Hi,

> To be clear, we can easily get these for the root/base node of the Persistent 
> watcher (just like other watchers).

> For persistent non-recursive watches, we can tell exactly the changes just
like the standard watches, right?

Persistent watch is resistant to node deletion[1], this means we can
attach it to no exist nodes and it won't be deleted after node
deletion. So we don't know whether an absent node deserves
`NodeDeleted` or not from `DataTree`.

> What happens if the rebuilding cache needs to read millions of znodes?

You probably should avoid running into such a situation. Or you could
use standard watches, and bookkeep every notification until the
reaction succeeds.

[1]: 
https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/3d6c0d1164dc9ec96a02de383e410b1b0ef64565/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/AddWatchMode.java#L25-L34

Best,
Kezhu Wang

On Tue, Jul 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM Li Wang <li4w...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > In the case of building a cache, I recommend rebuilding the cache after
> > reconnection
>
>
> What happens if the rebuilding cache needs to read millions of zndoes?
>
> On Sun, Jul 27, 2025 at 1:37 AM Kezhu Wang <kez...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I think Jordan is correct about this.
> >
> > > In the case of reconnection, is it at least guaranteed you'll get some
> > kind of client notification about the connection state, so you can
> > reset any application state that relies on watchers being notified?
> > Like, you may not see a node changed during the disconnected state,
> > but will you at least get a connected notification from the persistent
> > watcher? Or do you have to rely on the connection status watcher set
> > when the client was created to see those?
> >
> > It is guaranteed that persistent watchers will get state notifications
> > in the same channel(or callback) as node change events. There is a
> > test for this.[1]
> >
> > > The problem is that missing notifications seem only being triggered for
> > standard watches but not for persistent watches when reconnecting.
> >
> > This is misleading. What is sent to the client are not "missing
> > notifications", but simply the last state, so all intermediate changes
> > are lost. Jardan has pointed out this. This is what the doc states:
> >
> > > There is one case where a watch may be missed: a watch for the existence
> > of a znode not yet created will be missed if the znode is created and
> > deleted while disconnected.
> >
> > Basically, we are firing node change events based on `DataTree`(a.k.a.
> > snapshot) but not log entries.
> >
> > In the case of building a cache, I recommend rebuilding the cache
> > after reconnection, it is the safest option from my point of view. [2]
> > This is also Apache Curator's handling of disconnection.
> >
> > [1]:
> > https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/3d6c0d1164dc9ec96a02de383e410b1b0ef64565/zookeeper-server/src/test/java/org/apache/zookeeper/test/PersistentRecursiveWatcherTest.java#L151-L161
> > [2]: https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/pull/1950#issuecomment-1557685392
> >
> > Best,
> > Kezhu Wang
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jul 26, 2025 at 10:26 AM Kezhu Wang <kez...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > There is a jira issue:
> > > https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ZOOKEEPER-4698, it has links to
> > > more context.
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Kezhu Wang
> > >
> > > On Sat, Jul 26, 2025 at 5:06 AM Jordan Zimmerman
> > > <jor...@jordanzimmerman.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Here's a summary:
> > > >
> > > > On reconnect, watches are reset. For Data watches, if the node no
> > longer exists, the watch will get NodeDeleted. If the node's zxId is
> > different, the watch will get NodeDataChanged. Exist and child nodes have
> > similar handling. Persistent watches, on the other hand, are merely reset.
> > > >
> > > > I no longer remember why we didn't mimic this for Persistent watches.
> > I guess it can be argued that it isn't necessary or that it could result if
> > a _lot_ of persistent watch calls. Maybe the right thing to do is to just
> > document the difference and leave it as it's been this way for years.
> > > >
> > > > -Jordan
> > > >
> > > > > On Jul 25, 2025, at 9:58 PM, Keith Turner <ktur...@apache.org>
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 2025/07/25 19:23:41 Jordan Zimmerman wrote:
> > > > >> Hi,
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I took a look at the code (which I haven't looked at in 5 or more
> > years). It looks like the reconnection behavior _is_ different. Persistent
> > watches will miss some events that other watches are getting. This is
> > indeed a very long-standing bug.
> > > > >
> > > > > What events are missed for persistent recursive watchers that normal
> > watcher see?
> > > > >
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I'd be willing to work on this, but there's likely devs who are
> > more familiar with the code now who can do it.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> -JZ
