# Qubit Atomic
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[](https://crates.io/crates/qubit-atomic)
[](https://www.rust-lang.org)
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[](README.zh_CN.md)
User-friendly atomic operations wrapper providing JDK-like atomic API for Rust.
## Overview
Qubit Atomic is a comprehensive atomic operations library that provides easy-to-use atomic types with reasonable default memory orderings, similar to Java's `java.util.concurrent.atomic` package. It hides the complexity of memory ordering while maintaining zero-cost abstraction and allowing advanced users to access underlying types for fine-grained control.
## Design Goals
- **Ease of Use**: Hides memory ordering complexity with reasonable defaults
- **Completeness**: Provides high-level operations similar to JDK atomic classes
- **Safety**: Guarantees memory safety and thread safety
- **Performance**: Zero-cost abstraction with no additional overhead
- **Flexibility**: Exposes underlying types via `inner()` for advanced users
- **Simplicity**: Minimal API surface without `_with_ordering` variants
## Features
### 🔢 **Generic Atomic Primitive Types**
- **Integer Specializations**: `Atomic<i8>`, `Atomic<u8>`, `Atomic<i16>`, `Atomic<u16>`, `Atomic<i32>`, `Atomic<u32>`, `Atomic<i64>`, `Atomic<u64>`, `Atomic<i128>`, `Atomic<u128>`, `Atomic<isize>`, `Atomic<usize>`
- **Boolean Specialization**: `Atomic<bool>` with set, clear, negate, logical AND/OR/XOR, and conditional CAS helpers
- **Floating-Point Specializations**: `Atomic<f32>` and `Atomic<f64>` with arithmetic operations implemented through CAS loops
- **Rich Operations**: increment, decrement, add, subtract, multiply, divide, bitwise operations, max/min
- **Functional Updates**: `fetch_update`, `try_update`, `fetch_accumulate`
### 🔢 **`AtomicCount` and `AtomicSignedCount`**
- **`AtomicCount`**: non-negative count for active tasks, in-flight requests, and resource usage
- **`AtomicSignedCount`**: signed count for deltas, balances, backlog, and offsets
- **No-Wrap Semantics**: checked updates that panic or return `None` instead of wrapping
- **Zero-Transition Logic**: `inc`, `dec`, `add`, and `sub` return the new value
### 🔗 **Atomic Reference Type**
- **AtomicRef<T>**: Thread-safe atomic reference using `Arc<T>`
- **Reference Updates**: Atomic swap and CAS operations
- **Guarded Loads**: `load_guard()` for short-lived reads without cloning on the fast path
- **Functional Updates**: Transform references atomically with `fetch_update` or conditionally with `try_update`
### 🤝 **Shared-Owner Convenience Wrappers**
- **`ArcAtomic<T>`**: convenience newtype around `Arc<Atomic<T>>`
- **`ArcAtomicRef<T>`**: convenience newtype around `Arc<AtomicRef<T>>`
- **`ArcAtomicCount` / `ArcAtomicSignedCount`**: shared-owner wrappers for the count types
- **Shared Container Clone**: cloning an `ArcAtomic*` value shares the same atomic container
### 🎯 **Focused Public API**
- **Atomic<T>**: Generic entry point for primitive atomic values
- **AtomicRef<T>**: Atomic `Arc<T>` reference wrapper
- **`AtomicCount` / `AtomicSignedCount`**: checked state-oriented semantics (no silent wrap)
- **`ArcAtomic*` wrappers**: ergonomic shared ownership without spelling `Arc<...>` at every use site
## Installation
Add this to your `Cargo.toml`:
```toml
[dependencies]
qubit-atomic = "0.10.2"
```
## Quick Start
### Specifying the value type `T`
`Atomic<T>` is generic over the primitive value type. Rust usually infers `T` from the argument to [`Atomic::new`](https://docs.rs/qubit-atomic/latest/qubit_atomic/struct.Atomic.html#method.new), but literals such as `0` can be ambiguous across integer widths.
