Lab 8b Build XML Builds Tests And Runs The Project

Lab 8bbuildxmlbuilds Tests And Runs The Project Lab 8b

Review and modify a multi-threaded Java application involving a task master and worker threads operating on a shared task queue. The program currently produces issues such as inconsistent queue behavior where multiple workers might accept the same task, improper termination signals where the main thread declares completion before all tasks are finished, and inefficient busy-waiting in the acceptTask method. The objectives are to synchronize access to shared resources to prevent race conditions, ensure correct detection of task completion, replace busy loops with thread notification mechanisms, and implement flow control so that new tasks are only generated when the task queue is below a certain size. Changes should be confined to only two files: Lab8PracticeDriver.java and OrderQueue.java.

Paper For Above instruction

The concurrent execution of multiple threads in Java presents numerous challenges, primarily concerning synchronization, efficient resource utilization, and proper program termination. The scenario involves a producer-consumer model where a TaskMaster thread creates tasks, adding them to a shared queue, while multiple Worker threads consume these tasks to simulate work being done. The existing implementation exhibits issues such as possible race conditions leading to multiple workers accepting the same task, premature declaration of program completion, inefficient busy-waiting for tasks, and uncontrolled task generation which exceeds desired limits. This paper discusses these problems in detail and proposes a comprehensive solution through appropriate synchronization mechanisms, thread notifications, and flow control strategies within the specific context of the provided code structure, focusing particularly on two key files: OrderQueue.java and Lab8PracticeDriver.java.

Understanding the Issues in the Original Code

In the initial code, the OrderQueue class maintains a queue of tasks and operational flags, including a boolean indicating if more orders are coming. The acceptTask method employs a busy-wait loop—continuously checking if the queue is non-empty before polling a task—which is resource-inefficient, preventing threads from sleeping and leading to high CPU usage. Another problem arises because multiple worker threads are able to accept the same task due to unsynchronized access, which breaks the integrity of task processing. Furthermore, the main thread sometimes reports completion before all tasks are created and executed, mainly because it does not wait for worker threads to finish their processing.

Synchronization and Thread Safety

To address these issues, synchronization must be introduced in critical sections, particularly in the acceptTask method. By making acceptTask a synchronized method or employing lock objects, access to the shared queue can be controlled to prevent race conditions, ensuring only one thread can accept a particular task at a time. Java's intrinsic locks via synchronized blocks or methods enable threads to acquire exclusive access to shared resources. In addition, using wait() and notify() mechanisms allows threads to coordinate their actions efficiently without busy-waiting.

Implementing Thread Notification and Wait/Notify

Replacing the busy loop in acceptTask involves calling wait() inside a synchronized block if the queue is empty, and registering the thread to be notified upon new task addition. When a new task is created, the TaskMaster thread can invoke notifyAll() to wake waiting worker threads. This approach reduces CPU load and makes the thread's behavior more efficient and predictable. Similarly, the flow control logic should be added to the task creation process to ensure that the number of queued tasks does not exceed five. This can be achieved by monitoring the size of the queue within synchronized sections and making the TaskMaster thread wait() if the limit is reached, resuming only when the size falls below five, ensuring rate-limited task production.

Ensuring Proper Program Termination

Finally, the main thread should wait for all worker threads to complete before printing "Finished?"—which can be accomplished by calling Thread.join() on all thread objects or by using a countdown latch. This guarantees the program's correctness by confirming that all tasks have been processed, and no premature termination occurs. The code modifications are minimal but essential, involving only the critical sections in OrderQueue.java and the main driver class to implement these synchronization strategies.

Conclusion

Addressing these concurrency issues enhances the program's robustness, efficiency, and correctness. Synchronization prevents race conditions, wait()/notify() replaces busy loops for better CPU utilization, and flow control limits the task queue's size, ensuring an organized and controlled processing environment. Implementing these improvements within the specified files results in a resilient, thread-safe application capable of handling dynamic task creation and consumption accurately and efficiently.

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