + event.getType());
-                System.err.println("Unknown event type: " + event.getType());
         }
     }
     
@@ -386,7 +373,7 @@ public class SimulationEngine {
      * @param vehicle The vehicle to process.
      * @param intersection The intersection where the vehicle is.
      */
-    private void tryProcessVehicle(Vehicle vehicle, Intersection intersection) {
+    private void tryProcessVehicle(Vehicle vehicle, Intersection intersection) { //FIXME
         // Find the direction (and light) this vehicle is queued at
         // This logic is a bit flawed: it just finds the *first* non-empty queue
         // A better approach would be to get the light from the vehicle's route
@@ -591,16 +578,12 @@ public class SimulationEngine {
      * @return The crossing time in seconds.
      */
     private double getCrossingTime(VehicleType type) {
-        switch (type) {
+        return switch (type) {
-            case BIKE:
+            case BIKE -> config.getBikeVehicleCrossingTime();
-                return config.getBikeVehicleCrossingTime();
+            case LIGHT -> config.getLightVehicleCrossingTime();
-            case LIGHT:
+            case HEAVY -> config.getHeavyVehicleCrossingTime();
-                return config.getLightVehicleCrossingTime();
+            default -> 2.0;
-            case HEAVY:
+        }; // Default fallback
-                return config.getHeavyVehicleCrossingTime();
-            default:
-                return 2.0; // Default fallback
-        }
     }
     
     /**

main/src/main/java/sd/model/Message.java

@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+package sd.model;
+
+import java.io.Serializable;
+import java.util.UUID;
+
+/**
+ * Represents a message exchanged between processes in the distributed simulation.
+ * Each message has a unique ID, a type, a sender, a destination, and a payload.
+ * This class implements {@link Serializable} to allow transmission over the network.
+ */
+public class Message implements Serializable {
+    
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
+    
+    /**
+     * Unique identifier for this message.
+     */
+    private final String messageId;
+    
+    /**
+     * The type of this message (e.g., VEHICLE_TRANSFER, STATS_UPDATE).
+     */
+    private final MessageType type;
+    
+    /**
+     * Identifier of the process that sent this message.
+     */
+    private final String senderId;
+    
+    /**
+     * Identifier of the destination process. Can be null for broadcast messages.
+     */
+    private final String destinationId;
+    
+    /**
+     * The actual data being transmitted. Type depends on the message type.
+     */
+    private final Object payload;
+    
+    /**
+     * Timestamp when this message was created (simulation time or real time).
+     */
+    private final long timestamp;
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a new message with all parameters.
+     *
+     * @param type The message type
+     * @param senderId The ID of the sending process
+     * @param destinationId The ID of the destination process (null for broadcast)
+     * @param payload The message payload
+     * @param timestamp The timestamp of message creation
+     */
+    public Message(MessageType type, String senderId, String destinationId, 
+                   Object payload, long timestamp) {
+        this.messageId = UUID.randomUUID().toString();
+        this.type = type;
+        this.senderId = senderId;
+        this.destinationId = destinationId;
+        this.payload = payload;
+        this.timestamp = timestamp;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a new message with current system time as timestamp.
+     *
+     * @param type The message type
+     * @param senderId The ID of the sending process
+     * @param destinationId The ID of the destination process
+     * @param payload The message payload
+     */
+    public Message(MessageType type, String senderId, String destinationId, Object payload) {
+        this(type, senderId, destinationId, payload, System.currentTimeMillis());
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a broadcast message (no specific destination).
+     *
+     * @param type The message type
+     * @param senderId The ID of the sending process
+     * @param payload The message payload
+     */
+    public Message(MessageType type, String senderId, Object payload) {
+        this(type, senderId, null, payload, System.currentTimeMillis());
+    }
+    
+    //Getters
+    
+    public String getMessageId() {
+        return messageId;
+    }
+    
+    public MessageType getType() {
+        return type;
+    }
+    
+    public String getSenderId() {
+        return senderId;
+    }
+    
+    public String getDestinationId() {
+        return destinationId;
+    }
+    
+    public Object getPayload() {
+        return payload;
+    }
+    
+    public long getTimestamp() {
+        return timestamp;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Checks if this is a broadcast message (no specific destination).
+     *
+     * @return true if destinationId is null, false otherwise
+     */
+    public boolean isBroadcast() {
+        return destinationId == null;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Gets the payload cast to a specific type.
+     * Use with caution and ensure type safety.
+     *
+     * @param <T> The expected payload type
+     * @return The payload cast to type T
+     * @throws ClassCastException if the payload is not of type T
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public <T> T getPayloadAs(Class<T> clazz) {
+        return (T) payload;
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return String.format("Message[id=%s, type=%s, from=%s, to=%s, timestamp=%d]",
+                           messageId, type, senderId, 
+                           destinationId != null ? destinationId : "BROADCAST",
+                           timestamp);
+    }
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/model/MessageType.java

