I don't see how that would work. Suppose you have a file splitter and multiple partitions of block readers. The "end of file" event cannot be processed downstream until all block readers are done. I also think that this is related to the batch demarcation discussion and there should be a single generalized mechanism to support this.
On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 10:51 PM, Pramod Immaneni <pra...@datatorrent.com> wrote: > Suppose I am processing data in a file and I want to do something at the > end of a file at the output operator, I would send an end file control > tuple and act on it when I receive it at the output. In a single window I > may end up processing multiple files and if I don't have multiple ports and > logical paths through the DAG (multiple partitions are ok). I can process > end of each file immediately and also know what file was closed without > sending extra identification information in the end file which I would need > if I am collecting all of them and processing at the end of the window. > > On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 2:45 PM, Thomas Weise <t...@apache.org> wrote: > > > The use cases listed in the original discussion don't call for option 2. > It > > seems to come with additional complexity and implementation cost. > > > > Can those in favor of option 2 please also provide the use case for it. > > > > Thanks, > > Thomas > > > > > > On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 10:36 PM, Siyuan Hua <siy...@datatorrent.com> > > wrote: > > > > > I will vote for approach 1. > > > > > > First of all that one sounds easier to do to me. And I think > idempotency > > is > > > important. It may run at the cost of higher latency but I think it is > ok > > > > > > And in addition, when in the future if users do need realtime control > > tuple > > > processing, we can always add the option on top of it. > > > > > > So I vote for 1 > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Siyuan > > > > > > On Wed, Nov 2, 2016 at 1:28 PM, Pradeep A. Dalvi <p...@apache.org> > > wrote: > > > > > > > As a rule of thumb in any real time operating system, control tuples > > > should > > > > always be handled using Priority Queues. > > > > > > > > We may try to control priorities by defining levels. And shall not > > > > be delivered at window boundaries. > > > > > > > > In short, control tuples shall never be treated as any other tuples > in > > > real > > > > time systems. > > > > > > > > On Thursday, November 3, 2016, David Yan <da...@datatorrent.com> > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > > > > > I would like to renew the discussion of control tuples. > > > > > > > > > > Last time, we were in a debate about whether: > > > > > > > > > > 1) the platform should enforce that control tuples are delivered at > > > > window > > > > > boundaries only > > > > > > > > > > or: > > > > > > > > > > 2) the platform should deliver control tuples just as other tuples > > and > > > > it's > > > > > the operator developers' choice whether to handle the control > tuples > > as > > > > > they arrive or delay the processing till the next window boundary. > > > > > > > > > > To summarize the pros and cons: > > > > > > > > > > Approach 1: If processing control tuples results in changes of the > > > > behavior > > > > > of the operator, if idempotency needs to be preserved, the > processing > > > > must > > > > > be done at window boundaries. This approach will save the operator > > > > > developers headache to ensure that. However, this will take away > the > > > > > choices from the operator developer if they just need to process > the > > > > > control tuples as soon as possible. > > > > > > > > > > Approach 2: The operator has a chance to immediately process > control > > > > > tuples. This would be useful if latency is more valued than > > > correctness. > > > > > However, if this would open the possibility for operator developers > > to > > > > > shoot themselves in the foot. This is especially true if there are > > > > multiple > > > > > input ports. as there is no easy way to guarantee processing order > > for > > > > > multiple input ports. > > > > > > > > > > We would like to arrive to a consensus and close this discussion > soon > > > > this > > > > > time so we can start the work on this important feature. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > > > > > David > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 10:04 AM, Vlad Rozov < > > v.ro...@datatorrent.com > > > > > <javascript:;>> > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > It is not clear how operator will emit custom control tuple at > > window > > > > > > boundaries. One way is to cache/accumulate control tuples in the > > > > operator > > > > > > output port till window closes (END_WINDOW is inserted into the > > > output > > > > > > sink) or only allow an operator to emit control tuples inside the > > > > > > endWindow(). The later is a slight variation of the operator > output > > > > port > > > > > > caching behavior with the only difference that now the operator > > > itself > > > > is > > > > > > responsible for caching/accumulating control tuples. Note that in > > > many > > > > > > cases it will be necessary to postpone emitting payload tuples > that > > > > > > logically come after the custom control tuple till the next > window > > > > > begins. > > > > > > > > > > > > IMO, that too restrictive and in a case where input operator > uses a > > > > push > > > > > > instead of a poll (for example, it provides an end point where > > remote > > > > > > agents may connect and publish/push data), control tuples may be > > used > > > > for > > > > > > connect/disconnect/watermark broadcast to (partitioned) > downstream > > > > > > operators. In this case the platform just need to guarantee order > > > > barrier > > > > > > (any tuple emitted prior to a control tuple needs to be delivered > > > prior > > > > > to > > > > > > the control tuple). > > > > > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > > > > > > > > > Vlad > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 6/27/16 19:36, Amol Kekre wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >> I agree with David. Allowing control tuples within a window > (along > > > > with > > > > > >> data tuples) creates very dangerous situation where guarantees > are > > > > > >> impacted. It is much safer to enable control tuples > (send/receive) > > > at > > > > > >> window boundaries (after END_WINDOW of window N, and before > > > > BEGIN_WINDOW > > > > > >> for window N+1). My take on David's list is > > > > > >> > > > > > >> 1. -> window boundaries -> Strong +1; there will be a big issue > > with > > > > > >> guarantees for operators with multiple ports. (see Thomas's > > > response) > > > > > >> 2. -> All downstream windows -> +1, but there are situations; a > > > caveat > > > > > >> could be "only to operators that implement control tuple > > > > > >> interface/listeners", which could effectively translates to "all > > > > > >> interested > > > > > >> downstream operators" > > > > > >> 3. Only Input operator can create control tuples -> -1; is > > > restrictive > > > > > >> even > > > > > >> though most likely 95% of the time it will be input operators > > > > > >> > > > > > >> Thks, > > > > > >> Amol > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 4:37 PM, Thomas Weise < > > > tho...