Subj : Re: [RFC] Boost.Threads on its way to C++0x
To   : comp.programming.threads
From : Howard Hinnant
Date : Fri Apr 29 2005 09:41 pm

In article <slrnd74srp.mfn.ben-public-nospam@decadentplace.org.uk>,
 Ben Hutchings <ben-public-nospam@decadentplace.org.uk> wrote:

> Peter Dimov wrote:
> > Ben Hutchings wrote:
> >>
> >> The two thread constructors are a crime against type-safety.  Thread
> >> starter/joiners and identifiers should be separate types.
> > 
> > Why should starters/joiners be types? Why not functions returning/taking an 
> > id? 
> 
> I wouldn't argue that starting and joining need to be combined in a
> single class.  However thread joinability is a resource which had
> better not be leaked.  Some kind of resource management is needed and
> the non-default constructor of boost::thread provides RAII.

The boost::thread dtor takes this into account.  If the local 
boost::thread object destructs before an explicit join, the dtor 
detaches the referenced thread.  I.e. the boost::thread model assumes 
that the programmer will sometimes not want to join with the thread, 
allows for it, and makes sure no damage is done.

-Howard

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