Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads • Hacker News Board

Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#1

Post by turkogluc » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 9:32 AM UTC

Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads
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Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#2

Post by itsmemattchung » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:30 PM UTC

Years ago, I tried learning how to use threads by following tutorials similar to this one, where you are taught how to implement threads from {python, java, c++}. However, it wasn't until I studied operating systems (when I returned to graduate school for computer science) was I able to wrap my mind around threads — from a language agnostic view point, how and what lightweight processes are, how to implement locks and synchronization barriers — and how they help facilitate concurrency.

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#3

Post by selimthegrim » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:35 PM UTC

itsmemattchung wrote: post #2

Years ago, I tried learning how to use threads by following tutorials similar to this one, where you are taught how to implement threads from {python, java, c++}. However, it wasn't until I studied operating systems (when I returned to graduate school for computer science) was I able to wrap my mind around threads — from a language agnostic view point, how and what lightweight processes are, how to implement locks an…

What books are used in your program?

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#4

Post by yetkin » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:35 PM UTC

The problem is not the threads, it is the mutations of variables which boost the complexity of the code. So a tutorial on creation of theads actually an invitation to hell. Nothing is cool about it. Cool thing is achieving concurrency without threads/race conditions/shared memory

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#5

Post by agumonkey » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:39 PM UTC

yetkin wrote: post #4

The problem is not the threads, it is the mutations of variables which boost the complexity of the code. So a tutorial on creation of theads actually an invitation to hell. Nothing is cool about it. Cool thing is achieving concurrency without threads/race conditions/shared memory

Do you use other paradigm / languages ? (clojure comes to mind, but maybe others)

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#6

Post by FpUser » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:47 PM UTC

yetkin wrote: post #4

The problem is not the threads, it is the mutations of variables which boost the complexity of the code. So a tutorial on creation of theads actually an invitation to hell. Nothing is cool about it. Cool thing is achieving concurrency without threads/race conditions/shared memory

The concepts of threads and concurrent data access is simple enough for any decent programmer to comprehend. There is no hell here. Sure there are some complex cases but complex cases will arise in many situations when programming things.

And achieving concurrency without shared memory is impossible in general case. Sure it is possible to isolate such access to a separate layer and make it transparent for the rest of the program but someone still has to program such layer.

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#7

Post by dbsmith83 » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 1:58 PM UTC

selimthegrim wrote: post #3

itsmemattchung wrote: post #2

Years ago, I tried learning how to use threads by following tutorials similar to this one, where you are taught how to implement threads from {python, java, c++}. However, it wasn't until I studied operating systems (when I returned to graduate school for computer science) was I able to wrap my mind around threads — from a language agnostic view point, how and what lightweight processes are, how to implement locks an…

What books are used in your program?

Idk about GP, but one book I highly recommend is Java Concurrency in Practice - https://www.amazon.com/Java-Concurrency-Practice-Brian-Goetz...

It's old, but the material holds up well since it covers a lot of fundamentals

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#8

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 2:12 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#9

Post by johnnycerberus » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 2:16 PM UTC

dbsmith83 wrote: post #7

selimthegrim wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What books are used in your program?

Idk about GP, but one book I highly recommend is Java Concurrency in Practice - https://www.amazon.com/Java-Concurrency-Practice-Brian-Goetz... It's old, but the material holds up well since it covers a lot of fundamentals

I also recommend it, a little bit old because it doesn't cover new features but the fundamentals are strong, Brian Goetz really did a great job.

Re: Java Concurrency – Understanding the Basics of Threads

#10

Post by itronitron » Sat, Oct 31, 2020, 2:28 PM UTC

agumonkey wrote: post #5

yetkin wrote: post #4

The problem is not the threads, it is the mutations of variables which boost the complexity of the code. So a tutorial on creation of theads actually an invitation to hell. Nothing is cool about it. Cool thing is achieving concurrency without threads/race conditions/shared memory

Do you use other paradigm / languages ? (clojure comes to mind, but maybe others)

For Java at least, the Java Concurrency API is preferred.