Re: [boost] boost::defer - generalised execution deferral

From: simon meiklejohn (simon_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-12-05 05:45:46

a second version of library Defer is now in the sandbox under Concurrent 
Programming.
(this version primarily adds the promised win32 message pump version)

To recap - this library defines a uniform means to send work items
(boost::function objects) to thread pools, single threads and the windows 
gui thread
via a runtime polymorphic interface.

Other implementations of the defer concept included in the library are 
defer_null, which
makes no attempt to defer, but invokes the supplied boost::function object 
immediately
and defer_mutex, which also invokes the object on the calling thread, but 
only after first
acquiring a mutex (thus serialising requests from different threads).

The benefits of such a library are:.
-It allows an efficient reuse of threads.
-It provides an abstract way to parameterise threading architecture i.e.
-It allows the programmer to define what thread s/he wishes to
receive callbacks in from cooperating components.
-It can be used to eliminate thread deadlocking issues, and remove
mutex use from much application code.
-It can help break recursive calling cycles in event driven code.

The scheme is wide open for the addition of more models of the defer 
concept.
The base defer class provides the queue facilities, and simply requires the
deriving classes to implement a 'signal' function, in which to perform an
implementation specific wakeup or notification to the appropriate thread.

Three examples of possible other styles are:
-demuxer style thread parking - create the object and then call a run() 
function in
an appropriate thread
-recursion breaking - first defer in a given thread executes immediately, 
subsequent
recursive defers on the same object are queued to be serviced in turn before
the thread finally leaves the object
-thread creating - creates an entirely new thread per work item.

All comments again welcome, though I know its a busy time for boosters with 
the
huge effort going into the next release.

Cheers

Simon