text: /* associative array */
  void assoc_init(const int hashpower_init);
  item *assoc_find(const char *key, const size_t nkey, const uint32_t hv);
  int assoc_insert(item *item, const uint32_t hv);
  void assoc_delete(const char *key, const size_t nkey, const uint32_t hv);
  void do_assoc_move_next_bucket(void);
  int start_assoc_maintenance_thread(void);
  void stop_assoc_maintenance_thread(void);
  
  
  // added to keep same API as other hashtable impl
  void assoc_destroy(void);
  void assoc_pre_bench(void);
  void assoc_post_bench(void);
  