In those cases, pick `T` explicitly using a [turbofish](https://doc.rust-lang.org/book/appendix-02-operators.html#the-turbofish) on the constructor, or by annotating the variable:
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
let wide: Atomic<u64> = Atomic::new(0);
assert_eq!(wide.load(), 0u64);
let narrow = Atomic::<i16>::new(0);
assert_eq!(narrow.load(), 0i16);
```
### Example: concurrent `Atomic<i32>`
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
use std::sync::Arc;
use std::thread;
fn main() {
let counter = Arc::new(Atomic::<i32>::new(0));
let mut handles = vec![];
// Spawn 10 threads, each increments counter 1000 times
for _ in 0..10 {
let counter = counter.clone();
let handle = thread::spawn(move || {
for _ in 0..1000 {
counter.fetch_inc();
}
});
handles.push(handle);
}
// Wait for all threads to complete
for handle in handles {
handle.join().unwrap();
}
// Verify result
assert_eq!(counter.load(), 10000);
println!("Final count: {}", counter.load());
}
```
### `AtomicCount` and `AtomicSignedCount`
Use `Atomic<T>` for pure metrics. Use `AtomicCount` when the
count is part of concurrent state, such as active work or termination checks.
```rust
use qubit_atomic::{
AtomicCount,
AtomicSignedCount,
};
fn main() {
let active_tasks = AtomicCount::zero();
active_tasks.inc();
assert!(!active_tasks.is_zero());
if active_tasks.dec() == 0 {
println!("all active tasks are finished");
}
let backlog_delta = AtomicSignedCount::zero();
assert_eq!(backlog_delta.add(5), 5);
assert_eq!(backlog_delta.sub(8), -3);
assert!(backlog_delta.is_negative());
}
```
### Shared-owner wrappers
Use the `ArcAtomic*` wrappers when the atomic container itself is shared across
threads or components. Their `clone()` operation clones the outer `Arc`, so all
clones observe and update the same container.
```rust
use qubit_atomic::{
ArcAtomic,
ArcAtomicCount,
ArcAtomicRef,
ArcAtomicSignedCount,
};
use std::sync::Arc;
use std::thread;
fn main() {
let requests = ArcAtomic::new(0usize);
let worker_requests = requests.clone();
let handle = thread::spawn(move || {
worker_requests.fetch_inc();
});
handle.join().expect("worker should finish");
assert_eq!(requests.load(), 1);
assert_eq!(requests.strong_count(), 1);
let active_tasks = ArcAtomicCount::zero();
let shared_tasks = active_tasks.clone();
assert_eq!(shared_tasks.inc(), 1);
assert_eq!(active_tasks.get(), 1);
let backlog = ArcAtomicSignedCount::zero();
let shared_backlog = backlog.clone();
assert_eq!(shared_backlog.sub(3), -3);
assert_eq!(backlog.get(), -3);
let config = ArcAtomicRef::from_value(String::from("v1"));
let same_config = config.clone();
same_config.store(Arc::new(String::from("v2")));
assert_eq!(config.load().as_str(), "v2");
}
```
### CAS Loop
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
fn increment_even_only(atomic: &Atomic<i32>) -> Result<i32, &'static str> {
let mut current = atomic.load();
loop {
// Only increment even values
if current % 2 != 0 {
return Err("Value is odd");
}
let new = current + 2;
match atomic.compare_set(current, new) {
Ok(_) => return Ok(new),
Err(actual) => current = actual, // Retry
}
}
}
fn main() {
let atomic = Atomic::<i32>::new(10);
match increment_even_only(&atomic) {
Ok(new_value) => println!("Successfully incremented to: {}", new_value),
Err(e) => println!("Failed: {}", e),
}
assert_eq!(atomic.load(), 12);
}
```
### Functional Updates
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
fn main() {
let atomic = Atomic::<i32>::new(10);
// Update using a function (returns old value)
let old_value = atomic.fetch_update(|x| {
if x < 100 {
x * 2
} else {
x
}
});
assert_eq!(old_value, 10);
assert_eq!(atomic.load(), 20);
println!("Updated value: {}", atomic.load());
// Accumulate operation (returns old value)
let old_result = atomic.fetch_accumulate(5, |a, b| a + b);
assert_eq!(old_result, 20);
assert_eq!(atomic.load(), 25);
println!("Accumulated value: {}", atomic.load());
}
```
### Atomic Reference
```rust
use qubit_atomic::AtomicRef;
use std::sync::Arc;
#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
struct Config {
timeout: u64,
max_retries: u32,
}
fn main() {
let config = Arc::new(Config {
timeout: 1000,
max_retries: 3,
});
let atomic_config = AtomicRef::new(config);
// Update configuration
let new_config = Arc::new(Config {
timeout: 2000,
max_retries: 5,
});
let old_config = atomic_config.swap(new_config);
println!("Old config: {:?}", old_config);
println!("New config: {:?}", atomic_config.load());
// Update using a function (returns old value)
let old = atomic_config.fetch_update(|current| {
