Dekker’s algorithm in Process Synchronization

Prerequisite – Process Synchronization, Inter Process Communication
To obtain such a mutual exclusion, bounded waiting, and progress there have been several algorithms implemented, one of which is Dekker’s Algorithm. To understand the algorithm let’s understand the solution to the critical section problem first.
A process is generally represented as :

do {
    //entry section
        critical section
    //exit section
        remainder section
} while (TRUE);

The solution to the critical section problem must ensure the following three conditions:

Mutual Exclusion
Progress
Bounded Waiting

One of the solutions for ensuring above all factors is Peterson’s solution.
Another one is Dekker’s Solution. Dekker’s algorithm was the first probably-correct solution to the critical section problem. It allows two threads to share a single-use resource without conflict, using only shared memory for communication. It avoids the strict alternation of a naïve turn-taking algorithm, and was one of the first mutual exclusion algorithms to be invented.
Although there are many versions of Dekker’s Solution, the final or 5th version is the one that satisfies all of the above conditions and is the most efficient of them all.
Note – Dekker’s Solution, mentioned here, ensures mutual exclusion between two processes only, it could be extended to more than two processes with the proper use of arrays and variables.
Algorithm – It requires both an array of Boolean values and an integer variable:

var flag: array [0..1] of boolean;
turn: 0..1;
repeat

        flag[i] := true;
        while flag[j] do
                if turn = j then
                begin
                        flag[i] := false;
                        while turn = j do no-op;
                        flag[i] := true;
                end;

                critical section

        turn := j;
        flag[i] := false;

                remainder section

until false;

First Version of Dekker’s Solution – The idea is to use a common or shared thread number between processes and stop the other process from entering its critical section if the shared thread indicates the former one already running.

CPP

Main()
{
 
    int thread_number = 1;
    startThreads();
}
 
Thread1()
{
    do {
 
        // entry section
        // wait until threadnumber is 1
        while (threadnumber == 2)
            ;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // give access to the other thread
        threadnumber = 2;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}
 
Thread2()
{
 
    do {
 
        // entry section
        // wait until threadnumber is 2
        while (threadnumber == 1)
            ;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // give access to the other thread
        threadnumber = 1;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}

Java

// Java program for the above approach
import java.lang.Thread;
 
public class ThreadExample {
 
    static boolean completed = false;
    static int threadNumber = 1;
    static void Thread1()
    {
        boolean doWhile = false;
        while (!completed || !doWhile) {
            doWhile = true;
 
            // entry section wait until
            // threadNumber is 1
            while (threadNumber == 2) {
                Thread.yield();
            }
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section give access
            // to the other thread
            threadNumber = 2;
 
            // remainder section
        }
    }
 
    static void Thread2()
    {
        boolean doWhile = false;
        while (!completed || !doWhile) {
            doWhile = true;
 
            // entry section wait until
            // threadNumber is 2
            while (threadNumber == 1) {
                Thread.yield();
            }
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section give access
            // to the other thread
            threadNumber = 1;
 
            // remainder section
        }
    }
 
    static void StartThreads()
    {
        Thread t1 = new Thread(ThreadExample::Thread1);
        Thread t2 = new Thread(ThreadExample::Thread2);
        t1.start();
        t2.start();
    }
 
    // Driver Code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        threadNumber = 1;
        StartThreads();
    }
}

Python3

def Thread1():
    doWhile=False
    while not completed or not doWhile:
        doWhile=True
        # entry section
        # wait until threadnumber is 1
        while (threadnumber == 2):
            pass
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # give access to the other thread
        threadnumber = 2
 
        # remainder section
 
def Thread2():
    doWhile=False
    while not completed or not doWhile:
        doWhile=True
        # entry section
        # wait until threadnumber is 2
        while (threadnumber == 1):
            pass
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # give access to the other thread
        threadnumber = 1
 
        # remainder section
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
 
    thread_number = 1
    startThreads()

C#

using System.Threading;
 
class ThreadExample {
    static bool completed = false;
    static int threadNumber = 1;
 
    static void Thread1()
    {
        bool doWhile = false;
        while (!completed || !doWhile) {
            doWhile = true;
            // entry section
            // wait until threadNumber is 1
            while (threadNumber == 2) {
                Thread.Yield();
            }
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // give access to the other thread
            threadNumber = 2;
 
            // remainder section
        }
    }
 
    static void Thread2()
    {
        bool doWhile = false;
        while (!completed || !doWhile) {
            doWhile = true;
            // entry section
            // wait until threadNumber is 2
            while (threadNumber == 1) {
                Thread.Yield();
            }
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // give access to the other thread
            threadNumber = 1;
 
