Draft of generation 2 thread class

From: bill_kempf (williamkempf_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-01-18 17:07:00

I've uploaded the draft document for the next generation of 
boost::thread for discussion.

Notes:

* This isn't a complete document.  I've included only the bare 
minimum required to discuss the design.

* The format is different from the current Boost.Threads.  This 
format is one that I've been working on for possible use by Boost 
developers wanting a "starting place" for writing their own 
documentation.  I'll be uploading extensive info on this probably 
next week some time.

* This next generation tried to bring some semantics to be more 
inline with POSIX since there's some significant dislike for the 
current design. These changes should make it easier for a thread_ref 
design built on top of this design to be implemented. One of the 
things this new design does is to formalize the concept of adoption, 
which is actually necessary when we add cancellation since this will 
require thread state that currently doesn't exist in the native 
implementations (I can clarify this if the documentation doesn't). 
The changes have been designed to have little impact on current code, 
with nothing removed from the public interface and all semantic 
changes as compatible with the current semantics so as possible in 
order to make it unlikely that they will break any code already 
written.

Comments/complaints/suggestions expected and welcome.

Bill Kempf