This repository contains examples of Python concurrency programming using threading, multiprocessing, and asyncio and when to use each method based on the type of task.
- Threading: Best for IO-bound tasks with moderate concurrency needs. Limited by GIL for CPU-bound tasks.
- Multiprocessing: Best for CPU-bound tasks requiring true parallelism. Higher overhead for IO-bound tasks.
- Asyncio: Best for high-concurrency IO-bound tasks. Requires executors for CPU-bound tasks, which can add complexity.
- Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice depends on the specific requirements of the task at hand.8
IO-bound tasks: Threading performs well because the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) is released during IO operations, allowing other threads to run. CPU-bound tasks: Threading performs poorly due to the GIL, which prevents true parallel execution of threads. Only one thread can execute Python bytecode at a time.
IO-bound tasks: Multiprocessing can handle IO-bound tasks, but it has more overhead compared to threading due to process creation and inter-process communication. CPU-bound tasks: Multiprocessing excels in CPU-bound tasks as it bypasses the GIL by using separate processes, allowing true parallel execution on multiple CPU cores.
IO-bound tasks: Asyncio is highly efficient for IO-bound tasks, especially when dealing with many concurrent operations. It uses a single-threaded, cooperative multitasking approach with coroutines. CPU-bound tasks: Asyncio is not suitable for CPU-bound tasks unless combined with executors (e.g., ThreadPoolExecutor or ProcessPoolExecutor), which introduces additional complexity and overhead.
Threading: Best for IO-bound tasks with moderate concurrency needs. Limited by GIL for CPU-bound tasks. Multiprocessing: Best for CPU-bound tasks requiring true parallelism. Higher overhead for IO-bound tasks. Asyncio: Best for high-concurrency IO-bound tasks. Requires executors for CPU-bound tasks, which can add complexity. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the choice depends on the specific requirements of the task at hand.