How do I implement spinlocks in my code?

How do I implement spinlocks in my code?

To implement a spinlock, you can use atomic operations to create a lock that repeatedly checks if it's available.

Can you provide a code example for that?

Sure! Here's a simple C++ example:

#include <atomic>

class Spinlock {
    std::atomic_flag flag = ATOMIC_FLAG_INIT;
public:
    void lock() {
        while (flag.test_and_set(std::memory_order_acquire)); // spin
    }
    void unlock() {
        flag.clear(std::memory_order_release);
    }
};

This code uses an atomic flag to create a spinlock.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using spinlocks?

Spinlocks are lightweight and can be efficient for short wait times, but they can waste CPU cycles if the wait is long.

When should I use spinlocks instead of mutexes?

Use spinlocks when you expect the lock to be held for a very short duration, as they avoid the overhead of context switching.