Orchestration · Software component
Deadlock Controller
Software componentOrchestrationOrchestration & ToolsVariation point (abstract)arc:DeadlockController
An abstract coordination component that keeps multi-agent workflows free of circular waits in which each agent blocks on another's output.
Responsibility. Prevents or detects circular inter-agent waits.
Also known as: Deadlock prevention, Deadlock handling
Variants
| Variant | When to choose |
|---|---|
| Dependency Cycle Validator | Choose when agent dependencies can be declared at workflow-configuration time; static validation makes runtime deadlock structurally impossible and fails fast, with no scanning cost or detection latency. |
| Runtime Deadlock Detector | Choose only when dependencies cannot be declared in advance; it requires periodic scanning of active agents and lets a deadlock persist until the next scan detects it. |
Relationships
constrains control
- Dependency-Ordered Executor abstract Ch8.2A
Quantitative guidance
As stated by the sources; verify before use.
- Deadlock caused 35% of coordination failures (28 of 80 failed traces; ~14/day), each stalling until a 45 s timeout (Ch8.2A).
Classification
- Quality attributes
- Reliability (ISO/IEC 25010 | NIST AI RMF: valid and reliable)
- Risks mitigated
- Multi-agent deadlock from circular dependencies
Sources
- Ch8.2A: T. Nguyen, "Error Rates and Reliability," in Mastering Agentic AI Systems: Guide for the NVIDIA NCP-AAI Exam, 1st ed. 2026, ch. 8.2A. ISBN: 9798244538229.