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+package sd.model;
+
+/**
+ * Enumeration representing all possible message types for distributed communication.
+ * These types are used for inter-process communication between different components
+ * of the distributed traffic simulation system.
+ */
+public enum MessageType {
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to transfer a vehicle between intersections or processes.
+     * Payload: Vehicle object with current state
+     */
+    VEHICLE_TRANSFER,
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to update statistics across the distributed system.
+     * Payload: Statistics data (waiting times, queue sizes, etc.)
+     */
+    STATS_UPDATE,
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to synchronize traffic light states between processes.
+     * Payload: TrafficLight state and timing information
+     */
+    TRAFFIC_LIGHT_SYNC,
+    
+    /**
+     * Heartbeat message to check if a process is alive.
+     * Payload: Process ID and timestamp
+     */
+    HEARTBEAT,
+    
+    /**
+     * Request to join the distributed simulation.
+     * Payload: Process information and capabilities
+     */
+    JOIN_REQUEST,
+    
+    /**
+     * Response to a join request.
+     * Payload: Acceptance status and configuration
+     */
+    JOIN_RESPONSE,
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to notify about a new vehicle generation.
+     * Payload: Vehicle generation parameters
+     */
+    VEHICLE_SPAWN,
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to request the current state of an intersection.
+     * Payload: Intersection ID
+     */
+    STATE_REQUEST,
+    
+    /**
+     * Response containing the current state of an intersection.
+     * Payload: Complete intersection state
+     */
+    STATE_RESPONSE,
+    
+    /**
+     * Message to signal shutdown of a process.
+     * Payload: Process ID and reason
+     */
+    SHUTDOWN,
+    
+    /**
+     * Acknowledgment message for reliable communication.
+     * Payload: Message ID being acknowledged
+     */
+    ACK,
+    
+    /**
+     * Error message to report problems in the distributed system.
+     * Payload: Error description and context
+     */
+    ERROR
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/JsonMessageSerializer.java

