Multi-version asynchronous dynamic software update system and method for applications with multiple threads

A processing system configured to support a live software component update, comprising:

• a processing device;
• a memory associated with the processing device;
• a non-transient storage for storing instructions that when loaded to the memory and executed by the processing device cause the processing system to:
• store, in the memory, a first function table that points to executable code in the memory for functions from a first version of a software component;
• store, in the memory, a second function table that points to executable code in the memory for functions from a second version of the software component;
• reference the first function table, when running a first thread of an application, to execute the functions from the first version of the software component;
• and
• reference the second function table, when running a second thread of the application that is active concurrently with the first thread, to execute the functions from the second version of the software component.

A computer program product comprising a non-transient storage medium storing instructions to cause a processing device to:

• store, in memory allocated to a program, a first function table that points to executable code in the memory for functions from a first version of a software component;
• store, in the memory, a second function table that points to executable code in the memory for functions from a second version of the software component;
• reference the first function table, when running a first application thread, to execute the functions from the first version of the software component;
• and
• reference the second function table, when running a second application thread that is active concurrently with the first application thread, to execute the functions from the second version of the software component.

A method for supporting multiple update versions of a software component that is used by multiple threads of an application, comprising:

• storing, in memory allocated to the application, executable code for a first version of the software component;
• storing, in the memory, executable code for an update version of the software component;
• running, by a first thread of the application, the executable code for the first version of the software component;
• and
• running, by a second thread of the application that is active concurrently with the first thread, the executable code for the update version of the software component.

A processing system configured to support a live software component update, comprising:

• a processing device;
• a memory associated with the processing device;
• a non-transient storage for storing instructions that when loaded to the memory and executed by the processing device cause the processing system to:
• store, in a portion of the memory allocated to the application, executable code for a first version of the software component;
• store, in the memory, executable code for an update version of the software component;
• run, by a first thread of the application, the executable code for the first version of the software component;
• and
• run, by a second thread of the application that is active concurrently with the first thread, the executable code for the update version of the software component.