What are livelock and deadlock, and how do they impact systems?

What are livelock and deadlock, and how do they impact systems?

Livelock and deadlock are conditions in concurrent systems where processes cannot proceed. Deadlock occurs when processes are stuck waiting for each other, while livelock happens when processes keep changing states without making progress.

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! In deadlock, imagine two processes each holding a resource the other needs. In livelock, two processes keep changing their states to avoid conflict but never complete their tasks.

What are the consequences of these issues?

The consequences can be severe, including system unresponsiveness, wasted resources, and reduced performance, leading to potential system failures.

How can we prevent livelock and deadlock?

Preventing these issues involves strategies like resource allocation algorithms, timeouts, and ensuring proper resource management to avoid circular wait conditions.