Propage

Propage is a term used in distributed computing to denote a family of propagation mechanisms designed to disseminate events or state changes across a networked system. It describes both the algorithms that forward information and the configuration of nodes, channels, and timing that enable efficient, scalable updates.

The mechanism of propage typically combines gossip-style dissemination with selective forwarding and message deduplication to minimize redundancy. Messages include an event identifier, source, timestamp or vector clock, and metadata to help receivers apply updates in the correct order. Delivery can be best-effort or augmented with ordering guarantees when paired with an ordering layer.

Characteristics of propage include a focus on eventual consistency with low latency and limited overhead. It tolerates node churn and unreliable links by re-propagating updates and using idempotent handlers, which helps ensure that repeated deliveries do not produce inconsistent effects.

Use cases for propage cover distributing configuration changes, cache invalidation messages, real-time collaboration updates, and sensor data in large-scale networks. It is particularly useful where rapid dissemination of updates is needed without imposing heavy coordination.

Relation to other concepts: propage concepts intersect with gossip protocols and publish-subscribe systems and are often used alongside distributed consensus to provide strong correctness where needed. The term is used in academic and industry contexts to describe propagation strategies rather than a single standardized protocol, and implementations vary across platforms.

See also: gossip protocol, publish-subscribe, epidemic algorithm, vector clocks.