Question 1

How does MauriceGit skiplist compare to other skip list libraries in Go?

Accepted Answer

Based on benchmarks in the README, it's the fastest known implementation, with up to 800ns faster insertions and 300ns faster deletions than competitors. The survey at github.com/MauriceGit/skiplist-survey provides detailed performance comparisons across multiple libraries.

Question 2

Is MauriceGit skiplist safe for concurrent use in multi-threaded Go programs?

Accepted Answer

No, the library does not include built-in concurrency controls. You must implement external synchronization, such as using sync.Mutex, to prevent race conditions when accessing the skiplist from multiple goroutines.

Question 3

How can I iterate through all elements in MauriceGit skiplist?

Accepted Answer

Use GetSmallestNode to start from the smallest element, then call Next on nodes to iterate forward, or Prev for backward iteration. Both functions have O(1) complexity and allow linear traversal, as shown in the convenience functions table.

Question 4

What is the memory overhead per element in MauriceGit skiplist?

Accepted Answer

The README doesn't specify exact numbers, but skip lists typically average O(log n) extra pointers per element due to multiple levels. For precise memory usage, profile your application or examine the source code for node structure details.

Question 5

Can MauriceGit skiplist be used as a drop-in replacement for a balanced tree like a red-black tree?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's designed as a direct substitute with similar O(log n) operations for insertion, deletion, and search. However, consider the probabilistic performance and lack of worst-case guarantees, which might matter in deterministic environments.

Question 6

How do I handle custom data types or structs with MauriceGit skiplist?

Accepted Answer

Implement the ExtractKey method for your type to return a float64 key, as demonstrated in the usage example. This allows the skiplist to order elements based on the extracted key, enabling integration with complex data structures.

Question 7

Are there any limitations with duplicate keys in MauriceGit skiplist?

Accepted Answer

The README doesn't explicitly address duplicates, but typical skip lists allow them if ordering is defined. You may need to ensure your ExtractKey implementation handles duplicates appropriately, possibly by adding tie-breakers or using additional logic.

skiplist

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