[pavlov]

Desktop operating systems all have application event loops that run within a single thread because the OS thread scheduler is not the same thing. If you just want an event loop, trying to use threads instead for everything will often end up in tears due to concurrent data access issues.

[flohofwoe]

An async/await runtime doesn't necessarily need to run everything on the same thread though (that's really just a Javascript runtime restriction), instead it could use a thread pool. In this case, the same concurrent data issues would apply.

[gloryjulio]

Yes, basically golang model

[mpweiher]

Use one or more service threads to do most work off the UI thread.

[pavlov]

Yes, sure. Operating systems nowadays provide useful thread pool runtimes for this purpose, like Apple’s GCD.

In no way does it mean that you don’t need an event loop because threads exist, as was the contention here.

[mpweiher]

1. You don't need either thread pools or GCD for this. GCD generally makes things worse.

2. It absolutely does mean you don't need the main thread event loop for non UI-events.