Re: thread static

chris@tkna.com (Christopher Helck) writes:
> Is there a technical reason why most languages don't support threads? I would
> like to be able to declare in 'C' a variable as "thread static", there would
> be a copy of the variable for each thread. A thread can not modify or read
> another thread's variable.
>
> Most multi-threaded extensions to 'C' and languages that directly
> support threads (JAVA is the only one I know) concentrate on locking
> resources. This is good. But why not go one step further and allow
> thread specific variables?


The POSIX threads standard provides a mechanism for thread-private data,
but not of course in the form of variable declarations.


Ada does, of course, support multi-threading in the form of tasking, with
task variables and all the rest. Take a look at the amount of code
required in an Ada compiler and runtime library and you might get some idea
of why most languages don't support it. :-)


Probably the main reason that C hasn't been extended in this way is that
multi-threading is not yet ubiquitous on every system on which C is
supported. The C standard's primary goal is to promote portability;
defining a feature that could not be implemented on many popular computer
platforms would be counter to that goal.


Another reason might the same as the reason why no one produces a 5 pound
chocolate bar -- not enough demand. :-)


--
Bill Leonard
Harris Computer Systems Corporation
2101 W. Cypress Creek Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Bill.Leonard@mail.hcsc.com
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