How to perform non-idempotent actions (send email) in a Actor model framework (e.g., akka.net)?












0















I am looking into using an actor model framework (akka.net with akka.net persistence, but I am looking for a general case answer) to build an 'widget order processing workflow'.



Pretty standard:




  1. Customer orders widget

  2. Payment is processed

  3. Email confirmation sent to customer

  4. Send picklist message to warehouse

  5. Warehouse sends a 'widget has been shipped' message back

  6. Send a 'your item has shipped' email to customer


Now let's say between 4 and 5 a server deployment/restart happens. This would cause a actor(s) rehydration (let's assume there is no snapshot yet). That means we would process the payment again, and resend the order placed email. However it turns out our customers don't like this 'feature'!



How to I prevent non-idempotent actions from re-occurring when using an actor model framework?



I have thought about having a separate store of 'payment processed for order db table'; but this feels like I am fighting the framework/paradigm and I wonder if there is a 'proper' way of doing this kind of thing!










share|improve this question





























    0















    I am looking into using an actor model framework (akka.net with akka.net persistence, but I am looking for a general case answer) to build an 'widget order processing workflow'.



    Pretty standard:




    1. Customer orders widget

    2. Payment is processed

    3. Email confirmation sent to customer

    4. Send picklist message to warehouse

    5. Warehouse sends a 'widget has been shipped' message back

    6. Send a 'your item has shipped' email to customer


    Now let's say between 4 and 5 a server deployment/restart happens. This would cause a actor(s) rehydration (let's assume there is no snapshot yet). That means we would process the payment again, and resend the order placed email. However it turns out our customers don't like this 'feature'!



    How to I prevent non-idempotent actions from re-occurring when using an actor model framework?



    I have thought about having a separate store of 'payment processed for order db table'; but this feels like I am fighting the framework/paradigm and I wonder if there is a 'proper' way of doing this kind of thing!










    share|improve this question



























      0












      0








      0








      I am looking into using an actor model framework (akka.net with akka.net persistence, but I am looking for a general case answer) to build an 'widget order processing workflow'.



      Pretty standard:




      1. Customer orders widget

      2. Payment is processed

      3. Email confirmation sent to customer

      4. Send picklist message to warehouse

      5. Warehouse sends a 'widget has been shipped' message back

      6. Send a 'your item has shipped' email to customer


      Now let's say between 4 and 5 a server deployment/restart happens. This would cause a actor(s) rehydration (let's assume there is no snapshot yet). That means we would process the payment again, and resend the order placed email. However it turns out our customers don't like this 'feature'!



      How to I prevent non-idempotent actions from re-occurring when using an actor model framework?



      I have thought about having a separate store of 'payment processed for order db table'; but this feels like I am fighting the framework/paradigm and I wonder if there is a 'proper' way of doing this kind of thing!










      share|improve this question
















      I am looking into using an actor model framework (akka.net with akka.net persistence, but I am looking for a general case answer) to build an 'widget order processing workflow'.



      Pretty standard:




      1. Customer orders widget

      2. Payment is processed

      3. Email confirmation sent to customer

      4. Send picklist message to warehouse

      5. Warehouse sends a 'widget has been shipped' message back

      6. Send a 'your item has shipped' email to customer


      Now let's say between 4 and 5 a server deployment/restart happens. This would cause a actor(s) rehydration (let's assume there is no snapshot yet). That means we would process the payment again, and resend the order placed email. However it turns out our customers don't like this 'feature'!



      How to I prevent non-idempotent actions from re-occurring when using an actor model framework?



      I have thought about having a separate store of 'payment processed for order db table'; but this feels like I am fighting the framework/paradigm and I wonder if there is a 'proper' way of doing this kind of thing!







      akka actor akka.net






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 16 '18 at 4:09







      DarcyThomas

















      asked Nov 16 '18 at 0:15









      DarcyThomasDarcyThomas

      7351027




      7351027
























          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          0














          Ok so it turns out it is pretty simple.



          With akka.net persistence, after a system restore, messages are replayed. The correct state can be recreated by (re) processing these messages.



          There is however a IsRestoring property, which can be checked to see if this is the first or a subsequent processing. Presumably other actor model framework have something similar.



          So you do something like:



          private void ProcessPayment (Order message)
          {
          if(!this.IsRestoring){
          //Perform non-idempotent payment process
          }
          }





          share|improve this answer

































            -1














            To make a robust workflow processor, you have to store ALL data of a workflow process in a permanent storage.



            You can employ a database, a messaging system like Kafka, or use ready-made workflow management software.



            Since you already use Akka, Akka Persistence also can be an option.



            UPDATE



            Building a system which continue to work correctly in presence of system failures and restarts is a considerable task, far more complex than developing an actor framework. That is, you cannot just take any actor framework and add fault tolerance to it.






            share|improve this answer


























            • Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

              – DarcyThomas
              Nov 17 '18 at 7:08











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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes








            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            0














            Ok so it turns out it is pretty simple.



