Subj : Re: volatile or mutex
To   : comp.programming.threads
From : David Schwartz
Date : Wed May 11 2005 09:26 pm


"marri" <devendermarri@hotmail.com> wrote in message 
news:1115859714.056736.259220@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> Do we need to use volatile or a mutex to synchronize read/write of an
> integer variable??.

    If you need guaranteed sensible behavior, you need a mutex.

> Found that people defile volatile for a boolean variable and
> synchronize using mutex for integer variables is there any good
> reason??

    If you don't need guaranteed sensible behavior, then you don't need a 
mutex. If a boolean is used just to shut something down, then a volatile 
boolean might work just fine on some platforms with some compilers.

    Generally when you use an integer, you need more guarantees than 
'volatile' can provide.

    DS

.