            // remainder section
        }
    }
 
    static void StartThreads()
    {
        Thread t1 = new Thread(Thread1);
        Thread t2 = new Thread(Thread2);
        t1.Start();
        t2.Start();
    }
 
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        threadNumber = 1;
        StartThreads();
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Shivhack999

Javascript

let thread_number = 1;
 
function Thread1() {
    let doWhile = false;
    while (!completed || !doWhile) {
        doWhile = true;
        // entry section
        // wait until threadnumber is 1
        while (thread_number === 2) {
            // pass
        }
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // give access to the other thread
        thread_number = 2;
 
        // remainder section
    }
}
 
function Thread2() {
    let doWhile = false;
    while (!completed || !doWhile) {
        doWhile = true;
        // entry section
        // wait until threadnumber is 2
        while (thread_number === 1) {
            // pass
        }
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // give access to the other thread
        thread_number = 1;
 
        // remainder section
    }
}
 
startThreads();

The problem arising in the above implementation is lockstep synchronization, i.e each thread depends on the other for its execution. If one of the processes completes, then the second process runs, gives access to the completed one, and waits for its turn, however, the former process is already completed and would never run to return the access back to the latter one. Hence, the second process waits infinitely then.
Second Version of Dekker’s Solution – To remove lockstep synchronization, it uses two flags to indicate its current status and updates them accordingly at the entry and exit section.

CPP

Main()
{
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread is in
    // its critical section or not.
    boolean thread1 = false;
    boolean thread2 = false;
 
    startThreads();
}
 
Thread1()
{
 
    do {
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread2 is in its critical section
        while (thread2 == true)
            ;
 
        // indicate thread1 entering its critical section
        thread1 = true;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread1 exiting its critical section
        thread1 = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}
 
Thread2()
{
 
    do {
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread1 is in its critical section
        while (thread1 == true)
            ;
 
        // indicate thread2 entering its critical section
        thread2 = true;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread2 exiting its critical section
        thread2 = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}

Java

public class MutualExclusion {
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread is in
    // its critical section or not
    boolean thread1 = false;
    boolean thread2 = false;
 
    // method to start the threads
    public void startThreads() {
        new Thread(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                thread1();
            }
        }).start();
        new Thread(new Runnable() {
            public void run() {
                thread2();
            }
        }).start();
    }
 
    public void thread1() {
        do {
            // entry section
            // wait until thread2 is in its critical section
            while (thread2 == true);
 
            // indicate thread1 entering its critical section
            thread1 = true;
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread1 exiting its critical section
            thread1 = false;
 
            // remainder section
        } while (completed == false);
    }
 
    public void thread2() {
        do {
            // entry section
            // wait until thread1 is in its critical section
            while (thread1 == true);
 
            // indicate thread2 entering its critical section
            thread2 = true;
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread2 exiting its critical section
            thread2 = false;
 
            // remainder section
        } while (completed == false);
    }
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        MutualExclusion me = new MutualExclusion();
        me.startThreads();
    }
}

Python3

def Thread1():
    doWhile=False
    while not completed or not doWhile:
        doWhile=True
        # entry section
        # wait until thread2 is in its critical section
        while (thread2):
            pass
 
        # indicate thread1 entering its critical section
        thread1 = True
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread1 exiting its critical section
        thread1 = False
 
        # remainder section
 
def Thread2():
    doWhile=False
    while not completed or not doWhile:
        doWhile=True
        # entry section
        # wait until thread1 is in its critical section
        while (thread1):
            pass
 
        # indicate thread1 entering its critical section
        thread2 = True
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread2 exiting its critical section
        thread2 = False
 
        # remainder section
         
if __name__ == '__main__':
 
    # flags to indicate if each thread is in
    # its critical section or not.
    thread1 = False
    thread2 = False
 
    startThreads()

C#

using System;
using System.Threading;
 
class Program
{
    static bool thread1 = false;
    static bool thread2 = false;
    static bool completed = false;
 
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Start both threads
        Thread threadOne = new Thread(new ThreadStart(Thread1));
        Thread threadTwo = new Thread(new ThreadStart(Thread2));
 
        threadOne.Start();
        threadTwo.Start();
    }
 
    static void Thread1()
    {
        do
        {
            // entry section
            // wait until thread2 is in its critical section
            while (thread2)
            {
                // Spin-wait
            }
 
            // indicate thread1 entering its critical section
            thread1 = true;
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread1 exiting its critical section
            thread1 = false;
 
            // remainder section
        }
        while (!completed);
    }
 
    static void Thread2()
    {
        do
        {
            // entry section
            // wait until thread1 is in its critical section
            while (thread1)
            {
                // Spin-wait
            }
 
