Files
synapse/develop/development/synapse_architecture/streams.html
2026-03-17 14:53:05 +00:00

461 lines
38 KiB
HTML
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html lang="en" class="light sidebar-visible" dir="ltr">
<head>
<!-- Book generated using mdBook -->
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Streams - Synapse</title>
<!-- Custom HTML head -->
<meta name="description" content="">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff">
<link rel="icon" href="../../favicon-de23e50b.svg">
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="../../favicon-8114d1fc.png">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../css/variables-8adf115d.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../css/general-2459343d.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../css/chrome-ae938929.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../css/print-9e4910d8.css" media="print">
<!-- Fonts -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../fonts/fonts-9644e21d.css">
<!-- Highlight.js Stylesheets -->
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-highlight-css" href="../../highlight-493f70e1.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-tomorrow-night-css" href="../../tomorrow-night-4c0ae647.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" id="mdbook-ayu-highlight-css" href="../../ayu-highlight-3fdfc3ac.css">
<!-- Custom theme stylesheets -->
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../docs/website_files/indent-section-headers-3390f960.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../../docs/website_files/version-picker-ddc5216e.css">
<!-- Provide site root and default themes to javascript -->
<script>
const path_to_root = "../../";
const default_light_theme = "light";
const default_dark_theme = "navy";
window.path_to_searchindex_js = "../../searchindex-b5af432e.js";
</script>
<!-- Start loading toc.js asap -->
<script src="../../toc-4dc10a98.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="mdbook-help-container">
<div id="mdbook-help-popup">
<h2 class="mdbook-help-title">Keyboard shortcuts</h2>
<div>
<p>Press <kbd></kbd> or <kbd></kbd> to navigate between chapters</p>
<p>Press <kbd>S</kbd> or <kbd>/</kbd> to search in the book</p>
<p>Press <kbd>?</kbd> to show this help</p>
<p>Press <kbd>Esc</kbd> to hide this help</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="mdbook-body-container">
<!-- Work around some values being stored in localStorage wrapped in quotes -->
<script>
try {
let theme = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-theme');
let sidebar = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-sidebar');
if (theme.startsWith('"') && theme.endsWith('"')) {
localStorage.setItem('mdbook-theme', theme.slice(1, theme.length - 1));
}
if (sidebar.startsWith('"') && sidebar.endsWith('"')) {
localStorage.setItem('mdbook-sidebar', sidebar.slice(1, sidebar.length - 1));
}
} catch (e) { }
</script>
<!-- Set the theme before any content is loaded, prevents flash -->
<script>
const default_theme = window.matchMedia("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches ? default_dark_theme : default_light_theme;
let theme;
try { theme = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-theme'); } catch(e) { }
if (theme === null || theme === undefined) { theme = default_theme; }
const html = document.documentElement;
html.classList.remove('light')
html.classList.add(theme);
html.classList.add("js");
</script>
<input type="checkbox" id="mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor" class="hidden">
<!-- Hide / unhide sidebar before it is displayed -->
<script>
let sidebar = null;
const sidebar_toggle = document.getElementById("mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor");
if (document.body.clientWidth >= 1080) {
try { sidebar = localStorage.getItem('mdbook-sidebar'); } catch(e) { }
