Add batching to vote_generator (#3963)

nano/core_test/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ add_executable(
   network.cpp
   network_filter.cpp
   node.cpp
+  processing_queue.cpp
   processor_service.cpp
   peer_container.cpp
   prioritization.cpp

nano/core_test/node.cpp

@@ -2589,7 +2589,7 @@ TEST (node, vote_by_hash_bundle)
 
 	for (auto const & block : blocks)
 	{
-		system.nodes[0]->active.generator.add (block->root (), block->hash ());
+		system.nodes[0]->generator.add (block->root (), block->hash ());
 	}
 
 	// Verify that bundling occurs. While reaching 12 should be common on most hardware in release mode,

nano/core_test/processing_queue.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#include <nano/lib/processing_queue.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/stats.hpp>
+#include <nano/test_common/system.hpp>
+#include <nano/test_common/testutil.hpp>
+
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+using namespace std::chrono_literals;
+
+TEST (processing_queue, construction)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 4, 8 * 1024, 1024 };
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 0);
+}
+
+TEST (processing_queue, process_one)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 4, 8 * 1024, 1024 };
+
+	std::atomic<std::size_t> processed{ 0 };
+	queue.process_batch = [&] (auto & batch) {
+		processed += batch.size ();
+	};
+	queue.start ();
+
+	queue.add (1);
+
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, processed == 1);
+	ASSERT_ALWAYS (1s, processed == 1);
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 0);
+}
+
+TEST (processing_queue, process_many)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 4, 8 * 1024, 1024 };
+
+	std::atomic<std::size_t> processed{ 0 };
+	queue.process_batch = [&] (auto & batch) {
+		processed += batch.size ();
+	};
+	queue.start ();
+
+	const int count = 1024;
+	for (int n = 0; n < count; ++n)
+	{
+		queue.add (1);
+	}
+
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, processed == count);
+	ASSERT_ALWAYS (1s, processed == count);
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 0);
+}
+
+TEST (processing_queue, max_queue_size)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 4, 1024, 128 };
+
+	const int count = 2 * 1024; // Double the max queue size
+	for (int n = 0; n < count; ++n)
+	{
+		queue.add (1);
+	}
+
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 1024);
+}
+
+TEST (processing_queue, max_batch_size)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 4, 1024, 128 };
+
+	// Fill queue before starting processing threads
+	const int count = 1024;
+	for (int n = 0; n < count; ++n)
+	{
+		queue.add (1);
+	}
+
+	std::atomic<std::size_t> max_batch{ 0 };
+	queue.process_batch = [&] (auto & batch) {
+		if (batch.size () > max_batch)
+		{
+			max_batch = batch.size ();
+		}
+	};
+	queue.start ();
+
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (5s, max_batch == 128);
+	ASSERT_ALWAYS (1s, max_batch == 128);
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 0);
+}
+
+TEST (processing_queue, parallel)
+{
+	nano::test::system system{};
+	nano::processing_queue<int> queue{ system.stats, {}, {}, 16, 1024, 1 };
+
+	std::atomic<std::size_t> processed{ 0 };
+	queue.process_batch = [&] (auto & batch) {
+		std::this_thread::sleep_for (2s);
+		processed += batch.size ();
+	};
+	queue.start ();
+
+	const int count = 16;
+	for (int n = 0; n < count; ++n)
+	{
+		queue.add (1);
+	}
+
+	// There are 16 threads and 16 items, each thread is waiting 1 second inside processing callback
+	// If processing is done in parallel it should take ~2 seconds to process every item, but keep some margin for slow machines
+	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, processed == count);
+	ASSERT_EQ (queue.size (), 0);
+}

