Threads Vs Queues

Threads were an inescapable burden in large-scale applications. We devote a significant amount of time to generating, managing, and resolving conflicts. Every single detail is taken into account. Memory management, race situations, deadlocks, scheduling, thread joining, and the list goes on.

As a result, an intriguing issue has arisen: Can we get rid of them? Are there any other options?

Queues, yes.

Although it may not be feasible in all circumstances, abandoning threads can significantly increase efficiency and code simplicity.

Benefits?

• Queues are less expensive. They lower the memory cost associated with storing thread stacks in the application's memory area. When it is absolutely necessary, tappings into the kernel are performed.
• They remove the code required to construct and configure threads.
• They remove the code required to manage and schedule thread work.
• They make the code we have to create easier to understand. We can concentrate on the work at hand without having to bother about thread creation and administration, including thread communication.

As a result, the underlying queueing software handles all thread creation and management for us, with the advantage that it manages threads considerably more effectively than the comparable threaded code.

The jobs in the queue can not only be persisted, monitored, and visualized but they can also be used as an audit log to trace back what happened to the application, thus creating a history of all modifications.

Threads

So, how are threads used?

The most typical instances include:

• Threads for single tasks- Create a thread to do a single task and then release the thread after the task is completed.
• Worker threads- Create one or more worker threads, each having a specific task in mind. Dispatch jobs to each thread on a regular or as-needed basis.
• Thread pools- are used to create a pool of generic threads. When you have a task to complete, select a thread from the pool and assign it to it.

These methods are actually just variations on the same theme. In each scenario, a thread is being used to carry out some work that the program requires.

Queues

Queues are first-in, first-out data structures that provide an easy way to conduct activities synchronously and asynchronously while serializing or running them concurrently.

A task is merely a piece of work that the program must complete.

For example, we could build a job to execute certain calculations, create or alter a data structure, analyze data read from a file, or any combination of these.

Queues enable the assignment of custom context data to jobs. Furthermore, callbacks that are optionally passed in can be fired when a job fails or succeeds.

Key Takeaways

All in all, it depends on what the application is. Mostly queues are better than threads. But, Queues, like anything else, present some difficulties. These difficulties and workarounds are worth discussing while real-time application.

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