Systems and method for manipulating optical pulses to implement an optical switch and for pulse shaping (e.g., pulse compression and/or compression) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises an optical switch apparatus that includes a plurality of resonators optically coupled to a waveguide, two output waveguides, an input light source, a control light source. The system selects some of the input signals emitted from the input light course using control signals emitted from the control light source to route to one of the output waveguides. In another embodiment, the system includes a waveguide optically coupled to a plurality of resonators, input light source, optional resonator modules that can change the refractive index of the resonators, and an optional amplifier. This system can change the shape of the pulses by changing a number of parameters, such as the incoming pulse amplitude and/or the refractive index of the resonators.