Re: [boost] "joinable"

From: Stefan Seefeld (seefeld_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-05-28 10:25:20

Anthony Williams wrote:
> OK. t.joinable() /really/ means t represents a thread of
> execution.

Out of curiosity: Why do you consider a detached thread not to be a 
"thread of execution" ?
I can use all the usual means like mutexes and conditions across 
detached threads, can't I ?
(And even the 'main' thread is one, as you have stated, even though it's 
impossible to obtain a thread object for it.)

>  However, the implication of the word is "t can be joined",
> which is too narrow. t.attached() could indeed be read to mean "not
> detached", which is also not really correct.
>
> t.represents_a_thread() would be strictly correct, but is a bit
> long-winded.
>
> t.has_thread() is shorter.
>   

I find these really confusing since the word 'thread' appears in two 
very distinct meanings here. (first as the type of 't', then as "thread 
of execution".)

        Stefan

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