sidebar = sidebar || 'visible';
} else {
sidebar = 'hidden';
sidebar_toggle.checked = false;
}
if (sidebar === 'visible') {
sidebar_toggle.checked = true;
} else {
html.classList.remove('sidebar-visible');
}
</script>
<nav id="mdbook-sidebar" class="sidebar" aria-label="Table of contents">
<!-- populated by js -->
<mdbook-sidebar-scrollbox class="sidebar-scrollbox"></mdbook-sidebar-scrollbox>
<noscript>
<iframe class="sidebar-iframe-outer" src="../../toc.html"></iframe>
</noscript>
<div id="mdbook-sidebar-resize-handle" class="sidebar-resize-handle">
<div class="sidebar-resize-indicator"></div>
</div>
</nav>
<div id="mdbook-page-wrapper" class="page-wrapper">
<div class="page">
<div id="mdbook-menu-bar-hover-placeholder"></div>
<div id="mdbook-menu-bar" class="menu-bar sticky">
<div class="left-buttons">
<label id="mdbook-sidebar-toggle" class="icon-button" for="mdbook-sidebar-toggle-anchor" title="Toggle Table of Contents" aria-label="Toggle Table of Contents" aria-controls="mdbook-sidebar">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 448 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M0 96C0 78.3 14.3 64 32 64H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32C14.3 128 0 113.7 0 96zM0 256c0-17.7 14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32zM448 416c0 17.7-14.3 32-32 32H32c-17.7 0-32-14.3-32-32s14.3-32 32-32H416c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32z"/></svg></span>
</label>
<button id="mdbook-theme-toggle" class="icon-button" type="button" title="Change theme" aria-label="Change theme" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="mdbook-theme-list">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 576 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M371.3 367.1c27.3-3.9 51.9-19.4 67.2-42.9L600.2 74.1c12.6-19.5 9.4-45.3-7.6-61.2S549.7-4.4 531.1 9.6L294.4 187.2c-24 18-38.2 46.1-38.4 76.1L371.3 367.1zm-19.6 25.4l-116-104.4C175.9 290.3 128 339.6 128 400c0 3.9 .2 7.8 .6 11.6c1.8 17.5-10.2 36.4-27.8 36.4H96c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32H240c61.9 0 112-50.1 112-112c0-2.5-.1-5-.2-7.5z"/></svg></span>
</button>
<ul id="mdbook-theme-list" class="theme-popup" aria-label="Themes" role="menu">
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-default_theme">Auto</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-light">Light</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-rust">Rust</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-coal">Coal</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-navy">Navy</button></li>
<li role="none"><button role="menuitem" class="theme" id="mdbook-theme-ayu">Ayu</button></li>
</ul>
<button id="mdbook-search-toggle" class="icon-button" type="button" title="Search (`/`)" aria-label="Toggle Searchbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-keyshortcuts="/ s" aria-controls="mdbook-searchbar">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M416 208c0 45.9-14.9 88.3-40 122.7L502.6 457.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3s-32.8 12.5-45.3 0L330.7 376c-34.4 25.2-76.8 40-122.7 40C93.1 416 0 322.9 0 208S93.1 0 208 0S416 93.1 416 208zM208 352c79.5 0 144-64.5 144-144s-64.5-144-144-144S64 128.5 64 208s64.5 144 144 144z"/></svg></span>
</button>
</div>
<!-- BEGIN CUSTOM SYNAPSE MODIFICATIONS -->
<div class="version-picker">
<div class="dropdown">
<div class="select">
<span></span>
<i class="fa fa-chevron-down"></i>
</div>
<input type="hidden" name="version">
<ul class="dropdown-menu">
<!-- Versions will be added dynamically in version-picker.js -->
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END CUSTOM SYNAPSE MODIFICATIONS -->
<h1 class="menu-title">Synapse</h1>
<div class="right-buttons">
<a href="../../print.html" title="Print this book" aria-label="Print this book">
