Low-Contention Update Buffer Queuing for Small Systems

A method for queuing update buffers to enhance garbage collection. The method includes running an application thread and providing, for the application thread, a data structure including current and finished update buffer slots. The method includes providing an update buffer for the application thread and storing a pointer to the update buffer in the current update buffer slot. The method includes storing null in the finished update buffer slot and, with the application thread, writing to the update buffer. The thread may write a pointer to the filled update buffer in the finished update buffer slot after the buffer is filled. The method includes using a garbage collector thread to inspect the finished update buffer slot and claim filled buffers and change the pointer to null. The thread then obtains an empty update buffer and updates the current update buffer slot to point to the new buffer.