Async IO with Java and Panama: Unlocking the Power of IO_uring

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:03 +0000

When I first started exploring Virtual Threads in Java, I wanted to understand everything about them—their yielding behavior,
performance characteristics, and limitations. This journey led me to an interesting challenge: file I/O operations cause
Virtual Threads to become “pinned” to platform threads, limiting their effectiveness for I/O-heavy applications.

This pinning issue has been widely acknowledged across the Java community. It’s mentioned in the Virtual Threads JEP,
discussed on Reddit threads, debated on mailing lists,
and highlighted in the “State of Loom”. The consistent message: File I/O and Virtual Threads don’t play nicely together.

David Vlijmincx on JAVAPRO International

Async IO with Java and Panama: Unlocking the Power of IO_uring