> 64-bit loads are atomic in the sense that word tearing cannot be observed. This is true in practice in case of most JVM implementations, but is not in fact m

> 64-bit loads are atomic in the sense that word tearing cannot be observed. This is true in practice in case of most JVM implementations, but is not in fact mandated by the spec — only 32bit values are loaded atomically according to that (so on a 32bit JVM you might observe ‘tearing’). Nonetheless, I also think that you can pretty much hold all of Java in your head, as opposed to C++.