defmodule HLClock do @moduledoc """ Hybrid Logical Clock Provides globally-unique, monotonic timestamps. Timestamps are bounded by the clock synchronization constraint, max_drift. In order to account for physical time drift within the system, timestamps should regularly be exchanged between nodes. Generate a timestamp at one node via HLClock.send_timestamp/1; at the other node, call HLClock.recv_timestamp/2 with the received timestamp from the first node. Inspired by https://www.cse.buffalo.edu/tech-reports/2014-04.pdf """ alias HLClock.Timestamp @doc """ Generate a single HLC Timestamp for sending to other nodes or local causality tracking """ def send_timestamp do GenServer.call(HLClock.Server, :send_timestamp) end @doc """ Given the current timestamp for this node and a provided remote timestamp, perform the merge of both logical time and logical counters. Returns the new current timestamp for the local node """ def recv_timestamp(remote) do GenServer.call(HLClock.Server, {:recv_timestamp, remote}) end @doc """ Functionally equivalent to using send_timestamp. This generates a timestamp for local causality tracking. """ def now do GenServer.call(HLClock.Server, :send_timestamp) end @doc """ Configurable clock synchronization parameter, ε. Defaults to 300 seconds """ def max_drift(), do: Application.get_env(:hlclock, :max_drift_millis, 300_000) @doc """ Determines if the clock's timestamp "happened before" a different timestamp """ def before?(t1, t2) do Timestamp.before?(t1, t2) end end