Synchronous vs Asynchronous Programming.

The key differences between Synchronous and Asynchronous programming.

When to use Synchronous and Asynchronous programming.

The choice between asynchronous and synchronous programming depends on the requirements of your project:

When to Use Synchronous Programming:

• For straightforward scripts or tasks where simplicity is more important than performance.
• When operations must execute in a strict sequence.
• For batch processing jobs, where tasks are processed one at a time in a predetermined order.
• In simple games or simulations where predictable and sequential logic is required.
• For system initialisation tasks that must occur in a specific sequence before the program begins.

When to Use Asynchronous Programming:

• For applications requiring high responsiveness, such as web or mobile apps.
• When handling multiple I/O-bound operations simultaneously.
• In chat applications, where sending and receiving messages must happen without delay.
• For data streaming applications, like video playback or live audio feeds, that require uninterrupted performance.
• In IoT devices managing multiple data streams or sensor readings concurrently.

Tools + Techniques for Managing Asynchronous Programming?

Managing the complexity of asynchronous programming requires a deep understanding of how tasks are scheduled, executed, and handled.

Modern programming languages offer an array of tools and patterns to make development more efficient and maintainable while reducing the pitfalls of non-linear workflows. Asynchronous programming is integral to building high-performance, responsive applications, especially in domains like web development, IoT + data streaming.

• Callbacks: Functions passed as arguments to handle operations after completion. They enable non-blocking behaviour but can lead to 'callback hell' when used excessively.
• Promises: Objects representing the eventual completion or failure of an asynchronous operation. Promises simplify chaining multiple asynchronous tasks by using methods like .then() and .catch().
• Async/Await: Simplifies asynchronous code by allowing it to be written in a synchronous style. With the await keyword, developers can pause execution until a promise resolves, reducing code complexity and improving readability.
• Event Loop: A mechanism that manages execution of asynchronous tasks by queuing them and processing them once the main execution stack is clear. Understanding the event loop is crucial for optimising asynchronous operations.
• Task Scheduling Libraries: Tools like Node.js's setImmediate or process.nextTick allow fine-grained control over asynchronous task scheduling, improving performance and responsiveness.

Rayven is a full-stack, low-code app development platform that makes synchronous and asynchronous programming simple.