Sharding

This module allows us to provide a set of write-datasources and a set of read-datasources. When a user accesses the backend API, the system automatically selects a write-datasource or a read-datasource based on the rules and accesses the corresponding database, thereby allocating workloads and improving system performance

Installing the module

$ pnpm add vona-module-a-datasharding -w

Adding datasources

First, you need to add a set of datasources

1. Adding type definitions

Adding type definitions for the new datasources

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

declare module 'vona-module-a-orm' {
  export interface IDatabaseClientRecord {
    read1: never;
    read2: never;
    write1: never;
    write2: never;
  }
}

2. Adding datasources configuration

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

// database
config.database = {
  clients: {
    read1: {
      client: 'pg',
      connection: {
        host: '127.0.0.1',
        port: 5432,
        user: 'postgres',
        password: '',
        database: 'xxxx-read1',
      },
    },
    read2: {...},
    write1: {...},
    write2: {...},
  },
};

Configure the read-datasources and write-datasources

Then configure the module's read-datasources and write-datasources

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

// modules
config.modules = {
  'a-datasharding': {
    client: {
      reads: ['read1', 'read2'],
      writes: ['write1', 'write2'],
      randomRead: undefined,
      randomWrite: undefined,
    },
  },
};

Name	Description
reads	Specifies a set of read-datasources
writes	Specifies a set of write-datasources
randomRead	Specifies a custom function to extract a read-datasource from reads. Defaults to undefined, which is randomly selected by the system
randomWrite	Specifies a custom function to extract a write-datasource from writes. Defaults to undefined, which is randomly selected by the system

Sharding Mechanism

Once the read-datasources and write-datasources are configured, the sharding mechanism automatically takes effect

Now, let's explain how sharding works:

The module provides a global interceptor a-datasharding:datasharding. This interceptor determines the current API method. If it is POST/PATCH/DELETE/PUT, the write-datasource is used; otherwise, the read-datasource is used

Data Consistency: Cache write-datasource

Scenario Analysis: The Same User

Data inconsistencies may occur due to database synchronization delays. For example, a user accesses the Write-API to write data to the Write-Database. Then, when the user accesses the Read-API, the Read-Database has not yet been synchronized, and the old data will be read

To address this issue, the module automatically provides a mechanism: when a user accesses the Write-API, the Write-Datasource is automatically stored in the two-layer cache and an expiration time is set. During this time, the user accessing the Read-API will continue to use the same Write-Datasource, ensuring he can always read the latest data after writing

Modifying the Expiration Time

The name of the two-layer cache is a-datasharding:datasourceWrite. You can modify the expiration time in the App config:

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

// onions
config.onions = {
  summerCache: {
    'a-datasharding:datasourceWrite': {
      mem: {
        ttl: 5 * 1000, // 5s
      },
      redis: {
        ttl: 5 * 1000, // 5s
      },
    },
  },
};

Name	Description
mem.ttl	Mem cache expiration time, default is 3 seconds
redis.ttl	Redis cache expiration time, default is 3 seconds

Data Consistency: Cache-Double-Delete

Scenario Analysis: Different Users

Vona ORM provides an out-of-the-box caching mechanism. See: Caching

Due to database synchronization delays, cache inconsistencies can occur. For example, user A accesses the Write-API, writes data to the Write-Database, and automatically deletes the cache. Subsequently, user B accesses the Read-API. At this point, the Read-Database has not yet been synchronized, so the old data is read and stored in the cache

To address this issue, the a-orm module provides a cache-double-delete mechanism: when user A accesses the Write-API, the data is written to the Write-Database and the cache is automatically deleted. The cache is then deleted again after a specified timeout, ensuring it always has the latest data

Enabling cache-double-delete

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

// modules
config.modules = {
  'a-orm': {
    sharding: {
      cache: {
        doubleDelete: true,
      },
    },
  },
};

Modifying the cache-double-delete delay time

The system uses a queue task to perform cache-double-delete. The queue name is a-orm:doubleDelete. You can modify the cache-double-delete delay time in App config:

src/backend/config/config/config.ts

// onions
config.onions = {
  queue: {
    'a-orm:doubleDelete': {
      options: {
        job: {
          delay: 5 * 1000, // 5s
        },
      },
    },
  },
};

Name	Description
job.delay	Specifies the delay time for performing cache-double-delete jobs. The default is 3 seconds