Java Concurrency by Example

Java ConcurrencyGanesh Samarthyam
ganesh@codeops.tech

Do you think you always
write correct concurrent
programs?

Simple Program: Is it Okay?
class MyThread extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println("In run method; thread name is: "
+ Thread.currentThread().getName());
}
public static void main(String args[]) {
Thread myThread = new MyThread();
myThread.run();
System.out.println("In main method; thread name is: "
+ Thread.currentThread().getName());
}
}
Prints:
In run method; thread name is: main
In main method; thread name is: main

Simple Time Bomb
class TimeBomb extends Thread {
String [] timeStr = { "Zero", "One", "Two", "Three", "Four", "Five", "Six", "Seven",
"Eight", "Nine" };
public void run() {
for(int i = 9; i >= 0; i--) {
System.out.println(timeStr[i]);
}
}
public static void main(String []s) {
TimeBomb timer = new TimeBomb();
System.out.println("Starting 10 second count down... ");
timer.start();
System.out.println("Boom!!!");
}
}
Does it print “Boom!!!” after counting
down from Nine to Zero? If not, how
will you make it happen?

Getting Thread State
class BasicThreadStates extends Thread {
public static void main(String []s) throws Exception {
Thread t = new Thread(new BasicThreadStates());
System.out.println("Just after creating thread; n" +
" The thread state is: " + t.getState());
t.start();
System.out.println("Just after calling t.start(); n" +
t.join();
System.out.println("Just after main calling t.join(); n" +
}
}
In rare cases, it prints:
Just after creating thread;
The thread state is: NEW
Just after calling t.start();
The thread state is: TERMINATED
Just after main calling t.join();
The thread state is: TERMINATED

Race Condition / Data Race
class Counter {
public static long count = 0;
}
class UseCounter implements Runnable {
public static void increment() {
Counter.count++;
System.out.print(Counter.count + " ");
}
public void run() {
increment();
increment();
increment();
}
}
public class DataRace {
public static void main(String args[]) {
UseCounter c = new UseCounter();
Thread t1 = new Thread(c);
t1.start();
t2.start();
t3.start();
}
}
This program suffers from race
condition / data race problem
$ java DataRace
3 4 5 3 6 3 7 8 9
$ java DataRace
2 4 5 3 6 7 2 8 9
$ java DataRace
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
$

Dealing with bugs in parallel
programs is very difﬁcult!

Dead Lock
// Balls class has a globally accessible data member to hold the number of balls thrown
class Balls {
public static long balls = 0;
}
// Runs class has a globally accessible data member to hold the number of runs scored
class Runs {
public static long runs = 0;
}
public class DeadLock {
public static void main(String args[]) throws InterruptedException {
Counter c = new Counter();
// create two threads and start them at the same time
t1.start();
t2.start();
System.out.println("Waiting for threads to complete execution…");
t1.join();
t2.join();
System.out.println("Done.");
}
}

Dead Lock
// Counter class has two methods – IncrementBallAfterRun and IncrementRunAfterBall.
// For demonstrating deadlock, we call these two methods in the run method, so that
// locking can be requested in opposite order in these two methods
class Counter implements Runnable {
// this method increments runs variable first and then increments the balls variable
// since these variables are accessible from other threads,
// we need to acquire a lock before processing them
public void IncrementBallAfterRun() {
// since we’re updating runs variable first, first lock the Runs.class
synchronized(Runs.class) {
// lock on Balls.class before updating balls variable
synchronized(Balls.class) {
Runs.runs++;
Balls.balls++;
}
}
}
public void IncrementRunAfterBall() {
// since we’re updating balls variable first; so first lock Balls.class
synchronized(Balls.class) {
// acquire lock on Runs.class before updating runs variable
synchronized(Runs.class) {
Balls.balls++;
Runs.runs++;
}
}
}
public void run() {
// call these two methods which acquire locks in different order
// depending on thread scheduling and the order of lock acquision,
// a deadlock may or may not arise
IncrementBallAfterRun();
IncrementRunAfterBall();
}
}

Using AtomicInteger
import java.util.concurrent.atomic.*;
// Class to demonstrate how incrementing "normal" (i.e., thread unsafe) integers and incrementing
// "atomic" (i.e., thread safe) integers are different: Incrementing a shared Integer object without locks can result
// in a data race; however, incrementing a shared AtomicInteger will not result in a data race.
class AtomicVariableTest {
// Create two integer objects – one normal and another atomic – with same initial value
private static Integer integer = new Integer(0);
private static AtomicInteger atomicInteger = new AtomicInteger(0);
static class IntegerIncrementer extends Thread {
public void run() {
++integer;
}
}
static class AtomicIntegerIncrementer extends Thread {
public void run() {
atomicInteger.incrementAndGet();
}
}
public static void main(String []args) {
// create three threads each for incrementing atomic and "normal" integers
for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
new IntegerIncrementer().start();
new AtomicIntegerIncrementer().start();
}
System.out.printf("final int value = %d and final AtomicInteger value = %d",
integer, atomicInteger.intValue());
}
}

