Threads

Question 1

What does CPU stand for?

Answer 1

Central Processing Unit

Question 2

How many cores did CPUs originally have?

Answer 2

1 core

Question 3

What is significant about the number of cores in a CPU?

Answer 3

The amount of cores matters for how many parallel operations can be performed.

Question 4

What is meant by parallel operations in a CPU?

Answer 4

Parallel operations refer to multiple processes being executed simultaneously by different cores.

Question 5

How are threads related to CPU cores?

Answer 5

Each core in a CPU can have multiple threads assigned to it, allowing multiple sequences of programmed instructions to be executed concurrently.

Question 6

Where can you see how many threads are running on a CPU?

Answer 6

In the Task Manager in Windows.

Question 7

What does it mean when a thread ‘hangs’?

Answer 7

It stops or waits, often due to a blocking operation or an error.

Question 8

What is concurrent programming?

Answer 8

Concurrent programming is a programming paradigm where different parts of a program are executed out-of-order or in partial order, without affecting the final outcome.

Question 9

What happens during core switching between threads?

Answer 9

Core switching between threads, also known as context switching, involves the CPU switching from one thread to another, allowing multiple threads to share the CPU’s resources.

Question 10

What is asynchronous programming?

Answer 10

Asynchronous programming allows the CPU to switch between threads when one thread is idle or waiting (e.g., during a timeout or sleep), improving efficiency and responsiveness.

Question 11

What is a thread in the context of programming?

Answer 11

A thread is the smallest unit of processing that can be performed in an operating system, often part of a process.

Question 12

How does JavaScript handle threading?

Answer 12

JavaScript uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model with a single-threaded event loop, utilising Web Workers for parallel execution.

Question 13

What are Web Workers in JavaScript?

Answer 13

Web Workers are a feature in JavaScript that allow you to run scripts in background threads, enabling parallel execution without interfering with the main execution thread.

Question 14

What is the main advantage of using asynchronous programming in JavaScript?

Answer 14

The main advantage is that it allows the program to remain responsive by performing other operations while waiting for long-running tasks to complete.

Question 15

What is a common issue with multi-threading in programming?

Answer 15

A common issue with multi-threading is the potential for race conditions, where multiple threads access shared resources simultaneously, leading to unpredictable results.

Question 16

What is a deadlock in concurrent programming?

Answer 16

A deadlock is a situation in concurrent programming where two or more threads are unable to proceed because each is waiting for the other to release a resource.

Question 17

Is Python single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 17

Python is technically capable of multi-threading, but due to the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), it is often considered effectively single-threaded for CPU-bound tasks. Multi-threading in Python works well for I/O-bound tasks.

Question 18

Is Java single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 18

Java is multi-threaded. It has built-in support for multi-threading, making it a good choice for concurrent programming.

Question 19

Is JavaScript single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 19

JavaScript is single-threaded. It runs on a single thread, but it can handle asynchronous operations through its event loop, enabling non-blocking execution.

Question 20

Is C++ single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 20

C++ is multi-threaded. It provides support for multi-threading through libraries like the C++ Standard Library’s <thread> and various other concurrency features.</thread>

Question 21

Is Ruby single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 21

Ruby is primarily single-threaded due to the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL), similar to Python. However, JRuby (Ruby on the JVM) can support true multi-threading.

Question 22

Is Go single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 22

Go (Golang) is multi-threaded. It has built-in support for concurrent programming with goroutines, which are lightweight threads managed by the Go runtime.

Question 23

Is C# single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 23

C# is multi-threaded. It has extensive support for multi-threading and parallel programming through the .NET framework.

Question 24

Is Rust single-threaded or multi-threaded?

Answer 24

Rust is multi-threaded. It provides robust support for multi-threading with a strong emphasis on safety and concurrency, avoiding data races through its ownership system.