Game of Loom: implementation patterns and performance implications playing with virtual threads

Learn how to implement virtual threads in your application, including best practices for performance and debugging, and explore the Loom project's flexible configuration options for concurrent programming.

Key takeaways
  • Virtual threads are excellent for waiting and can consume minimal resources.
  • Native threads have a one-to-one relationship with operating system threads, while virtual threads can be multiplexed on the same carrier.
  • Virtual threads are not a drop-in replacement for native threads and require careful consideration of how they interact with native code and blocking calls.
  • Pinning is an important consideration when using virtual threads, as it can lead to unexpected behavior.
  • Reacting to blocking calls using virtual threads can be similar to using reactive programming.
  • The fork join scheduler is not always the best choice for virtual threads, especially for CPU-bound operations, due to potential cache misses.
  • Different communication channels can have varying effects on performance, and lock-free algorithms like the Michael and Scott algorithm can provide faster performance.
  • Observability and troubleshooting are important considerations when working with virtual threads.
  • Careful analysis of flame graphs and sync profiles can help identify performance bottlenecks.
  • The Loom project allows for more flexible configuration of concurrent programming and provides a more explicit way of describing the interaction between threads.