            With akka.net persistence, after a system restore, messages are replayed. The correct state can be recreated by (re) processing these messages.



            There is however a IsRestoring property, which can be checked to see if this is the first or a subsequent processing. Presumably other actor model framework have something similar.



            So you do something like:



            private void ProcessPayment (Order message)
            {
            if(!this.IsRestoring){
            //Perform non-idempotent payment process
            }
            }





            share|improve this answer






























              0














              Ok so it turns out it is pretty simple.



              With akka.net persistence, after a system restore, messages are replayed. The correct state can be recreated by (re) processing these messages.



              There is however a IsRestoring property, which can be checked to see if this is the first or a subsequent processing. Presumably other actor model framework have something similar.



              So you do something like:



              private void ProcessPayment (Order message)
              {
              if(!this.IsRestoring){
              //Perform non-idempotent payment process
              }
              }





              share|improve this answer




























                0












                0








                0







                Ok so it turns out it is pretty simple.



                With akka.net persistence, after a system restore, messages are replayed. The correct state can be recreated by (re) processing these messages.



                There is however a IsRestoring property, which can be checked to see if this is the first or a subsequent processing. Presumably other actor model framework have something similar.



                So you do something like:



                private void ProcessPayment (Order message)
                {
                if(!this.IsRestoring){
                //Perform non-idempotent payment process
                }
                }





                share|improve this answer















                Ok so it turns out it is pretty simple.



                With akka.net persistence, after a system restore, messages are replayed. The correct state can be recreated by (re) processing these messages.



                There is however a IsRestoring property, which can be checked to see if this is the first or a subsequent processing. Presumably other actor model framework have something similar.



                So you do something like:



                private void ProcessPayment (Order message)
                {
                if(!this.IsRestoring){
                //Perform non-idempotent payment process
                }
                }






                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Nov 17 '18 at 18:11

























                answered Nov 17 '18 at 9:50









                DarcyThomasDarcyThomas

                7351027




                7351027

























                    -1














                    To make a robust workflow processor, you have to store ALL data of a workflow process in a permanent storage.



                    You can employ a database, a messaging system like Kafka, or use ready-made workflow management software.



                    Since you already use Akka, Akka Persistence also can be an option.



                    UPDATE



                    Building a system which continue to work correctly in presence of system failures and restarts is a considerable task, far more complex than developing an actor framework. That is, you cannot just take any actor framework and add fault tolerance to it.






                    share|improve this answer


























                    • Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                      – DarcyThomas
                      Nov 17 '18 at 7:08
















                    -1














                    To make a robust workflow processor, you have to store ALL data of a workflow process in a permanent storage.



                    You can employ a database, a messaging system like Kafka, or use ready-made workflow management software.



                    Since you already use Akka, Akka Persistence also can be an option.



                    UPDATE



                    Building a system which continue to work correctly in presence of system failures and restarts is a considerable task, far more complex than developing an actor framework. That is, you cannot just take any actor framework and add fault tolerance to it.






                    share|improve this answer


























                    • Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                      – DarcyThomas
                      Nov 17 '18 at 7:08














                    -1












                    -1








                    -1







                    To make a robust workflow processor, you have to store ALL data of a workflow process in a permanent storage.



                    You can employ a database, a messaging system like Kafka, or use ready-made workflow management software.



                    Since you already use Akka, Akka Persistence also can be an option.



                    UPDATE



                    Building a system which continue to work correctly in presence of system failures and restarts is a considerable task, far more complex than developing an actor framework. That is, you cannot just take any actor framework and add fault tolerance to it.






                    share|improve this answer















                    To make a robust workflow processor, you have to store ALL data of a workflow process in a permanent storage.



                    You can employ a database, a messaging system like Kafka, or use ready-made workflow management software.



                    Since you already use Akka, Akka Persistence also can be an option.



                    UPDATE



                    Building a system which continue to work correctly in presence of system failures and restarts is a considerable task, far more complex than developing an actor framework. That is, you cannot just take any actor framework and add fault tolerance to it.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Nov 17 '18 at 7:41

























                    answered Nov 16 '18 at 16:32









                    Alexei KaigorodovAlexei Kaigorodov

                    10.2k11330




                    10.2k11330













                    • Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                      – DarcyThomas
                      Nov 17 '18 at 7:08



















                    • Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                      – DarcyThomas
                      Nov 17 '18 at 7:08

















                    Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                    – DarcyThomas
                    Nov 17 '18 at 7:08





                    Good info thanks, However you don't seem to be discussing anything specific to 'actor model frameworks' Do you think you could perhaps expand on your answer with that in mind?

                    – DarcyThomas
                    Nov 17 '18 at 7:08


















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