| name | iii-event-driven-cqrs |
| description | Implements CQRS with event sourcing on the iii engine. Use when building command/query separation, event-sourced systems, or fan-out architectures where commands publish domain events and multiple read model projections subscribe independently. |
Event-Driven CQRS & Event Sourcing
Comparable to: Kafka, RabbitMQ, CQRS/Event Sourcing systems
Key Concepts
Use the concepts below when they fit the task. Not every CQRS system needs all of them.
- Write side: Commands validate input and publish domain events via pubsub
- Read side: Multiple projections subscribe to events independently, building query-optimized views in state
- Event log: Events are appended to state as an ordered log (event sourcing)
- PubSub handles fan-out — one event reaches all projections and downstream consumers
- HTTP triggers expose both command endpoints (POST) and query endpoints (GET)
Architecture
HTTP POST /inventory (command)
→ cmd::add-inventory-item → validate → append event to state
→ publish('inventory.item-added')
↓ (fan-out via subscribe triggers)
→ proj::inventory-list (updates queryable list view)
→ proj::inventory-stats (updates aggregate counters)
→ notify::inventory-alert (sends low-stock alerts)
HTTP GET /inventory (query)
→ query::list-inventory → reads from projection state
iii Primitives Used
| Primitive | Purpose |
|---|
registerWorker | Initialize the worker and connect to iii |
registerFunction | Define commands, projections, and queries |
trigger state::set, state::get, state::list | Event log and projection state |
trigger({ function_id: 'publish', payload }) | Publish domain events |
registerTrigger({ type: 'subscribe', config: { topic } }) | Subscribe projections to events |
registerTrigger({ type: 'http' }) | Command and query endpoints |
trigger({ ..., action: TriggerAction.Void() }) | Fire-and-forget notifications |
Reference Implementation
See ../references/event-driven-cqrs.js for the full working example — an inventory management system
with commands that publish domain events and multiple projections building query-optimized views.
Common Patterns
Code using this pattern commonly includes, when relevant:
registerWorker(url, { workerName }) — worker initialization
trigger({ function_id: 'state::set', payload: { scope: 'events', key, value } }) — event log append
trigger({ function_id: 'publish', payload: { topic, data } }) — domain event publishing
registerTrigger({ type: 'subscribe', function_id, config: { topic } }) — projection subscriptions
- Command functions with
cmd:: prefix, projection functions with proj:: prefix, query functions with query:: prefix
- Multiple projections subscribing to the same topic independently
const logger = new Logger() — structured logging per command/projection
Adapting This Pattern
Use the adaptations below when they apply to the task.
- Add new projections by registering subscribe triggers on existing event topics
- Use separate state scopes for each projection (e.g.
inventory-list, inventory-stats)
- Commands should validate before publishing — reject invalid commands early
- For critical event processing, use
TriggerAction.Enqueue({ queue }) instead of pubsub for guaranteed delivery
- Event IDs should be unique and monotonic for ordering (e.g.
evt-${Date.now()}-${counter})
Pattern Boundaries
- If the task is about simple CRUD with reactive side effects, prefer
iii-reactive-backend.
- If the task needs durable multi-step pipelines with retries, prefer
iii-workflow-orchestration.
- Stay with
iii-event-driven-cqrs when command/query separation, event sourcing, and independent projections are the primary concerns.
When to Use
- Use this skill when the task is primarily about
iii-event-driven-cqrs in the iii engine.
- Triggers when the request directly asks for this pattern or an equivalent implementation.
Boundaries
- Never use this skill as a generic fallback for unrelated tasks.
- You must not apply this skill when a more specific iii skill is a better fit.
- Always verify environment and safety constraints before applying examples from this skill.