When should I use lock-free programming instead of locking?

What are the main differences between lock-free and locking mechanisms in programming?

Lock-free programming allows multiple threads to operate without locking resources, reducing contention and improving performance. Locking mechanisms, on the other hand, ensure that only one thread can access a resource at a time, which can lead to bottlenecks.

In what scenarios should I prefer lock-free programming?

You should prefer lock-free programming in high-performance applications where low latency is critical, such as real-time systems or when dealing with a high number of concurrent threads.

Are there any downsides to using lock-free programming?

Yes, lock-free programming can be more complex to implement and may lead to issues like livelock or increased CPU usage due to busy-waiting.

Can you give me an example of a lock-free data structure?

A common example of a lock-free data structure is a lock-free queue, which allows multiple threads to enqueue and dequeue items without using locks.