What are the differences between Raft and Paxos?

What are the differences between Raft and Paxos?

Raft and Paxos are both consensus algorithms used in distributed systems, but they have different approaches. Raft is designed to be more understandable and easier to implement, while Paxos is more complex but has been around longer. Would you like to know more about their specific mechanisms?

Yes, please explain how Raft works.

Raft works by electing a leader node that manages the log replication process. Other nodes, called followers, replicate the log entries from the leader. If the leader fails, a new leader is elected. This process ensures consistency across the distributed system. Do you want to compare this with how Paxos operates?

Definitely! How does Paxos achieve consensus?

Paxos achieves consensus through a series of proposals and votes. A proposer suggests a value, and a majority of acceptors must agree on it for it to be chosen. This process can be more complex due to the need for multiple rounds of communication, especially in the presence of failures. Would you like to know about the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Yes, that would be helpful!

Raft is generally easier to understand and implement, making it suitable for many applications. However, Paxos is more robust in certain failure scenarios. Each has its strengths depending on the use case. Would you like to dive deeper into specific use cases for each algorithm?