What are the best practices for threading in Haskell?

What are the best practices for threading in Haskell?

In Haskell, best practices for threading include using Software Transactional Memory (STM), avoiding shared mutable state, and leveraging the async library for managing concurrent tasks.

Can you explain why STM is preferred over traditional locking mechanisms?

STM allows for composable transactions, which can simplify reasoning about concurrency and avoid deadlocks, making it safer than traditional locks.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid when using threads in Haskell?

Common pitfalls include using shared mutable state without proper synchronization, neglecting to handle exceptions in concurrent tasks, and not properly managing thread lifetimes.

How does the async library help with concurrency?

The async library provides a simple way to run tasks concurrently and manage their results, making it easier to write and maintain concurrent Haskell code.