What are common mistakes developers make with structured concurrency?

Structured concurrency is an important concept in modern programming that helps manage concurrent tasks efficiently. However, developers often make several common mistakes when implementing it. Understanding these pitfalls can enhance code quality and maintainability.

Common Mistakes

  • Ignoring Cancellation: Failing to implement cancellation features can lead to resource leaks and unresponsive applications.
  • Neglecting Error Handling: Not properly handling errors in concurrently run tasks can cause unexpected behaviors and application crashes.
  • Overusing Threads: Creating too many threads can lead to performance bottlenecks and excessive context switching.
  • Not Structuring Tasks Properly: Allowing tasks to run out of the intended scope can lead to difficult-to-debug issues.
  • Misunderstanding Lifetimes: Not properly managing the lifecycle of concurrent tasks can cause memory issues and data inconsistencies.
<?php function fetchData() { $promise = new Promise(); return $promise; } function runConcurrentTasks() { $task1 = fetchData(); $task2 = fetchData(); // Missing cancellation and error handling $results = waitForAll([$task1, $task2]); return $results; } ?>

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