The Single-Writer Principle in CRDT Composition

Abstract

Multi-master replication in a distributed system setting allows each node holding a replica to update and query the local replica, and disseminate updates to other nodes. Obtaining high availability typically entails allowing replicas to diverge and requires a background mechanism for re-establishing consistency. Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDTs) extend standard sequential data-types with appropriate merge functions, and often can be composed together to create more complex ones. In this work we add a generic CRDT composition approach that explores the single-writer principle. By carefully controlling which part of the composition can be updated by each replica, we can derive efficient designs that cover new usecases. After introducing the new construction we exemplify some uses, including how to emulate a simple Doodle functionality for selecting a common meeting schedule among different participants.

Publication
PMLDC@ECOOP, Barcelona, Spain, June 20, 2017