<span class=fa-svg id="print-button"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M128 0C92.7 0 64 28.7 64 64v96h64V64H354.7L384 93.3V160h64V93.3c0-17-6.7-33.3-18.7-45.3L400 18.7C388 6.7 371.7 0 354.7 0H128zM384 352v32 64H128V384 368 352H384zm64 32h32c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32V256c0-35.3-28.7-64-64-64H64c-35.3 0-64 28.7-64 64v96c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32H64v64c0 35.3 28.7 64 64 64H384c35.3 0 64-28.7 64-64V384zm-16-88c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24s10.7-24 24-24s24 10.7 24 24s-10.7 24-24 24z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse" title="Git repository" aria-label="Git repository">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 496 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M165.9 397.4c0 2-2.3 3.6-5.2 3.6-3.3.3-5.6-1.3-5.6-3.6 0-2 2.3-3.6 5.2-3.6 3-.3 5.6 1.3 5.6 3.6zm-31.1-4.5c-.7 2 1.3 4.3 4.3 4.9 2.6 1 5.6 0 6.2-2s-1.3-4.3-4.3-5.2c-2.6-.7-5.5.3-6.2 2.3zm44.2-1.7c-2.9.7-4.9 2.6-4.6 4.9.3 2 2.9 3.3 5.9 2.6 2.9-.7 4.9-2.6 4.6-4.6-.3-1.9-3-3.2-5.9-2.9zM244.8 8C106.1 8 0 113.3 0 252c0 110.9 69.8 205.8 169.5 239.2 12.8 2.3 17.3-5.6 17.3-12.1 0-6.2-.3-40.4-.3-61.4 0 0-70 15-84.7-29.8 0 0-11.4-29.1-27.8-36.6 0 0-22.9-15.7 1.6-15.4 0 0 24.9 2 38.6 25.8 21.9 38.6 58.6 27.5 72.9 20.9 2.3-16 8.8-27.1 16-33.7-55.9-6.2-112.3-14.3-112.3-110.5 0-27.5 7.6-41.3 23.6-58.9-2.6-6.5-11.1-33.3 2.6-67.9 20.9-6.5 69 27 69 27 20-5.6 41.5-8.5 62.8-8.5s42.8 2.9 62.8 8.5c0 0 48.1-33.6 69-27 13.7 34.7 5.2 61.4 2.6 67.9 16 17.7 25.8 31.5 25.8 58.9 0 96.5-58.9 104.2-114.8 110.5 9.2 7.9 17 22.9 17 46.4 0 33.7-.3 75.4-.3 83.6 0 6.5 4.6 14.4 17.3 12.1C428.2 457.8 496 362.9 496 252 496 113.3 383.5 8 244.8 8zM97.2 352.9c-1.3 1-1 3.3.7 5.2 1.6 1.6 3.9 2.3 5.2 1 1.3-1 1-3.3-.7-5.2-1.6-1.6-3.9-2.3-5.2-1zm-10.8-8.1c-.7 1.3.3 2.9 2.3 3.9 1.6 1 3.6.7 4.3-.7.7-1.3-.3-2.9-2.3-3.9-2-.6-3.6-.3-4.3.7zm32.4 35.6c-1.6 1.3-1 4.3 1.3 6.2 2.3 2.3 5.2 2.6 6.5 1 1.3-1.3.7-4.3-1.3-6.2-2.2-2.3-5.2-2.6-6.5-1zm-11.4-14.7c-1.6 1-1.6 3.6 0 5.9 1.6 2.3 4.3 3.3 5.6 2.3 1.6-1.3 1.6-3.9 0-6.2-1.4-2.3-4-3.3-5.6-2z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/edit/develop/docs/development/synapse_architecture/streams.md" title="Suggest an edit" aria-label="Suggest an edit" rel="edit">
<span class=fa-svg id="git-edit-button"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M421.7 220.3l-11.3 11.3-22.6 22.6-205 205c-6.6 6.6-14.8 11.5-23.8 14.1L30.8 511c-8.4 2.5-17.5 .2-23.7-6.1S-1.5 489.7 1 481.2L38.7 353.1c2.6-9 7.5-17.2 14.1-23.8l205-205 22.6-22.6 11.3-11.3 33.9 33.9 62.1 62.1 33.9 33.9zM96 353.9l-9.3 9.3c-.9 .9-1.6 2.1-2 3.4l-25.3 86 86-25.3c1.3-.4 2.5-1.1 3.4-2l9.3-9.3H112c-8.8 0-16-7.2-16-16V353.9zM453.3 19.3l39.4 39.4c25 25 25 65.5 0 90.5l-14.5 14.5-22.6 22.6-11.3 11.3-33.9-33.9-62.1-62.1L314.3 67.7l11.3-11.3 22.6-22.6 14.5-14.5c25-25 65.5-25 90.5 0z"/></svg></span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="mdbook-search-wrapper" class="hidden">
<form id="mdbook-searchbar-outer" class="searchbar-outer">
<div class="search-wrapper">
<input type="search" id="mdbook-searchbar" name="searchbar" placeholder="Search this book ..." aria-controls="mdbook-searchresults-outer" aria-describedby="searchresults-header">
<div class="spinner-wrapper">
<span class=fa-svg id="fa-spin"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M304 48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zm0 416c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zM48 304c26.5 0 48-21.5 48-48s-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48zm464-48c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48s-48 21.5-48 48s21.5 48 48 48s48-21.5 48-48zM142.9 437c18.7-18.7 18.7-49.1 0-67.9s-49.1-18.7-67.9 0s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9s49.1 18.7 67.9 0zm0-294.2c18.7-18.7 18.7-49.1 0-67.9S93.7 56.2 75 75s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9s49.1 18.7 67.9 0zM369.1 437c18.7 18.7 49.1 18.7 67.9 0s18.7-49.1 0-67.9s-49.1-18.7-67.9 0s-18.7 49.1 0 67.9z"/></svg></span>
