[c++-pthreads] C++ and posix threads

[Nathan Myers]

On Mon, Dec 22, 2003 at 03:52:50PM +0100, Jean-Marc Bourguet wrote:
> I feel confused.  I wonder what is the context of the discussion
> and especially the constraints or the liberties we assume from
> an implementation.  

This list was started in hope getting guidance for the implementers of 
gcc/glibc in creating a synchronous thread-cancellation binding that is
sensible for C++.

> Shoult it
>    - need the collaboration of the pthread library or be implementable
>      as wrapper around an existing pthread library?
>    - allow modifications to the C interface visible from C or not?
>    - allow modifications to the C interface visible from C++ or not?
> 
> Answering those questions will more or less strongly constraints the rest
> of the discussion.

We assume implementers have full control of the compiler and support 
libraries, including any underlying C and related (e.g. "pthread")
libraries.  [Someday the notion of an "underlying" C library will be 
seen as quaint and primitive, but evidently not yet.]  The binding 
doesn't have to match POSIX's binding for C, although it shouldn't 
demand heroics from the C library.

The goal, as I understand it, is to elucidate a model that is simple 
to describe and document, and to code to, and that may be implemented 
quickly and cheaply without ambiguities or troublesome choices.

Nathan Myers
ncm at cantrip.org