Request for Comments (RFCs)

RFCs are detailed technical specifications for major features and architectural components in Prism. Each RFC provides comprehensive design documentation, implementation guidelines, and rationale for significant system changes.

🎯 New to Prism? Start Here

If you're new to Prism, we recommend this reading path:

1. RFC-001: Prism Architecture - Understand the core architecture and vision
2. RFC-002: Data Layer Interface Specification - Learn the fundamental interfaces
3. RFC-018: POC Implementation Strategy - See how we're building Prism incrementally

🚀 What's New

Recently Completed

Unified Configuration Model (RFC-056):

• Client-declared needs with automatic backend provisioning
• Eliminates config duplication across namespace/pattern/backend
• Smart defaults with override capability at every level
• Validation and documentation generation from JSON Schema

Consolidated Pattern Protocols (RFC-046):

• Unified approach to pattern communication reducing complexity
• Consistent error handling and retries across all patterns
• Standard observability hooks (traces, metrics, logs)

Up-and-Coming

Massive-Scale Graph Database (RFC-057 through RFC-061):

• RFC-057: Hierarchical 3-tier sharding supporting 100B vertices across 1000+ nodes
• RFC-058: 4-tier multi-level indexing with Bloom filter cascade (333× speedup)
• RFC-059: Hot/cold storage tiers achieving 95% cost reduction ($12.5k vs $105k/month)
• RFC-060: Distributed Gremlin execution with partition pruning (10-100× speedup)
• RFC-061: Fine-grained vertex-level authorization with label-based access control

Kubernetes Integration (RFC-042, RFC-043):

• Automatic backend discovery and binding in K8s environments
• Deployment patterns and auto-scaling strategies
• Native integration with K8s service mesh

MCP Agent Integration (RFC-044):

• Integration with Model Context Protocol for AI-assisted operations
• Automated troubleshooting and configuration recommendations

📚 Reading Paths by Role

For Application Developers

Start with these RFCs to understand how to use Prism in your applications:

• RFC-002: Data Layer Interface Specification - Core interfaces you'll use
• RFC-014: Layered Data Access Patterns - Choose the right abstraction level
• RFC-019: Session Management Protocol - Manage connections and sessions
• RFC-012: Structured Error Handling - Handle errors gracefully

For Platform Engineers

Learn how to deploy, configure, and operate Prism:

• RFC-003: Admin Interface for Prism - Administrative operations
• RFC-006: Python Admin CLI - Command-line administration
• RFC-020: Namespace Self-Service Portal - Self-service configuration
• RFC-016: Local Development Infrastructure - Local dev environment

For Backend Plugin Authors

Build new backend integrations or understand existing ones:

• RFC-008: Proxy Plugin Architecture - Plugin architecture fundamentals
• RFC-013: Pattern Capability Interfaces - Fine-grained capability system
• RFC-015: Plugin Acceptance Test Framework - Testing your plugin
• RFC-004: Redis Integration - Example: Redis plugin design

For System Architects

Understand design decisions and reliability patterns:

• RFC-001: Prism Architecture - Overall system design
• RFC-009: Distributed Reliability Patterns - Reliability at scale
• RFC-017: Multicast Registry Pattern - Advanced pattern example
• RFC-007: Cache Strategies - Performance optimization

📖 RFCs by Category

🏗️ Foundation & Architecture

Core architectural specifications that define Prism's structure:

• RFC-001: Prism Data Access Layer Architecture (Draft) Complete architecture for high-performance data access gateway with unified interface and backend abstraction
• RFC-002: Data Layer Interface Specification (Draft) Complete gRPC interface specification for Sessions, Queues, PubSub, Readers, and Transactions
• RFC-008: Proxy Plugin Architecture (Draft) Architectural separation between minimal proxy core and extensible backend plugins
• RFC-013: Pattern Capability Interfaces (Draft) Fine-grained capability interfaces replacing monolithic backend interfaces
• RFC-014: Layered Data Access Patterns (Proposed) Three-layer pattern architecture (Basic, Advanced, Specialized) with automatic backend selection

🔌 Backend Integrations

Specifications for connecting Prism to different data backends:

• RFC-004: Redis Integration (Draft) Cache, PubSub, and Vector Similarity Search access patterns
• RFC-005: ClickHouse Integration for Time Series (Draft) ClickHouse-backed time series analytics supporting 1M+ events/sec ingestion

