IAsyncEnumerable<T> for AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<T>

[bradmarder]

I currently use this approach and it works fine

var items = new AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<int>();

while (await items.OutputAvailableAsync())
{
    var item = await items.DequeueAsync();
}

I was wondering if it's possible to have an IAsyncEnumerable<T> method on AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<T> so that I can do this instead.

await foreach (var item in items.DequeueItemsAsync()) { }

My only qualms with the the OutputAvailable/Dequeue approach is that in between the 2 methods, another thread could theoretically empty the queue. Anyway, thank you for this awesome library.

[StephenCleary]

Yes, certainly. It could use an update to support async enumerables.

In the meantime, you may want to check out Channels. They are the most modern implementation of an async producer/consumer queue.

[markusschaber]

Provocative thoughts: Is there any functionality which AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<T> provides on top of what Channels provide? Should AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<T> be deprecated in favour of channels?

[StephenCleary]

Oh, that's not provocative at all. :)

For the last couple of years, I've been steering everyone I can towards Channels. I wouldn't say AsyncProducerConsumerQueue<T> is deprecated (it's still supported), but Channels is faster and has full support for modern techniques like async streams. I mostly use Channels myself these days.

[bradmarder]

@StephenCleary thanks for the advice about Channels, it's exactly what I was looking for.