Contention avoidance on associative commutative updates

A computer readable memory comprises:

• a first memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the computing device to:
• during a given time interval:
• receive of a plurality of write requests regarding updates to an object;
• create a plurality of write intent messages for the plurality of write requests;
• dispersed storage error encode the plurality of write intent messages to produce a plurality of sets of encoded intent slices;
• and
• send the plurality of sets of encoded intent slices to a set of storage units of the DSN for storage therein;
• and
• a second memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:
• after expiration of the given time interval:
• categorize each write intent message of the plurality of write intent messages with respect to other write intent messages of the plurality of write intent messages, wherein a write intent message of the plurality of write intent messages is categorized in a complimentary category, a non-compete category, or a compete category;
• create a single write command that encompasses write intent messages in the complimentary category and the non-compete category;
• and
• a third memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the at least one of:
• the computing device and a second computing device, causes the at least one of the computing device and the second computing device to:
• execute the single write command on the object to produce an updated object.