| name | architecture-paradigm-space-based |
| description | Employ space-based or data-grid architectures to scale high-traffic, stateful workloads across multiple nodes. Use when building high-scale systems with in-memory data grid patterns. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| category | architectural-pattern |
| tags | architecture, space-based, data-grid, scalability, in-memory, stateful |
| dependencies | |
| tools | data-grid-platform, replication-manager, load-tester |
| usage_patterns | paradigm-implementation, high-traffic-workloads, linear-scalability |
| complexity | high |
| estimated_tokens | 800 |
The Space-Based Architecture Paradigm
When to Employ This Paradigm
- When traffic or state volume overwhelms a single database node.
- When latency requirements demand in-memory data grids located close to processing units.
- When linear scalability is required, achieved by partitioning workloads across many identical, self-sufficient units.
Adoption Steps
- Partition Workloads: Divide traffic and data into processing units, each backed by a replicated data cache.
- Design the Data Grid: Select the appropriate caching technology, replication strategy (synchronous vs. asynchronous), and data eviction policies.
- Coordinate Persistence: Implement a write-through or write-behind strategy to a durable data store, including reconciliation processes.
- Implement Failover Handling: Design a mechanism for leader election or heartbeats to ensure recovery from node loss without data loss.
- Validate Scalability: Conduct load and chaos testing to confirm the system's elasticity and self-healing capabilities.
Key Deliverables
- An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) detailing the chosen grid technology, partitioning scheme, and durability strategy.
- Runbooks for scaling processing units and for recovering from "split-brain" scenarios.
- A monitoring suite to track cache hit rates, replication lag, and failover events.
Risks & Mitigations
- Eventual Consistency Issues:
- Mitigation: Formally document data-freshness Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and implement compensation logic for data that is not immediately consistent.
- Operational Complexity:
- Mitigation: The orchestration of a data grid requires mature automation. Invest in robust tooling and automation early in the process.
- Cost:
- Mitigation: In-memory grids can be resource-intensive. Implement aggressive monitoring of utilization and auto-scaling policies to manage costs effectively.