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> On Jul 25, 2025, at 8:06 PM, Jordan Zimmerman <
> > jor...@jordanzimmerman.com> wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Hi,
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Persistent watches are the same watch as every other watch. It all
> > goes through the same code. Let's look at the doc:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>> Because standard watches are one time triggers and there is
> > latency between getting the event and sending a new request to
> > > > >>>> get a watch you cannot reliably see every change that happens to
> > a node in ZooKeeper. Be prepared to handle the case where
> > > > >>>> the znode changes multiple times between getting the event and
> > setting the watch again. (You may not care, but at least realize it may
> > happen.)
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> ZooKeeper does not keep any kind of queue of events. You cannot
> > count on seeing every event in ZooKeeper. Watchers are triggered as events
> > happen.
> > > > >>> Again, it's been a very long time since I've looked at the code
> > but this is my memory of how it works. When I wrote Persistent watches, I
> > used all
> > > > >>> the existing watch code. A Persistent watch is the exact same code
> > path as all other watches. They only difference is that they don't get
> > deleted after
> > > > >>> firing. Also, recursive watches trigger for child nodes being
> > watched. But, again, same code path.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> I hope this helps.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> -JZ
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>> On Jul 25, 2025, at 7:30 PM, Li Wang <li4w...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> Thanks for the input, Jordan.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> My understanding is that the standard watches do but persistent
> > watches
> > > > >>>> don't. Not sure if I miss anything or if this is a bug. Looking
> > forward to
> > > > >>>> any feedback/input on this.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> 1.  We have the following in the standard watch section of
> > Zookeeper
> > > > >>>> documentation and it looks like missing notifications are
> > triggered.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> When a client reconnects, any previously registered watches will
> > be
> > > > >>>>> reregistered and triggered if needed.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > https://zookeeper.apache.org/doc/r3.9.3/zookeeperProgrammers.html#sc_WatchSemantics
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> 2. In the code base, Zookeeper client library maintains lastZXid
> > in memory
> > > > >>>> and sends it to the server when resetting watches upon
> > reconnection. The
> > > > >>>> server detects if any missing notifications need to be triggered
> > based on
> > > > >>>> the lastZxid.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/master/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/ClientCnxn.java#L1040-L1041
> > > > >>>>
> > https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/master/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/server/DataTree.java#L1497
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> 3. The problem is that missing notifications seem only being
> > triggered for
> > > > >>>> standard watches but not for persistent watches when reconnecting.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> For example, for standard watches, watches.process() is invoked
> > for sending
> > > > >>>> missing notifications.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> for (String path : dataWatches) {
> > > > >>>>>           DataNode node = getNode(path);
> > > > >>>>>           if (node == null) {
> > > > >>>>>               watcher.process(new
> > WatchedEvent(EventType.NodeDeleted,
> > > > >>>>> KeeperState.SyncConnected, path));
> > > > >>>>>           } else if (node.stat.getMzxid() > relativeZxid) {
> > > > >>>>>               watcher.process(new
> > > > >>>>> WatchedEvent(EventType.NodeDataChanged,
> > KeeperState.SyncConnected, path));
> > > > >>>>>           } else {
> > > > >>>>>               this.dataWatches.addWatch(path, watcher);
> > > > >>>>>           }
> > > > >>>>>       }
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/master/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/server/DataTree.java#L1494-L1521
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> However, for persistence watches, we only register the watches,
> > not
> > > > >>>> detecting and sending missing notifications.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> for (String path : persistentRecursiveWatches) {
> > > > >>>>>           this.dataWatches.addWatch(path, watcher,
> > > > >>>>> WatcherMode.PERSISTENT_RECURSIVE);
> > > > >>>>>       }
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > https://github.com/apache/zookeeper/blob/master/zookeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/zookeeper/server/DataTree.java#L1494-L1521
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> Thanks,
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> Li
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> >

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