@datatorrent.com > > > > > <javascript:;>> > > > > > >> wrote: > > > > > >> > > > > > >> The windowing we discuss here is in general event time based, > > > arrival > > > > > time > > > > > >>> is a special case of it. > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> I don't think state changes can be made independent of the > > > streaming > > > > > >>> window > > > > > >>> boundary as it would prevent idempotent processing and > > transitively > > > > > >>> exactly > > > > > >>> once. For that to work, tuples need to be presented to the > > operator > > > > in > > > > > a > > > > > >>> guaranteed order *within* the streaming window, which is not > > > possible > > > > > >>> with > > > > > >>> multiple ports (and partitions). > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> Thomas > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:53 PM, David Yan < > > da...@datatorrent.com > > > > > <javascript:;>> > > > > > >>> wrote: > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>> I think for session tracking, if the session boundaries are > > allowed > > > > to > > > > > be > > > > > >>>> not aligned with the streaming window boundaries, the user > will > > > > have a > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>> much > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> bigger problem with idempotency. And in most cases, session > > > tracking > > > > > is > > > > > >>>> event time based, not ingression time or processing time > based, > > so > > > > > this > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>> may > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> never be a problem. But if that ever happens, the user can > > always > > > > > alter > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>> the > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> default 500ms width. > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>> David > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>> On Mon, Jun 27, 2016 at 2:35 PM, Vlad Rozov < > > > > v.ro...@datatorrent.com > > > > > <javascript:;>> > > > > > >>>> wrote: > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>> Ability to send custom control tuples within window may be > > useful, > > > > for > > > > > >>>>> example, for sessions tracking, where session boundaries are > > not > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>> aligned > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> with window boundaries and 500 ms latency is not acceptable > for > > an > > > > > >>>>> application. > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> Thank you, > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> Vlad > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> On 6/25/16 10:52, Thomas Weise wrote: > > > > > >>>>> > > > > > >>>>> It should not matter from where the control tuple is > triggered. > > > It > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> will > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> be > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> good to have a generic mechanism to propagate it and other > > things > > > > can > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> be > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> accomplished outside the engine. For example, the new > > > comprehensive > > > > > >>>>>> support > > > > > >>>>>> for windowing will all be in Malhar, nothing that the engine > > > needs > > > > > to > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> know > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> about it except that we need the control tuple for watermark > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> propagation > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> and idempotent processing. > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> I also think the main difference to other tuples is the need > > to > > > > send > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> it > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> to > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> all partitions. Which is similar to checkpoint window tuples, > > but > > > > not > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> the > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> same. Here, we probably also need the ability for the user to > > > > control > > > > > >>>>>> whether such tuple should traverse the entire DAG or not. > For > > a > > > > > batch > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> use > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> case, for example, we may want to send the end of file to the > > > next > > > > > >>>>>> operator, but not beyond, if the operator has asynchronous > > > > > processing > > > > > >>>>>> logic > > > > > >>>>>> in it. > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> For any logic to be idempotent, the control tuple needs to > be > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> processed > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> at > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> a window boundary. Receiving the control tuple in the window > > > > callback > > > > > >>>>>> would > > > > > >>>>>> avoid having to track extra state in the operator. I don't > > think > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> that's > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> a > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> major issue, but what is the use case for processing a > control > > > > tuple > > > > > >>>>>> within > > > > > >>>>>> the window? > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> Thomas > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2016 at 6:19 AM, Pramod Immaneni < > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>> pra...