Synchronization in Distributed Systems
Synchronization is a fundamental challenge in distributed systems, where multiple independent nodes must coordinate their actions despite network delays, failures, and asynchrony.
A common example is cloud-based databases, where multiple servers must stay synchronized despite operating independently. Similarly, blockchain networks, such as Ethereum, must ensure all nodes agree on the latest state despite network delays and decentralization.
Unlike traditional single-machine systems, distributed environments lack shared memory and global clocks, making synchronization complex. Various solutions exist to address this. One example is Google Spanner's TrueTime, which uses globally synchronized clocks to mitigate uncertainty. This technique helps ensure timestamps reflect a bounded range rather than a single point, enabling safer transaction ordering and enforcing strict consistency.