@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
+import com.google.gson.JsonSyntaxException;
+
+import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+
+/**
+ * JSON-based implementation of {@link MessageSerializer} using Google's Gson library.
+ * 
+ * This serializer converts objects to JSON format for transmission, providing:
+ * - Human-readable message format (easy debugging)
+ * - Cross-platform compatibility
+ * - Smaller message sizes compared to Java native serialization
+ * - Better security (no code execution during deserialization)
+ * 
+ * The serializer is configured with pretty printing disabled by default for
+ * production use, but can be enabled for debugging purposes.
+ * 
+ * Thread-safety: This class is thread-safe as Gson instances are thread-safe.
+ * 
+ * @see MessageSerializer
+ */
+public class JsonMessageSerializer implements MessageSerializer {
+    
+    private final Gson gson;
+    private final boolean prettyPrint;
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a new JSON serializer with default configuration (no pretty printing).
+     */
+    public JsonMessageSerializer() {
+        this(false);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a new JSON serializer with optional pretty printing.
+     * 
+     * @param prettyPrint If true, JSON output will be formatted with indentation
+     */
+    public JsonMessageSerializer(boolean prettyPrint) {
+        this.prettyPrint = prettyPrint;
+        GsonBuilder builder = new GsonBuilder();
+        
+        if (prettyPrint) {
+            builder.setPrettyPrinting();
+        }
+        
+        // Register custom type adapters here if needed
+        // builder.registerTypeAdapter(Vehicle.class, new VehicleAdapter());
+        
+        this.gson = builder.create();
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public byte[] serialize(Object object) throws SerializationException {
+        if (object == null) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot serialize null object");
+        }
+        
+        try {
+            String json = gson.toJson(object);
+            return json.getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            throw new SerializationException(
+                "Failed to serialize object of type " + object.getClass().getName(), e);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public <T> T deserialize(byte[] data, Class<T> clazz) throws SerializationException {
+        if (data == null) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot deserialize null data");
+        }
+        if (clazz == null) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Class type cannot be null");
+        }
+        
+        try {
+            String json = new String(data, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
+            return gson.fromJson(json, clazz);
+        } catch (JsonSyntaxException e) {
+            throw new SerializationException(
+                "Failed to parse JSON for type " + clazz.getName(), e);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            throw new SerializationException(
+                "Failed to deserialize object of type " + clazz.getName(), e);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public String getName() {
+        return "JSON (Gson)";
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Returns the underlying Gson instance for advanced usage.
+     * 
+     * @return The Gson instance
+     */
+    public Gson getGson() {
+        return gson;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Checks if pretty printing is enabled.
+     * 
+     * @return true if pretty printing is enabled
+     */
+    public boolean isPrettyPrint() {
+        return prettyPrint;
+    }
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/MessageSerializer.java

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+/**
+ * Interface for serializing and deserializing objects for network transmission.
+ * 
+ * This interface provides a common abstraction for different serialization strategies
+ * allowing the system to switch between implementations without changing the communication layer.
+ * 
+ * Implementations must ensure:
+ * - Thread-safety if used in concurrent contexts
+ * - Proper exception handling with meaningful error messages
+ * - Preservation of object state during round-trip serialization
+ * 
+ * @see JsonMessageSerializer
+ */
+public interface MessageSerializer {
+    
+    /**
+     * Serializes an object into a byte array for transmission.
+     * 
+     * @param object The object to serialize (must not be null)
+     * @return A byte array containing the serialized representation
+     * @throws SerializationException If serialization fails
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If object is null
+     */
+    byte[] serialize(Object object) throws SerializationException;
+    
+    /**
+     * Deserializes a byte array back into an object of the specified type.
+     * 
+     * @param <T> The expected type of the deserialized object
+     * @param data The byte array containing serialized data (must not be null)
+     * @param clazz The class of the expected object type (must not be null)
+     * @return The deserialized object
+     * @throws SerializationException If deserialization fails
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException If data or clazz is null
+     */
+    <T> T deserialize(byte[] data, Class<T> clazz) throws SerializationException;
+    
+    /**
+     * Gets the name of this serialization strategy (e.g., "JSON", "Java Native").
+     * Useful for logging and debugging.
+     * 
+     * @return The serializer name
+     */
+    String getName();
+    
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/SerializationExample.java

