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Santa Claus Problem 🎅

This repository demonstrates the classic concurrency puzzle known as the Santa Claus Problem, originally described by John Trono. The problem requires synchronizing Santa, nine Reindeer returning from vacation, and a group of Elves needing Santa's help — ensuring that Santa only wakes up under the proper conditions. It highlights important concurrency concepts like resource sharing, scheduling, and synchronization constraints.

SantaDemo.mp4

What's in this repo? 🔎

  1. C++ Code

    • Provides two versions of the Santa Claus solution:
      • santa_bug.cpp - The original approach (contains a known scheduling assumption bug).
      • santa.cpp - A fixed solution properly handling the bug.

  2. Python Visualization

    • A Tkinter-based GUI that launches the C++ program in the background and animates Santa, Reindeer, and Elves.
    • Displays concurrency events, reindeer arrivals, and elves' help requests in an interactive way.

Quick Start 🏃

1. Compile the C++ code

g++ -std=c++20 santa.cpp -o santa

2. Run the Python GUI

python3 santa_ui.py

Why Does This Matter? 🤔

  • Concurrency: The Santa Claus Problem illustrates how multiple threads (or processes) can coordinate access to shared resources and synchronization primitives.
  • Scheduling Pitfalls: The classic solution can fail if threads are not scheduled as assumed. This repo showcases both the original approach and the improved fix.
  • Real-World Relevance: Understanding concurrency is essential for designing reliable, multi-threaded applications.