Atomic Variables
❖ AtomicBoolean: Atomically updatable Boolean value.
❖ AtomicInteger: Atomically updatable int value; inherits from the N umber class.
❖ AtomicIntegerArray: An int array in which elements can be updated atomically.
❖ AtomicLong: Atomically updatable long value; inherits from N umber class.
❖ AtomicLongArray: A long array in which elements can be updated atomically.
❖ AtomicReference<V>: An atomically updatable object reference of type V.
❖ AtomicReferenceArray<E>: An atomically updatable array that can hold object
references of type E (E refers to be base type of elements).

How to simulate only one
thread using an ATM and
others wait for their turn?

Locks
import java.util.concurrent.locks.*;
// This class simulates a situation where only one ATM machine is available and
// and five people are waiting to access the machine. Since only one person can
// access an ATM machine at a given time, others wait for their turn
class ATMMachine {
// A person can use a machine again, and hence using a "reentrant lock"
Lock machine = new ReentrantLock();
// list of people waiting to access the machine
new Person(machine, "Mickey");
new Person(machine, "Donald");
new Person(machine, "Tom");
new Person(machine, "Jerry");
new Person(machine, "Casper");
}
}

Locks
// Each Person is an independent thread; their access to the common resource
// (the ATM machine in this case) needs to be synchronized using a lock
class Person extends Thread {
private Lock machine;
public Person(Lock machine, String name) {
this.machine = machine;
this.setName(name);
this.start();
}
public void run() {
try {
System.out.println(getName() + " waiting to access an ATM machine");
machine.lock();
System.out.println(getName() + " is accessing an ATM machine");
Thread.sleep(1000); // simulate the time required for withdrawing amount
} catch(InterruptedException ie) {
System.err.println(ie);
}
finally {
System.out.println(getName() + " is done using the ATM machine");
machine.unlock();
}
}
}

Locks
$ java ATMMachine
Donald waiting to access an ATM machine
Donald is accessing an ATM machine
Jerry waiting to access an ATM machine
Mickey waiting to access an ATM machine
Tom waiting to access an ATM machine
Casper waiting to access an ATM machine
Donald is done using the ATM machine
Jerry is accessing an ATM machine
Jerry is done using the ATM machine
Mickey is accessing an ATM machine
Mickey is done using the ATM machine
Tom is accessing an ATM machine
Tom is done using the ATM machine
Casper is accessing an ATM machine
Casper is done using the ATM machine

Assume that only two
people can be in an ATM
room at a time

Semaphore
import java.util.concurrent.Semaphore;
// This class simulates a situation where an ATM room has only two ATM machines
// and five people are waiting to access the machine. Since only one person can access
// an ATM machine at a given time, others wait for their turn
class ATMRoom {
// assume that only two ATM machines are available in the ATM room
Semaphore machines = new Semaphore(2);
// list of people waiting to access the machine
new Person(machines, "Mickey");
new Person(machines, "Donald");
new Person(machines, "Tom");
new Person(machines, "Jerry");
new Person(machines, "Casper");
}
}

Semaphore
import java.util.concurrent.Semaphore;
// Each Person is an independent thread; but their access to the common resource
// (two ATM machines in the ATM machine room in this case) needs to be synchronized.
class Person extends Thread {
private Semaphore machines;
public Person(Semaphore machines, String name) {
this.machines = machines;
this.setName(name);
this.start();
}
public void run() {
try {
System.out.println(getName() + " waiting to access an ATM machine");
machines.acquire();
System.out.println(getName() + " is accessing an ATM machine");
Thread.sleep(1000); // simulate the time required for withdrawing amount
System.out.println(getName() + " is done using the ATM machine");
machines.release();
System.err.println(ie);
}
}
}

Semaphore
Mickey waiting to access an ATM machine
Mickey is accessing an ATM machine
Jerry waiting to access an ATM machine
Jerry is accessing an ATM machine
Tom waiting to access an ATM machine
Donald waiting to access an ATM machine
Casper waiting to access an ATM machine
Mickey is done using the ATM machine
Jerry is done using the ATM machine
Tom is accessing an ATM machine
Donald is accessing an ATM machine
Tom is done using the ATM machine
Donald is done using the ATM machine
Casper is accessing an ATM machine
Casper is done using the ATM machine

How can you simulate a running
race with a count down? Once
“Start” => All threads should run

