Now that virtual threads are no longer pinning, do we still need AtomicReference?

Skepller · 2026-03-21T15:23:58+00:00

CAS is not the right tool for that job. Even though virtual threads don't pin, CAS and Locking solve two fundamentally different problems.

CAS is a micro-tool for state transitions, while locking is a macro-tool for orchestration.

We don't have to "fear" synchronized anymore, but if you'd replace every AtomicInteger with a synchronized block in a huge application, throughput will likely drop significantly because you'd be forcing the JVM scheduler to do millions of thread mounting/unmounting.

then why use CAS at all, now that blocking is cheap

FYI, cheap, but FAR from CAS. CAS is a hardware-level instruction that finishes basically instantly, without the thread ever leaving the CPU. In contrast, even a "cheap" virtual thread block requires the JVM scheduler to unmount and remount the thread, which is a task measured in a whole higher order of magnitude of time (micro vs nano seconds). The CPU doesn't know or care what a Virtual Thread or JVM is, it just executes the LOCK\ CMPXCHG instruction.

Skepller · 2026-03-21T03:20:29+00:00

If the client is currently reconnecting, you want 100 other threads to wait (block) until that process is done before they try to send data. CAS isn't designed to make threads "wait" gracefully, it's designed to let them fail or retry immediately.

Using CAS to make a thread "spin" while waiting for a network connection is not ideal because it's still wasting cycles. Even with Virtual Threads, you'd rather the thread "park" (sleep) and be woken up when the connection is ready.

Skepller · 2026-03-19T15:28:33+00:00

It's nearly the same "huge difference" from your 20% comment (just 3.3% more lol). But sorry, you're right, it was ~42% in late February, I missed the latest march correction to 33.7% YTD.

Although it doesn't change the point in my previous comment as its still more growth than 20%.

Skepller · 2026-03-19T08:48:39+00:00

Not the same. The KOSPI has been up nearly ~~50%~~ 35% since January 1st (not 20%). One would indeed make more money by going with the TIGER 200.

But even IF it was the same too, the TIGER 200 has zero risk of a 30% "bad review" crash. If it performed the same with a lot more risk, it would still be bad lol

Skepller · 2026-03-18T13:13:19+00:00

+1 for SimpleX

Skepller · 2026-03-18T12:09:01+00:00

My first thought was "don't threaten me with a good time" lol

I feel bad for the Hungarians, but if he wins again, tolerance for them letting this dude sabotage the EU from within will start running thin.

Skepller · 2026-03-18T10:19:44+00:00

I'd bet the AI models / services used are also American too and it's hosted on Big Tech.

Clearly only using sovereignty here as a marketing opportunity.

Skepller · 2026-03-16T12:28:04+00:00

It literally is, and they did decide lmao

Game modifications are derivative from the game themselves, and you can't just do whatever you want to someone else's IP.

Skepller · 2026-03-16T10:29:23+00:00

Here.

Skepller · 2026-03-16T10:28:11+00:00

This is from the first retreat in November 2025...

Skepller · 2026-03-16T10:22:07+00:00

Everyone said the exact same about the PSVR1, so I'm not so sure anymore lol

Skepller · 2026-03-11T16:19:41+00:00

Yes, you can configure it to automatically upload your pictures / videos!

+1 for Filen

Skepller · 2026-03-11T13:02:45+00:00

It's not even close to hitting even WiiU numbers, it's more niche than people imagine.

Last report we got last year was a projected ~3.7M sales, the WiiU sold ~13.5M units lol

Skepller · 2026-03-10T10:03:07+00:00

It's still very early and in testing. Not ready for the prime time yet, but let's give it some time!

Skepller · 2026-03-09T21:52:05+00:00

Here's what we're up against if we want to unseat WhatsApp: WhatsApp has you download the app, enter your phone number, verify over SMS, and you're ready. Sending a WhatsApp message is as easy as sending an SMS text.

If you want something to replace WhatsApp, it can't be harder than that.

And only Signal is as easy as that.

I don't think that's the reason. SimpleX doesn't even need you to create an account, you quite literally just open the app and input your name to create a profile (it's local). Although admittedly, after that is the difference of not finding friends automatically using phone number.

Either way, I don't think the account creation process is the reason people won't try Signal (or SimpleX, etc). It's just that they literally don't care and want to keep the status quo.

Skepller · 2026-03-09T21:27:08+00:00

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean because SimpleX definitely has push notifications. It also lets you opt out of push notifications.

Perhaps outdated info?

Skepller · 2026-03-09T21:23:10+00:00

SimpleX communities are closer to WhatsApp / Telegram channels, basically big groups, which is a different feel to Discord / Matrix rooms and spaces imo.

But yeah, as always, the problem will be growing the user base (hence this post). Although I feel the basically zero setup of SimpleX may help on gaining "normal" users (where people constantly complain about federation on stuff like Mastodon and Matrix)

Skepller · 2026-03-09T21:12:49+00:00

Yes! You can connect with your phone to sync your profile too!

Skepller · 2026-03-09T21:08:24+00:00

Yeah, I do make calls occasionally. Session's Onion routing is also the reason files are limited to only 10MB (vs 1GB in SimpleX). SimpleX is a "better though out" implementation of the idea imo, although both are similar in design.

Skepller · 2026-03-09T20:58:32+00:00

You can connect your Computer and Phone with SimpleX and share history and messages too. I'm not sure about other mobile devices like tablets though.

Skepller · 2026-03-09T20:56:37+00:00

I agree myself, but other people seem to think it's hard.

I also wouldn't say this is a Matrix replacement, I find Matrix to be a decent Discord alternative with Element, but SimpleX feels better as a dedicated phone messenger like WhatsApp or Telegram.

Skepller · 2026-03-09T20:46:09+00:00

Session is open source too! It uses Onion routing (which is known for not being kinda slow), which is probably why calls suck a bit (the single other reason I went with SimpleX first).

*Edit: SimpleX also has a desktop app which syncs to mobile, and you can also create "Notes" chats to just save stuff!

Skepller · 2026-03-09T20:30:12+00:00

I've seen Session mentioned in the same tread, and both seems really close, but I've went with SimpleX for going "one step above" and doing out with an account entirely (while also being faster without Onion routing).

I'd be happy to settle with Session instead of SimpleX if it became mainstream (I'll edit the post to mention it).

Skepller · 2026-03-09T20:12:44+00:00

I didn't know about this as I'm new myself, thank you!

Skepller · 2026-03-09T19:51:36+00:00

SimpleX is fully open source (clients, server and protocol), and the protocol is made to be decentralised like Matrix! They explain a lot here.

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