Arc::new(Config {
timeout: current.timeout * 2,
max_retries: current.max_retries + 1,
})
});
println!("Previous config: {:?}", old);
println!("Updated config: {:?}", atomic_config.load());
// Short-lived read without cloning the Arc on the fast path
let snapshot = atomic_config.load_guard();
println!("Snapshot config: {:?}", snapshot);
// Conditional update; returns None without changing the value if rejected
let accepted = atomic_config.try_update(|current| {
(current.timeout < 10_000).then_some(Arc::new(Config {
timeout: current.timeout + 1000,
max_retries: current.max_retries,
}))
});
assert!(accepted.is_some());
}
```
### Boolean Flag
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
use std::sync::Arc;
struct Service {
running: Arc<Atomic<bool>>,
}
impl Service {
fn new() -> Self {
Self {
running: Arc::new(Atomic::<bool>::new(false)),
}
}
fn start(&self) {
// Only start if not already running
if self.running.set_if_false(true).is_ok() {
println!("Service started successfully");
} else {
println!("Service is already running");
}
}
fn stop(&self) {
// Only stop if currently running
if self.running.set_if_true(false).is_ok() {
println!("Service stopped successfully");
} else {
println!("Service is already stopped");
}
}
fn is_running(&self) -> bool {
self.running.load()
}
}
fn main() {
let service = Service::new();
service.start();
assert!(service.is_running());
service.start(); // Duplicate start will fail
service.stop();
assert!(!service.is_running());
service.stop(); // Duplicate stop will fail
}
```
### Floating-Point Atomics
```rust
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
use std::sync::Arc;
use std::thread;
fn main() {
let sum = Arc::new(Atomic::<f32>::new(0.0));
let mut handles = vec![];
// Spawn 10 threads, each adds 100 times
for _ in 0..10 {
let sum = sum.clone();
let handle = thread::spawn(move || {
for _ in 0..100 {
sum.fetch_add(0.01);
}
});
handles.push(handle);
}
for handle in handles {
handle.join().unwrap();
}
// Note: Due to floating-point precision, result may not be exactly 10.0
let result = sum.load();
println!("Sum: {:.6}", result);
println!("Error: {:.6}", (result - 10.0).abs());
}
```
## API Reference
### Common Operations (All Types)
| `new(value)` | Create new atomic | - |
| `load()` | Load current value | Acquire |
| `store(value)` | Store new value | Release |
| `swap(value)` | Swap value, return old | AcqRel |
| `compare_set(current, new)` | CAS operation, return Result | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `compare_set_weak(current, new)` | Weak CAS, return Result | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `compare_and_exchange(current, new)` | CAS operation, return actual value | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `compare_and_exchange_weak(current, new)` | Weak CAS, return actual value | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `fetch_update(f)` | Functional update, return old | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `try_update(f)` | Conditional functional update, return `Option<old>` | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `inner()` | Access underlying backend type | - |
### Integer Operations
| `fetch_inc()` | Post-increment, return old | Relaxed |
| `fetch_dec()` | Post-decrement, return old | Relaxed |
| `fetch_add(delta)` | Post-add, return old | Relaxed |
| `fetch_sub(delta)` | Post-subtract, return old | Relaxed |
| `fetch_mul(factor)` | Post-multiply, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_div(divisor)` | Post-divide, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_and(value)` | Bitwise AND, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_or(value)` | Bitwise OR, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_xor(value)` | Bitwise XOR, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_not()` | Bitwise NOT, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_max(value)` | Atomic max, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_min(value)` | Atomic min, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_update(f)` | Functional update, return old | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `try_update(f)` | Conditional functional update, return `Option<old>` | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `fetch_accumulate(x, f)` | Accumulate, return old | AcqRel/Acquire |
Primitive integer operations intentionally use wrapping arithmetic on overflow
and underflow, matching Rust atomic integer semantics. Use `AtomicCount` or
`AtomicSignedCount` when overflow or underflow should be rejected.