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+import sd.model.Message;
+import sd.model.MessageType;
+import sd.model.Vehicle;
+import sd.model.VehicleType;
+
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.List;
+
+/**
+ * Demonstration of JSON serialization usage in the traffic simulation system.
+ * 
+ * This class shows practical examples of how to use JSON (Gson) serialization
+ * for network communication between simulation processes.
+ */
+public class SerializationExample {
+    
+    public static void main(String[] args) {
+        System.out.println("=== JSON Serialization Example ===\n");
+        
+        // Create a sample vehicle
+        List<String> route = Arrays.asList("Cr1", "Cr2", "Cr5", "S");
+        Vehicle vehicle = new Vehicle("V001", VehicleType.LIGHT, 10.5, route);
+        vehicle.addWaitingTime(2.3);
+        vehicle.addCrossingTime(1.2);
+        
+        // Create a message containing the vehicle
+        Message message = new Message(
+            MessageType.VEHICLE_TRANSFER,
+            "Cr1",
+            "Cr2",
+            vehicle
+        );
+        
+        // ===== JSON Serialization =====
+        demonstrateJsonSerialization(message);
+        
+        // ===== Factory Usage =====
+        demonstrateFactoryUsage(message);
+        
+        // ===== Performance Test =====
+        performanceTest(message);
+    }
+    
+    private static void demonstrateJsonSerialization(Message message) {
+        System.out.println("--- JSON Serialization ---");
+        
+        try {
+            // Create JSON serializer with pretty printing for readability
+            MessageSerializer serializer = new JsonMessageSerializer(true);
+            
+            // Serialize to bytes
+            byte[] data = serializer.serialize(message);
+            
+            // Display the JSON
+            String json = new String(data);
+            System.out.println("Serialized JSON (" + data.length + " bytes):");
+            System.out.println(json);
+            
+            // Deserialize back
+            Message deserialized = serializer.deserialize(data, Message.class);
+            System.out.println("\nDeserialized: " + deserialized);
+            System.out.println("✓ JSON serialization successful\n");
+            
+        } catch (SerializationException e) {
+            System.err.println("❌ JSON serialization failed: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+    
+    private static void demonstrateFactoryUsage(Message message) {
+        System.out.println("--- Using SerializerFactory ---");
+        
+        try {
+            // Get default serializer (JSON)
+            MessageSerializer serializer = SerializerFactory.createDefault();
+            System.out.println("Default serializer: " + serializer.getName());
+            
+            // Use it
+            byte[] data = serializer.serialize(message);
+            Message deserialized = serializer.deserialize(data, Message.class);
+            
+            System.out.println("Message type: " + deserialized.getType());
+            System.out.println("From: " + deserialized.getSenderId() + 
+                             " → To: " + deserialized.getDestinationId());
+            System.out.println("✓ Factory usage successful\n");
+            
+        } catch (SerializationException e) {
+            System.err.println("❌ Factory usage failed: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+    
+    private static void performanceTest(Message message) {
+        System.out.println("--- Performance Test ---");
+        
+        int iterations = 1000;
+        
+        try {
+            MessageSerializer compactSerializer = new JsonMessageSerializer(false);
+            MessageSerializer prettySerializer = new JsonMessageSerializer(true);
+            
+            // Warm up
+            for (int i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
+                compactSerializer.serialize(message);
+            }
+            
+            // Test compact JSON
+            long compactStart = System.nanoTime();
+            byte[] compactData = null;
+            for (int i = 0; i < iterations; i++) {
+                compactData = compactSerializer.serialize(message);
+            }
+            long compactTime = System.nanoTime() - compactStart;
+            
+            // Test pretty JSON
+            byte[] prettyData = prettySerializer.serialize(message);
+            
+            // Results
+            System.out.println("Iterations: " + iterations);
+            System.out.println("\nJSON Compact:");
+            System.out.println("  Size: " + compactData.length + " bytes");
+            System.out.println("  Time: " + (compactTime / 1_000_000.0) + " ms total");
+            System.out.println("  Avg:  " + (compactTime / iterations / 1_000.0) + " μs/operation");
+            
+            System.out.println("\nJSON Pretty-Print:");
+            System.out.println("  Size: " + prettyData.length + " bytes");
+            System.out.println("  Size increase: " + 
+                String.format("%.1f%%", ((double)prettyData.length / compactData.length - 1) * 100));
+            
+        } catch (SerializationException e) {
+            System.err.println("❌ Performance test failed: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/SerializationException.java

