This piece dives into the technical discussion around using asynchronous I/O (AIO) for databases on Linux systems. The linked Hacker News thread reveals a lively debate among developers about the real-world performance trade-offs, kernel limitations, and whether AIO is actually delivering on its promises for high-throughput database workloads. Some argue it’s a game-changer, while others call it overhyped or broken.

Editor’s Note: If you’re running or building databases, how Linux handles async I/O isn’t just academic—it can make or break your app’s speed under heavy loads. The debate here highlights a messy gap between theory (what AIO should do) and reality (what it actually does on modern kernels). Worth skimming if you’ve ever cursed at a sluggish query or wondered why your "optimized" database still stutters.