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Shortest job first is a scheduling algorithm in which the process with the smallest execution time is selected for execution next. Shortest job first can be either preemptive or non-preemptive. Owing to its simple nature, shortest job first is considered optimal. It also reduces the average waiting time for other processes awaiting execution.
Shortest job first is also known as shortest job next (SJN) and shortest process next (SPN).
Techopedia Explains Shortest Job First
Shortest job first depends on the average running time of the processes. The accurate estimates of these measures help in the implementation of the shortest job first in an environment, which otherwise makes the same nearly impossible to implement. This is because often the execution burst of processes does not happen beforehand. It can be used in interactive environments where past patterns are available to determine the average time between the waiting time and the commands. Although it is disadvantageous to use the shortest-job-first concept in short-term CPU scheduling, it is considered highly advantageous in long-term CPU scheduling. Moreover, the throughput is high in the case of shortest job first.
Shortest job first also has its share of disadvantages. For one, it can cause process starvation for longer jobs if there are a large number of shorter processes. Another is the need to know the execution time for each process beforehand. Often, this is almost impossible in many environments.