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+/**
+ * Exception thrown when serialization or deserialization operations fail.
+ * 
+ * This exception wraps underlying errors (I/O exceptions, parsing errors, etc.)
+ * and provides context about what went wrong during the serialization process.
+ */
+public class SerializationException extends Exception {
+    
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L; // Long(64bits) instead of int(32bits)
+    
+    /**
+     * Constructs a new serialization exception with the specified detail message.
+     * 
+     * @param message The detail message
+     */
+    public SerializationException(String message) {
+        super(message);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Constructs a new serialization exception with the specified detail message
+     * and cause.
+     * 
+     * @param message The detail message
+     * @param cause The cause of this exception
+     */
+    public SerializationException(String message, Throwable cause) {
+        super(message, cause);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Constructs a new serialization exception with the specified cause.
+     * 
+     * @param cause The cause of this exception
+     */
+    public SerializationException(Throwable cause) {
+        super(cause);
+    }
+}

main/src/main/java/sd/serialization/SerializerFactory.java

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+/**
+ * Factory for creating {@link MessageSerializer} instances.
+ * 
+ * This factory provides a centralized way to create and configure JSON serializers
+ * using Gson, making it easy to configure serialization throughout the application.
+ * 
+ * The factory can be configured via system properties for easy deployment configuration.
+ * 
+ * Example usage:
+ * <pre>
+ * MessageSerializer serializer = SerializerFactory.createDefault();
+ * byte[] data = serializer.serialize(myObject);
+ * </pre>
+ */
+public class SerializerFactory {
+    
+    /**
+     * System property key for enabling pretty-print in JSON serialization.
+     * Set to "true" for debugging, "false" for production.
+     */
+    public static final String JSON_PRETTY_PRINT_PROPERTY = "sd.serialization.json.prettyPrint";
+    
+    // Default configuration
+    private static final boolean DEFAULT_JSON_PRETTY_PRINT = false;
+    
+    /**
+     * Private constructor to prevent instantiation.
+     */
+    private SerializerFactory() {
+        throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Factory class cannot be instantiated");
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a JSON serializer based on system configuration.
+     * 
+     * Pretty-print is determined by checking the system property
+     * {@value #JSON_PRETTY_PRINT_PROPERTY}. If not set, defaults to false.
+     * 
+     * @return A configured JsonMessageSerializer instance
+     */
+    public static MessageSerializer createDefault() {
+        boolean prettyPrint = Boolean.getBoolean(JSON_PRETTY_PRINT_PROPERTY);
+        return new JsonMessageSerializer(prettyPrint);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a JSON serializer with default configuration (no pretty printing).
+     * 
+     * @return A JsonMessageSerializer instance
+     */
+    public static MessageSerializer createSerializer() {
+        return createSerializer(DEFAULT_JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Creates a JSON serializer with specified pretty-print setting.
+     * 
+     * @param prettyPrint Whether to enable pretty printing
+     * @return A JsonMessageSerializer instance
+     */
+    public static MessageSerializer createSerializer(boolean prettyPrint) {
+        return new JsonMessageSerializer(prettyPrint);
+    }
+}

main/src/test/java/SimulationTest.java

@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class SimulationTest {
         assertEquals("TEST1", vehicle.getId());
         assertNotNull(vehicle.getType());
         assertNotNull(vehicle.getRoute());
-        assertTrue(vehicle.getRoute().size() > 0);
+        assertTrue(!vehicle.getRoute().isEmpty());
     }
     
