Java SE Concurrency - Low-Level

Java is one of the few languages designed from inception to support concurrency without the requirement for additional libraries. Tools for the management of concurrent programming have been available from the very first releases of the language, providing both syntactic and API support.

Until the release of Java 1.5, these tools have been powerful but granular, a developer having the facilities to synchronize on monitors at a class, instance and nominated Object level, combined with the functionality provided by Object, Thread, ThreadGroup and ThreadLocal classes.

With the advent these packages in the Java 1.5 release:

java.util.concurrent
java.util.concurrent.atomic
java.util.concurrent.locks

A whole host of extended facilities have been added to the Java API allowing far finer grained control over concurrent programming tasks.

This examination will seek to test the examinee's knowledge of the deeper concepts of concurrent programming, and more detailed aspects of the new Java 1.5 API additions.

Not covered: Everything covered in the Java SE Concurrency - High-Level

exam.

	Released	Beta	Frozen
Concepts & Terminology
Terminology 3 questions Explain the following common concurrency terms and the concepts they define: Producer & Consumer Race Condition Deadlock & Livelock Starvation Lock Condition Mutex Fairness	6	79	10	Add a question Beta questions
Behaviours 1 question Detail the distinctions between the following concepts Weakly consistent traversal and Fast-fail traversal	3	12	8	Add a question Beta questions
The Java Memory Model Be able to demonstrate understanding of the Java Memory Model guarantees, and the impact of both optimising and adaptive compilers (such as the Sun HotSpot JVM) on the model
The volatile keyword 2 questions Show that `volatile` fields cannot be cached in processor registers. Describe how a Java compiler will not create byte-code that performs out-of-order write operations on `volatile` fields. Demonstrate that the primitive increment/decrement syntax (++/--) is not atomic for `volatile` fields.	3	21	9	Add a question Beta questions
Guarantees regarding updates outside synchronized blocks 2 questions Demonstrate understanding of the fact that non-`volatile` fields can be cached outside main memory Demonstrate that unsynchronized access via multiple threads can cause inconsistent reads and hence update corruption.	7	7	6	Add a question Beta questions
Granularity of 32 bit updates 1 question Show knowledge that the JVM guarantees a maximum of only 32 bit update atomicity. Show that 64 bit data types (`long`, `double`) can be in an inconsistent state between the two 32 bit atomic updates required to update their 64 bits.	2	10	7	Add a question Beta questions
Double checked locking 1 question Identify code using lazy singleton instantiation via DCL, be able to identify its points of failure. Be able to correct DCL code using: Synchronization of the instantiating method, or, Instantiation during static initialization. `volatile` keyword with Java 5 or higher	2	14	4	Add a question Beta questions
Collections Understand some of the less frequently used concurrent extensions to the collections interfaces/implementations
CopyOnWrite 2 questions Usage of `CopyOnWriteArrayList` and `CopyOnWriteArraySet` Anticipate the high costs of modification High memory cost for `Iterator` instances Identify ideal usage situation requiring frequent simultaneous reads and infrequent writes.	5	20	4	Add a question Beta questions
BlockingQueue 2 questions `BlockingQueue` implementations, and their distinguishing characteristics: `SynchronousQueue` Show understanding that a `SynchronousQueue` will never contain an element Be able to show a `SynchronousQueue` performing an "hand off" between threads `DelayQueue` Demonstrate that a `DelayQueue` will block on a take request when elements await delay expiry.	3	22	6	Add a question Beta questions
Synchronizers Understand more complex two of the four new synchronizer implementations and how to use them
CyclicBarrier 2 questions `CyclicBarrier` usage Distinguish the multi usage `CyclicBarrier` behaviour from one shot usage of `CountDownLatch` Show correct usage of constructors, and know what the parameter `parties` defines. Design code to execute at barrier breakage, controlled by the `CyclicBarrier` itself, using the `CyclicBarrier(int, Runnable)` constructor. Describe the behaviour of the `await()` methods, leading to eventual barrier breakage. Identify the methods used to query the number of threads awaiting barrier breakage, and the number further parties required to break the barrier. (`getNumberWaiting()` and `getParties()`.) Write code to correctly reset a barrier using the `reset()` method.	0	29	3	Add a question Beta questions
Exchanger 2 questions `Exchanger` usage Demonstrate the `Exchanger` mechanism being used to move objects back and forth between a producer and consumer pair. Define typical `exchange()` behavior, when not interrupted. Define `exchange()` behavior when interrupted.	1	12	4	Add a question Beta questions
Atomic Classes Display comprehension of the atomic classes.
Basic atomic value classes 3 questions Basic atomic value classes (`AtomicInteger`, `AtomicLong`, `AtomicReference` and `AtomicBoolean`). Display knowledge of the distinction between the atomic version and the equivalent primitive type. Differentiate the standard Java numeric assignment operators (`x++`, `++x`, `x += y`, etc.) from their atomic counterparts `getAndIncrement()`, `incrementAndGet()`, `getAndAdd()`, etc.). Understand the behaviour of both the `compareAndSet()` and the `getAndSet()` methods. Write code to use an instance of `AtomicInteger` to model an atomic numeric type not directly supported such as `double` or `float`. Contrast the behaviour with a `volatile` member's behaviour. NOTE: `weakCompareAndSet()` is not covered.	2	33	14	Add a question Beta questions
Advanced atomic value classes 1 question Advanced atomic value classes `AtomicStampedReference` and `AtomicMarkableReference`. Communicate the knowledge of using these less frequently used classes to detect values which may have been updated while still retaining their original value.	0	9	5	Add a question Beta questions
Locks Demonstrate knowledge of the locking facilities
ReentrantLock 2 questions `ReentrantLock` usage Show knowledge of `Thread` ownership of a `ReentrantLock`, and multiple "holds" on the lock. Demonstrate usage of `lock()` and `lockInterruptibly()` Demonstrate usage of `unlock()` and know when `IllegalMonitorStateException` will be thrown when calling it. Show knowledge of `tryLock()`'s exemption from the fairness parameter used to construct an instance of `ReentrantLock`.	1	21	8	Add a question Beta questions
ReentrantReadWriteLock 1 question `ReentrantReadWriteLock` usage Demonstrate that read locks cannot be acquired until all write locks on a writing thread have been released. Show that write locks can be downgraded to read locks but not vice-versa. Explain lock ownership: Read locks are not owned by a `Thread`, while, Write locks are owned by a `Thread`.	1	18	3	Add a question Beta questions