🛡️ Reliability & Patterns

High-level patterns for building fault-tolerant, scalable systems:

• RFC-009: Distributed Reliability Data Patterns (Proposed) Tiered Storage, Write-Ahead Log, Claim Check, Event Sourcing, CDC, CQRS, Outbox patterns
• RFC-012: Structured Error Handling (Proposed) Comprehensive error handling with status codes, retryability signals, and detailed context
• RFC-007: Cache Strategies for Data Layer (Draft) Standardized look-aside and write-through cache patterns with configuration-driven behavior
• RFC-017: Multicast Registry Pattern (Draft) Service discovery pattern with metadata registration and multicast publish using schematized slots
• RFC-019: Session Management Protocol (Draft) Connection lifecycle, token refresh, session affinity, and reconnection strategies

🔧 Operations & Management

Administration, monitoring, and operational workflows:

• RFC-003: Admin Interface for Prism (Proposed) Administrative interface for managing configs, monitoring sessions, and viewing backend health
• RFC-006: Python Admin CLI (Draft) Python command-line interface for administering Prism using Typer and Rich
• RFC-020: Namespace Self-Service Portal (Draft) Web-based self-service portal for namespace creation and management
• RFC-016: Local Development Infrastructure (Proposed) Signoz (observability), Dex (OIDC), auto-provisioned developer identity, lifecycle management

🧪 Testing & Quality

Frameworks and strategies for ensuring code quality:

• RFC-010: Test-Driven Development for Patterns (Draft) TDD workflow with mandatory code coverage thresholds (85%+ patterns, 90%+ utilities)
• RFC-011: Prism Loadtest Infrastructure (Draft) Load testing infrastructure using Python asyncio for realistic traffic generation
• RFC-015: Plugin Acceptance Test Framework (Accepted) World-class acceptance testing enabling ~50 lines of integration code for full coverage

📋 Implementation Planning

Roadmaps and phased delivery strategies:

• RFC-018: POC Implementation Strategy (Accepted) Walking Skeleton approach with 5 sequential POCs building from simple to complex (11-week timeline)

🌐 Graph Database at Scale

Massive-scale distributed graph infrastructure:

• RFC-055: Graph Pattern (Draft) Property graph model with Gremlin query language for relationship-rich data
• RFC-057: Massive-Scale Graph Sharding (Draft) Hierarchical 3-tier sharding (Cluster → Proxy → Partition) supporting 100B vertices across 1000+ nodes
• RFC-058: Multi-Level Graph Indexing (Draft) 4-tier index hierarchy with Bloom filters (333× speedup) and inverted edge indexes (972,000× speedup)
• RFC-059: Hot/Cold Storage with S3 Snapshots (Draft) Multi-tier storage achieving 95% cost reduction with parallel snapshot loading (210 TB in 17 min)
• RFC-060: Distributed Gremlin Execution (Draft) Full TinkerPop support with partition pruning, adaptive parallelism, and cost-based optimization
• RFC-061: Graph Authorization with Vertex Labels (Draft) Label-based access control with hierarchical clearances and sub-100 μs authorization overhead

📊 Configuration & Infrastructure

Configuration management and deployment patterns:

• RFC-056: Unified Configuration Model (Draft) Client-declared needs with automatic backend provisioning and smart defaults
• RFC-042: Kubernetes Backend Discovery (Draft) Automatic backend discovery and binding in Kubernetes environments
• RFC-043: K8s Deployment Patterns (Draft) Deployment patterns, auto-scaling, and service mesh integration for Kubernetes
• RFC-044: Prism MCP Agent Integration (Draft) Model Context Protocol integration for AI-assisted operations and troubleshooting

🔄 RFC Process

RFCs follow this lifecycle:

1. Draft → Initial specification written by author(s)
2. Review → Team discussion and feedback period
3. Proposed → Refined specification ready for approval
4. Accepted → Approved for implementation
5. Implemented → Feature completed and deployed

✍️ Writing RFCs

RFCs should include:

• Abstract: One-paragraph summary
• Motivation: Why this change is needed
• Detailed Design: Complete technical specification
• Implementation Plan: Phases and milestones
• Alternatives Considered: Other approaches and trade-offs
• Open Questions: Unresolved issues for discussion

See CLAUDE.md for the complete RFC process.

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Total RFCs: 20 specifications covering architecture, backends, patterns, testing, and operations

Latest Updates: See the Changelog for recent RFCs