Re: [boost] Re: Re: Lock Classes: Does anyone care.

From: Kevin Atkinson (kevin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-02-19 11:30:06

On Wed, 19 Feb 2003, Edward Diener wrote:

> I think the question that needs to be answered is if locking mechanisms have
> any use outside of threading models. 

Yes they do.  For example when accessing memory shared between separate
process.  Also, locks can also be used when accessing files.  In fact I
believe Win32 always uses read/write locks when opening files, on POSIX
systems the locks are completely optional but still there.  Basically locks 
can be used when ever accessing a shared resource.

> If so, a library of locking mechanisms
> should be separated from the thread library although the thread library
> certainly can use it. If not, then locking functionality should be folded
> into the thread library.

My classes can be implemented on top of any basic locking primitives, no 
matter what type of lock or what it is locking.  Although it 
will generally be used for in multi-threaded applications, I am sure 
someone will find a way to use them for other types of locks.

--- 
http://kevin.atkinson.dhs.org