Paxos Made Simple: Demystifying the Complex Distributed Consensus Algorithm

Paxos Made Simple (2001)[pdf]

I argue that the Paxos algorithm is actually one of the simplest distributed algorithms, despite its reputation for difficulty. By breaking down the consensus problem into clear roles for proposers, acceptors, and learners, I show how a single value can be chosen reliably even in asynchronous systems with failures. This straightforward approach forms the foundation for building robust, fault-tolerant state machines.

"The Paxos algorithm for implementing a fault-tolerant distributed system has been regarded as difficult to understand, perhaps because the original presentation was Greek to many readers."