A distributed system is a network of computers that communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages. These systems aim to provide scalability, fault tolerance, and high availability for applications.
Key Concepts ⚙️
- Decentralization: No single point of control; nodes operate independently.
- Consistency Models: Tools like CAP theorem (Consistency, Availability, Partition tolerance) define trade-offs in distributed environments.
- Communication: Nodes exchange data via RPC, message queues, or APIs.
Challenges 🚨
- Network Latency: Delays impact performance.
- Data Synchronization: Ensuring consistency across nodes.
- Fault Tolerance: Handling node failures gracefully.
Best Practices ✅
- Use load balancers to distribute traffic.
- Implement idempotent operations for reliability.
- Leverage distributed databases like CockroachDB for scalability.
For deeper insights, check our guide on distributed system design patterns.
Explore how microservices architecture addresses scalability: Microservices_Architecture. 📚