What are common pitfalls or gotchas with locks (Thread::Semaphore)?

When working with locks in Perl, particularly with the Thread::Semaphore module, there are several common pitfalls and gotchas that developers should be aware of:

  • Deadlocks: Forgetting to release a lock can lead to deadlocks where threads wait indefinitely for each other to release resources.
  • Uninitialized Semaphores: Not properly initializing a semaphore can cause runtime errors or unexpected behavior.
  • Over-releasing: Releasing a semaphore more times than it was acquired can lead to resource leaks and corrupted state.
  • Global State Impact: Using a semaphore that controls access to global state can lead to unpredictable results if not managed correctly.
  • Performance Overhead: Excessive locking can severely degrade performance, especially if used in tight loops.

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