What is optimistic control in distributed systems?

What is optimistic control in distributed systems?

Optimistic control is a concurrency control method that assumes transactions will not conflict. It allows multiple transactions to execute simultaneously and checks for conflicts before committing.

How does it differ from pessimistic control?

Pessimistic control locks resources to prevent conflicts, while optimistic control allows transactions to proceed without locking, checking for conflicts later.

What are the advantages of using optimistic control?

The main advantages include increased concurrency, reduced waiting time, and better performance in environments with low contention.

Can you give an example of where it's used?

It's commonly used in databases and distributed systems where transactions are frequent but conflicts are rare, like in online transaction processing.

What are the potential downsides of optimistic control?

Potential downsides include the overhead of conflict detection and the possibility of rolling back transactions if conflicts are found.