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Beginner Topic 8 of 51 Distributed Systems & Cloud

Remote Procedure Calls

Invoking functions on another machine like local ones.

How it works

Remote procedure call lets a program call a function in another process or machine as if it were local. A client stub marshals the arguments into a message, sends it over the network, the server stub unmarshals it, runs the procedure and returns the serialized result. Interface definition languages such as Protocol Buffers with gRPC, Thrift and Cap'n Proto generate stubs, define schemas and support versioning, streaming and deadlines. Semantics include at-most-once, at-least-once and exactly-once delivery attempts.

Where it is used

Microservice communication, internal APIs, distributed databases, cluster managers and mobile back ends use RPC frameworks for efficient, typed communication.

Common pitfall

Hiding the network is dangerous: calls can fail, time out or run twice, and latency is far higher than local calls. Retrying non-idempotent operations duplicates side effects. Version mismatches break clients. Set deadlines and propagate them, make operations idempotent, use retries with backoff and jitter and avoid chatty fine-grained calls.

Where it fits in the course

Remote Procedure Calls is topic 8 of 51 in Distributed Systems & Cloud, rated Beginner. It follows Availability and Reliability. The next topic is Message Queues.

Practice and explore

How to study this topic

  1. Read the explanation above and restate the definition in your own words.
  2. Open the interactive lesson and answer its mini quiz.
  3. Read the common pitfall, then write a short example that avoids it.
  4. Check your understanding in the Distributed Systems & Cloud quiz, and revisit the topic if you miss a question.

Frequently asked questions

What is Remote Procedure Calls?
Invoking functions on another machine like local ones. It belongs to Distributed Systems & Cloud and is a beginner-level topic.
Where do people use Remote Procedure Calls?
Microservice communication, internal APIs, distributed databases, cluster managers and mobile back ends use RPC frameworks for efficient, typed communication.
What is the most common mistake with Remote Procedure Calls?
Hiding the network is dangerous: calls can fail, time out or run twice, and latency is far higher than local calls.
What should I learn before this topic?
Start with Availability and Reliability, the topic just before it in Distributed Systems & Cloud.
How can I practice it?
Answer the mini quiz in the interactive lesson, then take the Distributed Systems & Cloud quiz.
Is Remote Procedure Calls hard to learn?
It is a Beginner topic, so it works as an entry point. If the terms are new, read the explanation twice and try the visualizer before the quiz.
How long does it take to learn Remote Procedure Calls?
Most learners can read the explanation and finish the interactive lesson in under an hour. Fluency comes from applying the idea, so plan a few short practice sessions with the quiz.
Which topics are related to Remote Procedure Calls?
Availability and Reliability, Message Queues, Latency vs Throughput are closely connected. The full list is in the related topics section of this page.
What should I study after Remote Procedure Calls?
Continue with Message Queues, the next topic in Distributed Systems & Cloud.

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