Austin refactored the PbjProtocolHandler in the hashgraph/pbj repository, transitioning its architecture from a Flow.Subscriber model to a Pipeline-based interface using Java and gRPC. This redesign improved connection lifecycle management by ensuring the server connection remains open after receiving an end-of-stream signal from the client, directly addressing issues with unintended disconnects. Austin introduced the clientEndStreamReceived method to the Pipeline, enabling explicit handling of client-initiated stream terminations and reducing connection churn. The work demonstrated depth in software design and networking, laying a foundation for future extensibility while enhancing streaming reliability and robustness in the protocol’s server-client communication flow.