</div>
</div>
</form>
<div id="mdbook-searchresults-outer" class="searchresults-outer hidden">
<div id="mdbook-searchresults-header" class="searchresults-header"></div>
<ul id="mdbook-searchresults">
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Apply ARIA attributes after the sidebar and the sidebar toggle button are added to the DOM -->
<script>
document.getElementById('mdbook-sidebar-toggle').setAttribute('aria-expanded', sidebar === 'visible');
document.getElementById('mdbook-sidebar').setAttribute('aria-hidden', sidebar !== 'visible');
Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('#mdbook-sidebar a')).forEach(function(link) {
link.setAttribute('tabIndex', sidebar === 'visible' ? 0 : -1);
});
</script>
<div id="mdbook-content" class="content">
<main>
<h1 id="streams"><a class="header" href="#streams">Streams</a></h1>
<p>Synapse has a concept of “streams”, which are roughly described in <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/develop/synapse/storage/util/id_generators.py"><code>id_generators.py</code></a>.
Generally speaking, streams are a series of notifications that something in Synapses database has changed that the application might need to respond to.
For example:</p>
<ul>
<li>The events stream reports new events (PDUs) that Synapse creates, or that Synapse accepts from another homeserver.</li>
<li>The account data stream reports changes to users <a href="https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/client-server-api/#client-config">account data</a>.</li>
<li>The to-device stream reports when a device has a new <a href="https://spec.matrix.org/v1.7/client-server-api/#send-to-device-messaging">to-device message</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>See <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/develop/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/__init__.py"><code>synapse.replication.tcp.streams</code></a> for the full list of streams.</p>
<p>It is very helpful to understand the streams mechanism when working on any part of Synapse that needs to respond to changes—especially if those changes are made by different workers.
To that end, lets describe streams formally, paraphrasing from the docstring of <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/a719b703d9bd0dade2565ddcad0e2f3a7a9d4c37/synapse/storage/util/id_generators.py#L96"><code>AbstractStreamIdGenerator</code></a>.</p>
<h2 id="definition"><a class="header" href="#definition">Definition</a></h2>
<p>A stream is an append-only log <code>T1, T2, ..., Tn, ...</code> of facts<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-1-1"><a href="#footnote-1">1</a></sup> which grows over time.
Only “writers” can add facts to a stream, and there may be multiple writers.</p>
<p>Each fact has an ID, called its “stream ID”.
Readers should only process facts in ascending stream ID order.</p>
<p>Roughly speaking, each stream is backed by a database table.
It should have a <code>stream_id</code> (or similar) bigint column holding stream IDs, plus additional columns as necessary to describe the fact.
Typically, a fact is expressed with a single row in its backing table.<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-2-1"><a href="#footnote-2">2</a></sup>
Within a stream, no two facts may have the same stream_id.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>Aside</em>. Some additional notes on streams backing tables.</p>
<ol>
<li>Rich would like to <a href="https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse/issues/13456">ditch the backing tables</a>.</li>
<li>The backing tables may have other uses.
&gt; For example, the events table serves backs the events stream, and is read when processing new events.
