How do I implement reader-writer queues?

What are reader-writer queues and why are they useful?

Reader-writer queues allow multiple readers to access data simultaneously while ensuring exclusive access for writers, improving efficiency.

How can I implement a reader-writer queue in Python?

You can use threading and condition variables in Python. Would you like a code example?

Yes, please provide a simple code example.

Here's a basic implementation using the threading module:

import threading

class ReaderWriterQueue:
    def __init__(self):
        self.readers = 0
        self.lock = threading.Lock()
        self.write_lock = threading.Lock()

    def start_reading(self):
        with self.lock:
            self.readers += 1
            if self.readers == 1:
                self.write_lock.acquire()

    def stop_reading(self):
        with self.lock:
            self.readers -= 1
            if self.readers == 0:
                self.write_lock.release()

    def start_writing(self):
        self.write_lock.acquire()

    def stop_writing(self):
        self.write_lock.release()

What are some potential issues I should be aware of when using reader-writer queues?

Potential issues include deadlocks, starvation of writers, and performance bottlenecks if not managed properly.