Basic Thread Routines

Creation

int pthread_create(pthread_t * thread, 
                   const pthread_attr_t * attr,
                   void * (*start_routine)(void *), 
                   void *arg);

• Analogous to a combined fork and exec routine
• Returns a thread id in thread .
• When attr is NULL the default thread attributes are used.

Termination

void pthread_exit(void * return_value);

• Analogous to exit
• The exit routine kills all threads and exits the process
• If the currecnt thread is the last thread then the process terminates
• Returning from the start_routine is equivalent to calling pthread_exit
• Returning from the inital thread main is the equivalent to calling exit

Detach and Join

int pthread_detach(pthread_t thread);

int pthread_join(pthread_t thread, void ** status);

• Analogous to wait
• Must specify thread. There is no wait any.
• Current thread blocks until thread terminates
• The return value of thread is returned in status
• All threads must be detached or joined with.

Self and Equal

pthread_t pthread_self(void);

int pthread_equal(pthread_1 t1, pthread_t t2);