Programming with POSIX* Threads

Intel Software College

Objectives

Explore Pthreads “core” functions to create and synchronize

threads
Compare Pthreads with Win32 threading API

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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What is Pthreads?

POSIX standard for threads programming interface (1995)

Implementations of POSIX standard are referred to as POSIX
threads or Pthreads.
Latest Edition IEEE Std 1003.1,2004
Available for Linux and Unix OS family.
Available even for Windows!
• As Open Source http://sourceware.org/pthreads-win32/

C language interface
• programming types and procedure calls
• implemented as standalone library or as part of another library
such as libc

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Pthreads threading model

Threads exist within same process

All threads are peers
• No explicit parent-child model
• Exception: “main thread” holds process information

Pthreads API:
• Thread management: creating, detaching, joining, etc.
• Mutexes: deal with synchronization
• Condition variables: communications between threads that
share a mutex

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_create

int pthread_create(tid, attr, function, arg);

pthread_t *tid
• handle of created thread
const pthread_attr_t *attr
• attributes of thread to be created
void *(*function)(void *)
• function to be mapped to thread
void *arg
• single argument to function
Compare with Win32
CreateThread
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_create Explained

Spawn a thread running the function

Thread handle returned via pthread_t structure
• Specify NULL to use default attributes
Single argument sent to function
• If no arguments to function, specify NULL
Check error codes!

EAGAIN - insufficient resources to create thread

EINVAL - invalid attribute
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Example: Thread Creation

#include <stdio.h>
#include <pthread.h>

void *hello (void * arg) {

printf(“Hello Thread\n”);
}

main() {
pthread_t tid;

pthread_create(&tid, NULL, hello, NULL);

What Happens?
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Waiting for a Thread

int pthread_join(tid, val_ptr);

pthread_t tid
• handle of joinable thread
void **val_ptr
• exit value returned by joined thread

Compare with Win32

WaitForSingleObject
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_join Explained

Calling thread waits for thread with handle tid to terminate

• Only one thread can be joined
• Thread must be joinable
Exit value is returned from joined thread
• Type returned is (void *)
• Use NULL if no return value expected

ESRCH - thread (pthread_t) not found

EINVAL - thread (pthread_t) not joinable

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Thread States

Pthreads threads have two states

• joinable and detached
Threads are joinable by default
• Resources are kept until pthread_join
• Can be reset with attributes or API call
Detached threads cannot be joined
• Resources can be reclaimed at termination
• Cannot reset to be joinable

No equivalent for
Win32 Threads
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Example: Multiple Threads

#include <stdio.h>
#include <pthread.h>
#define NUM_THREADS 4

void *hello (void *arg) {

printf(“Hello Thread\n”);
}

main() {
pthread_t tid[NUM_THREADS];
for (int i = 0; i < NUM_THREADS; i++)
pthread_create(&tid[i], NULL, hello, NULL);

for (int i = 0; i < NUM_THREADS; i++)

pthread_join(tid[i], NULL);
}

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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What’s Wrong?

What is printed for myNum?

void *threadFunc(void
*threadFunc(void *pArg)
) {
int*
int* p = (int
(int*)
*)pArg
pArg;
;
int myNum = *p;
printf( “Thread number %d\n”, myNum);
}
. . .
// from main():
for (int
(int i = 0; i < numThreads;
numThreads; i++) {
pthread_create(&tid[i],
pthread_create(&tid[i], NULL, threadFunc,
threadFunc, &i);
}

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Solution – “Local” Storage

void *threadFunc(void
*threadFunc(void *pArg)
)
{
int myNum = *(((int*)
int*)pArg
pArg)
);
printf( “Thread number %d\n”, myNum);
}
. . .

// from main():
for (int
(int i = 0; i < numThreads;
numThreads; i++) {
tNum[i]
tNum[i] = i;
pthread_create(&tid[i],
pthread_create(&tid[i], NULL, threadFunc,
threadFunc, &tNum[i]
tNum[i]);
}

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Copyright © 2006, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. *Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

Pthreads Mutex Variables

Simple, flexible, and efficient

Enables correct programming structures for avoiding race
conditions
New types
• pthread_mutex_t
• the mutex variable
• pthread_mutexattr_t
• mutex attributes
Before use, mutex must be initialized

Compare with Win32

Mutex and Critical Section
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_mutex_init

int pthread_mutex_init( mutex, attr );

pthread_mutex_t *mutex
• mutex to be initialized
const pthread_mutexattr_t *attr
• attributes to be given to mutex

ENOMEM - insufficient memory for mutex

EAGAIN - insufficient resources (other than memory)
EPERM - no privilege to perform operation

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. *Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

Alternate Initialization

Can also use the static initializer

PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER
pthread_mutex_t mtx1 = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;

• Uses default attributes

Programmer must always pay attention to mutex scope

• Must be visible to threads

Compare with Win32

InitializeCriticalSection
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_mutex_lock

int pthread_mutex_lock( mutex );

pthread_mutex_t *mutex
• mutex to attempt to lock

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_mutex_lock Explained

Attempts to lock mutex

• If mutex is locked by another thread, calling thread is blocked
Mutex is held by calling thread until unlocked
• Mutex lock/unlock must be paired or deadlock occurs

