state

name	state
tags	state, key-value, storage, triggers, reactive
description	Shared, adapter-backed key/value store addressed by scope and key, with a reactive `state` trigger so other functions can run on every create, update, or delete without polling.

state

The state worker is a server-side key/value store. Values are addressed by a scope (namespace) and a key, shared across every worker connected to the engine, and persisted through a pluggable adapter (kv or redis). Callers reach the core store through six state::* functions invoked with iii.trigger({ function_id: 'state::...', payload }). The worker also exposes state::list_keys and the internal state::ui-content function. Install it with iii trigger compose::add worker=state; it replaces the engine's legacy built-in state service, which must be removed from the engine config first.

State does not push updates to SDK clients. Reactivity is delivered by a state trigger type that fires state:created, state:updated, or state:deleted after every successful mutation, so downstream functions can react to data changes without polling. The kv adapter (default) supports file_based persistence (the default) or a volatile in_memory mode; redis proxies to a Redis backend. The function surface is identical across adapters.

When to Use

• Two or more functions need shared state without standing up a separate database.
• A counter or per-entity document needs atomic partial updates instead of read-modify-write.
• A write in one function should trigger side effects elsewhere (cache invalidation, audit logs, notifications, projections).
• You want a specific scope/key watched and reacted to only when that slot changes.

Boundaries

• Schema-free by design — every value is opaque JSON. Use the configuration worker when entries need a registered JSON Schema and validation.
• Reads (state::get, state::list, state::list_groups) never fire triggers; only set/update/delete do.
• Trigger delivery is asynchronous and does not roll back the write on handler failure; a delete of a missing key still emits state:deleted with a null old value.
• Stream-shaped, broadcast-to-subscribers data belongs in the engine's stream surface, not here.
• The store lives in the worker process: the kv in_memory backend is lost when the worker stops. The default file_based backend (and redis) survives restarts.

Functions

• state::set — write or replace the value at a scope/key; fires state:created or state:updated.
• state::get — read one value by scope and key.
• state::delete — remove a key and fire state:deleted with the prior value.
• state::update — apply ordered atomic ops (set, merge, increment, decrement, append, remove) to the stored value.
• state::list — enumerate every value stored in a scope.
• state::list_groups — enumerate which scopes currently contain data.

Reactive triggers

Bind a state trigger when a function should run automatically after a value changes — without polling state::get. The worker evaluates every registered state trigger after a successful state::set, state::update, or state::delete and invokes matching handlers asynchronously.

Reach for it when:

• A write in one worker should drive side effects in another (audit logs, cache invalidation, notifications, projections).
• You want optional gating via condition_function_id so the handler only runs when a predicate on the event is truthy (only an explicit false blocks).

If you only need the new value inside the same function that wrote it, use the mutator's returned old_value / new_value instead of binding a trigger.

How to bind

1. Register a handler: iii.registerFunction('orders::on-status-change', handler).
2. Register the trigger:

iii.registerTrigger({
  type: 'state',
  function_id: 'orders::on-status-change',
  config: {
    scope: 'orders',  // optional. Omit to match every scope.
    key: 'status',    // optional. Omit to match every key in the scope.
    // condition_function_id is also supported.
  },
})

All config fields are optional; tighter filters reduce how often the handler runs. To watch several specific keys, register one trigger per scope/key pair. Mutations that fire the trigger: state::set, state::update, state::delete.

The handler receives the event payload { type: "state", event_type, scope, key, old_value, new_value }, where event_type is one of state:created, state:updated, or state:deleted.