Mutex lock threads

Question

Am new to multi threaded/processs programming. So here's what I need to clarify.

Process A code

pthread_mutex_lock()
    pthread_create(fooAPI(sharedResource)) //fooAPI creates another thread with shared resource that shares across processes.
pthread_mutex_unlock()

With the above pseudo code, is process B able to access sharedResource if mutex is not unlocked?

How can I access the sharedResource from process B correctly?

Any there any clear visual diagram that explains the relationship between mutexes, threads and processes?

Hereditament

Perhaps we should change the title of this question to "Mutex lock threads with pthread_mutex_lock() in C" ?--or something like that, to make the question more-searchable and have more clarity right up front? – Roseline

Related question I just asked: Mutexes/Locks in C: C11 mtx_lock() vs pthread_mutex_lock() – Roseline

Answer 1

What you need to do is to call pthread_mutex_lock to secure a mutex, like this:

pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);

Once you do this, any other calls to pthread_mutex_lock(mutex) will not return until you call pthread_mutex_unlock in this thread. So if you try to call pthread_create, you will be able to create a new thread, and that thread will be able to (incorrectly) use the shared resource. You should call pthread_mutex_lock from within your fooAPI function, and that will cause the function to wait until the shared resource is available.

So you would have something like this:

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

int sharedResource = 0;
pthread_mutex_t mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;

void* fooAPI(void* param)
{
    pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
    printf("Changing the shared resource now.\n");
    sharedResource = 42;
    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
    return 0;
}

int main()
{
    pthread_t thread;

    // Really not locking for any reason other than to make the point.
    pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
    pthread_create(&thread, NULL, fooAPI, NULL);
    sleep(1);
    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);

    // Now we need to lock to use the shared resource.
    pthread_mutex_lock(&mutex);
    printf("%d\n", sharedResource);
    pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
}

Edit: Using resources across processes follows this same basic approach, but you need to map the memory into your other process. Here's an example using shmem:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <sys/file.h>
#include <sys/mman.h>
#include <sys/wait.h>

struct shared {
    pthread_mutex_t mutex;
    int sharedResource;
};

int main()
{
    int fd = shm_open("/foo", O_CREAT | O_TRUNC | O_RDWR, 0600);
    ftruncate(fd, sizeof(struct shared));

    struct shared *p = (struct shared*)mmap(0, sizeof(struct shared),
        PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0);

    p->sharedResource = 0;

    // Make sure it can be shared across processes
    pthread_mutexattr_t shared;
    pthread_mutexattr_init(&shared);
    pthread_mutexattr_setpshared(&shared, PTHREAD_PROCESS_SHARED);

    pthread_mutex_init(&(p->mutex), &shared);

    int i;
    for (i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
        pthread_mutex_lock(&(p->mutex));
        printf("%d\n", p->sharedResource);
        pthread_mutex_unlock(&(p->mutex));
        sleep(1);
    }

    munmap(p, sizeof(struct shared*));
    shm_unlink("/foo");
}

Writing the program to make changes to p->sharedResource is left as an exercise for the reader. :-)

Forgot to note, by the way, that the mutex has to have the PTHREAD_PROCESS_SHARED attribute set, so that pthreads will work across processes.

Caughey

This is very clear. Could you also include an example of how Process B which is another application could access the sharedResource? – Hereditament

Answer 2

Q1.) Assuming process B tries to take ownership of the same mutex you locked in process A (you left that out of your pseudocode) then no, process B cannot access sharedResource while the mutex is locked since it will sit waiting to lock the mutex until it is released by process A. It will return from the mutex_lock() function when the mutex is locked (or when an error occurs!)

Q2.) In Process B, ensure you always lock the mutex, access the shared resource, and then unlock the mutex. Also, check the return code from the mutex_lock( pMutex ) routine to ensure that you actually own the mutex, and ONLY unlock the mutex if you have locked it. Do the same from process A.

Both processes should basically do the same thing when accessing the mutex.
lock() If the lock succeeds, then { access sharedResource unlock() }

Q3.) Yes, there are lots of diagrams: =) https://www.google.se/search?q=mutex+thread+process&rlz=1C1AFAB_enSE487SE487&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=ErodUcSmKqf54QS6nYDoAw&biw=1200&bih=1730&sei=FbodUbPbB6mF4ATarIBQ

Chara

Answer 3

A process consists of at least one thread (think of the main function). Multi threaded code will just spawn more threads. Mutexes are used to create locks around shared resources to avoid data corruption / unexpected / unwanted behaviour. Basically it provides for sequential execution in an asynchronous setup - the requirement for which stems from non-const non-atomic operations on shared data structures.

A vivid description of what mutexes would be the case of people (threads) queueing up to visit the restroom (shared resource). While one person (thread) is using the bathroom easing him/herself (non-const non-atomic operation), he/she should ensure the door is locked (mutex), otherwise it could lead to being caught in full monty (unwanted behaviour)

Funderburk

Answer 4

Below, code snippet, will help you in understanding the mutex-lock-unlock concept. Attempt dry-run on the code. (further by varying the wait-time and process-time, you can build you understanding).

Code for your reference:

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

void in_progress_feedback(int);

int global = 0;
pthread_mutex_t mutex;
void *compute(void *arg) {

    pthread_t ptid = pthread_self();
    printf("ptid : %08x \n", (int)ptid);    

    int i;
    int lock_ret = 1;   
    do{

        lock_ret = pthread_mutex_trylock(&mutex);
        if(lock_ret){
            printf("lock failed(%08x :: %d)..attempt again after 2secs..\n", (int)ptid,  lock_ret);
            sleep(2);  //wait time here..
        }else{  //ret =0 is successful lock
            printf("lock success(%08x :: %d)..\n", (int)ptid, lock_ret);
            break;
        }

    } while(lock_ret);

        for (i = 0; i < 10*10 ; i++) 
        global++;

    //do some stuff here
    in_progress_feedback(10);  //processing-time here..

    lock_ret = pthread_mutex_unlock(&mutex);
    printf("unlocked(%08x :: %d)..!\n", (int)ptid, lock_ret);

     return NULL;
}

void in_progress_feedback(int prog_delay){

    int i=0;
    for(;i<prog_delay;i++){
    printf(". ");
    sleep(1);
    fflush(stdout);
    }

    printf("\n");
    fflush(stdout);
}

int main(void)
{
    pthread_t tid0,tid1;
    pthread_mutex_init(&mutex, NULL);
    pthread_create(&tid0, NULL, compute, NULL);
    pthread_create(&tid1, NULL, compute, NULL);
    pthread_join(tid0, NULL);
    pthread_join(tid1, NULL);
    printf("global = %d\n", global);
    pthread_mutex_destroy(&mutex);
          return 0;
}

Nitroparaffin

Does the function void *compute() only get executed when it gets called or is there some way to launch this thread so it continuously execute this function in the background? – Waac

when a thread is spawned, the method bound with the spawned thread starts executing on the thread (in this case compute()). If no thread is spawned, you are still on main-thread (where main() executes). Now, if you have to make the thread perform something in background, you need to hold that execution on the bound-method, over some not-exit condition (i.e. do not let the bound method exit, until you ask to close. Now, the exit-condition when signalled to the thread, it should exit (cleanup etc.), else it shall stay to perform the operation/s you desire. – Nitroparaffin