What are some real-world examples of livelocks?

What are some real-world examples of livelocks?

Livelocks occur when processes continuously change states in response to each other without making progress. A classic example is the dining philosophers problem, where philosophers must alternately think and eat, but can end up in a state where they keep passing forks without eating.

Can you give me another example?

Sure! In network protocols, livelocks can happen when two devices keep sending messages to each other, trying to resolve a conflict, but never actually completing the transmission.

How can livelocks be resolved?

Livelocks can be resolved by implementing backoff strategies, where processes wait for a random time before retrying, or by introducing priorities to ensure that some processes can proceed.

Are there any real-life situations where livelocks have caused issues?

Yes, in traffic systems, if cars keep trying to yield to each other at an intersection without moving, it can create a livelock situation, causing congestion.