Subj : Re: boost::thread d'tor does not call endthread
To   : comp.programming.threads
From : dayton
Date : Sat May 28 2005 09:20 am

Hardy wrote:
> ... What could be
> possible repercussions of calling CloseHandle without calling
> endthread?

endthread() must be called from within the thread.  endthread() does not 
terminate the thread on Windows.  It merely clears up the C runtime 
library structures associated with the matching beginthread() or 
beginthreadex() call.  The corresponding Win32 API call to the 
beginthread() functions is CreateThread().  CreateThread() knows nothing 
about C I/O, thus the need for beginthread().

Just merely returning from a thread function in Windows does the same 
thing as an endthread().

There is a Win32 API function, TerminateThread(). TerminateThread() does 
not run any clean up functions whatsoever.  It is realy Terminate with 
Extreme Prejudice.  C++ destructors won't get executed when you 
TerminateThread().

Closing the handle on a running thread merely turns the thread into an 
orphan.  In this regard thread handles aren't like other Windows 
handles.  You use the thread handle so that other threads can control 
your thread.  You may use the thread handle even after the thread has 
returned from execution to query its status.

.