&gt; But old rows are read from the table all the time, whenever Synapse needs to lookup some facts about an event.</li>
<li>Rich suspects that sometimes the stream is backed by multiple tables, so the stream proper is the union of those tables.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
<p>Stream writers can “reserve” a stream ID, and then later mark it as having being completed.
Stream writers need to track the completion of each stream fact.
In the happy case, completion means a fact has been written to the stream table.
But unhappy cases (e.g. transaction rollback due to an error) also count as completion.
Once completed, the rows written with that stream ID are fixed, and no new rows
will be inserted with that ID.</p>
<h2 id="current-stream-id"><a class="header" href="#current-stream-id">Current stream ID</a></h2>
<p>For any given stream reader (including writers themselves), we may define a per-writer current stream ID:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A current stream ID <em>for a writer W</em> is the largest stream ID such that
all transactions added by W with equal or smaller ID have completed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Similarly, there is a “linear” notion of current stream ID:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A “linear” current stream ID is the largest stream ID such that
all facts (added by any writer) with equal or smaller ID have completed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Because different stream readers A and B learn about new facts at different times, A and B may disagree about current stream IDs.
Put differently: we should think of stream readers as being independent of each other, proceeding through a stream of facts at different rates.</p>
<p>The above definition does not give a unique current stream ID, in fact there can
be a range of current stream IDs. Synapse uses both the minimum and maximum IDs
for different purposes. Most often the maximum is used, as its generally
beneficial for workers to advance their IDs as soon as possible. However, the
minimum is used in situations where e.g. another worker is going to wait until
the stream advances past a position.</p>
<p><strong>NB.</strong> For both senses of “current”, that if a writer opens a transaction that never completes, the current stream ID will never advance beyond that writers last written stream ID.</p>
<p>For single-writer streams, the per-writer current ID and the linear current ID are the same.
Both senses of current ID are monotonic, but they may “skip” or jump over IDs because facts complete out of order.</p>
<p><em>Example</em>.
Consider a single-writer stream which is initially at ID 1.</p>
<div class="table-wrapper">
<table>
<thead>
<tr><th>Action</th><th>Current stream ID</th><th>Notes</th></tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td></td><td>1</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Reserve 2</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Reserve 3</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Complete 3</td><td>1</td><td>current ID unchanged, waiting for 2 to complete</td></tr>
<tr><td>Complete 2</td><td>3</td><td>current ID jumps from 1 -&gt; 3</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reserve 4</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Reserve 5</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Reserve 6</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Complete 5</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Complete 4</td><td>5</td><td>current ID jumps 3-&gt;5, even though 6 is pending</td></tr>
<tr><td>Complete 6</td><td>6</td><td></td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2 id="multi-writer-streams"><a class="header" href="#multi-writer-streams">Multi-writer streams</a></h2>
<p>There are two ways to view a multi-writer stream.</p>
<ol>
<li>Treat it as a collection of distinct single-writer streams, one
for each writer.</li>
<li>Treat it as a single stream.</li>
</ol>
<p>The single stream (option 2) is conceptually simpler, and easier to represent (a single stream id).
However, it requires each reader to know about the entire set of writers, to ensures that readers dont erroneously advance their current stream position too early and miss a fact from an unknown writer.
In contrast, multiple parallel streams (option 1) are more complex, requiring more state to represent (map from writer to stream id).
The payoff for doing so is that readers can “peek” ahead to facts that completed on one writer no matter the state of the others, reducing latency.</p>
<p>Note that a multi-writer stream can be viewed in both ways.
For example, the events stream is treated as multiple single-writer streams (option 1) by the sync handler, so that events are sent to clients as soon as possible.
But the background process that works through events treats them as a single linear stream.</p>
<p>Another useful example is the cache invalidation stream.
The facts this stream holds are instructions to “you should now invalidate these cache entries”.
We only ever treat this as a multiple single-writer streams as there is no important ordering between cache invalidations.
