[boost] [thread] Poll for users of MPtasks

From: Roland Schwarz (roland.schwarz_at_[hidden])
Date: 2006-04-13 12:55:11

I am intending to drop support for MPTasks on the Mac platform in the 
thread rewrite. Since there currently are also no regression test 
builders available for the Mac platform I am polling the list if there 
are any objections against this plan.

Background: I contacted the original contributor of the mac code in 
boost and got the below information:

 >>
These days, Mac OS 9 is obsolete, and anyone building on Mac OS X can 
just use the pthreads implementation.  Therefore, I think that it's safe 
to move these old files.
<<

and

 >>
The lowest-level threads on Mac OS X are Mach Threads (Mac OS X is based 
on BSD with a Mach kernel).  pthreads sit directly above Mach Threads. 
The old Boost Threads implementation was based on MP tasks.  MP tasks 
still exist on Mac OS X, but on top of TS Threads, which are on top of 
pthreads.
<<

and
 >>
As I noted above, I don't believe the the Mac needs much special 
attention anymore, given the move to POSIX-based OS X.
<<

This makes me believe, that it is safe to drop support for MPTasks entirely.
However in the thread rewrite it will be possible to get both, a default 
build that relies on pthread being available and native support if 
possible. So if anyone thinks boost thread on Mach Threads is 
meaningful, please contact me at the thread devel list.

BTW.: Possibly the 1-34 release should write out a message that informs 
users of MPTasks that support will be dropped?

Roland