6.44.1. Create a Ruby thread #

To start a new thread, simply call the Thread.new :

#Thread # 1 Code Section Thread. new
{# Thread # 2 Executing Code} # Thread # 1 Executing Code

6.44.2. Example #

The following example shows how to use multithreading in a Ruby program:

#!/usr/bin/rubydeffunc1i=0whilei<=2puts"func1 at:
#{Time.now}"sleep(2)i=i+1endenddeffunc2j=0whilej<=2puts"func2 at:
#{Time.now}"sleep(1)j=j+1endendputs"Started At
#{Time.now}"t1=Thread.new{func1()}t2=Thread.new{func2()}t1.joint2.joinputs"End
at #{Time.now}"

Started At Wed May 14 08:21:54 -0700 2014
func1 at: Wed May 14 08:21:54 -0700 2014
func2 at: Wed May 14 08:21:54 -0700 2014
func2 at: Wed May 14 08:21:55 -0700 2014
func1 at: Wed May 14 08:21:56 -0700 2014
func2 at: Wed May 14 08:21:56 -0700 2014
func1 at: Wed May 14 08:21:58 -0700 2014
End at Wed May 14 08:22:00 -0700 2014

6.44.3. Thread life cycle #

1.Thread creation can be done using the Thread.new can also be used inthe same syntax Thread.start or Thread.fork , these three methods create threads.

2.There is no need to start the thread after it is created, and the thread will execute automatically.

3.The Thread class defines some methods to manipulate threads. Thread execution Thread.new code block .

4.The last statement in the thread code block is the value of the thread, which can be called through the method of the thread. If the thread is finished, the thread value is returned, otherwise the value is not returned until the thread is finished.

5.The Thread.current method returns the object that represents the current thread. Thread.main method returns the main thread.

6.Through Thread.Join method to execute the thread, which suspends themain thread until the current thread finishes execution.

6.44.4. Thread state #

Threads have five states:

6.44.5. Threads and exceptions #

When an exception occurs in a thread and is not subject to rescue when captured, the thread is usually terminated without warning. However, if there are other threads because Thread#join if the relationship has been waiting for the thread, the waiting thread will be thrown the same exception.

begint=Thread.newdoThread.pass#The main thread is indeed waitingjoinraise"unhandled
exception"endt.joinrescuep$!#=> "unhandled exception"end

Using the following three methods, you can have the interpreter break when athread terminates due to an exception.

• Specify when you start the script -d option and run when debugging the mode.

• Use Thread.abort_on_exception Set the flag.

• Use Thread#abort_on_exception Sets the flag for the specified thread.

When using one of the above three methods, the entire interpreter will be interrupted.

t=Thread.new{ ... }t.abort_on_exception=true

6.44.6. Thread synchronization control #

In Ruby, there are three ways to achieve synchronization, which are:

1. Thread synchronization through Mutex class

2. The Queue class that supervises data handover implements thread synchronization

3. Use ConditionVariable to realize synchronous control

6.44.7. Thread synchronization through Mutex class #

Thread synchronization control is implemented through the Mutex class, and if you need a program variable for multiple thread clocks at the same time, you can use lock to lock part of this variable. The code is as follows:

#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire"thread"puts"Synchronize
Thread"@num=200@mutex=Mutex.newdefbuyTicket(num)@mutex.lockif@num>=num@num=@num-numputs"you
have successfully bought #{num} tickets"elseputs"sorry,no enough
tickets"end@mutex.unlockendticket1=Thread.new10do10.timesdo\|value\|ticketNum
=15buyTicket(ticketNum)sleep0.01endendticket2=Thread.
new10do10.timesdo\|value\|ticketNum=20buyTicket(ticketNum)sleep0.01endendsleep1ticket1.jointicket2.join

Synchronize Thread
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
you have successfully bought 20 tickets
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
you have successfully bought 20 tickets
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
you have successfully bought 20 tickets
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
you have successfully bought 20 tickets
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
you have successfully bought 20 tickets
you have successfully bought 15 tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets
sorry,no enough tickets

6.44.8. The Queue class that supervises data handover implements thread synchronization #

The Queue class represents a queue that supports threads and can access the end of the queue synchronously. Different threads can use a unified pair class, but do not worry about whether the data in this queue can be synchronized, and use the SizedQueue class can limit the length of the queue

SizedQueue class can easily help us develop thread synchronization applications, so as long as you join this queue, you don’t have to worry about thread synchronization.