(Invalidations are self-contained facts; and the invalidations commute/are idempotent).</p>
<h2 id="writing-to-streams"><a class="header" href="#writing-to-streams">Writing to streams</a></h2>
<p>Writers need to track:</p>
<ul>
<li>track their current position (i.e. its own per-writer stream ID).</li>
<li>their facts currently awaiting completion.</li>
</ul>
<p>At startup,</p>
<ul>
<li>the current position of that writer can be found by querying the database (which suggests that facts need to be written to the database atomically, in a transaction); and</li>
<li>there are no facts awaiting completion.</li>
</ul>
<p>To reserve a stream ID, call <a href="https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/functions-sequence.html"><code>nextval</code></a> on the appropriate postgres sequence.</p>
<p>To write a fact to the stream: insert the appropriate rows to the appropriate backing table.</p>
<p>To complete a fact, first remove it from your map of facts currently awaiting completion.
Then, if no earlier fact is awaiting completion, the writer can advance its current position in that stream.
Upon doing so it should emit an <code>RDATA</code> message<sup class="footnote-reference" id="fr-3-1"><a href="#footnote-3">3</a></sup>, once for every fact between the old and the new stream ID.</p>
<h2 id="subscribing-to-streams"><a class="header" href="#subscribing-to-streams">Subscribing to streams</a></h2>
<p>Readers need to track the current position of every writer.</p>
<p>At startup, they can find this by contacting each writer with a <code>REPLICATE</code> message,
requesting that all writers reply describing their current position in their streams.
Writers reply with a <code>POSITION</code> message.</p>
<p>To learn about new facts, readers should listen for <code>RDATA</code> messages and process them to respond to the new fact.
The <code>RDATA</code> itself is not a self-contained representation of the fact;
readers will have to query the stream tables for the full details.
Readers must also advance their record of the writers current position for that stream.</p>
<h2 id="summary"><a class="header" href="#summary">Summary</a></h2>
<p>In a nutshell: we have an append-only log with a “buffer/scratchpad” at the end where we have to wait for the sequence to be linear and contiguous.</p>
<hr>
<h2 id="cheatsheet-for-creating-a-new-stream"><a class="header" href="#cheatsheet-for-creating-a-new-stream">Cheatsheet for creating a new stream</a></h2>
<p>These rough notes and links may help you to create a new stream and add all the
necessary registration and event handling.</p>
<p><strong>Create your stream:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/_base.py#L728">create a stream class and stream row class</a>
<ul>
<li>will need an <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/storage/databases/main/thread_subscriptions.py#L75">ID generator</a>
<ul>
<li>may need <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/config/workers.py#L177">writer configuration</a>, if there isnt already an obvious source of configuration for which workers should be designated as writers to your new stream.
<ul>
<li>if adding new writer configuration, add Docker-worker configuration, which lets us configure the writer worker in Complement tests: <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/docker/configure_workers_and_start.py#L331">[1]</a>, <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/docker/configure_workers_and_start.py#L440">[2]</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>most of the time, you will likely introduce a new datastore class for the concept represented by the new stream, unless there is already an obvious datastore that covers it.</li>
<li>consider whether it may make sense to introduce a handler</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Register your stream in:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/replication/tcp/streams/__init__.py#L71"><code>STREAMS_MAP</code></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Advance your stream in:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/storage/databases/main/thread_subscriptions.py#L111"><code>process_replication_position</code> of your appropriate datastore</a>
<ul>
<li>dont forget the super call</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>If youre going to do any caching that needs invalidation from new rows:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>add invalidations to <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/storage/databases/main/thread_subscriptions.py#L91"><code>process_replication_rows</code> of your appropriate datastore</a>
<ul>
<li>dont forget the super call</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>add local-only <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/storage/databases/main/thread_subscriptions.py#L201">invalidations to your writer transactions</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>For streams to be used in sync:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>add a new field to <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/types/__init__.py#L1003"><code>StreamToken</code></a>
<ul>
<li>add a new <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/types/__init__.py#L999"><code>StreamKeyType</code></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>add appropriate wake-up rules
<ul>
<li>in <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py#L260"><code>on_rdata</code></a></li>
<li>locally on the same worker when completing a write, <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/handlers/thread_subscriptions.py#L139">e.g. in your handler</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>add the stream in <a href="https://github.com/element-hq/synapse/blob/4367fb2d078c52959aeca0fe6874539c53e8360d/synapse/streams/events.py#L127"><code>bound_future_token</code></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<hr>
<ol class="footnote-definition">
<li id="footnote-1">
<p>we use the word <em>fact</em> here for two reasons.
