[FLINK-9574] Add a dedicated documentation page for state evolution

• Type: Sub-task
• Status: Closed
• Priority: Critical
• Resolution: Fixed
• Fix Version/s: 1.7.0
• Component/s: API / Type Serialization System, Documentation, Runtime / State Backends
• Labels: pull-request-available
• Assignee: Tzu-Li (Gordon) Tai
• Reporter: Tzu-Li (Gordon) Tai
• Created: 13/Jun/18 10:31
• Updated: 28/Nov/18 06:47
• Resolved: 28/Nov/18 06:47

Description

Currently, the only bit of documentation about serializer upgrades / state evolution, is https://ci.apache.org/projects/flink/flink-docs-release-1.5/dev/stream/state/custom_serialization.html#handling-serializer-upgrades-and-compatibility., which only explains things at an API level.

State evolution over the time has proved to be a rather complex topic that is often overlooked by users. Users would probably benefit from a actual full-grown dedicated page that covers both API, some necessary internal details regarding interplay of state serializers, best practices, and caution notices.

I propose to add this documentation as a subpage under Streaming/State & Fault-Tolerance/.

Issue Links

• links to: GitHub Pull Request #7124