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Use synchronization
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Avoid deadlock
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Use thread pools
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Use thread-local storage
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Use immutable objects
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Use atomic operations
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Here’s what else to consider
In computer science, threads are units of execution that can run concurrently within a process. Threads can share resources, such as memory, files, and sockets, but they can also interfere with each other if they access the same data without coordination. This can lead to errors, inconsistencies, and unexpected behaviors. How can you prevent threads from interfering with each other? Here are some tips and techniques to avoid common pitfalls and ensure thread safety.
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- Akash Ingole Software Engineer - Java, Spring, Multithreading, Concurrency
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- Nandini Hinduja Solopreneur | Freelance Writer, Developer, Mentor, Tutor | Content Creator
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1 Use synchronization
Synchronization is the process of coordinating the access of multiple threads to a shared resource. Synchronization ensures that only one thread can modify or read a resource at a time, while the others wait for their turn. Synchronization can be achieved using various mechanisms, such as locks, semaphores, monitors, and condition variables. For example, in Java, you can use the synchronized keyword to mark a block of code or a method that can only be executed by one thread at a time.
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To prevent threads from interfering with each other:Use synchronization like locks or semaphores to control access to shared resources.Employ atomic operations for simple variable updates to ensure they occur indivisibly.Use thread-safe data structures or synchronized containers provided by libraries.Prefer immutable objects to avoid the need for synchronization.Confine data to individual threads whenever possible.Implement message passing instead of shared memory for inter-thread communication.Utilize thread-local storage to maintain separate copies of data.Design thread interactions to avoid deadlocks, where threads wait indefinitely for resources.
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- Akash Ingole Software Engineer - Java, Spring, Multithreading, Concurrency
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1. Use SynchronizationYou can use "synchronized" keyword to define a synchronized block of code that is accessible to only one thread at a time. You can use it to protect critical sections of code.
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- Metehan Ozten Senior Software Engineer @ Mastercard
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One thing I've been considering helpful when writing multi-threaded systems is to pay attention for potential 'critical sections'.A critical section is an area in the code where a variable or shared resource can be operated on by multiple threads. Some critical sections can allow for a fixed number of threads to operate on it at a time, while most require only one thread to operate on it at a time. In general it is important to make sure these critical sections are guarded by semaphores which is a synchronization primitive that prevents more than N threads from entering a critical section at a time.
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- Prashant K. Software Developer @ Ministry of Food Processing Industries | Artificial Intelligence for Business
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Synchronization mechanisms, such as locks, ensure that only one thread can access a critical section of code at a time. This prevents multiple threads from interfering with each other during simultaneous execution.Example:In Java, using the synchronized keyword can protect critical sections of code:synchronized void criticalSection() { // Thread-safe operations}
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2 Avoid deadlock
Deadlock is a situation where two or more threads are waiting for each other to release a resource that they need, but none of them can proceed. Deadlock can occur when threads acquire locks in different orders, or when they hold locks for too long. To avoid deadlock, you should follow some best practices, such as acquiring locks in a consistent order, releasing locks as soon as possible, using timeouts or try-lock methods, and detecting and resolving deadlocks with tools or algorithms.
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- Nandini Hinduja Solopreneur | Freelance Writer, Developer, Mentor, Tutor | Content Creator
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Imagine there are two threads - thread A and thread B & imagine there are two resources - resource A and resource B. thread A has resource A and thread B has resource B. thread B needs resource A to finish its task and thread A needs resource B to finish its task. None of them can proceed. This is called deadlock. Deadlock has to be prevented. Deadlock occurs because of these:- Mutual exclusion- Hold and wait- No Preemption- Circular waitSo deadlock can be prevented by preventing the above scenarios.Deadlock can be solved by:- Aborting the process.- Restarting the process- Releasing all resources
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- Soumyadip Majumder Love to code
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2. Avoid DeadlockTo avoid deadlock in C#, always acquire locks in the same order and release them in the opposite order. Also, consider using a timeout when attempting to acquire a lock using Monitor.TryEnter.
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- Prashant K. Software Developer @ Ministry of Food Processing Industries | Artificial Intelligence for Business
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Deadlock occurs when two or more threads are blocked forever, each waiting for the other to release a lock. Avoiding deadlock is crucial for preventing thread interference.Example:Ensure that locks are acquired in a consistent order across all threads to avoid circular dependencies.
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3 Use thread pools
Thread pools are collections of pre-created threads that can execute tasks in parallel. Thread pools can improve performance and resource utilization by reducing the overhead of creating and destroying threads. Thread pools can also limit the number of concurrent threads and prevent overloading the system. Thread pools can be implemented using various libraries or frameworks, such as the ExecutorService in Java or the ThreadPoolExecutor in Python.
