Re: [Boost-users] Thread safe intrusive ptr

Subject: Re: [Boost-users] Thread safe intrusive ptr
From: dhruva (dhruva_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-04-03 23:10:27

Hello,



----- Original Message ----
> From: Jared Lee Richardson <jaredr26_at_[hidden]>

> What are the considerations for making intrusive_ptr thread safe?  Is
> it as simple as a mutex-lock / atomic counter variable?
> 

I suggest using spinlock. I have not yet seen inside the boost code thoroughly, it might be sitting right there. pthread_mutex on UNIX and CRITICAL_SECTION on windows. I am trying to see if atomic operations could help here. The only problem I see is when the reference count reaches zero (0), you need to delete/free the held pointer. The checking of the reference count and freeing the resource has to be atomic and cannot be achieved using purely atomic operations.

I am now trying to see if I really do something with only atomic operations and will post my findings.

-dhruva



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