Firstly, the word “event” is already heavily overloaded (PDUs, EDUs, account data, …) and we dont need to make that worse.
Secondly, “fact” emphasises that the things we append to a stream cannot change after the fact. <a href="#fr-1-1"></a></p>
</li>
<li id="footnote-2">
<p>A fact might be expressed with 0 rows, e.g. if we opened a transaction to persist an event, but failed and rolled the transaction back before marking the fact as completed.
In principle a fact might be expressed with 2 or more rows; if so, each of those rows should share the facts stream ID. <a href="#fr-2-1"></a></p>
</li>
<li id="footnote-3">
<p>This communication used to happen directly with the writers <a href="../../tcp_replication.html">over TCP</a>;
nowadays its done via Rediss Pubsub. <a href="#fr-3-1"></a></p>
</li>
</ol>
</main>
<nav class="nav-wrapper" aria-label="Page navigation">
<!-- Mobile navigation buttons -->
<a rel="prev" href="../../replication.html" class="mobile-nav-chapters previous" title="Previous chapter" aria-label="Previous chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Left">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M41.4 233.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l160 160c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0s12.5-32.8 0-45.3L109.3 256 246.6 118.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0l-160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a rel="next prefetch" href="../../tcp_replication.html" class="mobile-nav-chapters next" title="Next chapter" aria-label="Next chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Right">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M278.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-160 160c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L210.7 256 73.4 118.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<div style="clear: both"></div>
</nav>
</div>
</div>
<nav class="nav-wide-wrapper" aria-label="Page navigation">
<a rel="prev" href="../../replication.html" class="nav-chapters previous" title="Previous chapter" aria-label="Previous chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Left">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M41.4 233.4c-12.5 12.5-12.5 32.8 0 45.3l160 160c12.5 12.5 32.8 12.5 45.3 0s12.5-32.8 0-45.3L109.3 256 246.6 118.6c12.5-12.5 12.5-32.8 0-45.3s-32.8-12.5-45.3 0l-160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
<a rel="next prefetch" href="../../tcp_replication.html" class="nav-chapters next" title="Next chapter" aria-label="Next chapter" aria-keyshortcuts="Right">
<span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 320 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M278.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-160 160c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L210.7 256 73.4 118.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l160 160z"/></svg></span>
</a>
</nav>
</div>
<template id=fa-eye><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 576 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M288 32c-80.8 0-145.5 36.8-192.6 80.6C48.6 156 17.3 208 2.5 243.7c-3.3 7.9-3.3 16.7 0 24.6C17.3 304 48.6 356 95.4 399.4C142.5 443.2 207.2 480 288 480s145.5-36.8 192.6-80.6c46.8-43.5 78.1-95.4 93-131.1c3.3-7.9 3.3-16.7 0-24.6c-14.9-35.7-46.2-87.7-93-131.1C433.5 68.8 368.8 32 288 32zM432 256c0 79.5-64.5 144-144 144s-144-64.5-144-144s64.5-144 144-144s144 64.5 144 144zM288 192c0 35.3-28.7 64-64 