Cache consistency when using memcached and a rdbms like MySQL

Question

I have taken a database class this semester and we are studying about maintaining cache consistency between the RDBMS and a cache server such as memcached. The consistency issue

Answer 1

The code below gives some idea of how to use Memcached's operations add, gets and cas to implement optimistic locking to ensure consistency of cache with the database.
Disclaimer: i do not guarantee that it's perfectly correct and handles all race conditions. Also consistency requirements may vary between applications.

def read(k):
  loop:
    get(k)
    if cache_value == 'updating':
      handle_too_many_retries()
      sleep()
      continue
    if cache_value == None:
      add(k, 'updating')
      gets(k)
      get_from_db(k)
      if cache_value == 'updating':
        cas(k, 'value:' + version_index(db_value) + ':' + extract_value(db_value))
      return db_value
    return extract_value(cache_value)

def write(k, v):
  set_to_db(k, v)
  loop:
    gets(k)
    if cache_value != 'updated' and cache_value != None and version_index(cache_value) >= version_index(db_value):
      break
    if cas(k, v):
      break
    handle_too_many_retries()

# for deleting we can use some 'tumbstone' as a cache value