     @Test

main/src/test/java/sd/serialization/SerializationTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+package sd.serialization;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.DisplayName;
+import sd.model.Message;
+import sd.model.Vehicle;
+import sd.model.VehicleType;
+
+import java.util.Arrays;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
+
+/**
+ * Test suite for JSON serialization.
+ * 
+ * Tests JSON serialization to ensure:
+ * - Correct serialization and deserialization
+ * - Data integrity during round-trip conversion
+ * - Proper error handling
+ */
+class SerializationTest {
+    
+    private MessageSerializer jsonSerializer = new JsonMessageSerializer();
+    
+    private Vehicle testVehicle = new Vehicle("V001", VehicleType.LIGHT, 10.5,
+            Arrays.asList("Cr1", "Cr2", "Cr5", "S"));
+    private Message testMessage = new Message(
+            sd.model.MessageType.VEHICLE_TRANSFER,
+            "Cr1",
+            "Cr2",
+            testVehicle
+    );
+    
+    
+    // ===== JSON Serialization Tests =====
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should serialize and deserialize Vehicle correctly")
+    void testJsonVehicleRoundTrip() throws SerializationException {
+        // Serialize
+        byte[] data = jsonSerializer.serialize(testVehicle);
+        assertNotNull(data);
+        assertTrue(data.length > 0);
+        
+        // Print JSON for inspection
+        System.out.println("JSON Vehicle:");
+        System.out.println(new String(data));
+        
+        // Deserialize
+        Vehicle deserialized = jsonSerializer.deserialize(data, Vehicle.class);
+        
+        // Verify
+        assertNotNull(deserialized);
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getId(), deserialized.getId());
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getType(), deserialized.getType());
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getEntryTime(), deserialized.getEntryTime());
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getRoute(), deserialized.getRoute());
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getTotalWaitingTime(), deserialized.getTotalWaitingTime());
+        assertEquals(testVehicle.getTotalCrossingTime(), deserialized.getTotalCrossingTime());
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should serialize and deserialize Message correctly")
+    void testJsonMessageRoundTrip() throws SerializationException {
+        // Serialize
+        byte[] data = jsonSerializer.serialize(testMessage);
+        assertNotNull(data);
+        
+        // Print JSON for inspection
+        System.out.println("\nJSON Message:");
+        System.out.println(new String(data));
+        
+        // Deserialize
+        Message deserialized = jsonSerializer.deserialize(data, Message.class);
+        
+        // Verify
+        assertNotNull(deserialized);
+        assertEquals(testMessage.getType(), deserialized.getType());
+        assertEquals(testMessage.getSenderId(), deserialized.getSenderId());
+        assertEquals(testMessage.getDestinationId(), deserialized.getDestinationId());
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should throw exception on null object")
+    void testJsonSerializeNull() {
+        assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, () -> {
+            jsonSerializer.serialize(null);
+        });
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should throw exception on null data")
+    void testJsonDeserializeNull() {
+        assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, () -> {
+            jsonSerializer.deserialize(null, Vehicle.class);
+        });
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should throw exception on invalid JSON")
+    void testJsonDeserializeInvalid() {
+        byte[] invalidData = "{ invalid json }".getBytes();
+        assertThrows(SerializationException.class, () -> {
+            jsonSerializer.deserialize(invalidData, Vehicle.class);
+        });
+    }
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("JSON: Should preserve data integrity for complex objects")
+    void testDataIntegrity() throws SerializationException {
+        // Create a more complex vehicle
+        Vehicle vehicle = new Vehicle("V999", VehicleType.HEAVY, 100.5,
+            Arrays.asList("Cr1", "Cr2", "Cr3", "Cr4", "Cr5", "S"));
+        vehicle.addWaitingTime(10.5);
+        vehicle.addWaitingTime(5.3);
+        vehicle.addCrossingTime(2.1);
+        vehicle.advanceRoute();
+        vehicle.advanceRoute();
+        
+        // Serialize and deserialize
+        byte[] jsonData = jsonSerializer.serialize(vehicle);
+        Vehicle deserialized = jsonSerializer.deserialize(jsonData, Vehicle.class);
+        
+        // Verify all fields match
+        assertEquals(vehicle.getId(), deserialized.getId());
+        assertEquals(vehicle.getType(), deserialized.getType());
+        assertEquals(vehicle.getTotalWaitingTime(), deserialized.getTotalWaitingTime());
+        assertEquals(vehicle.getCurrentRouteIndex(), deserialized.getCurrentRouteIndex());
+    }
+    
+    // ===== Factory Tests =====
+    
+    @Test
+    @DisplayName("Factory: Should create JSON serializer by default")
+    void testFactoryDefault() {
+        MessageSerializer serializer = SerializerFactory.createDefault();
+        assertNotNull(serializer);
+        assertEquals("JSON (Gson)", serializer.getName());
+    }
+}