Deadlock in Async Programming — Why it can still happen with async/await? Many developers assume that using async/await guarantees immunity from deadlocks. Unfortunately, that’s not always true — especially in UI applications (WinForms, WPF) or the legacy ASP.NET SynchronizationContext. The Problem: The most common mistake is calling an async method synchronously, like this: var result = GetDataAsync().Result; // or .Wait() What happens behind the scenes: The UI or request thread blocks, waiting for the async call to complete. The async method tries to resume on the same thread/context after the await. That thread is already blocked → Deadlock! The Solution Always use await instead of .Result or .Wait(). For library or non-UI code: var result = await GetDataAsync().ConfigureAwait(false); This prevents context capture, avoids deadlocks, and often improves performance. Pro Tips: In ASP.NET Core, there’s no SynchronizationContext by default → fewer deadlocks. In UI apps, never block the UI thread — keep async flow end-to-end. Use ConfigureAwait(false) consistently in reusable libraries. Have you ever run into a deadlock caused by Task.Result or Wait() in your projects? How did you solve it? #DotNet #CSharp #AsyncProgramming #Deadlock #Concurrency #Multithreading #SoftwareDevelopment #CodingBestPractices
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nice tip Pariya 👍
Great breakdown, Pariya! Deadlocks can indeed be tricky in async programming. I’ve seen context capture issues cause more headaches than one might expect. Anyone tackling legacy .NET applications should definitely take note of your tips.
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1moExcellent explanation of a common pitfall in async programming! Understanding `ConfigureAwait(false)` and avoiding blocking calls like `.Result` or `.Wait()` is crucial for robust applications.