CountDownLatch
import java.util.concurrent.*;
// this class simulates the start of a running race by counting down from 5. It holds
// three runner threads to be ready to start in the start line of the race and once the count down
// reaches zero, all the three runners start running...
class RunningRaceStarter {
public static void main(String []args) throws InterruptedException {
CountDownLatch counter = new CountDownLatch(5);
// count from 5 to 0 and then start the race
// instantiate three runner threads
new Runner(counter, "Carl");
new Runner(counter, "Joe");
new Runner(counter, "Jack");
System.out.println("Starting the countdown ");
long countVal = counter.getCount();
while(countVal > 0) {
Thread.sleep(1000); // 1000 milliseconds = 1 second
System.out.println(countVal);
if(countVal == 1) {
// once counter.countDown(); in the next statement is called,
// Count down will reach zero; so shout "Start"
System.out.println("Start");
}
counter.countDown(); // count down by 1 for each second
countVal = counter.getCount();
}
}
}

CountDownLatch
// this Runner class simulates a track runner in a 100-meter dash race. The runner waits till the
// count down timer gets to zero and then starts running
class Runner extends Thread {
private CountDownLatch timer;
public Runner(CountDownLatch cdl, String name) {
timer = cdl;
this.setName(name);
System.out.println(this.getName() + " ready and waiting for the count down to start");
start();
}
public void run() {
try {
// wait for the timer count down to reach 0
timer.await();
} catch (InterruptedException ie) {
System.err.println("interrupted -- can't start running the race");
}
System.out.println(this.getName() + " started running");
}
}

CountDownLatch
Carl ready and waiting for the count down to start
Joe ready and waiting for the count down to start
Jack ready and waiting for the count down to start
Starting the countdown
5
4
3
2
1
Start
Carl started running
Jack started running
Joe started running

How to exchange data (or
synchronise communication)
between two threads?

Exchanger
class CoffeeShopThread extends Thread {
private Exchanger<String> sillyTalk;
public CoffeeShopThread(Exchanger<String> args) {
sillyTalk = args;
}
public void run() {
String reply = null;
try {
// exchange the ﬁrst messages
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("Who's there?");
// print what Duke said
System.out.println("Duke: " + reply);
// exchange second message
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("Duke who?");
// print what Duke said
// there is no message to send, but to get a message from Duke thread,
// both ends should send a message; so send a "dummy" string
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("");
System.err.println("Got interrupted during my silly talk");
}
}
}

Exchanger
import java.util.concurrent.Exchanger;
// The DukeThread class runs as an independent thread. It talks to the CoffeeShopThread that
// also runs independently. The chat is achieved by exchanging messages through a common
// Exchanger<String> object that synchronizes the chat between them.
// Note that the message printed are the "responses" received from CoffeeShopThread
class DukeThread extends Thread {
private Exchanger<String> sillyTalk;
public DukeThread(Exchanger<String> args) {
sillyTalk = args;
}
public void run() {
String reply = null;
try {
// start the conversation with CoffeeShopThread
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("Knock knock!");
// Now, print the response received from CoffeeShopThread
System.out.println("CoffeeShop: " + reply);
// exchange another set of messages
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("Duke");
// Now, print the response received from CoffeeShopThread
System.out.println("CoffeeShop: " + reply);
// an exchange could happen only when both send and receive happens
// since this is the last sentence to speak, we close the chat by
// ignoring the "dummy" reply
reply = sillyTalk.exchange("The one who was born in this coffee shop!");
// talk over, so ignore the reply!
System.err.println("Got interrupted during my silly talk");
}
}
}

Exchanger
// Co-ordinate the silly talk between Duke and CoffeeShop by instantiating the Exchanger object
// and the CoffeeShop and Duke threads
class KnockKnock {
Exchanger<String> sillyTalk = new Exchanger<String>();
new CoffeeShopThread(sillyTalk).start();
new DukeThread(sillyTalk).start();
}
}

Exchanger
CoffeeShop: Who's there?
Duke: Knock knock!
Duke: Duke
CoffeeShop: Duke who?
Duke: The one who was born in this coffee shop!

Useful Concurrency Utilities
❖ Semaphore: Controls access to one or more shared
resources
❖ CountDownLatch: Allows threads to wait for a countdown
to complete
❖ Exchanger: Supports exchanging data between two threads
❖ CyclicBarrier: Enables threads to wait at a predeﬁned
execution point
❖ Phaser: Supports a synchronization barrier

Priority Queue Doesn’t “Block”
import java.util.*;
// Simple PriorityQueue example. Here, we create two threads in which one thread inserts an element,
// and another thread removes an element from the priority queue.
class PriorityQueueExample {
final PriorityQueue<Integer> priorityQueue = new PriorityQueue<>();
// spawn a thread that removes an element from the priority queue
new Thread() {
public void run() {
// Use remove() method in PriorityQueue to remove the element if available
System.out.println("The removed element is: " + priorityQueue.remove());
}
}.start();
// spawn a thread that inserts an element into the priority queue
new Thread() {
public void run() {
// insert Integer value 10 as an entry into the priority queue
priorityQueue.add(10);
System.out.println("Successfully added an element to the queue ");
}
}.start();
}
}

