What is the difference between actor model and futures in programming?

What is the difference between actor model and futures in programming?

The actor model is a concurrency model that treats 'actors' as the fundamental units of computation, while futures are a way to handle asynchronous programming by representing a value that may not be available yet.

Can you explain how the actor model works?

Sure! In the actor model, each actor is an independent entity that can send and receive messages, maintain its own state, and create new actors. This allows for highly concurrent systems.

What are the advantages of using futures?

Futures simplify asynchronous programming by allowing you to write code that looks synchronous. They also help manage the complexity of callbacks and can improve error handling.

Are there any downsides to using the actor model?

Yes, while the actor model provides great concurrency, it can introduce complexity in message passing and state management, making debugging more challenging.