### `AtomicCount` / `AtomicSignedCount` operations
| `new(value)` | `usize` | `isize` | - | Create a count |
| `zero()` | Yes | Yes | - | Create a zero value |
| `get()` | `usize` | `isize` | Acquire | Read the current value |
| `is_zero()` | Yes | Yes | Acquire | Check whether the value is zero |
| `is_positive()` | Yes | Yes | Acquire | Check whether the value is positive |
| `is_negative()` | No | Yes | Acquire | Check whether the value is negative |
| `inc()` | Yes | Yes | AcqRel/Acquire | Increment by one, return new value |
| `dec()` | Panic on underflow | Allows negative values | AcqRel/Acquire | Decrement by one, return new value |
| `add(delta)` | Panic on overflow | Panic on overflow/underflow | AcqRel/Acquire | Add delta, return new value |
| `sub(delta)` | Panic on underflow | Panic on overflow/underflow | AcqRel/Acquire | Subtract delta, return new value |
| `try_add(delta)` | `None` on overflow | `None` on overflow/underflow | AcqRel/Acquire | Checked add |
| `try_dec()` | `None` at zero | No | AcqRel/Acquire (`AtomicCount` only) | Checked decrement |
| `try_sub(delta)` | `None` on underflow | `None` on overflow/underflow | AcqRel/Acquire | Checked subtract |
### Shared-owner wrapper operations
The `ArcAtomic*` wrappers dereference to their underlying atomic container, so
you can call operations such as `load`, `fetch_inc`, `store`, `inc`, and `sub`
directly on the wrapper.
| `new(value)` | `ArcAtomic<T>`, `ArcAtomicCount`, `ArcAtomicSignedCount` | Create a new shared wrapper from an initial value |
| `new(Arc<T>)` | `ArcAtomicRef<T>` | Create a shared atomic reference from an existing `Arc<T>` |
| `from_value(value)` | `ArcAtomicRef<T>` | Create a shared atomic reference from an owned value |
| `from_atomic(...)` | `ArcAtomic<T>` | Wrap an existing `Atomic<T>` |
| `from_atomic_ref(...)` | `ArcAtomicRef<T>` | Wrap an existing `AtomicRef<T>` |
| `from_count(...)` | `ArcAtomicCount`, `ArcAtomicSignedCount` | Wrap an existing count container |
| `from_arc(arc)` | All `ArcAtomic*` wrappers | Wrap an existing `Arc<...>` container |
| `as_arc()` | All `ArcAtomic*` wrappers | Borrow the underlying `Arc<...>` |
| `into_arc()` | All `ArcAtomic*` wrappers | Consume the wrapper and return the underlying `Arc<...>` |
| `strong_count()` | All `ArcAtomic*` wrappers | Return the number of strong `Arc` owners |
### Boolean Operations
| `fetch_set()` | Set to true, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_clear()` | Set to false, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_not()` | Negate, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_and(value)` | Logical AND, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_or(value)` | Logical OR, return old | AcqRel |
| `fetch_xor(value)` | Logical XOR, return old | AcqRel |
| `set_if_false(new)` | CAS if false | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `set_if_true(new)` | CAS if true | AcqRel/Acquire |
### Floating-Point Operations
| `fetch_add(delta)` | Atomic add, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_sub(delta)` | Atomic subtract, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_mul(factor)` | Atomic multiply, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_div(divisor)` | Atomic divide, return old | AcqRel (CAS loop) |
| `fetch_update(f)` | Functional update, return old | AcqRel/Acquire |
| `try_update(f)` | Conditional functional update, return `Option<old>` | AcqRel/Acquire |
Floating-point CAS operations (`compare_set`, `compare_and_exchange`, and weak
variants) compare raw `to_bits()` representations, not `PartialEq`. Values such
as `0.0` and `-0.0` compare equal but do not CAS-match, and NaN payload bits
must match exactly. Use `compare_set` when you need an explicit success result,
or compare `to_bits()` values yourself.
