csharp-concurrency-patterns

.NET Concurrency: Choosing the Right Tool

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Deciding how to handle concurrent operations in .NET
• Evaluating whether to use async/await, Channels, Akka.NET, or other abstractions
• Tempted to use locks, semaphores, or other synchronization primitives
• Need to process streams of data with backpressure, batching, or debouncing
• Managing state across multiple concurrent entities

Reference Files

• advanced-concurrency.md: Akka.NET Streams, Reactive Extensions, Akka.NET Actors (entity-per-actor, state machines, cluster sharding), and async local function patterns

The Philosophy

Start simple, escalate only when needed.

Most concurrency problems can be solved with async/await. Only reach for more sophisticated tools when you have a specific need that async/await can't address cleanly.

Try to avoid shared mutable state. The best way to handle concurrency is to design it away. Immutable data, message passing, and isolated state (like actors) eliminate entire categories of bugs.

Locks should be the exception, not the rule. When you can't avoid shared mutable state:

1. First choice: Redesign to avoid it (immutability, message passing, actor isolation)
2. Second choice: Use System.Collections.Concurrent (ConcurrentDictionary, etc.)
3. Third choice: Use Channel<T> to serialize access through message passing
4. Last resort: Use lock for simple, short-lived critical sections

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Decision Tree

What are you trying to do?
│
├─► Wait for I/O (HTTP, database, file)?
│   └─► Use async/await
│
├─► Process a collection in parallel (CPU-bound)?
│   └─► Use Parallel.ForEachAsync
│
├─► Producer/consumer pattern (work queue)?
│   └─► Use System.Threading.Channels
│
├─► UI event handling (debounce, throttle, combine)?
│   └─► Use Reactive Extensions (Rx)
│
├─► Server-side stream processing (backpressure, batching)?
│   └─► Use Akka.NET Streams
│
├─► State machines with complex transitions?
│   └─► Use Akka.NET Actors (Become pattern)
│
├─► Manage state for many independent entities?
│   └─► Use Akka.NET Actors (entity-per-actor)
│
├─► Coordinate multiple async operations?
│   └─► Use Task.WhenAll / Task.WhenAny
│
└─► None of the above fits?
    └─► Ask yourself: "Do I really need shared mutable state?"
        ├─► Yes → Consider redesigning to avoid it
        └─► Truly unavoidable → Use Channels or Actors to serialize access