The author explores the implementation of Virtual Threads in a Java web crawler, discovering that while they significantly improve URL processing speed, they can also lead to memory issues like OutOfMemoryError due to the lack of built-in concurrency limits. To mitigate the problem, the author suggests using semaphores to control concurrency and implementing rate limiting to prevent overwhelming the system. Ultimately, the experience highlights the need for a new approach to resource management with Virtual Threads.

The article provides an in-depth exploration of Java's garbage collection (GC) mechanisms, detailing how they manage memory in Java applications. It covers various GC algorithms, their characteristics, and how developers can optimize performance while minimizing memory leaks and inefficiencies. Understanding these concepts helps developers make informed decisions about memory management in their Java applications.