nano/core_test/voting.cpp

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ TEST (vote_generator, cache)
 	auto & node (*system.nodes[0]);
 	auto epoch1 = system.upgrade_genesis_epoch (node, nano::epoch::epoch_1);
 	system.wallet (0)->insert_adhoc (nano::dev::genesis_key.prv);
-	node.active.generator.add (epoch1->root (), epoch1->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (epoch1->root (), epoch1->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (1s, !node.history.votes (epoch1->root (), epoch1->hash ()).empty ());
 	auto votes (node.history.votes (epoch1->root (), epoch1->hash ()));
 	ASSERT_FALSE (votes.empty ());
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ TEST (vote_generator, session)
 	nano::test::system system (1);
 	auto node (system.nodes[0]);
 	system.wallet (0)->insert_adhoc (nano::dev::genesis_key.prv);
-	nano::vote_generator_session generator_session (node->active.generator);
+	nano::vote_generator_session generator_session (node->generator);
 	boost::thread thread ([node, &generator_session] () {
 		nano::thread_role::set (nano::thread_role::name::request_loop);
 		generator_session.add (nano::dev::genesis->account (), nano::dev::genesis->hash ());
@@ -184,15 +184,15 @@ TEST (vote_spacing, vote_generator)
 				 .build_shared ();
 	ASSERT_EQ (nano::process_result::progress, node.ledger.process (node.store.tx_begin_write (), *send1).code);
 	ASSERT_EQ (0, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts));
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send1->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send1->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts) == 1);
 	ASSERT_FALSE (node.ledger.rollback (node.store.tx_begin_write (), send1->hash ()));
 	ASSERT_EQ (nano::process_result::progress, node.ledger.process (node.store.tx_begin_write (), *send2).code);
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_spacing) == 1);
 	ASSERT_EQ (1, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts));
 	std::this_thread::sleep_for (config.network_params.voting.delay);
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts) == 2);
 }
 
@@ -227,14 +227,14 @@ TEST (vote_spacing, rapid)
 				 .work (*system.work.generate (nano::dev::genesis->hash ()))
 				 .build_shared ();
 	ASSERT_EQ (nano::process_result::progress, node.ledger.process (node.store.tx_begin_write (), *send1).code);
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send1->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send1->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts) == 1);
 	ASSERT_FALSE (node.ledger.rollback (node.store.tx_begin_write (), send1->hash ()));
 	ASSERT_EQ (nano::process_result::progress, node.ledger.process (node.store.tx_begin_write (), *send2).code);
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_spacing) == 1);
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, 1 == node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts));
 	std::this_thread::sleep_for (config.network_params.voting.delay);
-	node.active.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
+	node.generator.add (nano::dev::genesis->hash (), send2->hash ());
 	ASSERT_TIMELY (3s, node.stats.count (nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::stat::detail::generator_broadcasts) == 2);
 }

nano/lib/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ add_library(
   numbers.cpp
   observer_set.hpp
   optional_ptr.hpp
+  processing_queue.hpp
   rate_limiting.hpp
   rate_limiting.cpp
   rep_weights.hpp