EINVAL - mutex is invalid

EDEADLK - calling thread already owns mutex

Compare with Win32

WaitForSingleObject or
EnterCriticalSection
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_mutex_unlock

int pthread_mutex_unlock( mutex );

pthread_mutex_t *mutex
• mutex to be unlocked

EINVAL - mutex is invalid

EPERM - calling thread does not own mutex

Compare with Win32

ReleaseMutex or
LeaveCriticalSection
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Example: Use of mutex

#define NUMTHREADS 4
pthread_mutex_t gMutex; // why does this have to be global?
int g_sum = 0;

void *threadFunc(void *arg)

{
int mySum = bigComputation();
pthread_mutex_lock( &gMutex );
g_sum += mySum; // threads access one at a time
pthread_mutex_unlock( &gMutex );
}

main() {
pthread_t hThread[NUMTHREADS];

pthread_mutex_init( &gMutex, NULL );

for (int i = 0; i < NUMTHREADS; i++)
pthread_create(&hThread[i],NULL,threadFunc,NULL);

for (int i = 0; i < NUMTHREADS; i++)

pthread_join(hThread[i]);
printf (“Global sum = %f\n”, g_sum);
}

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Condition Variables

Mutexes implement synchronization by controlling thread

access to data
Condition variables allow threads to synchronize based upon
the actual value of data
Condition variable is associated with an arbitrary conditional
• Operations: wait and signal
Provides mutual exclusion

Compare with Win32

Events
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Condition Variable and Mutex

Mutex is associated with condition variable

• Protects evaluation of the conditional expression
• Prevents race condition between signaling thread and threads
waiting on condition variable

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Lost and Spurious Signals

Signal to condition variable is not saved

• If no thread waiting, signal is “lost”
• Thread can be deadlocked waiting for signal that will not be
sent
Condition variable can (rarely) receive spurious signals
• Slowed execution from predictable signals
• Need to retest conditional expression

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Condition Variable Algorithm

Avoids problems with lost and spurious signals

Negation of condition
needed to proceed
acquire mutex;
while (conditional is true) Mutex is automatically
released when thread
wait on condition variable; waits

perform critical region computation;

update conditional; May be
signal sleeping thread(s);
thread(s ); optional
release mutex;

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Condition Variables

pthread_cond_init, pthread_cond_destroy
• initialize/destroy condition variable
pthread_cond_wait
• thread goes to sleep until signal of condition variable
pthread_cond_signal
• signal release of condition variable
pthread_cond_broadcast
• broadcast release of condition variable

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Condition Variable Types

Data types used

• pthread_cond_t
• the condition variable

• pthread_condattr_t
• condition variable attributes

Before use, condition variable (and mutex) must be initialized

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_init

int pthread_cond_init( cond, attr );

pthread_cond_t *cond
• condition variable to be initialized
const pthread_condattr_t *attr
• attributes to be given to condition variable

ENOMEM - insufficient memory for condition variable

EAGAIN - insufficient resources (other than memory)
EBUSY - condition variable already intialized
EINVAL - attr is invalid

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Copyright © 2006, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. *Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

Alternate Initialization

Can also use the static initializer

PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER
pthread_cond_t cond1 = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER;

• Uses default attributes

Programmer must always pay attention to condition (and mutex)

scope
• Must be visible to threads

Compare with Win32

CreateEvent
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_wait

int pthread_cond_wait( cond, mutex );

pthread_cond_t *cond
• condition variable to wait on

pthread_mutex_t *mutex
• mutex to be unlocked

Compare with Win32

WaitForSingleObject
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_wait Explained

Thread put to “sleep” waiting for signal on cond

Mutex is unlocked
• Allows other threads to acquire lock
• When signal arrives, mutex will be reacquired before
pthread_cond_wait returns

EINVAL - cond or mutex is invalid

EINVAL - different mutex for concurrent waits
EINVAL - calling thread does not own mutex

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_signal

int pthread_cond_signal( cond );

pthread_cond_t *cond
• condition variable to be signaled

Compare with Win32

Pulse Event
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_signal Explained

Signal condition variable, wake one waiting thread

If no threads waiting, no action taken
• Signal is not saved for future threads
Signaling thread need not have mutex
• May be more efficient
• Problem may occur if thread priorities used

EINVAL - cond is invalid

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_broadcast

int pthread_cond_broadcast( cond );

pthread_cond_t *cond
• condition variable to signal

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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pthread_cond_broadcast Explained

Wake all threads waiting on condition variable

If no threads waiting, no action taken
• Broadcast is not saved for future threads
Signaling thread need not have mutex

EINVAL - cond is invalid

Compare with Win32

Auto & Manual Reset Events
Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Programming with POSIX* Threads
What’s Been Covered
How to create threads to execute work encapsulated within
functions
Coordinate shared access between threads to avoid race
conditions

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Copyright © 2006, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. *Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

Programming with POSIX* Threads

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Copyright © 2006, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. *Other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.

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