What This Document Is
This document presents a detailed exploration of split-ordered lists and their application within the design of lock-free extensible hash tables. It’s a research paper originating from academic work at Tel-Aviv University and Sun Microsystems Laboratories, delving into advanced data structures and concurrent programming techniques. The material is geared towards upper-level computer science students and professionals seeking a deep understanding of efficient, thread-safe data management.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is invaluable for students in advanced data structures and algorithms courses, particularly those focusing on concurrent programming or operating systems. It’s also beneficial for software engineers working on high-performance systems where thread safety and scalability are critical. Understanding the concepts presented can aid in designing and implementing robust, concurrent data structures for multi-threaded applications. This document is particularly useful when exploring alternatives to traditional locking mechanisms for synchronization.
Topics Covered
* Concurrent Data Structures
* Extensible Hash Tables
* Lock-Free Algorithms
* Non-Blocking Synchronization
* Compare-and-Swap Operations
* Recursive Split-Ordering (a novel mathematical structure)
* Performance Analysis of Hash Table Implementations
* Multiprogrammed and Multiprocessor Environments
What This Document Provides
* A formal presentation of a new algorithm for lock-free extensible hash tables.
* A detailed explanation of the underlying mathematical principles – recursive split-ordering – that enable efficient, lock-free operation.
* A comparative analysis of the algorithm’s performance against existing lock-based approaches.
* Insights into the trade-offs between different synchronization techniques in concurrent data structures.
* References to related work and a historical context for the research.
* A comprehensive overview of categories and subject descriptors within computer science.