nano/lib/processing_queue.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <nano/lib/locks.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/numbers.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/stats.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/threading.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/utility.hpp>
+
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <deque>
+#include <functional>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <thread>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace nano
+{
+/**
+ * Queue that processes enqueued elements in (possibly parallel) batches
+ */
+template <typename T>
+class processing_queue final
+{
+public:
+	using value_t = T;
+
+	/**
+	 * @param thread_role Spawned processing threads will use this name
+	 * @param thread_count Number of processing threads
+	 * @param max_queue_size Max number of items enqueued, items beyond this value will be discarded
+	 * @param max_batch_size Max number of elements processed in single batch, 0 for unlimited (default)
+	 */
+	processing_queue (nano::stat & stats, nano::stat::type stat_type, nano::thread_role::name thread_role, std::size_t thread_count, std::size_t max_queue_size, std::size_t max_batch_size = 0) :
+		stats{ stats },
+		stat_type{ stat_type },
+		thread_role{ thread_role },
+		thread_count{ thread_count },
+		max_queue_size{ max_queue_size },
+		max_batch_size{ max_batch_size }
+	{
+	}
+
+	~processing_queue ()
+	{
+		stop ();
+	}
+
+	void start ()
+	{
+		for (int n = 0; n < thread_count; ++n)
+		{
+			threads.emplace_back ([this] () {
+				run ();
+			});
+		}
+	}
+
+	void stop ()
+	{
+		stopped = true;
+		condition.notify_all ();
+		for (auto & thread : threads)
+		{
+			thread.join ();
+		}
+		threads.clear ();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Queues item for batch processing
+	 */
+	void add (T const & item)
+	{
+		nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> lock{ mutex };
+		if (queue.size () < max_queue_size)
+		{
+			queue.emplace_back (item);
+			lock.unlock ();
+			condition.notify_one ();
+			stats.inc (stat_type, nano::stat::detail::queue);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			stats.inc (stat_type, nano::stat::detail::overfill);
+		}
+	}
+
+	std::size_t size () const
+	{
+		nano::lock_guard<nano::mutex> guard{ mutex };
+		return queue.size ();
+	}
+
+public: // Container info
+	std::unique_ptr<container_info_component> collect_container_info (std::string const & name)
+	{
+		nano::lock_guard<nano::mutex> guard{ mutex };
+
+		auto composite = std::make_unique<container_info_composite> (name);
+		composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "queue", queue.size (), sizeof (typename decltype (queue)::value_type) }));
+		return composite;
+	}
+
+private:
+	std::deque<value_t> next_batch (nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> & lock)
+	{
+		release_assert (lock.owns_lock ());
+
+		condition.wait (lock, [this] () {
+			return stopped || !queue.empty ();
+		});
+
+		if (stopped)
+		{
+			return {};
+		}
+
+		debug_assert (!queue.empty ());
+
+		// Unlimited batch size or queue smaller than max batch size, return the whole current queue
+		if (max_batch_size == 0 || queue.size () < max_batch_size)
+		{
+			decltype (queue) queue_l;
+			queue_l.swap (queue);
+			return queue_l;
+		}
+		// Larger than max batch size, return limited number of elements
+		else
+		{
+			decltype (queue) queue_l;
+			for (int n = 0; n < max_batch_size; ++n)
+			{
+				debug_assert (!queue.empty ());
+				queue_l.emplace_back (queue.front ());
+				queue.pop_front ();
+			}
+			return queue_l;
+		}
+	}
+
+	void run ()
+	{
+		nano::thread_role::set (thread_role);
+		nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> lock{ mutex };
+		while (!stopped)
+		{
+			auto batch = next_batch (lock);
+			lock.unlock ();
+			stats.inc (stat_type, nano::stat::detail::batch);
+			process_batch (batch);
+			lock.lock ();
+		}
+	}
+
+public:
+	std::function<void (std::deque<value_t> &)> process_batch{ [] (auto &) { debug_assert (false, "processing queue callback empty"); } };
+
+private:
+	nano::stat & stats;
+
+	const nano::stat::type stat_type;
+	const nano::thread_role::name thread_role;
+	const std::size_t thread_count;
+	const std::size_t max_queue_size;
+	const std::size_t max_batch_size;
+
+private:
+	std::deque<value_t> queue;
+	std::atomic<bool> stopped{ false };
+	mutable nano::mutex mutex;
+	nano::condition_variable condition;
+	std::vector<std::thread> threads;
+};
+}

nano/lib/stats.cpp

@@ -563,6 +563,15 @@ std::string nano::stat::detail_to_string (stat::detail detail)
 		case nano::stat::detail::all:
 			res = "all";
 			break;
+		case nano::stat::detail::queue:
+			res = "queue";
+			break;
+		case nano::stat::detail::overfill:
+			res = "overfill";
+			break;
+		case nano::stat::detail::batch:
+			res = "batch";
+			break;
 		case nano::stat::detail::bad_sender:
 			res = "bad_sender";
 			break;

nano/lib/stats.hpp

@@ -254,6 +254,11 @@ public:
 	{
 		all = 0,
 
+		// processing queue
+		queue,
+		overfill,
+		batch,
+
 		// error specific
 		bad_sender,
 		insufficient_work,

nano/lib/threading.cpp

@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ std::string nano::thread_role::get_string (nano::thread_role::name role)
 		case nano::thread_role::name::election_hinting:
 			thread_role_name_string = "Hinting";
 			break;
+		case nano::thread_role::name::vote_generator_queue:
+			thread_role_name_string = "Voting que";
+			break;
 		default:
 			debug_assert (false && "nano::thread_role::get_string unhandled thread role");
 	}

nano/lib/threading.hpp

@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ namespace thread_role
 		election_scheduler,
 		unchecked,
 		backlog_population,
-		election_hinting
+		election_hinting,
+		vote_generator_queue,
 	};
 
 	/*

nano/lib/utility.hpp

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void assert_internal (char const * check_expr, char const * func, char const * f
 #endif
 
