CRDTs are simpler and more common than you think

CRDTs (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) are simple data structures that can be used in distributed systems without requiring complex libraries or abstract algebra knowledge. They ensure coordination-free semantics and maintain consistency across multiple nodes. Two examples of CRDT usage in practice are the netmap and presence mechanisms in Ably's distributed pub/sub platform. The netmap uses a simple set CRDT to manage cluster membership, while the presence mechanism switches between two different CRDT models based on ordering requirements for transport. Understanding CRDTs can help software engineers identify common patterns and ensure consistency in their distributed systems.