For this lab you will be analyzing a number of different concurrent programs (each consisting of some initial values and the bodies of 2 or more threads) alongside their output. Assume that the bodies of the threads (the separate functions) run concurrently and non-deterministically. Most of the exercises will ask you to determine how they arrived at their output (which may be unexpected), and some may also ask you to make suggestions as to how to "fix" their behavior.
When explaining how they arrive at the given output, you may either sketch a diagram and/or outline the sequence in English (e.g., "First, t1 runs lines number W-X, then t2 runs line number Y-Z, etc.").
x = 0
1 def t1():
2 a = x
3 a = a + 5
4 x = a
5 def t2():
6 b = x
7 b = b + 10
8 x = b
x is 5 (we
expect x to be 15). How is this possible?x = 5
y = 10
z = 30
sum = 0
1 def t1():
2 val1 = sum + x
3 sum = val1
4 def t2():
5 val2 = sum + y
6 sum = val2
7 def t3():
8 val3 = sum + z
9 sum = val3
(Part 1) After running the above three threads to completion, the value of
sum is 15 (we expect it to be 45). How is this possible?
(Part 2) After running the above three threads to completion, the value of
sum is 30 (we expect it to be 45). How is this possible?
x = 0
turn = ''
1 def t1():
2 turn = 't1'
3 while turn == 't2':
4 pass
5 a = x
6 a = a + 5
7 x = a
8 turn = 't2'
9 def t2():
10 turn = 't2'
11 while turn == 't1':
12 pass
13 b = x
14 b = b + 10
15 x = b
16 turn = 't1'
turn
to itself, but since only one thread will win and drop through the loop,
the other will have to wait for the first to complete. After executing the
above threads to completion, however, the value of x is 10 (we expect it to
be 15). How is this possible?s = ''
t1_state = 'Running'
t2_state = 'Waiting'
1 def t1():
2 for _ in range(5):
3 while t2_state == 'Running':
4 pass
5 t1_state = 'Running'
6 s = s + '@'
7 t1_state = 'Waiting'
8 def t2():
9 for _ in range(5):
10 while t1_state == 'Running':
11 pass
12 t2_state = 'Running'
13 s = s + '#'
14 t2_state = 'Waiting'
(Part 1) The goal of this setup is that the two threads will alternate between
running the bodies of their for loops, resulting in the final value of
s being a series of alternating '@' and '#' characters. Indeed, after
executing the above threads to completion we find the value of s is
'@#@#@#@#@#'. Explain how this happens.
(Part 2) When we run the code again, however, the value of s is now
'@@@@@#####'. How is this possible?
(Part 3) Can you make changes to the code so that we will always get the
desired behavior (i.e., so that the value of s at the end is always
'@#@#@#@#@#')? Note that you should not alter the loop structure nor
add/remove/modify lines that change the variable s. Your changes should
only affect how t1_state and t2_state are used.
When you're done with your writeup, submit it as a PDF or plain text file.