= Overview

Here's a list of relevant features in cobalt:

.Coroutine types
[cols="1,5"]
|===
|<<promise,promise>>
|An eager coroutine returning a single result- consider it the default

|<<generator,generator>>
|An eager coroutine that can yield multiple values.

|<<task,task>>
|A lazy version of <<promise,promise>> that can be spawned onto other executors.

|<<detached,detached>>
|A coroutine similar to promise, without a handle

|===


.Synchronization Functions
[cols="1,5"]
|===
|<<race,race>>
|A function that waits for one coroutine out of a set that is ready in a pseudo-random way, to avoid starvation.

|<<join,join>>
|A function that waits for a set of coroutines and returns all of them as value or throws an exception if any awaitable does so.


|<<gather,gather>>
|A function that waits for a set of coroutines and returns all of them as `result`, capturing all exceptions individually.

|<<left_race,left_race>>
|A deterministic `race` that evaluates left-to-right.
|===

.Utilities
[cols="1,5"]
|===
|<<channel,channel>>
|A thread-local utility to send values between coroutines.


|<<with,with>>
|An async RAII helper, that allows async teardown when exceptions occur

|===

.Reading guide
[cols="1,3,3"]
|===
|<<coroutine_primer>>
|A short introduction to C++ coroutines
|Read if you've never used coroutines before

|<<tour>>
|An abbreviated high level view of the features and concepts
|Read if you're familiar with asio & coroutines and want a rough idea what this library offers.

|<<tutorial>>
|Low level view of usages
|Read if you want to get coding quickly

|<<reference>>
|API reference
|Look up details while coding

|<<technical_background>>
|Some implementation details
|Read if you're not confused enough

|===