elsa-core/doc/wiki/persistence.md
2026-08-11 22:25:06 +00:00

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# Persistence
Elsa uses replaceable stores. Most features default to memory stores, then provider packages replace those stores with EF Core or other persistence implementations. Diagnostics structured logs also have a separate relational/SQLite persistence path that deliberately does not use EF Core.
## Store Replacement Pattern
Feature classes expose store factories. Persistence features replace those factories during `Configure()`.
Example from [EFCoreWorkflowRuntimePersistenceFeature](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Runtime/WorkflowRuntimePersistenceFeature.cs):
- replace `WorkflowRuntimeFeature.TriggerStore`
- replace `BookmarkStore`
- replace `BookmarkQueueStore`
- replace `WorkflowExecutionLogStore`
- replace `ActivityExecutionLogStore`
- replace key-value store
Management persistence follows the same idea for definition and instance stores.
## EF Core Shared Infrastructure
Shared EF Core infrastructure lives in [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common) and [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore).
Important base types:
- [PersistenceFeatureBase](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/PersistenceFeatureBase.cs)
- [PersistenceShellFeatureBase](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/PersistenceShellFeatureBase.cs)
- [CombinedPersistenceShellFeatureBase](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/CombinedPersistenceShellFeatureBase.cs)
- [ElsaDbContextBase](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/ElsaDbContextBase.cs)
`PersistenceFeatureBase` registers `IDbContextFactory<TDbContext>`, migration options, tenant-aware context factory decoration, and tenant model handlers.
## EF Core Module Slices
The shared EF Core module contains slices for:
- [Management](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Management)
- [Runtime](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Runtime)
- [Identity](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Identity)
- [Tenants](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Tenants)
- [Labels](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Labels)
- [Alterations](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore/Modules/Alterations)
Each slice has a DbContext, configurations, store implementations, feature classes, and shell feature classes.
## Provider Packages
Provider packages configure database-specific EF Core options and migrations:
- [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Sqlite](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Sqlite)
- [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.SqlServer](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.SqlServer)
- [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.PostgreSql](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.PostgreSql)
- [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.MySql](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.MySql)
- [Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Oracle](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Oracle)
Combined provider shell features such as `SqliteWorkflowPersistenceShellFeature` let modular hosts configure workflow persistence once and share settings with dependent definition, instance, and runtime persistence features.
## Typical Host Configuration
The reference server configures SQLite persistence for management and runtime separately:
```csharp
elsa.UseWorkflowManagement(management =>
{
management.UseEntityFrameworkCore(ef => ef.UseSqlite());
});
elsa.UseWorkflowRuntime(runtime =>
{
runtime.UseEntityFrameworkCore(ef => ef.UseSqlite());
});
```
See [src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs](../../src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs).
## Migrations
EF Core migrations are controlled by feature options such as `RunMigrations`. The base persistence feature registers startup tasks that run migrations when enabled.
Migration-related files:
- [MigrationOptions](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/MigrationOptions.cs)
- [RunMigrationsStartupTask](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.EFCore.Common/RunMigrationsStartupTask.cs)
- [scripts/migrations/README.md](../../scripts/migrations/README.md)
When adding an entity or changing persisted shape, check every provider package and test provider-specific migration behavior where practical.
## Tenant Awareness
EF Core persistence decorates `IDbContextFactory<TDbContext>` with `TenantAwareDbContextFactory<TDbContext>` and registers model/saving handlers:
- `ApplyTenantId`
- `SetTenantIdFilter`
Tenant conventions are documented in ADRs:
- [ADR 0008: Empty String As Default Tenant ID](../adr/0008-empty-string-as-default-tenant-id.md)
- [ADR 0009: Asterisk Sentinel Value For Tenant-Agnostic Entities](../adr/0009-asterisk-sentinel-value-for-tenant-agnostic-entities.md)
## Structured Log Persistence
Structured log persistence is intentionally separate from EF Core. The active feature plan is [005 structured log persistence](../../specs/005-structured-log-persistence/plan.md).
Packages:
- [Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs](../../src/modules/Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs): core capture, API, hub, provider/store contracts, default in-memory store.
- [Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs.Persistence.Relational](../../src/modules/Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs.Persistence.Relational): provider-neutral relational store, SQL builder, mapper, retention service, write buffer.
- [Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs.Persistence.Sqlite](../../src/modules/Elsa.Diagnostics.StructuredLogs.Persistence.Sqlite): SQLite connection factory, dialect, FluentMigrator runner, startup migration/cleanup service.
This path uses explicit SQL and FluentMigrator. It stores timestamps as UTC ISO-8601 text and JSON payloads as text in SQLite.
## Adding A Store
When adding a new store implementation:
1. Identify the feature contract that owns the store.
2. Keep the core module provider-neutral.
3. Add the concrete store in the persistence/provider module.
4. Replace the feature's store factory in the persistence feature.
5. Add unit tests for store-specific query behavior if logic is nontrivial.
6. Add integration tests for provider behavior, migrations, and multi-target concerns where practical.
## Persistence vNext
Persistence vNext is a next-generation, provider-neutral persistence system being developed in parallel with the existing EF Core path. It is currently in early design and not yet used by production Elsa modules.
### Design Goals
- Module authors declare **storage manifests** (storage units, fields, keys, and indexes) once, without referencing any database-specific package.
- Separate **planners** (relational and document) turn manifests into provider-specific plans.
- A **portable document/index store** wraps provider-specific backends so simple modules do not need custom EF Core, SQL, or MongoDB code.
- **Schema versioning** replaces per-provider EF Core migration packages.
### Package Layout
| Package | Role |
| --- | --- |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext) | Core abstractions: storage manifests, document/index contracts, planner interfaces. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Extensions](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Extensions) | Feature registration and options. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Runtime](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Runtime) | Runtime-specific entity definitions and evaluation helpers. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Relational](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Relational) | Shared relational store behavior and SQL rendering. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Sqlite](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.Sqlite) | SQLite physicalization: DDL renderer, type mapper, schema version runner, document store. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.PostgreSql](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.PostgreSql) | PostgreSQL physicalization. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.SqlServer](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.SqlServer) | SQL Server physicalization. |
| [Elsa.Persistence.VNext.MongoDb](../../src/modules/Elsa.Persistence.VNext.MongoDb) | Native MongoDB physicalization using collections and indexes. |
Spec: [specs/011-persistence-vnext/spec.md](../../specs/011-persistence-vnext/spec.md).
### When To Use Persistence vNext
Today, use the existing EF Core path for all production Elsa modules. Persistence vNext work belongs in the `011-persistence-vnext` feature branch. Consult the spec and plan before contributing to avoid duplicating EF Core infrastructure for new module entities.
## Persistence Risk Checklist
- Does the change affect multiple target frameworks?
- Does it need provider-specific migrations?
- Does it preserve tenant filtering?
- Does it update both definition and instance stores if both shapes changed?
- Does it require API/client DTO updates?
- Does it alter runtime recovery, bookmark, or trigger semantics?
- Does it need retention, cleanup, or migration documentation?