How Can I Design a Well-Maintained API with Both Async and Non-Async Options?

Building a Robust Async/Non-Async API

Developing reusable libraries that handle network I/O often requires offering both asynchronous (async) and synchronous (non-async) methods. Simply using Wait() to create a synchronous version from an asynchronous one is inefficient. This article presents a solution for maintaining both options while preserving API design integrity.

Prioritizing Async: The Best Approach

For optimal maintainability, consider designing your API exclusively with asynchronous methods. This eliminates code duplication and promotes consistency. Implement these async methods using non-blocking operations to avoid unnecessary thread pool usage and ensure performance.

Navigating the Async/Non-Async Trade-off

Providing both async and non-async methods presents a significant maintenance challenge. Duplicating code is undesirable, and simply wrapping one method type within the other (as discussed by Stephen Toub) is not an ideal solution.

The "Boolean Argument Hack": A Pragmatic Solution

A practical technique to avoid code duplication is the "boolean argument hack." This involves adding a boolean parameter to your method, indicating whether synchronous or asynchronous behavior is desired. The method's internal logic then handles both scenarios.

While this approach adds a degree of complexity, it significantly reduces maintenance overhead compared to managing separate implementations. The suitability of this hack depends on the specific context and the balance between maintainability and API design elegance.

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