Pointers for distributed vs decentralised:

Some bookmarks to read if you are a distributed systems researcher [1]

A decentralized system is a subset of a distributed system.
The primary difference is how/where the “decision” is made and how the information is shared throughout the control nodes in the system.
Decentralized means that there is no single point where the decision is made.
Every node makes a decision for it’s own behaviour and the resulting system behaviour is the aggregate response.
A key characteristic of decentral systems is that typically no single node will have complete system information.
“Distributed means that the processing is shared across multiple nodes, but the decisions may still be centralized and use complete system knowledge” says coinbase in their blog post
A scenario to think of:
- Some control algorithms I’ve seen for multiple quad-copter control are purely distributed in that a central over-seer gives optimization problems to each copter to solve then return the solution.
- The over-seer will then issue commands based on the aggregate result.
Here’s a philosophical question:
- if the over-seer is “voted” into office by the nodes, is it decentralized or centralized?
- I’d have to say decentralized, but it is arguable says MaRi Eagar
- then I tend to ask what is distributed systems?

Keywords that matter

when you start the debate (here central systems are included): [2]

References: