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+# Task specifications, task instances and task logs
+
+A *task specification* contains all information that is needed for computing
+the results of a task:
+
+- The function ID of the function that executes the task
+- The arguments (either object IDs for pass by reference
+or values for pass by value)
+- The IDs of the result objects
+
+From these, a task ID can be computed which is also stored in the task
+specification.
+
+A *task instance* represents one execution of a task specification.
+It consists of:
+
+- A scheduling state (WAITING, SCHEDULED, RUNNING, DONE)
+- The target node where the task is scheduled or executed
+- A unique task instance ID that identifies the particular execution
+  of the task.
+
+The task data structures are defined in `common/task.h`.
+
+The *task log* is a mapping from the task instance ID to a sequence of
+updates to the status of the task instance. It is updated by various parts
+of the system:
+
+1. The local scheduler writes it with status WAITING when submits a task to the global scheduler
+2. The global scheduler appends an update WAITING -> SCHEDULED together with the node ID when assigning the task to a local scheduler
+3. The local scheduler appends an update SCHEDULED -> RUNNING when it assigns a task to a worker
+4. The local scheduler appends an update RUNNING -> DONE when the task finishes execution
+
+The task log is defined in `common/state/task_log.h`.