What is IPC and what are common methods used for inter-process communication?
This question asks about Inter-Process Communication mechanisms and their implementation. It evaluates knowledge of data exchange between independent processes.
Why Interviewers Ask This
Microservices architectures rely heavily on IPC for communication between distributed components. Interviewers want to know if you can choose the right mechanism for speed, safety, and complexity. This is essential for building robust backend systems that handle high concurrency.
How to Answer This Question
Define IPC broadly. List methods like pipes, message queues, shared memory, and sockets. Compare their pros and cons regarding speed and overhead. Suggest scenarios where each is best suited, such as shared memory for high-speed data transfer.
Key Points to Cover
- Definition of IPC
- Shared memory vs message queues
- Pipes and sockets
- Performance trade-offs
Sample Answer
Inter-Process Communication (IPC) allows separate processes to exchange data and synchronize actions. Common methods include pipes for sequential data, message queues for decoupled communication, and shared memory for hi…
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Listing only one method
- Ignoring synchronization needs
- Not comparing performance
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