remove mention of wxMutexGuiEnter/leave from the multithreading topic overview; document that wxMutexGuiEnter only works for wxMSW as the code seems to confirm this (see #10366)

git-svn-id: https://svn.wxwidgets.org/svn/wx/wxWidgets/trunk@58683 c3d73ce0-8a6f-49c7-b76d-6d57e0e08775
This commit is contained in:
Francesco Montorsi
2009-02-05 18:24:27 +00:00
parent 06f89fe437
commit ae93dddfaf
2 changed files with 28 additions and 19 deletions

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@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@
// Licence: wxWindows license // Licence: wxWindows license
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/*
NOTE: we explicitely don't name wxMutexGUIEnter() and wxMutexGUILeave()
as they're not safe. See also ticket #10366.
*/
/** /**
@page overview_thread Multithreading @page overview_thread Multithreading
@@ -20,27 +25,29 @@ wxWidgets resembles to POSIX1.c threads API (a.k.a. pthreads), although several
functions have different names and some features inspired by Win32 thread API functions have different names and some features inspired by Win32 thread API
are there as well. are there as well.
These classes will hopefully make writing MT programs easier and they also These classes hopefully make writing MT programs easier and they also
provide some extra error checking (compared to the native (be it Win32 or provide some extra error checking (compared to the native - be it Win32 or
Posix) thread API), however it is still a non-trivial undertaking especially Posix - thread API), however it is still a non-trivial undertaking especially
for large projects. Before starting an MT application (or starting to add MT for large projects.
Before starting an MT application (or starting to add MT
features to an existing one) it is worth asking oneself if there is no easier features to an existing one) it is worth asking oneself if there is no easier
and safer way to implement the same functionality. Of course, in some and safer way to implement the same functionality.
situations threads really make sense (classical example is a server application Of course, in some situations threads really make sense (classical example is a
which launches a new thread for each new client), but in others it might be an server application which launches a new thread for each new client), but in others
overkill. On the other hand, the recent evolution of the computer hardware shows it might be an overkill.
On the other hand, the recent evolution of the computer hardware shows
an important trend towards multi-core systems, which are better exploited using an important trend towards multi-core systems, which are better exploited using
multiple threads (e.g. you may want to split a long task among as many threads multiple threads (e.g. you may want to split a long task among as many threads
as many CPU (cores) the system reports; see wxThread::GetCPUCount). as many CPU (cores) the system reports; see wxThread::GetCPUCount).
To implement non-blocking operations without using multiple threads you have To implement non-blocking operations @e without using multiple threads you have
two other possible implementation choices: two possible implementation choices:
- using wxIdleEvent (e.g. to perform a long calculation while updating a progress dialog) - use wxIdleEvent (e.g. to perform a long calculation while updating a progress dialog)
- simply do everything at once but call wxWindow::Update() periodically to update the screen. - do everything at once but call wxWindow::Update() or wxApp::YieldFor(wxEVT_CATEGORY_UI)
periodically to update the screen.
Even if there are the ::wxMutexGuiEnter and ::wxMutexGuiLeave functions which allows If instead you choose to use threads in your application, it is strongly recommended
to use GUI functions from multiple threads, if you do decide to use threads in your that <b>no secondary threads call GUI functions</b>.
application, it is strongly recommended that <b>no more than one calls GUI functions</b>.
The design which uses one GUI thread and several worker threads which communicate The design which uses one GUI thread and several worker threads which communicate
with the main one using @b events is much more robust and will undoubtedly save you with the main one using @b events is much more robust and will undoubtedly save you
countless problems (example: under Win32 a thread can only access GDI objects such countless problems (example: under Win32 a thread can only access GDI objects such

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@@ -863,9 +863,9 @@ enum
as MFC. as MFC.
A workaround for some wxWidgets ports is calling wxMutexGUIEnter() A workaround for some wxWidgets ports is calling wxMutexGUIEnter()
before any GUI calls and then calling wxMutexGUILeave() afterwords. However, before any GUI calls and then calling wxMutexGUILeave() afterwords.
the recommended way is to simply process the GUI calls in the main thread However, the recommended way is to simply process the GUI calls in the main
through an event that is posted by wxQueueEvent(). thread through an event that is posted by wxQueueEvent().
This does not imply that calls to these classes are thread-safe, however, This does not imply that calls to these classes are thread-safe, however,
as most wxWidgets classes are not thread-safe, including wxString. as most wxWidgets classes are not thread-safe, including wxString.
@@ -1620,6 +1620,8 @@ public:
*/ */
bool wxIsMainThread(); bool wxIsMainThread();
/** /**
This function must be called when any thread other than the main GUI thread This function must be called when any thread other than the main GUI thread
wants to get access to the GUI library. This function will block the wants to get access to the GUI library. This function will block the
@@ -1645,7 +1647,7 @@ bool wxIsMainThread();
@endcode @endcode
This function is only defined on platforms which support preemptive This function is only defined on platforms which support preemptive
threads. threads and only works under some ports (wxMSW currently).
@note Under GTK, no creation of top-level windows is allowed in any thread @note Under GTK, no creation of top-level windows is allowed in any thread
but the main one. but the main one.