Threads: Updated Win32_thread.zip

From: William Kempf (sirwillard_at_[hidden])
Date: 2000-09-12 13:53:27

I've updated the Win32 implementation again.  This version was 
compiled with gcc (using Dev-C++ IDE, which I *think* uses mingwin), 
so the code is closer to ANSI compliant.  Other than that, the 
implementation is the same.

Included is a test harness for doing speed comparisons of Win32 
critical sections, Win32 mutexes and the libraries implementation of 
mutex.  The results of the timings (one run, so give or take some):

Compiled with VC++
   boost::mutex was 5.68 x faster than Win32 mutex
   boost::mutex was 9.93 x slower than Win32 critical section
Compiled with gcc
   boost::mutex was 2.63 x faster than Win32 mutex
   boost::mutex was 18.03 x slower than Win32 critical section

I assume the terrible results using gcc can be attributed to my 
ignorance of the compiler.  Having no idea what the command line 
options are I assume there were no optimizations used by the 
compiler.  If anyone knows of a windows .hlp file for gcc available 
on the net, I'd appreciate an e-mail.  If I'm going to work on Boost 
libraries, I think it's time I became familiar with a more compliant 
compiler such as gcc.

Bill Kempf