[Boost-bugs] [Boost C++ Libraries] #7496: [thread] call interrupt() and join() int destructor of a joinable thread

Subject: [Boost-bugs] [Boost C++ Libraries] #7496: [thread] call interrupt() and join() int destructor of a joinable thread
From: Boost C++ Libraries (noreply_at_[hidden])
Date: 2012-10-11 13:34:19

#7496: [thread] call interrupt() and join() int destructor of a joinable thread
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 Reporter:  Andrzej Krzemienski <akrzemi1@…>          |       Owner:  anthonyw
     Type:  Feature Requests                          |      Status:  new     
Milestone:  To Be Determined                          |   Component:  thread  
  Version:  Boost 1.52.0                              |    Severity:  Problem 
 Keywords:  thread interrupt join destructor          |  
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 boost::thread's destructor calls terminate if joinable, in order to
 conform to C++11 specification. I am not sure if this is the best course
 of action.
 My understanding -- form the C++ Committee papers and informal
 presentations -- is that the reason for introducing a  'terminating
 destructor' was the lack of thread cancellation/interruption
 functionality. Thread interruption is supposed to be the preferred
 behavior for thread's destructor. std::thread does not support
 interruption (for some reasons), but boost::thread does (this is already a
 departure from C++11), so shouldn't the latter prefer to interrupt and
 join a joinable thread in the destructor?


 My preference would be to join (rater than detach) after the interruption.
 If I remember correctly, the argument against joining for std::thread is
 that there would be an unexpected hang upon reaching the end of the scope.
 The argument against detaching for std::thread is that the detached thread
 may be holding references to automatic variables defined in the scope of
 the forking thread that we are now exiting.

 I believe that with thread interruption in place the argument against
 joining is mitigated, while the argument against detaching still holds.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://svn.boost.org/trac/boost/ticket/7496>
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