[boost] [pool] Thread specific pool allocator

Subject: [boost] [pool] Thread specific pool allocator
From: James Bremner (ravenspoint_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-09-12 12:01:31

I develop code to run on multiple processor machines. Moderate use of the 
standard template library (STL) containers cause programs to slow down when 
the work is split between threads running on different processors.  This is 
because the STL default memory allocator is a thread-safe singleton and 
causes contention between the threads.

The memory allocator provided by boost::pool_allocator is also a thread safe 
singleton.

I have coded a thread specific memory allocator based on boost::pool and 
boost:thread_specific_pointer.  My allocator creates a new instantiation for 
each thread it is used in, and so avoids contention between threads.  The 
containers created with this allocator must be used carefully, not written 
to by more than one thread, because the allocator is not thread-safe ( that 
is the point! ) - however they provide dramatic performance improvements 
when my code runs on multiple processors.

I do not expect my coding is to the high standard of the boost libraries, 
but I do believe it shows that something very useful can be done with a few 
lines of code.  Any chance of a boost:thread_specific_pool_allocator in the 
near future?

 James Bremner