## Memory Ordering Strategy
| **Pure Read** (`load()`) | `Acquire` | Ensure reading latest value |
| **Pure Write** (`store()`) | `Release` | Ensure write visibility |
| **Read-Modify-Write** (`swap()`, CAS) | `AcqRel` | Ensure both read and write correctness |
| **`Atomic<T>` counter arithmetic** (`fetch_inc()`, `fetch_dec()`, `fetch_add()`, `fetch_sub()`) | `Relaxed` | Pure metrics; no need to sync other data |
| **CAS-based arithmetic and updates** (`fetch_mul()`, `fetch_div()`, `fetch_update()`, `try_update()`, `fetch_accumulate()`) | `AcqRel` / `Acquire` | CAS loop standard semantics |
| **`AtomicCount` / `AtomicSignedCount`** (`inc()`, `dec()`) | CAS loop | Values used as concurrent state signals |
| **Bitwise Operations** (`fetch_and()`, `fetch_or()`) | `AcqRel` | Usually used for flag synchronization |
| **Max/Min Operations** (`fetch_max()`, `fetch_min()`) | `AcqRel` | Often used with threshold checks |
### Advanced Usage: Direct Access to Underlying Types
For scenarios requiring fine-grained memory ordering control (approximately 1% of use cases), use `inner()` to access the underlying backend type:
```rust
use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
use qubit_atomic::Atomic;
let atomic = Atomic::<i32>::new(0);
// 99% of scenarios: use simple API
let value = atomic.load();
// 1% of scenarios: need fine-grained control
let value = atomic.inner().load(Ordering::Relaxed);
atomic.inner().store(42, Ordering::Release);
```
## Comparison with JDK
| **Basic Types** | 3 types | `Atomic<T>` specializations | Rust supports more integer, floating-point, boolean, and counter use cases |
| **Memory Ordering** | Implicit (volatile) | Default + `inner()` optional | Rust more flexible |
| **Weak CAS** | `weakCompareAndSet` | `compare_set_weak` | Equivalent |
| **Reference Type** | `AtomicReference<V>` | `AtomicRef<T>` | Rust uses `Arc<T>` |
| **`AtomicCount` / `AtomicSignedCount`** | Manual composition | `AtomicCount`, `AtomicSignedCount` | Non-negative / signed counts for state tracking |
| **Shared Ownership** | Usually object references | `ArcAtomic<T>`, `ArcAtomicRef<T>`, `ArcAtomicCount`, `ArcAtomicSignedCount` | Convenience wrappers for shared atomic containers |
| **Nullability** | Allows `null` | Use `Option<Arc<T>>` | Rust no null pointers |
| **Bitwise Operations** | Partial support | Full support | Rust more powerful |
| **Max/Min Operations** | Java 9+ support | Supported | Equivalent |
| **API Count** | ~20 methods/type | ~25 methods/type | Rust provides more convenience methods |
## Performance Considerations
### Zero-Cost Abstraction
Primitive wrappers use `#[repr(transparent)]` and `#[inline]` so the generic API compiles down to the backend atomic operations:
```rust
// Our wrapper
let atomic = Atomic::<i32>::new(0);
let value = atomic.load();
// Compiles to the same code as
let atomic = std::sync::atomic::AtomicI32::new(0);
let value = atomic.load(Ordering::Acquire);
```
### When to Use `inner()`
**99% of scenarios**: Use default API, which already provides optimal performance.
**1% of scenarios**: Use `inner()` only when:
- Extreme performance optimization (need `Relaxed` ordering)
- Complex lock-free algorithms (need precise memory ordering control)
- Interoperating with code that directly uses standard library or `portable-atomic` backend types
**Golden Rule**: Default API first, `inner()` as last resort.
## Testing & Code Coverage
This project maintains comprehensive test coverage with detailed validation of all functionality.
### Running Tests
```bash
# Run all tests
cargo test
# Run benchmarks
cargo bench --bench atomic_bench
# List benchmark scenarios
cargo bench --bench atomic_bench -- --list
# Run with coverage report
./coverage.sh
# Generate text format report
./coverage.sh text
# Run CI checks (format, clippy, test, coverage)
./ci-check.sh
```
### Coverage Metrics
See [COVERAGE.md](COVERAGE.md) for detailed coverage statistics.
## Dependencies
Runtime dependencies are intentionally small:
- `arc-swap` powers `AtomicRef<T>`.
- `portable-atomic` provides the stable backend for `Atomic<i128>` and `Atomic<u128>`.
## License
Copyright (c) 2025 - 2026. Haixing Hu, Qubit Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at
http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.
See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for the full license text.
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
### Development Guidelines
- Follow the Rust API guidelines
- Maintain comprehensive test coverage
- Document all public APIs with examples
- Ensure all tests pass before submitting PR
## Author
**Haixing Hu** - *Qubit Co. Ltd.*
## Related Projects
More Rust libraries from Qubit are published under the [qubit-ltd](https://github.com/qubit-ltd) organization on GitHub.
---
Repository: [https://github.com/qubit-ltd/rs-atomic](https://github.com/qubit-ltd/rs-atomic)