Scheduling Algorithms

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Hickory Dickory Dock!


Today's post is inspired by my sister (AKA Dr. Dan Dan), who recently asked me for help scheduling appointments for her patients.

As a budding dentist, it's imperative for her to find patients and fit them into her already busy schedule. Sometimes, patients cancel, and she faces a swiftly approaching deadline.

Just like a computer prioritizes tasks based on system resources, my sister must prioritize her patients based on the complexity of the procedure and the time available.

For example, root canals require more time and expertise than a simple cleaning, much like certain programs demand more of a computer's memory and processing power.

The Task Manager in your computer is a program that manages all the active processes, or tasks, running at any given time.

 It prioritizes tasks based on importance, ensuring that the most immediate requests—like opening Google Chrome—are allocated more system resources.

With that being said here are some common scheduling algorithms used as well as their pros and cons:


First-Come, First-Served (FCFS)

Tasks are handled in the order they arrive. 

  • Pros: Simple and fair.
  • Cons: Long tasks can delay short ones, causing wait times.
  • Best Environment: Simple and low-variability settings, such as a customer service desk or ticketing system.


Shortest Job First (SJF)

Shortest tasks are done first (duh).

  • Pros: Minimizes wait time, efficient for quick tasks.
  • Cons: Long tasks get delayed, and task length must be known in advance.
  • Best Environment: High-throughput environments with many short tasks, like fast-food restaurants or manufacturing lines.


Round Robin (RR)

Each task gets equal time before moving to the next.

  • Pros: Fair, good for multitasking.
  • Cons: May cause inefficiency if tasks need more time.
  • Best Environment: Multitasking workplaces such as call centers or software development teams.


Priority Scheduling

Important tasks go first!

  • Pros: Handles urgent tasks fast.
  • Cons: Low-priority tasks may get delayed indefinitely.
  • Best Environment: Healthcare facilities (e.g., hospitals) or emergency services.


Multilevel Queue

Tasks are sorted into categories (queues) by priority.

  • Pros: Manages tasks with varying importance.
  • Cons: Complex and can cause delays in lower-priority categories.
  • Best Environment: IT service management or customer support environments that handle varied requests, such as tech support teams.


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