Good example of livelock?

Question

I understand what livelock is, but I was wondering if anyone had a good code-based example of it? And by code-based, I do not mean \"two people trying to get p

Answer 1

Python version of jelbourn's code:

import threading
import time
lock = threading.Lock()

class Spoon:
    def __init__(self, diner):
        self.owner = diner

    def setOwner(self, diner):
        with lock:
            self.owner = diner

    def use(self):
        with lock:
            "{0} has eaten".format(self.owner)

class Diner:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name
        self.hungry = True

    def eatsWith(self, spoon, spouse):
        while(self.hungry):
            if self != spoon.owner:
                time.sleep(1) # blocks thread, not process
                continue

            if spouse.hungry:
                print "{0}: you eat first, {1}".format(self.name, spouse.name)
                spoon.setOwner(spouse)
                continue

            # Spouse was not hungry, eat
            spoon.use()
            print "{0}: I'm stuffed, {1}".format(self.name, spouse.name)
            spoon.setOwner(spouse)

def main():
    husband = Diner("Bob")
    wife = Diner("Alice")
    spoon = Spoon(husband)

    t0 = threading.Thread(target=husband.eatsWith, args=(spoon, wife))
    t1 = threading.Thread(target=wife.eatsWith, args=(spoon, husband))
    t0.start()
    t1.start()
    t0.join()
    t1.join()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()