@datatorrent.com <javascript:;>> > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> wrote: > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> For the use cases you mentioned, I think 1) and 2) are more > > > likely > > > > > to > > > > > >>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> be controlled directly by the application, 3) and 4) are > more > > > > > likely > > > > > >>>>>>> going to be triggered externally and directly handled by > the > > > > engine > > > > > >>>>>>> and 3) is already being implemented that way > (apexcore-163). > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> The control tuples emitted by an operator would be sent to > > all > > > > > >>>>>>> downstream partitions isn't it and that would be the chief > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> distinction > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> compared to data (apart from the payload) which would get > > > > partitioned > > > > > >>>>>>> under normal circumstances. It would also be guaranteed > that > > > > > >>>>>>> downstream partitions will receive control tuples only > after > > > the > > > > > data > > > > > >>>>>>> that was sent before it so we could send it immediately > when > > it > > > > is > > > > > >>>>>>> emitted as opposed to window boundaries. > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> However during unification it is important to know if these > > > > control > > > > > >>>>>>> tuples have been received from all upstream partitions > before > > > > > >>>>>>> proceeding with a control operation. One could wait till > end > > of > > > > the > > > > > >>>>>>> window but that introduces a delay however small, I would > > like > > > to > > > > > add > > > > > >>>>>>> to the proposal that the platform only hand over the > control > > > > tuple > > > > > to > > > > > >>>>>>> the unifier when it has been received from all upstream > > > > partitions > > > > > >>>>>>> much like how end window is processed but not wait till the > > > > actual > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> end > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> of the window. > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> Regd your concern about idempotency, we typically care > about > > > > > >>>>>>> idempotency at a window level and doing the above will > still > > > > allow > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> the > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> operators to preserve that easily. > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> Thanks > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> On Jun 24, 2016, at 11:22 AM, David Yan < > > da...@datatorrent.com > > > > > <javascript:;>> > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>> wrote: > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> Hi all, > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> I would like to propose a new feature to the Apex core > > engine > > > -- > > > > > the > > > > > >>>>>>>> support of custom control tuples. Currently, we have > control > > > > > tuples > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> such > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> as > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> BEGIN_WINDOW, END_WINDOW, CHECKPOINT, and so on, but we > don't > > > > have > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> the > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> support for applications to insert their own control tuples. > The > > > way > > > > > >>>>>>>> currently to get around this is to use data tuples and > have > > a > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> separate > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> port > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> for such tuples that sends tuples to all partitions of the > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> downstream > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> operators, which is not exactly developer friendly. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> We have already seen a number of use cases that can use > this > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> feature: > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> 1) Batch support: We need to tell all operators of the > physical > > > DAG > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> when > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> a > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> batch starts and ends, so the operators can do whatever > that > > is > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> needed > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> upon > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> the start or the end of a batch. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> 2) Watermark: To support the concepts of event time > > windowing, > > > > the > > > > > >>>>>>>> watermark control tuple is needed to tell which windows > > should > > > > be > > > > > >>>>>>>> considered late. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> 3) Changing operator properties: We do have the support of > > > > > changing > > > > > >>>>>>>> operator properties on the fly, but with a custom control > > > tuple, > > > > > the > > > > > >>>>>>>> command to change operator properties can be window > aligned > > > for > > > > > all > > > > > >>>>>>>> partitions and also across the DAG. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> 4) Recording tuples: Like changing operator properties, we > > do > > > > have > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> this > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> support now but only at the individual physical operator > level, > > > and > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> without > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> control of which window to record tuples for. With a custom > > > > control > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> tuple, > > > > > >>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> because a control tuple must belong to a window, all > > operators > > > in > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> the > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> DAG > > > > > >>>>>>>> can start (and stop) recording for the same windows. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> I can think of two options to achieve this: > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> 1) new custom control tuple type that takes user's > > > serializable > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> object. > > > > > >>>> > > > > > >>>>> 2) piggy back the current BEGIN_WINDOW and END_WINDOW control > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>> tuples. > > > > > >>> > > > > > >>>> Please provide your feedback. Thank you. > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> David > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > >>>>>>>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