            // indicate thread2 entering its critical section
            thread2 = true;
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread2 exiting its critical section
            thread2 = false;
 
            // remainder section
        }
        while (!completed);
    }
}

Javascript

let thread1InCriticalSection = false;
let thread2InCriticalSection = false;
 
function thread1() {
  // entry section
  Promise.resolve().then(() => {
    // wait until thread2 is in its critical section
    while (thread2InCriticalSection) {}
 
    // indicate thread1 entering its critical section
    thread1InCriticalSection = true;
 
    // critical section
 
    // exit section
    // indicate thread1 exiting its critical section
    thread1InCriticalSection = false;
 
    // remainder section
    thread1();
  });
}
 
function thread2() {
  // entry section
  Promise.resolve().then(() => {
    // wait until thread1 is in its critical section
    while (thread1InCriticalSection) {}
 
    // indicate thread2 entering its critical section
    thread2InCriticalSection = true;
 
    // critical section
 
    // exit section
    // indicate thread2 exiting its critical section
    thread2InCriticalSection = false;
 
    // remainder section
    thread2();
  });
}
 
thread1(); // start thread1
thread2(); // start thread2

The problem arising in the above version is mutual exclusion itself. If threads are preempted (stopped) during flag updation ( i.e during current_thread = true ) then, both the threads enter their critical section once the preempted thread is restarted, also the same can be observed at the start itself, when both the flags are false.
Third Version of Dekker’s Solution – To re-ensure mutual exclusion, it sets the flags before the entry section itself.

C++

Main()
{
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread is in
    // queue to enter its critical section
    boolean thread1wantstoenter = false;
    boolean thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
    startThreads();
}
 
Thread1()
{
 
    do {
 
        thread1wantstoenter = true;
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread2 wants to enter
        // its critical section
        while (thread2wantstoenter == true)
            ;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread1 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}
 
Thread2()
{
 
    do {
 
        thread2wantstoenter = true;
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread1 wants to enter
        // its critical section
        while (thread1wantstoenter == true)
            ;
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread2 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}

Python3

if __name__=='__main__':
    # flags to indicate if each thread is in
    # queue to enter its critical section
    thread1wantstoenter = False
    thread2wantstoenter = False
 
    startThreads()
 
 
def Thread1():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile):
        doWhile=True
        thread1wantstoenter = True
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread2 wants to enter
        # its critical section
        while (thread2wantstoenter == True):
            pass
             
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread1 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section
 
 
def Thread2():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile) :
        doWhile=True
        thread2wantstoenter = True
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread1 wants to enter
        # its critical section
        while (thread1wantstoenter == True):
            pass
             
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread2 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section

The problem with this version is a deadlock possibility. Both threads could set their flag as true simultaneously and both will wait infinitely later on.
Fourth Version of Dekker’s Solution – Uses small time interval to recheck the condition, eliminates deadlock, and ensures mutual exclusion as well.

CPP

Main()
{
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread is in
    // queue to enter its critical section
    boolean thread1wantstoenter = false;
    boolean thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
    startThreads();
}
 
Thread1()
{
 
    do {
 
        thread1wantstoenter = true;
 
        while (thread2wantstoenter == true) {
 
            // gives access to other thread
            // wait for random amount of time
            thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
            thread1wantstoenter = true;
        }
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread2 wants to enter
        // its critical section
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread1 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}
 
Thread2()
{
 
    do {
 
        thread2wantstoenter = true;
 
        while (thread1wantstoenter == true) {
 
            // gives access to other thread
            // wait for random amount of time
            thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
            thread2wantstoenter = true;
        }
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread1 wants to enter
        // its critical section
 
        // critical section
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread2 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}

Python3

if __name__ == '__main__':
 
    # flags to indicate if each thread is in
    # queue to enter its critical section
    thread1wantstoenter = False
    thread2wantstoenter = False
 
    startThreads()
 
 
def Thread1():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile):
        doWhile=True
        thread1wantstoenter = True
 
        while (thread2wantstoenter == True) :
 
            # gives access to other thread
            # wait for random amount of time
            thread1wantstoenter = False
 
            thread1wantstoenter = True
         
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread2 wants to enter
        # its critical section
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread1 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section
 
     
 
 
def Thread2():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile):
        doWhile=True
        thread2wantstoenter = True
 
        while (thread1wantstoenter == True) :
 
            # gives access to other thread
            # wait for random amount of time
            thread2wantstoenter = False
 
            thread2wantstoenter = True
         
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread1 wants to enter
        # its critical section
 
        # critical section
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread2 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section

