Talk: Rethinking Durable Execution: A Library-Based Approach

Zoom: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/96144922296?pwd=j3uyEaV9ZAyB82CwrstcNJsf0PS7Ib.1

Abstract: Durable execution checkpoints program state to persistent storage, enabling applications to recover from failures. Most existing systems rely on a centralized orchestration server coordinating distributed workers. However, this architecture introduces performance overhead and operational complexity.

In this talk, we'll explore an alternative: a library-based approach that embeds directly into application code and uses a database for checkpointing, queueing, and flow control. By eliminating the need for a separate orchestrator, this approach improves performance and operational cost. We'll share lessons from building DBOS, including architectural trade-offs and key optimizations for performance and scalability.

Bios:
Qian Li, Co-founder and CEO of DBOS.
Bio: Qian is the co-founder and CEO of DBOS, Inc. She received her PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, where she worked on serverless computing and databases. Currently, she focuses on durable execution, with an emphasis on building reliable distributed systems on top of Postgres.

Peter Kraft, Co-founder and CTO of DBOS.
Bio: Peter is the co-founder and CTO of DBOS, Inc. He loves databases and distributed systems a little too much, so he did a PhD in them, working with Matei Zaharia and Peter Bailis at Stanford.