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- Soumyadip Majumder Love to code
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3. Use Thread PoolsC# provides a ThreadPool class that creates and manages threads for you, reducing the likelihood of interference.- C# code:ThreadPool.QueueUserWorkItem(new WaitCallback(SomeMethod));
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- Prashant K. Software Developer @ Ministry of Food Processing Industries | Artificial Intelligence for Business
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Thread pools manage a pool of worker threads, reducing the overhead of creating new threads for each task. This can prevent interference by controlling the number of concurrent threads.Example:In Java, using the ExecutorService and ThreadPoolExecutor classes helps manage thread pools efficiently.
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4 Use thread-local storage
Thread-local storage (TLS) is a technique that allows each thread to have its own copy of a variable or an object. TLS can prevent threads from interfering with each other by isolating their data and avoiding shared state. TLS can also improve performance and scalability by reducing the need for synchronization. TLS can be supported by the programming language, such as the ThreadLocal class in Java or the thread_local keyword in C++, or by the operating system, such as the TlsAlloc and TlsFree functions in Windows.
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- Soumyadip Majumder Love to code
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4. Use Thread-Local StorageThread-local storage (TLS) in C# allows each thread to have its own copy of data, preventing interference. This is particularly useful for variables that are read and written frequently.ThreadLocal<int> threadLocalVariable = new ThreadLocal<int>();
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- Prashant K. Software Developer @ Ministry of Food Processing Industries | Artificial Intelligence for Business
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Thread-local storage allocates a separate copy of a variable for each thread, preventing interference by ensuring that changes in one thread do not affect the value in another.Example:In C++, using the thread_local keyword to declare thread-local variables:thread_local int threadSpecificVariable;
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5 Use immutable objects
Immutable objects are objects that cannot be modified after they are created. Immutable objects are inherently thread-safe, because they do not have any state that can be changed by multiple threads. Immutable objects can also simplify the design and reasoning of concurrent programs, because they do not require synchronization or locking. Immutable objects can be created using various techniques, such as using final or const keywords, using builder patterns, or using functional programming paradigms.
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5. Use Immutable ObjectsImmutable objects can’t be modified after they’re created, so they can safely be shared between threads without synchronization.C# code:string immutableString = "Hello, LinkedIN folks!";
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- Akash Ingole Software Engineer - Java, Spring, Multithreading, Concurrency
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Immutable objects are inherently thread-safe because their state cannot be modified after construction. You can use immutable objects to share data between threads safely.
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6 Use atomic operations
Atomic operations are operations that can be performed in a single step, without being interrupted or interfered by other threads. Atomic operations can ensure the consistency and correctness of data that is accessed or modified by multiple threads. Atomic operations can be supported by the hardware, such as the compare-and-swap instruction, or by the software, such as the AtomicInteger class in Java or the std::atomic template in C++.
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- Akash Ingole Software Engineer - Java, Spring, Multithreading, Concurrency
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Atomic operations ensure atomicity without using locks. Java provides atomic classes in java.util.concurrent.atomic package, such at AtomicInteger, AtomicLong, etc
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- kashish pahuja Software Engineer 👨🏻💻- Java Developer ||TCSER | TATA SIA Airlines Limited ||PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana)
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Atomic operations in Java are operations that are executed atomically, meaning they are indivisible and not susceptible to thread interference. The java.util.concurrent.atomic package provides classes that support atomic operations on single variables.
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7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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- Akash Ingole Software Engineer - Java, Spring, Multithreading, Concurrency
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You can use various thread-safe Collections implementations present in java.util.concurrent package such as ConcurrentHashMap and CopyOnWriteArrayList, etcWhen using local variables, if each thread requires its own copy of a variable, you can use ThreadLocal variables to avoid interaction between threads.ThreadLocal<Integer> threadLocal = ThreadLocal.withIntial( () -> 0);int value = threadLocal.get();You can minimize sharing mutable states between threads. If a variable/object is not mutable, it cannot cause interference between threads.
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- Yeabsira M. Ameha Computer Science Graduate | Digital Marketer | IT Manager | Full Stack Developer | Virtual Assistant | Data Entry | Web Developer "
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Preventing threads from interfering with each other typically involves synchronization techniques such as locks, semaphores, or other concurrency control mechanisms. These techniques help ensure that only one thread can access a shared resource at a time, thus preventing interference and maintaining data integrity. Additionally, designing thread-safe data structures and avoiding shared mutable state where possible can also help reduce the likelihood of interference between threads.
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