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Bankers Algorithm Program in C: A Complete Guide

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The Banker’s algorithm, also known as the Banker’s Safety Algorithm, is a resource allocation and deadlock algorithm. It was developed by Edsger Dijkstra. In this article, we will explore this algorithm in depth in C language.

What is Banker’s Algorithm?

The banker’s algorithm is a resource allocation and deadlock avoidance algorithm. It is used in operating systems to manage the allocation of resources to multiple designs to ensure that a system can avoid entering a deadlocked state. This algorithm was developed by Edsger Dijkstra.

Working of Banker’s algorithm

Let’s understand how a banker’s algorithm works. Suppose there are five processes, P0, P1, P2, P3, and P4, with resources A, B, and C allocated to each process. We have their maximum need, and we need to use the Banker’s algorithm to find the remaining need and get a sequence of processes that is in a safe state.

The following table describes the Banker’s Algorithm:

Maximum:

Process	A	B	C
P0	7	5	3
P1	3	2	2
P2	9	0	2
P3	2	2	2
P4	4	3	3

Allocation

Process	A	B	C
P0	0	1	0
P1	2	0	0
P2	3	0	2
P3	2	1	1
P4	0	0	2

Need( calculated as Maximum – Allocation)

Process	A	B	C
P0	7	4	3
P1	1	2	2
P2	6	0	0
P3	0	1	1
P4	4	3	1

Need (calculated Maximum -Allocation)

Process	A	B	C
P0	7	4	3
P1	1	2	2
P2	6	0	0
P3	0	1	1
P4	4	3	1

Banker’s Algorithm Program in C

Program

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdbool.h> 

#define N 5 // Number of processes

#define M 3 // Number of resources 

void calculateNeed(int need[N][M], int max[N][M], int alloc[N][M]) {

    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {

        for (int j = 0; j < M; j++) {

            need[i][j] = max[i][j] - alloc[i][j];

        }

    }

} 

bool isSafe(int processes[], int avail[], int max[][M], int alloc[][M]) {

    int need[N][M];

    calculateNeed(need, max, alloc); 

    bool finish[N] = {false};

    int safeSeq[N];

    int work[M];

    for (int i = 0; i < M; i++)

        work[i] = avail[i]; 

    int count = 0;

    while (count < N) {

        bool found = false;

        for (int p = 0; p < N; p++) {

            if (finish[p] == false) {

                int j;

                for (j = 0; j < M; j++)                   
               if (need[p][j] > work[j])

                        break; 

                if (j == M) {

                    for (int k = 0; k < M; k++)

                        work[k] += alloc[p][k]; 

                    safeSeq[count++] = p;

                    finish[p] = true;

                    found = true;

                }

            }

        }

        if (found == false) {

            printf("The system is not in a safe staten");

            return false;

        }

    }

    printf("The system is in a safe state.nSafe sequence is: ");

    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)

        printf("%d ", safeSeq[i]);

    printf("n");

    return true;

} 

int main() {

    int processes[] = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}; 

    int avail[] = {3, 3, 2}; 

    int max[N][M] = {

        {7, 5, 3},

        {3, 2, 2},

        {9, 0, 2},

        {2, 2, 2},

        {4, 3, 3}

    }; 

    int alloc[N][M] = {

        {0, 1, 0},

        {2, 0, 0},

        {3, 0, 2},

        {2, 1, 1},

        {0, 0, 2}

    }; 

    isSafe(processes, avail, max, alloc); 

    return 0;
}

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Advantages of Banker’s Algorithm

In this section, we will see the advantages of the banker’s algorithm.

Advantages	Description
Deadlock Avoidance	This algorithm helps in avoiding deadlocks by ensuring that resource allocation always leaves the system in a safe state.
Optimal Resource Utilisation	It maximises resource utilisation by allocating resources in a way that guarantees system safety
Fairness	This ensures all processes get their required resources eventually, provided the system is in a safe state.
Suitable for Systems with Fixed Resources	This is ideal for a system where the resources and processes are fixed and known in advance

Disadvantages of Banker’s Algorithm

Let’s see the disadvantages of a banker’s algorithm.

Disadvantages	Description
High Complexity	Banker’s algorithm has high time complexity O(N2* M). This makes it less efficient for large systems with many processes and resource type
Static Allocation	It assumes a static number of processes and resources, which may not be suitable for dynamic environments where processes and resource demands change frequently
Resource Overhead	Maintaining and updating several data structures, such as allocation, maximum, and need matrices, adds overhead in terms of memory and processing.
Scalability Issues	Efficiency decreases as the number of process and resource types increases, making it less suitable for large-scale systems.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned about the Banker’s Algorithm in C language. It is essential to understand advanced concepts in operating system design. This algorithm is particularly useful in managing resource allocation and preventing deadlock scenarios. It stands out for its ability to ensure system safety by carefully managing resource requests based on current allocation, maximum demands, and available resources. The Banker’s Algorithm remains foundational for developers and system architects, offering invaluable insights into optimising resource utilisation and maintaining system stability in operating systems.

FAQs

Why is the Banker’s Algorithm important?

The banker’s algorithm is crucial for preventing deadlock in operating systems. Deadlock occurs when processes are unable to proceed because each process is waiting for resources held by another process. The Banker’s algorithm helps maintain system stability and optimal resource utilisation by ensuring that resource allocation leads to a safe state.

What are the advantages of using the Banker’s Algorithm?

There are many advantages of Banker’s algorithm such as deadlock avoidance, optimal resource utilisation, preemptive resource allocation, and system stability maintenance. It ensures fairness in resource allocation and prevents the system from entering an unsafe state.

What is the real-life application of the Bankers algorithm?

The banker’s Algorithm is used extensively in the banking system to avoid deadlock. It helps you identify whether a loan will be given or not. This algorithm is used to test for safety by simulating the allocation to determine the maximum amount available for all resources.

Is the Banker’s Algorithm used in modern operating systems?

Basic Banker’s algorithm may not be directly implemented in modern operating systems due to its static nature and potential scalability issues. Deadlock avoidance strategies and resource management frameworks are also used in contemporary operating systems and software.

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