The classic producer-consumer problem:

#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire"thread"puts"SizedQuee
Test"queue=Queue.newproducer=Thread.newdo10.timesdo\|i\|sleeprand
(i)#Let the thread sleep for a period of timequeue<<iputs"#{i}
produced"endendconsumer=Thread.newdo10.timesdo\|i\|value=queue.popsleeprand(i/2)
puts "consumed #{value}" end end consumer.join

SizedQuee Test
0 produced
1 produced
consumed 0
2 produced
consumed 1
consumed 2
3 produced
consumed 34 produced

consumed 4
5 produced
consumed 5
6 produced
consumed 6
7 produced
consumed 7
8 produced
9 produced
consumed 8
consumed 9

6.44.9. Thread variable #

A thread can have its own private variable, and the thread’s private variable is written to the thread when it is created. It can be used within the scope of the thread, but cannot be shared outside the thread.

But sometimes, what if a thread’s local variables need to be accessed by another thread or the main thread? Ruby provides the ability to create thread variables by name, similar to treating threads as hash-style hash tables. Pass through []= write and pass through [] read the data. Let’s look at the following code:

#!/usr/bin/rubycount=0arr=[]10.timesdo\|i\|arr[i]=Thread.new{sleep(rand(0)/10.0)
Thread.current["mycount"] = count count += 1 } end arr.each {|t\|
t.join; print t["mycount"], ", " } puts "count = #{count}"

8, 0, 3, 7, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4, 9, count = 10

6.44.10. Thread priority #

The priority of the thread is the main factor affecting the scheduling of the thread. Other factors include the amount of execution time consumed by CPU, thread grouping scheduling, and so on.

Can be used Thread.priority method to get the priority and use of the thread Thread.priority= method to adjust the priority of the thread.

The priority of the thread defaults to 0. Those with higher priority executefaster.

An Thread can access all the data in its scope, but what if you need to access the data of other threads within one thread? The Thread class provides a way for threads to access each other’s data. You can simply use a thread as a Hash table in any thread. []= write data, use [] to read the data.

athr=Thread.new{Thread.current["name"]="Thread
A";Thread.stop}bthr=Thread.new{Thread.current["name"]="Thread
B";Thread.stop}cthr=Thread.new{Thread.current["name"]="Thread
C";Thread.stop}Thread.list.each{\|x\|puts"#{x.inspect}: #{x["name"]}"}

As you can see, using the thread as a Hash table, use the [] and []= method, we implement data sharing between threads.

6.44.11. Thread mutual exclusion #

Mutex (Mutal Exclusion = mutex) is a mechanism used in multithreaded programming to prevent two threads from reading and writing to the same common resource, such as global variables.

6.44.12. Instances that do not use Mutax #

#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire'thread'count1=count2=0difference=0counter=
Thread.newdoloopdocount1+=1count2+=1endendspy=Thread.newdoloopdodifference+
=(count1-count2).absendendsleep1puts"count1
: #{count1}"puts"count2 : #{count2}"puts"difference : #{difference}"

count1 :  9712487
count2 :  12501239
difference : 0

6.44.13. An instance of using mutex #

#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire'thread'mutex=Mutex.newcount1=count2=0difference=0counter=Thread.newdoloopdomutex.synchronizedocount1+=1count2+=1endendendspy=Thread.newdoloopdomutex.synchronizedodifference+=(count1-count2).absendendendsleep1mutex.lockputs"count1
: #{count1}"puts"count2 : #{count2}"puts"difference : #{difference}"

count1 :  1336406
count2 :  1336406
difference : 0

6.44.14. Deadlock #

When there are more than two computing units, both sides are waiting for theother to stop running in order to obtain system resources, but when no one exits ahead of time, this situation is called deadlock.

For example, a process p1 takes up the monitor and must use the printer at the same time, while the printer is occupied by process p2, and p2 must use the monitor, thus forming a deadlock.

When we are using Mutex object needs to be aware of thread deadlocks.

#!/usr/bin/rubyrequire'thread'mutex=Mutex.newcv=ConditionVariable.newa=Thread.new{mutex.synchronize{puts"A:
I have critical section, but will wait for cv"cv.wait(mutex)puts"A: I
have critical section again! I rule!"} }puts"(Later, back at the
ranch...)"b=Thread.new{mutex.synchronize{puts"B: Now I am critical, but
am done with cv"cv.signalputs"B: I am still critical, finishing up"}
}a.joinb.join

A: I have critical section, but will wait for cv
(Later, back at the ranch...)
B: Now I am critical, but am done with cv
B: I am still critical, finishing up
A: I have critical section again! I rule!

6.44.15. Thread class method #

The complete Thread class method is as follows:

6.44.16. Thread instantiation method #

The following example calls the thread instantiation method join :

#!/usr/bin/rubythr=Thread.newdo#instantiate puts"In second thread"raise"Raise
exception"endthr.join#Call Instantiation Method join