What are livelock, deadlock, and starvation in computing?

Can you explain what livelock, deadlock, and starvation are in computing?

Sure! Livelock occurs when processes continuously change states in response to each other without making progress. Deadlock is when processes are stuck waiting for each other to release resources, and starvation happens when a process is perpetually denied the resources it needs to proceed.

Can you give me an example of each?

Absolutely! For deadlock, imagine two processes each holding a resource the other needs. For livelock, think of two people trying to pass each other in a hallway, constantly stepping aside for the other but never getting past. Starvation can occur in a scheduling system where a low-priority process never gets CPU time because high-priority processes keep arriving.

How can we prevent these issues?

To prevent deadlock, you can use resource allocation strategies like the Banker's algorithm. For livelock, implementing a back-off strategy can help. Starvation can be mitigated by ensuring fair scheduling policies that guarantee resource access for all processes.

Are there real-world applications where these concepts are critical?

Yes, these concepts are crucial in operating systems, database management, and network protocols, where resource management is vital for performance and reliability.