 #ifdef NDEBUG
-#define debug_assert(check) (void)0
+#define debug_assert(...) (void)0
 #else
 #define debug_assert_1(check) check ? (void)0 : assert_internal (#check, BOOST_CURRENT_FUNCTION, __FILE__, __LINE__, false)
 #define debug_assert_2(check, error_msg) check ? (void)0 : assert_internal (#check, BOOST_CURRENT_FUNCTION, __FILE__, __LINE__, false, error_msg)

nano/node/active_transactions.cpp

@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ nano::active_transactions::active_transactions (nano::node & node_a, nano::confi
 	scheduler{ node_a.scheduler }, // Move dependencies requiring this circular reference
 	confirmation_height_processor{ confirmation_height_processor_a },
 	node{ node_a },
-	generator{ node_a.config, node_a.ledger, node_a.wallets, node_a.vote_processor, node_a.history, node_a.network, node_a.stats, false },
-	final_generator{ node_a.config, node_a.ledger, node_a.wallets, node_a.vote_processor, node_a.history, node_a.network, node_a.stats, true },
 	recently_confirmed{ 65536 },
 	recently_cemented{ node.config.confirmation_history_size },
 	election_time_to_live{ node_a.network_params.network.is_dev_network () ? 0s : 2s },
@@ -202,8 +200,8 @@ void nano::active_transactions::request_confirm (nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex>
 
 	nano::confirmation_solicitor solicitor (node.network, node.config);
 	solicitor.prepare (node.rep_crawler.principal_representatives (std::numeric_limits<std::size_t>::max ()));
-	nano::vote_generator_session generator_session (generator);
+	nano::vote_generator_session generator_session (node.generator);
-	nano::vote_generator_session final_generator_session (generator);
+	nano::vote_generator_session final_generator_session (node.final_generator);
 
 	std::size_t unconfirmed_count_l (0);
 	nano::timer<std::chrono::milliseconds> elapsed (nano::timer_state::started);
@@ -366,8 +364,6 @@ void nano::active_transactions::stop ()
 	{
 		thread.join ();
 	}
-	generator.stop ();
-	final_generator.stop ();
 	lock.lock ();
 	roots.clear ();
 }
@@ -690,16 +686,12 @@ std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> nano::collect_container_info (ac
 {
 	std::size_t roots_count;
 	std::size_t blocks_count;
-	std::size_t recently_confirmed_count;
-	std::size_t recently_cemented_count;
 	std::size_t hinted_count;
 
 	{
 		nano::lock_guard<nano::mutex> guard (active_transactions.mutex);
 		roots_count = active_transactions.roots.size ();
 		blocks_count = active_transactions.blocks.size ();
-		recently_confirmed_count = active_transactions.recently_confirmed.size ();
-		recently_cemented_count = active_transactions.recently_cemented.size ();
 		hinted_count = active_transactions.active_hinted_elections_count;
 	}
 
@@ -708,7 +700,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> nano::collect_container_info (ac
 	composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "blocks", blocks_count, sizeof (decltype (active_transactions.blocks)::value_type) }));
 	composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "election_winner_details", active_transactions.election_winner_details_size (), sizeof (decltype (active_transactions.election_winner_details)::value_type) }));
 	composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "hinted", hinted_count, 0 }));
-	composite->add_component (collect_container_info (active_transactions.generator, "generator"));
 
 	composite->add_component (active_transactions.recently_confirmed.collect_container_info ("recently_confirmed"));
 	composite->add_component (active_transactions.recently_cemented.collect_container_info ("recently_cemented"));

nano/node/active_transactions.hpp

@@ -203,9 +203,6 @@ public:
 	void add_election_winner_details (nano::block_hash const &, std::shared_ptr<nano::election> const &);
 	void remove_election_winner_details (nano::block_hash const &);
 
