+ * @return A pointer to a struct meshlink_handle which represents this instance of MeshLink, or NULL in case of an error.
+ * The pointer is valid until meshlink_close() is called.
+ */
+extern struct meshlink_handle *meshlink_open(const char *confbase, const char *name, const char *appname, dev_class_t devclass) __attribute__((__warn_unused_result__));
+
+/// Open or create a MeshLink instance that uses encrypted storage.
+/** This function opens or creates a MeshLink instance.
+ * The state is stored in the configuration directory passed in the variable @a confbase.
+ * If the configuration directory does not exist yet, for example when it is the first time
+ * this instance is opened, the configuration directory will be automatically created and initialized.
+ * However, the parent directory should already exist, otherwise an error will be returned.
+ *
+ * The name given should be a unique identifier for this instance.
+ *
+ * This function returns a pointer to a struct meshlink_handle that will be allocated by MeshLink.
+ * When the application does no longer need to use this handle, it must call meshlink_close() to
+ * free its resources.
+ *
+ * This function does not start any network I/O yet. The application should
+ * first set callbacks, and then call meshlink_start().
+ *
+ * @param confbase The directory in which MeshLink will store its configuration files.
+ * After the function returns, the application is free to overwrite or free @a confbase.
+ * @param name The name which this instance of the application will use in the mesh.
+ * After the function returns, the application is free to overwrite or free @a name.
+ * @param appname The application name which will be used in the mesh.
+ * After the function returns, the application is free to overwrite or free @a name.
+ * @param devclass The device class which will be used in the mesh.
+ * @param key A pointer to a key used to encrypt storage.
+ * @param keylen The length of the key in bytes.
+ *
+ * @return A pointer to a struct meshlink_handle which represents this instance of MeshLink, or NULL in case of an error.
+ * The pointer is valid until meshlink_close() is called.
+ */
+extern struct meshlink_handle *meshlink_open_encrypted(const char *confbase, const char *name, const char *appname, dev_class_t devclass, const void *key, size_t keylen) __attribute__((__warn_unused_result__));
+
+/// Create an ephemeral MeshLink instance that does not store any state.
+/** This function creates a MeshLink instance.
+ * No state is ever saved, so once this instance is closed, all its state is gone.
+ *
+ * The name given should be a unique identifier for this instance.
+ *
+ * This function returns a pointer to a struct meshlink_handle that will be allocated by MeshLink.
+ * When the application does no longer need to use this handle, it must call meshlink_close() to
+ * free its resources.
+ *
+ * This function does not start any network I/O yet. The application should
+ * first set callbacks, and then call meshlink_start().
+ *
+ * @param name The name which this instance of the application will use in the mesh.
+ * After the function returns, the application is free to overwrite or free @a name.
+ * @param appname The application name which will be used in the mesh.
+ * After the function returns, the application is free to overwrite or free @a name.
+ * @param devclass The device class which will be used in the mesh.
+ *
+ * @return A pointer to a struct meshlink_handle which represents this instance of MeshLink, or NULL in case of an error.
+ * The pointer is valid until meshlink_close() is called.
+ */
+extern struct meshlink_handle *meshlink_open_ephemeral(const char *name, const char *appname, dev_class_t devclass) __attribute__((__warn_unused_result__));
+
+/// Create Sub-Mesh.
+/** This function causes MeshLink to open a new Sub-Mesh network
+ * create a new thread, which will handle all network I/O.
+ *
+ * It is allowed to call this function even if MeshLink is already started, in which case it will return true.
+ *
+ * \memberof meshlink_handle
+ * @param mesh A handle which represents an instance of MeshLink.
+ *
+ * @param submesh Name of the new Sub-Mesh to create.
+ *
+ * @return A pointer to a struct meshlink_submesh which represents this instance of SubMesh, or NULL in case of an error.