Priority Queue Doesn’t “Block”
java PriorityQueueExample
Exception in thread "Thread-0"
java.util.NoSuchElementException
at java.util.AbstractQueue.remove(AbstractQueue.java:117)
at PriorityQueueExample$1.run(PriorityQueueExample.java:12)
Successfully added an element to the queue

Using PriorityBlockingQueue
// Illustrates the use of PriorityBlockingQueue. In this case, if there is no element available in the priority queue
// the thread calling take() method will block (i.e., wait) till another thread inserts an element
import java.util.concurrent.*;
class PriorityBlockingQueueExample {
final PriorityBlockingQueue<Integer> priorityBlockingQueue = new PriorityBlockingQueue<>();
new Thread() {
public void run() {
try {
// use take() instead of remove()
// note that take() blocks, whereas remove() doesn’t block
System.out.println("The removed element is: " + priorityBlockingQueue.take());
// its safe to ignore this exception
ie.printStackTrace();
}
}
}.start();
new Thread() {
public void run() {
// add an element with value 10 to the priority queue
priorityBlockingQueue.add(10);
System.out.println("Successfully added an element to the que);
}
}

Using PriorityBlockingQueue
$ java PriorityBlockingQueueExample
Successfully added an element to the queue
The removed element is: 10

Modifying a List Concurrently
import java.util.*;
public class ModifyingList {
List<String> aList = new ArrayList<>();
aList.add("one");
aList.add("two");
aList.add("three");
Iterator listIter = aList.iterator();
while(listIter.hasNext()) {
System.out.println(listIter.next());
aList.add("four");
}
}
}
$ java ModifyingList
one
Exception in thread "main" java.util.ConcurrentModificationException
at java.util.ArrayList$Itr.checkForComodification(ArrayList.java:901)
at java.util.ArrayList$Itr.next(ArrayList.java:851)
at ModifyingList.main(ModifyingList.java:14)

CopyOnWriteArrayList
import java.util.*;
import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
public class COWList {
List<String> aList = new CopyOnWriteArrayList<>();
aList.add("one");
aList.add("two");
aList.add("three");
Iterator listIter = aList.iterator();
while(listIter.hasNext()) {
System.out.println(listIter.next());
aList.add("four");
}
}
}
$ java COWList
one
two
three

I really really hate
concurrency problems

Sometimes, dreams do come
true even at 86 :-)

So, keep dreaming till you
become 86!

Parallel Streams
import java.util.stream.LongStream;
class PrimeNumbers {
private static boolean isPrime(long val) {
for(long i = 2; i <= val/2; i++) {
if((val % i) == 0) {
return false;
}
}
return true;
}
long numOfPrimes = LongStream.rangeClosed(2, 50_000)
.parallel()
.filter(PrimeNumbers::isPrime)
.count();
System.out.println(numOfPrimes);
}
}

.ﬁlter(PrimeNumbers::isPrime)
.count();
Prints 9592
2.510 seconds

Parallel code
Serial code
Let’s ﬂip the switch by
calling parallel() function

.parallel()
.ﬁlter(PrimeNumbers::isPrime)
.count();
Prints 9592
1.235 seconds

Wow! That’s an awesome ﬂip
switch!

Internally, parallel streams make
use of fork-join framework

import java.util.Arrays;
class StringConcatenator {
public static String result = "";
public static void concatStr(String str) {
result = result + " " + str;
}
}
class StringSplitAndConcatenate {
String words[] = "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog".split(" ");
Arrays.stream(words).forEach(StringConcatenator::concatStr);
System.out.println(StringConcatenator.result);
}
}
Gives wrong results with
with parallel() call

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ganesh@codeops.tech @GSamarthyam
www.codeops.tech slideshare.net/sgganesh
+91 98801 64463 bit.ly/ganeshsg

Image Credits
❖ https://bonexpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Wildlife-Photography-by-Tim-
Flach-1a.jpg
❖ http://worldofdtcmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/innovation-
image1111111.jpg
❖ https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1392314/traffic-light-tree.jpg
❖ http://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/BKYrqfRerQFqM1wQWtYphw/o.jpg
❖ http://popsych.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/starting-line.jpeg
❖ https://cdn.boldomatic.com/content/post/
419493-05f182bf5bb701ed8ac64c963395eade77b07a674117a0dadba2a5f1404eca5f/Knock-
knock-Who-s-there-Opportunity-Don-t-be-silly?size=800
❖ http://www.locksmith-in-huddersfield.com/commercial_locks.png
❖ https://www.discoveryindochina.com/fr/wp-content/uploads/454.jpg

Java Concurrency by Example

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