-	nano::vote_generator generator;
-	nano::vote_generator final_generator;
-
 	recently_confirmed_cache recently_confirmed;
 	recently_cemented_cache recently_cemented;
 

nano/node/election.cpp

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ nano::election::election (nano::node & node_a, std::shared_ptr<nano::block> cons
 	last_blocks.emplace (block_a->hash (), block_a);
 	if (node.config.enable_voting && node.wallets.reps ().voting > 0)
 	{
-		node.active.generator.add (root, block_a->hash ());
+		node.generator.add (root, block_a->hash ());
 	}
 }
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ void nano::election::confirm_if_quorum (nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> & lock_a)
 		{
 			auto hash = status.winner->hash ();
 			lock_a.unlock ();
-			node.active.final_generator.add (root, hash);
+			node.final_generator.add (root, hash);
 			lock_a.lock ();
 		}
 		if (!node.ledger.cache.final_votes_confirmation_canary.load () || final_weight >= node.online_reps.delta ())
@@ -488,12 +488,12 @@ void nano::election::generate_votes () const
 		{
 			auto hash = status.winner->hash ();
 			lock.unlock ();
-			node.active.final_generator.add (root, hash);
+			node.final_generator.add (root, hash);
 			lock.lock ();
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			node.active.generator.add (root, status.winner->hash ());
+			node.generator.add (root, status.winner->hash ());
 		}
 	}
 }

nano/node/node.cpp

@@ -173,10 +173,12 @@ nano::node::node (boost::asio::io_context & io_ctx_a, boost::filesystem::path co
 	vote_uniquer (block_uniquer),
 	confirmation_height_processor (ledger, write_database_queue, config.conf_height_processor_batch_min_time, config.logging, logger, node_initialized_latch, flags.confirmation_height_processor_mode),
 	inactive_vote_cache{ nano::nodeconfig_to_vote_cache_config (config, flags) },
+	generator{ config, ledger, wallets, vote_processor, history, network, stats, /* non-final */ false },
+	final_generator{ config, ledger, wallets, vote_processor, history, network, stats, /* final */ true },
 	active (*this, confirmation_height_processor),
 	scheduler{ *this },
 	hinting{ nano::nodeconfig_to_hinted_scheduler_config (config), *this, inactive_vote_cache, active, online_reps, stats },
-	aggregator (config, stats, active.generator, active.final_generator, history, ledger, wallets, active),
+	aggregator (config, stats, generator, final_generator, history, ledger, wallets, active),
 	wallets (wallets_store.init_error (), *this),
 	backlog{ nano::nodeconfig_to_backlog_population_config (config), store, scheduler },
 	startup_time (std::chrono::steady_clock::now ()),
@@ -631,6 +633,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> nano::collect_container_info (no
 	composite->add_component (collect_container_info (node.aggregator, "request_aggregator"));
 	composite->add_component (node.scheduler.collect_container_info ("election_scheduler"));
 	composite->add_component (node.inactive_vote_cache.collect_container_info ("inactive_vote_cache"));
+	composite->add_component (collect_container_info (node.generator, "vote_generator"));
+	composite->add_component (collect_container_info (node.final_generator, "vote_generator_final"));
 	return composite;
 }
 
@@ -740,6 +744,8 @@ void nano::node::start ()
 		port_mapping.start ();
 	}
 	wallets.start ();
+	generator.start ();
+	final_generator.start ();
 	backlog.start ();
 	hinting.start ();
 }
@@ -759,6 +765,8 @@ void nano::node::stop ()
 		scheduler.stop ();
 		hinting.stop ();
 		active.stop ();
+		generator.stop ();
+		final_generator.stop ();
 		confirmation_height_processor.stop ();
 		network.stop ();
 		telemetry->stop ();

nano/node/node.hpp

@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ public:
 	nano::vote_uniquer vote_uniquer;
 	nano::confirmation_height_processor confirmation_height_processor;
 	nano::vote_cache inactive_vote_cache;
+	nano::vote_generator generator;
+	nano::vote_generator final_generator;
 	nano::active_transactions active;
 	nano::election_scheduler scheduler;
 	nano::hinted_scheduler hinting;

nano/node/voting.cpp

@@ -171,14 +171,20 @@ nano::vote_generator::vote_generator (nano::node_config const & config_a, nano::
 	spacing{ config_a.network_params.voting.delay },
 	network (network_a),
 	stats (stats_a),
-	thread ([this] () { run (); }),
+	is_final (is_final_a),
-	is_final (is_final_a)
+	vote_generation_queue{ stats, nano::stat::type::vote_generator, nano::thread_role::name::vote_generator_queue, /* single threaded */ 1, /* max queue size */ 1024 * 32, /* max batch size */ 1024 * 4 }
 {
-	nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> lock (mutex);
+	vote_generation_queue.process_batch = [this] (auto & batch) {
-	condition.wait (lock, [&started = started] { return started; });
+		process_batch (batch);
+	};
 }
 
