= Paul E. McKenney
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<Paul E. McKenney> is a <computer scientist> known for work on <concurrent computing> and <operating-system kernels>. His contributions include <read-copy-update>, developed for systems in which reads are frequent and updates must coexist with them.<Paul E. McKenney in the Oregon State engineering alumni profiles>[2015 biography, parallel UNIX and read-copy update]{ref}
The key <read-copy-update> distinction is between removing an object from a shared <data structure> and reclaiming its storage. An earlier reader may still hold a reference after removal; reclamation waits until the relevant readers have finished. That separation permits lighter synchronization on the read path. It is an example of how the lifetime of a shared object becomes part of a <concurrent algorithm>.<What is RCU? in the Linux Kernel documentation>[Section 1, RCU Overview]{ref}
With <David Howells>, he also authored the kernel guide to <circular buffers> and their <memory barriers>.<Circular Buffers by David Howells and Paul E. McKenney>[Author byline]{ref}
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