Ruby: EventMachine vs Threading

What are the main differences between EventMachine and threading in Ruby?

EventMachine is an event-driven I/O framework, while threading allows concurrent execution of code. EventMachine is generally more efficient for I/O-bound tasks, whereas threading can be better for CPU-bound tasks.

When should I use EventMachine over threading?

Use EventMachine when your application is I/O-heavy, like handling many network connections. Threading is better for tasks that require parallel processing.

Are there any performance benchmarks comparing the two?

Yes, benchmarks often show that EventMachine can handle more concurrent connections with lower memory usage compared to threading, especially in network applications.

Can I mix both EventMachine and threading in my Ruby application?

Yes, you can mix both. For example, you can use EventMachine for handling I/O and spawn threads for CPU-intensive tasks.