-void nano::vote_generator::add (nano::root const & root_a, nano::block_hash const & hash_a)
+nano::vote_generator::~vote_generator ()
+{
+	stop ();
+}
+
+void nano::vote_generator::process (nano::write_transaction const & transaction, nano::root const & root_a, nano::block_hash const & hash_a)
 {
 	auto cached_votes (history.votes (root_a, hash_a, is_final));
 	if (!cached_votes.empty ())
@@ -193,14 +199,12 @@ void nano::vote_generator::add (nano::root const & root_a, nano::block_hash cons
 		auto should_vote (false);
 		if (is_final)
 		{
-			auto transaction (ledger.store.tx_begin_write ({ tables::final_votes }));
 			auto block (ledger.store.block.get (transaction, hash_a));
 			should_vote = block != nullptr && ledger.dependents_confirmed (transaction, *block) && ledger.store.final_vote.put (transaction, block->qualified_root (), hash_a);
 			debug_assert (block == nullptr || root_a == block->root ());
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			auto transaction (ledger.store.tx_begin_read ());
 			auto block (ledger.store.block.get (transaction, hash_a));
 			should_vote = block != nullptr && ledger.dependents_confirmed (transaction, *block);
 		}
@@ -217,8 +221,18 @@ void nano::vote_generator::add (nano::root const & root_a, nano::block_hash cons
 	}
 }
 
+void nano::vote_generator::start ()
+{
+	debug_assert (!thread.joinable ());
+	thread = std::thread ([this] () { run (); });
+
+	vote_generation_queue.start ();
+}
+
 void nano::vote_generator::stop ()
 {
+	vote_generation_queue.stop ();
+
 	nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> lock (mutex);
 	stopped = true;
 
@@ -231,6 +245,21 @@ void nano::vote_generator::stop ()
 	}
 }
 
+void nano::vote_generator::add (const root & root, const block_hash & hash)
+{
+	vote_generation_queue.add (std::make_pair (root, hash));
+}
+
+void nano::vote_generator::process_batch (std::deque<queue_entry_t> & batch)
+{
+	auto transaction = ledger.store.tx_begin_write ({ tables::final_votes });
+
+	for (auto & [root, hash] : batch)
+	{
+		process (transaction, root, hash);
+	}
+}
+
 std::size_t nano::vote_generator::generate (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const & blocks_a, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel_a)
 {
 	request_t::first_type req_candidates;
@@ -388,10 +417,6 @@ void nano::vote_generator::run ()
 {
 	nano::thread_role::set (nano::thread_role::name::voting);
 	nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> lock (mutex);
-	started = true;
-	lock.unlock ();
-	condition.notify_all ();
-	lock.lock ();
 	while (!stopped)
 	{
 		if (candidates.size () >= nano::network::confirm_ack_hashes_max)
@@ -453,5 +478,6 @@ std::unique_ptr<nano::container_info_component> nano::collect_container_info (na
 	auto composite = std::make_unique<container_info_composite> (name);
 	composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "candidates", candidates_count, sizeof_candidate_element }));
 	composite->add_component (std::make_unique<container_info_leaf> (container_info{ "requests", requests_count, sizeof_request_element }));
+	composite->add_component (vote_generator.vote_generation_queue.collect_container_info ("vote_generation_queue"));
 	return composite;
 }

nano/node/voting.hpp

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <nano/lib/locks.hpp>
 #include <nano/lib/numbers.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/processing_queue.hpp>
 #include <nano/lib/utility.hpp>
 #include <nano/node/wallet.hpp>
 #include <nano/secure/common.hpp>
@@ -118,14 +119,19 @@ class vote_generator final
 private:
 	using candidate_t = std::pair<nano::root, nano::block_hash>;
 	using request_t = std::pair<std::vector<candidate_t>, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel>>;
+	using queue_entry_t = std::pair<nano::root, nano::block_hash>;
 
