What are real-world livelocks and how do they affect systems?

What are real-world livelocks and how do they affect systems?

Real-world livelocks occur when processes continuously change states in response to each other without making progress. This can lead to system inefficiencies.

Can you give me an example of a livelock in everyday life?

Sure! A common example is two people trying to pass each other in a narrow hallway. If both step aside to let the other pass, they may end up blocking each other without moving forward.

How can livelocks be prevented in software systems?

Preventing livelocks can involve implementing timeouts, prioritizing tasks, or using backoff strategies to reduce contention between processes.

Are livelocks more common than deadlocks?

Livelocks can be more common in certain scenarios, especially in highly interactive systems, but deadlocks are often easier to detect and resolve.