SYNOPSIS

#include <bobcat/sharedmutex>
Linking option: -lpthread, -lbobcat

DESCRIPTION

Shared memory may be used by multiple processes. To synchronize access to shared memory an FBB::SharedMutex may be defined inside a shared memory segment. SharedMutex objects allows clients to lock a shared memory segment before reading or writing its contents. E.g., the Bobcat class FBB::SharedSegment defines a SharedMutex in its shared memory segment.

The SharedMutex class uses the facilities offered by the PThread library to implement (non recursive) shared memory locking. To force unlocking a (possibly) locked shared memory segment, its destructor can be called.

SharedMutex mutexes are non-recursive, resulting in deadlocks if their lock member is called twice from the same thread of execution without an intermediate call to unlock the mutex. If this causes concern, a variable can be defined indicating whether the lock has already been obtained.

NAMESPACE

FBB
All constructors, members, operators and manipulators, mentioned in this man-page, are defined in the namespace FBB.

INHERITS FROM

-

CONSTRUCTORS, DESTRUCTOR

o

SharedMutex():
The default constructor initializes an FBB::SharedMutex object to a shared memory mutex (using the PTHREAD_PROCESS_SHARED attribute). As an FBB::SharedMutex object will normally be defined inside a shared memory segment the object's memory is already available. In this case placement new should be used to call the constructor. E.g., if a shared memory segment is attached to the current process at d_shared, and an FBB::SharedMutex should be defined at d_shared's address, then the FBB::SharedMutex object can be initialized like this:

    new (d_shared) FBB::SharedMutex;
       

Caveat: when using placement new to initialize a SharedMutex make sure that the SharedMutex fits inside a block (i.e., shared.blockOffset() + sizeof(SharedMemory) < shared.dataSegmentSize()). If not, use seek to switch to an offset where this equality holds true, or simply use SharedMemory::create like this:

    FBB::SharedMemory::create<FBB::SharedMutex>();
       

o

~SharedMutex():
The class's destructor releases all of the current process's nested shared memory segment locks. To destroy an FBB::SharedMutex object that has been constructed using the placement new operator use

d_sharedMutex->~SharedMutex();
       

(assuming SharedMutex *d_sharedMutex points to the location where placement new has previously initialized the FBB::SharedMutex object.)

Copy and move constructors are not available.

MEMBER FUNCTIONS

• void lock() const:
  When returning from this member, the current process has locked the shared memory segment. Note that SharedMutex objects are non-recursive.
• void unlock() const:
  The object's lock of the shared memory segment is released. This member can also be called if the SharedMutex's lock has not been obtained.

PROTECTED MEMBER FUNCTION

• pthread_mutex_t *mutexPtr():
  A pointer is returned to the pthread_mutex_t object used by the SharedMutex object;

EXAMPLE

See the sharedstream(3bobcat) man page.

FILES

bobcat/sharedmutex - defines the class interface

DISTRIBUTION FILES

• bobcat_4.02.00-x.dsc: detached signature;
• bobcat_4.02.00-x.tar.gz: source archive;
• bobcat_4.02.00-x_i386.changes: change log;
• libbobcat1_4.02.00-x_*.deb: debian package holding the libraries;
• libbobcat1-dev_4.02.00-x_*.deb: debian package holding the libraries, headers and manual pages;
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/bobcat: public archive location;

BOBCAT

Bobcat is an acronym of `Brokken's Own Base Classes And Templates'.

COPYRIGHT

This is free software, distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

AUTHOR

Frank B. Brokken ([email protected]).