CountDownLatch concurrency/multithreading example in java

• A CountDownLatch allows one or more threads to wait until a set of operations being performed in other threads completes.
• A CountDownLatch is initialized with a given count.
  • The await methods block until the current count reaches zero due to invocations of the countDown() method.

1. Scenario: Synchronize resources using CountDownLatch (concurrency)

• Friends has planned trip for their vacation.
• They have decided to meet at certain point before they can start for their vacation.
• We will use CountDownLatch for this purpose.
  • Initialize CountDownLatch with number of friends planned for vacation.
  • Decrement count down when new friend arrive to board for cab using CountDownLatch.countDown
  • When count of CountDownLatch reaches zero, they will start for their vacation.

2. Program: Synchronize resources using CountDownLatch (example)

2.1 Passenger class:

• Passenger class implements Runnable interface.
• Passenger object calls shareCab.board method which would eventually decrements the count of CountDownLatch.
  • Once count of CountDownLatch reaches zero, shareCab will resume its operation.

package org.learn;

public class Passenger implements Runnable {

    private ShareCab shareCab;
    private String passengerName;

    public Passenger(ShareCab shareCab, String passengerName) {
        this.shareCab = shareCab;
        this.passengerName = passengerName;
    }

    @Override
    public void run() {
        int arrivalTime = (int) (Math.random() * 2000);
        try {
            Thread.sleep(arrivalTime);
            shareCab.board(passengerName);
        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

2.2 ShareCab class:

• ShareCab class will wait for all passengers (friends) to get boarded.
• All threads participating in synchronization operation would wait using countDownLatch.await() method.
  • ShareCab would wait for passengers using CountDownLatch.await method.
• When each passenger gets boarded, then each passenger will call CountDownLatch.countDown method (CountDownLatch reaches zero), then run method will resume its operation.

package org.learn;

import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;

public class ShareCab implements Runnable {

    private CountDownLatch countDownLatch;
    public ShareCab(int nPassengers) {
        countDownLatch = new CountDownLatch(nPassengers);
    }

    public void board(String passengerName) {
        System.out.printf("\n%s has boarded the cab",passengerName);
        countDownLatch.countDown();
    }

    @Override
    public void run() {

        System.out.printf("\nNumber of friends planned for trip: %d",
                                                countDownLatch.getCount());
        try {
            //waiting for all threads.
            countDownLatch.await();
            System.out.printf("\nAll friends has boarded the cab. Let's start the journey");
        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
            System.out.println("Interruption exception has occurred");
        }
    }
}

2.3 DemoCountDownLatch class:

• DemoCountDownLatch class demonstrate the working of CountDownLatch.
• We will plan a trip for 7 friends using CountDownLatch.
• Create Passenger objects who are going for trip.
  • ShareCab will wait for all passengers (friends) to get boarded the cab then we will plan our trip.

package org.learn;

public class DemoCountDownLatch {

    private static int numberOfPassenger = 7;
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        //Book a cab - 7 Seater
        ShareCab tripCab = new ShareCab(numberOfPassenger);

        Thread cabThread = new Thread(tripCab);
        cabThread.start();

        //create passenger
        for(int nPass = 1 ; nPass <= numberOfPassenger; nPass++) {
            Passenger passenger = new Passenger(tripCab,"Passenger "+nPass);
            Thread passengerThread = new Thread(passenger);
            passengerThread.start();
        }
    }
}

3. Output: Concurrency access to resources using CountDownLatch(java /example)

Number of friends planned for trip: 7
Passenger 1 has boarded the cab
Passenger 4 has boarded the cab
Passenger 2 has boarded the cab
Passenger 5 has boarded the cab
Passenger 7 has boarded the cab
Passenger 6 has boarded the cab
Passenger 3 has boarded the cab
All friends has boarded the cab. Let's start the journey