This mutex workflow demos an ability to lock/unlock a particular resource within a particular Temporal namespace so that other workflows within the same namespace would wait until a resource lock is released. This is useful when we want to avoid race conditions or parallel mutually exclusive operations on the same resource.

One way of coordinating parallel processing is to use Temporal signals with SignalWithStartWorkflow and make sure signals are getting processed sequentially, however the logic might become too complex if we need to lock two or more resources at the same time. Mutex workflow pattern can simplify that.

This example enqueues two long running SampleWorkflowWithMutex workflows in parallel. And each of the workflows has a Mutex section. When SampleWorkflowWithMutex reaches Mutex section, it starts a mutex workflow via local activity, and blocks until acquire-lock-event is received. Once acquire-lock-event is received, it enters critical section, and finally releases the lock once processing is over by sending releaseLock a signal to the MutexWorkflow.

1. Run a Temporal service.
2. Run the following command to start the worker

go run mutex/worker/main.go

3. Run the following command to start the example

go run mutex/starter/main.go

You should see that second workflow critical section is executed when first workflow critical operation is finished.