# Research: Core Distributed Architecture (Phase 1)

**Decision**: Use `rocksdb` crate for local storage engine.
**Rationale**: Industry standard for LSM-tree storage. Provides necessary primitives (WriteBatch, Column Families) for building a KV engine. `tikv/rust-rocksdb` is the most mature binding.
**Alternatives considered**: `sled` (pure Rust, but less mature/performant for this scale), `mdbx` (B-tree, read-optimized, not suitable for high write throughput target).

**Decision**: Use `tonic` + `prost` for gRPC.
**Rationale**: De facto standard in Rust ecosystem. Async-first, integrates perfectly with `tokio`.
**Alternatives considered**: `grpc-rs` (C-core wrapper, complex build), `tarpc` (Rust-specific, less interoperable).

**Decision**: Use `tokio` as async runtime.
**Rationale**: Required by `tonic`. Most mature ecosystem.

**Decision**: Monorepo Workspace Structure.
**Rationale**: Allows atomic commits across protocol, server, and client. Simplifies dependency management during rapid early development (Agility Principle).

## Clarification Resolution

*No [NEEDS CLARIFICATION] items were present in the spec. Technical context was sufficiently defined in the chat history.*