[Boost-users] Named mutex..

From: Jason Robertson (jvrobert_at_[hidden])
Date: 2008-05-19 17:22:10

Hi,
I'm trying to create simple locks based on a string name.  I looked at the interprocess module which has a named mutex, but it seems not well suited/efficient for use in a single process, though I know it's supposed to work.
Instead, I'm just creating a map<string,weak_ptr<mutex>> in a NamedMutexManager class.  It's used as a singleton and uses brute force locking to implement a named lock pattern.  Main method is 
shared_ptr<mutex> GetMutex(string name) {
BigLock (only one thread at a time can get a lock so we synchronize access to map)
check map
    if we have entry, make sure weak_ptr hasn't been reclaimed
        If so, make a new shared_ptr, save weak_ptr by name, return shared_ptr
        If not, return shared_ptr copy from weak_ptr.lock()
    If we habe no entry,
        make a new shared_ptr, save weak_ptr by name, return shared_ptr
}
I'm just getting back to C++ after years, so I'm 99% sure there's probably a much better way.  Is there a better way to do an intra-process, reliable mutex by std::string name so I can lock things by name?  How are other people doing this, do you find interprocess:named_mutex suitable for use in-process?  I had problems with it.
Thanks!
Jason