master-degree-notes/Concurrent Systems/notes/9 - Universal Object.md

Given objects of type T and an object of type Z, is it possible to wait-free implement Z by using only objects of type T and atomic R/W registers?

If yes, then Z is not as essential as T (T can do everything Z can do).

But what is the type of an object?

1. the set of all the possible values for states of objects of that type
2. a set of operations for manipulating the object, each provided with a specification: a description of the conditions under which the operation can be invoked and the effect of the invocation

We focus on types whose operations are:

• Total: all operations can be invoked in any state of the object
• Sequentially specified: given the initial state, the behavior depends only by the sequence of operations, where the output to every operation invocation only depends on the input arguments and the invocations preceding it.