Understand the contracts behind the APIs
Start with the storage architecture. Then decide how keys are ordered, how records are encoded, which values are live, and how your application owns the data it writes.
Layers describe record generations; parts divide a logical disk segment into ranges.
Equality, hashing, encoding, and deletion must agree with the application model.
Own mutable data and define how sequencing, recovery, and replication fit together.
LSM-tree architecture
Follow writes through ordered memory, read-only segments, compaction, and persistent multipart storage.
Follow the storage lifecycleSegments and parts
Distinguish memory and disk layers, logical segments, reusable parts, and the counters that describe them.
Name the storage unitsKey ordering
Put related records into contiguous comparer order and implement a complete composite-key example.
Design the keyspaceSerializers and comparers
Separate equality, hashing, and persisted bytes. Configure custom components and preserve compatibility.
Define the contractsBloom filters
Skip provably absent memory-segment lookups and understand filter allocation, hashing, and false positives.
Understand the filterDeletion markers and TTL
Choose tombstones, model expiration, and reclaim deleted storage without exposing older values.
Define what is liveOperation indexes
Use a producer's write sequence without confusing it with durable delivery, global ordering, or transaction commits.
Understand write sequencingValue mutability
Keep stored objects and buffers read-only, create replacements, and make cancellation leave no shared mutation.
Own stored values safely