Java

public class TwoThreadMutex {
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread wants to
    // enter its critical section
    private static boolean thread1wantstoenter = false;
    private static boolean thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
        startThreads();
    }
 
    private static void startThreads() {
        Thread t1 = new Thread(TwoThreadMutex::Thread1);
        Thread t2 = new Thread(TwoThreadMutex::Thread2);
 
        t1.start();
        t2.start();
 
        try {
            t1.join();
            t2.join();
        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
 
    private static void Thread1() {
 
        do {
 
            thread1wantstoenter = true;
 
            while (thread2wantstoenter == true) {
 
                // gives access to other thread
                // wait for random amount of time
                thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
                thread1wantstoenter = true;
            }
 
            // entry section
            // wait until thread2 wants to enter
            // its critical section
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread1 has completed
            // its critical section
            thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
            // remainder section
 
        } while (completed == false);
    }
 
    private static void Thread2() {
 
        do {
 
            thread2wantstoenter = true;
 
            while (thread1wantstoenter == true) {
 
                // gives access to other thread
                // wait for random amount of time
                thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
                thread2wantstoenter = true;
            }
 
            // entry section
            // wait until thread1 wants to enter
            // its critical section
 
            // critical section
 
            // exit section
            // indicate thread2 has completed
            // its critical section
            thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
            // remainder section
 
        } while (completed == false);
    }
}

The problem with this version is the indefinite postponement. Also, a random amount of time is erratic depending upon the situation in which the algorithm is being implemented, hence not an acceptable solution in business critical systems.
Dekker’s Algorithm: Final and completed Solution – -Idea is to use favoured thread notion to determine entry to the critical section. Favoured thread alternates between the thread providing mutual exclusion and avoiding deadlock, indefinite postponement, or lockstep synchronization.

CPP

Main()
{
 
    // to denote which thread will enter next
    int favouredthread = 1;
 
    // flags to indicate if each thread is in
    // queue to enter its critical section
    boolean thread1wantstoenter = false;
    boolean thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
    startThreads();
}
 
Thread1()
{
    do {
 
        thread1wantstoenter = true;
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread2 wants to enter
        // its critical section
        while (thread2wantstoenter == true) {
 
            // if 2nd thread is more favored
            if (favaouredthread == 2) {
 
                // gives access to other thread
                thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
                // wait until this thread is favored
                while (favouredthread == 2)
                    ;
 
                thread1wantstoenter = true;
            }
        }
 
        // critical section
 
        // favor the 2nd thread
        favouredthread = 2;
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread1 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}
 
Thread2()
{
 
    do {
 
        thread2wantstoenter = true;
 
        // entry section
        // wait until thread1 wants to enter
        // its critical section
        while (thread1wantstoenter == true) {
 
            // if 1st thread is more favored
            if (favaouredthread == 1) {
 
                // gives access to other thread
                thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
                // wait until this thread is favored
                while (favouredthread == 1)
                    ;
 
                thread2wantstoenter = true;
            }
        }
 
        // critical section
 
        // favour the 1st thread
        favouredthread = 1;
 
        // exit section
        // indicate thread2 has completed
        // its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = false;
 
        // remainder section
 
    } while (completed == false)
}

Python3

if __name__ == '__main__':
 
    # to denote which thread will enter next
    favouredthread = 1
 
    # flags to indicate if each thread is in
    # queue to enter its critical section
    thread1wantstoenter = False
    thread2wantstoenter = False
 
    startThreads()
 
 
def Thread1():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile) :
        doWhile=True
        thread1wantstoenter = True
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread2 wants to enter
        # its critical section
        while (thread2wantstoenter == True) :
 
            # if 2nd thread is more favored
            if (favaouredthread == 2) :
 
                # gives access to other thread
                thread1wantstoenter = False
 
                # wait until this thread is favored
                while (favouredthread == 2):
                    pass
                     
 
                thread1wantstoenter = True
             
         
 
        # critical section
 
        # favor the 2nd thread
        favouredthread = 2
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread1 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread1wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section
 
      
 
 
def Thread2():
    doWhile=False
    while (completed == False or not doWhile) :
        doWhile=True
        thread2wantstoenter = True
 
        # entry section
        # wait until thread1 wants to enter
        # its critical section
        while (thread1wantstoenter == True) :
 
            # if 1st thread is more favored
            if (favaouredthread == 1) :
 
                # gives access to other thread
                thread2wantstoenter = False
 
                # wait until this thread is favored
                while (favouredthread == 1):
                    pass
                     
 
                thread2wantstoenter = True
             
         
 
        # critical section
 
        # favour the 1st thread
        favouredthread = 1
 
        # exit section
        # indicate thread2 has completed
        # its critical section
        thread2wantstoenter = False
 
        # remainder section
 
     