Linux C reactor

A reactor in Linux C programming is a software design pattern that allows for asynchronous event handling. In this pattern, a single event loop is used to manage multiple network connections and incoming events. When an event occurs, the reactor dispatches the appropriate handler function to handle the event.

The reactor pattern is often used in high-performance server applications, where multiple clients need to be served concurrently. By using a single event loop to manage all incoming events, the application can reduce context switching and improve performance.

The basic components of a reactor in Linux C programming include:

1. The event loop: This is the main loop that listens for incoming events, such as incoming network connections or data arriving on a socket.

2. Event handlers: These are functions that are registered with the reactor and are responsible for handling specific types of events.

3. Event demultiplexer: This is a component that is responsible for monitoring multiple file descriptors and notifying the reactor when an event occurs.

4. Event queue: This is a data structure that holds incoming events until they can be processed by the reactor.

Overall, the reactor pattern is a powerful tool for building high-performance network applications in Linux C programming. By using a single event loop and asynchronous event handling, developers can build applications that are both efficient and scalable.