[boost] [thread] Win32 mutex implementation

From: Russell Hind (rhind_at_[hidden])
Date: 2003-04-23 04:33:03

thread currently allows various mutex implementations:  I currently use 
boost::mutex and boost::recursive_mutex most often.  On Win32 
boost::mutex is implemented using a CriticalSection.  AFAIK, this is 
recursively enterable.  recursive_mutex also uses a critical section, 
although with a little extra in the implementation.

I was wondering if there was a way to stop mutex being recursive on 
Win32?  I then looked into the source and saw that try_mutex uses a 
Mutex, not a critical section.  Would this implementation not work for 
mutex?

Also, it appears that try_mutex uses a Mutex so that it can perform a 
wait with a timeout of 0 (ie. if it can't enter, return immediately). 
Could this not have been implemented with a critical section and use 
TryEnterCriticalSection?  Why was the mutex approach used for one and 
not the other?

Thanks

Russell