busy-wait

2 definitions found

busy-wait - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  busy-wait
  
     <programming> To wait for an event by spinning through a
     tight loop or timed-delay loop that polls for the event on
     each pass, as opposed to setting up an interrupt handler and
     continuing execution on another part of the task.  This is a
     wasteful technique, best avoided on time-sharing systems
     where a busy-waiting program may hog the processor.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1999-06-10)
  

busy-wait - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  busy-wait
   vi.
  
     Used of human behavior, conveys that the subject is busy waiting for
     someone or something, intends to move instantly as soon as it shows
     up, and thus cannot do anything else at the moment. "Can't talk now,
     I'm busy-waiting till Bill gets off the phone."
  
     Technically, busy-wait means to wait on an event by spinning
  through
     a tight or timed-delay loop that polls for the event on each pass, as
     opposed to setting up an interrupt handler and continuing execution
  on
     another part of the task. In applications this is a wasteful
     technique, and best avoided on timesharing systems where a
     busy-waiting program may hog the processor. However, it is often
     unavoidable in kernel programming. In the Linux world, kernel
     busy-waits are usually referred to as spinlocks.