# Phase 5: TAK Server Research & Selection

## Goal
Research and select the optimal TAK-compatible server with web interface for team coordination and offsite operator integration.

## Research Requirements

### Research Method
Use DuckDuckGo tool for comprehensive web research on TAK-compatible implementations.

### Key Research Areas

1. **TAK-Compatible Implementations**
   - Open-source TAK-compatible servers
   - Web interface capabilities
   - COT (Cursor-on-Target) protocol support
   - Geospatial mapping integration
   - Mobile device support

2. **Feature Comparison**
   - User interface: web-based vs desktop vs mobile
   - Mapping capabilities: OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, custom maps
   - Message types: text, COT, chat, file sharing
   - Authentication: OAuth, JWT, LDAP, basic auth
   - Persistence: database options, storage requirements

3. **Deployment Requirements**
   - Hardware needs: CPU, memory, storage
   - Network requirements: ports, protocols, firewall rules
   - Dependency requirements: databases, message brokers
   - Scalability: single-node vs clustered deployments

4. **Security Considerations**
   - Data encryption: in-transit and at-rest
   - Authentication mechanisms
   - Authorization models
   - Audit logging capabilities
   - Vulnerability history

5. **Integration Capabilities**
   - REST API availability
   - WebSocket support for real-time updates
   - External authentication providers
   - Custom plugin/system integration

## Research Process

1. **Discovery Phase**
   - Use DuckDuckGo to search for "open source TAK server"
   - Identify 5-10 potential implementations
   - Document source repositories and documentation

2. **Evaluation Phase**
   - Review README files and documentation
   - Check GitHub stars, activity, and maintenance status
   - Evaluate feature completeness against requirements

3. **Selection Phase**
   - Create comparison matrix of top 3 candidates
   - Document pros and cons of each option
   - Select optimal implementation based on criteria

## Deliverables

1. **Research Report** (PLAN.md)
   - Summary of findings
   - Comparison of top 3 implementations
   - Recommendation with justification

2. **Implementation Plan**
   - Deployment strategy
   - Configuration requirements
   - Integration approach

## Selection Criteria

**Must Have:**
- Open-source license
- Web interface
- COT protocol support
- Geospatial mapping
- Docker deployment support

**Nice to Have:**
- Active maintenance
- Good documentation
- Community support
- REST API for integration
- Mobile client availability

## Timeline

- Research completion: [Estimated date]
- Decision finalized: [Estimated date]
- Ready to proceed to Phase 6: [Estimated date]

## Notes

- Focus on implementations that can be containerized
- Prioritize solutions with good documentation
- Consider long-term maintenance and support
- Document all research findings for future reference