 public:
 	vote_generator (nano::node_config const & config_a, nano::ledger & ledger_a, nano::wallets & wallets_a, nano::vote_processor & vote_processor_a, nano::local_vote_history & history_a, nano::network & network_a, nano::stat & stats_a, bool is_final_a);
+	~vote_generator ();
+
 	/** Queue items for vote generation, or broadcast votes already in cache */
 	void add (nano::root const &, nano::block_hash const &);
 	/** Queue blocks for vote generation, returning the number of successful candidates.*/
 	std::size_t generate (std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const & blocks_a, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const & channel_a);
 	void set_reply_action (std::function<void (std::shared_ptr<nano::vote> const &, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> const &)>);
+
+	void start ();
 	void stop ();
 
 private:
@@ -134,7 +140,17 @@ private:
 	void reply (nano::unique_lock<nano::mutex> &, request_t &&);
 	void vote (std::vector<nano::block_hash> const &, std::vector<nano::root> const &, std::function<void (std::shared_ptr<nano::vote> const &)> const &);
 	void broadcast_action (std::shared_ptr<nano::vote> const &) const;
+	void process_batch (std::deque<queue_entry_t> & batch);
+	/**
+	 * Check if block is eligible for vote generation, then generates a vote or broadcasts votes already in cache
+	 * @param transaction : needs `tables::final_votes` lock
+	 */
+	void process (nano::write_transaction const &, nano::root const &, nano::block_hash const &);
+
+private:
 	std::function<void (std::shared_ptr<nano::vote> const &, std::shared_ptr<nano::transport::channel> &)> reply_action; // must be set only during initialization by using set_reply_action
+
+private: // Dependencies
 	nano::node_config const & config;
 	nano::ledger & ledger;
 	nano::wallets & wallets;
@@ -143,15 +159,19 @@ private:
 	nano::vote_spacing spacing;
 	nano::network & network;
 	nano::stat & stats;
+
+private:
+	processing_queue<queue_entry_t> vote_generation_queue;
+
+private:
+	const bool is_final;
 	mutable nano::mutex mutex;
 	nano::condition_variable condition;
 	static std::size_t constexpr max_requests{ 2048 };
 	std::deque<request_t> requests;
 	std::deque<candidate_t> candidates;
 	std::atomic<bool> stopped{ false };
-	bool started{ false };
 	std::thread thread;
-	bool is_final;
 
 	friend std::unique_ptr<container_info_component> collect_container_info (vote_generator & vote_generator, std::string const & name);
 };
@@ -161,7 +181,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<container_info_component> collect_container_info (vote_generator
 class vote_generator_session final
 {
 public:
-	vote_generator_session (vote_generator & vote_generator_a);
+	explicit vote_generator_session (vote_generator & vote_generator_a);
 	void add (nano::root const &, nano::block_hash const &);
 	void flush ();
 

nano/test_common/system.hpp

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <nano/lib/errors.hpp>
+#include <nano/lib/stats.hpp>
 #include <nano/node/node.hpp>
 
 #include <chrono>
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ namespace test
 		system ();
 		system (uint16_t, nano::transport::transport_type = nano::transport::transport_type::tcp, nano::node_flags = nano::node_flags ());
 		~system ();
+
 		void ledger_initialization_set (std::vector<nano::keypair> const & reps, nano::amount const & reserve = 0);
 		void generate_activity (nano::node &, std::vector<nano::account> &);
 		void generate_mass_activity (uint32_t, nano::node &);
@@ -60,15 +62,18 @@ namespace test
 		 */
 		nano::node_config default_config ();
 
+	public:
 		boost::asio::io_context io_ctx;
 		std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::node>> nodes;
 		nano::logging logging;
+		nano::stat stats;
 		nano::work_pool work{ nano::dev::network_params.network, std::max (nano::hardware_concurrency (), 1u) };
 		std::chrono::time_point<std::chrono::steady_clock, std::chrono::duration<double>> deadline{ std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point::max () };
 		double deadline_scaling_factor{ 1.0 };
 		unsigned node_sequence{ 0 };
 		std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> initialization_blocks;
 	};
+
 	std::unique_ptr<nano::state_block> upgrade_epoch (nano::work_pool &, nano::ledger &, nano::epoch);
 	void blocks_confirm (nano::node &, std::vector<std::shared_ptr<nano::block>> const &, bool const = false);
 	uint16_t get_available_port ();