64c-11.5 0-22.3-3-31.6-8.4c-.2 2.8-.4 5.5-.4 8.4c0 53 43 96 96 96s96-43 96-96s-43-96-96-96c-2.8 0-5.6 .1-8.4 .4c5.3 9.3 8.4 20.1 8.4 31.6z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-eye-slash><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 640 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M38.8 5.1C28.4-3.1 13.3-1.2 5.1 9.2S-1.2 34.7 9.2 42.9l592 464c10.4 8.2 25.5 6.3 33.7-4.1s6.3-25.5-4.1-33.7L525.6 386.7c39.6-40.6 66.4-86.1 79.9-118.4c3.3-7.9 3.3-16.7 0-24.6c-14.9-35.7-46.2-87.7-93-131.1C465.5 68.8 400.8 32 320 32c-68.2 0-125 26.3-169.3 60.8L38.8 5.1zM223.1 149.5C248.6 126.2 282.7 112 320 112c79.5 0 144 64.5 144 144c0 24.9-6.3 48.3-17.4 68.7L408 294.5c5.2-11.8 8-24.8 8-38.5c0-53-43-96-96-96c-2.8 0-5.6 .1-8.4 .4c5.3 9.3 8.4 20.1 8.4 31.6c0 10.2-2.4 19.8-6.6 28.3l-90.3-70.8zm223.1 298L373 389.9c-16.4 6.5-34.3 10.1-53 10.1c-79.5 0-144-64.5-144-144c0-6.9 .5-13.6 1.4-20.2L83.1 161.5C60.3 191.2 44 220.8 34.5 243.7c-3.3 7.9-3.3 16.7 0 24.6c14.9 35.7 46.2 87.7 93 131.1C174.5 443.2 239.2 480 320 480c47.8 0 89.9-12.9 126.2-32.5z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-copy><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M502.6 70.63l-61.25-61.25C435.4 3.371 427.2 0 418.7 0H255.1c-35.35 0-64 28.66-64 64l.0195 256C192 355.4 220.7 384 256 384h192c35.2 0 64-28.8 64-64V93.25C512 84.77 508.6 76.63 502.6 70.63zM464 320c0 8.836-7.164 16-16 16H255.1c-8.838 0-16-7.164-16-16L239.1 64.13c0-8.836 7.164-16 16-16h128L384 96c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h47.1V320zM272 448c0 8.836-7.164 16-16 16H63.1c-8.838 0-16-7.164-16-16L47.98 192.1c0-8.836 7.164-16 16-16H160V128H63.99c-35.35 0-64 28.65-64 64l.0098 256C.002 483.3 28.66 512 64 512h192c35.2 0 64-28.8 64-64v-32h-47.1L272 448z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-play><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 384 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M73 39c-14.8-9.1-33.4-9.4-48.5-.9S0 62.6 0 80V432c0 17.4 9.4 33.4 24.5 41.9s33.7 8.1 48.5-.9L361 297c14.3-8.7 23-24.2 23-41s-8.7-32.2-23-41L73 39z"/></svg></span></template>
<template id=fa-clock-rotate-left><span class=fa-svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><!--! Font Awesome Free 6.2.0 by @fontawesome - https://fontawesome.com License - https://fontawesome.com/license/free (Icons: CC BY 4.0, Fonts: SIL OFL 1.1, Code: MIT License) Copyright 2022 Fonticons, Inc. --><path d="M75 75L41 41C25.9 25.9 0 36.6 0 57.9V168c0 13.3 10.7 24 24 24H134.1c21.4 0 32.1-25.9 17-41l-30.8-30.8C155 85.5 203 64 256 64c106 0 192 86 192 192s-86 192-192 192c-40.8 0-78.6-12.7-109.7-34.4c-14.5-10.1-34.4-6.6-44.6 7.9s-6.6 34.4 7.9 44.6C151.2 495 201.7 512 256 512c141.4 0 256-114.6 256-256S397.4 0 256 0C185.3 0 121.3 28.7 75 75zm181 53c-13.3 0-24 10.7-24 24V256c0 6.4 2.5 12.5 7 17l72 72c9.4 9.4 24.6 9.4 33.9 0s9.4-24.6 0-33.9l-65-65V152c0-13.3-10.7-24-24-24z"/></svg></span></template>
<script>
window.playground_copyable = true;
</script>
<script src="../../elasticlunr-ef4e11c1.min.js"></script>
<script src="../../mark-09e88c2c.min.js"></script>
<script src="../../searcher-c2a407aa.js"></script>
<script src="../../clipboard-1626706a.min.js"></script>
<script src="../../highlight-abc7f01d.js"></script>
<script src="../../book-a0b12cfe.js"></script>
<!-- Custom JS scripts -->
<script src="../../docs/website_files/version-picker-a1e40922.js"></script>
<script src="../../docs/website_files/version-d2c738f4.js"></script>
</div>
</body>
</html>