Download thread-library-11-c.hqx (421,272 KB)
From: "Ari I. Halberstadt"
Subject: ThreadLibrary-1.0
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 17:54:55 -0400 (EDT)
Thread Library is a free library, for use by Macintosh software developers,
that implements cooperative multiple thread execution within a single
application. Thread Library
- does not require any extensions;
- should work with all Macintosh models (from the Plus on up);
- works with system 7.x and with system 6.x under Finder or MultiFinder;
- runs in native mode on 680x0 and PowerPC* based Macintoshes;
- compiles into a small library of 3 to 8 kilobytes;
- works with the Symantec, Metrowerks, and MPW compilers.
The 680x0 version of Thread Library is 2-3 times faster than Apple's Thread
Manager. The PowerPC version of Thread Library is about 2 times faster than
Apple's Thread Manager.
Every thread has its own stack, and there are no restrictions on the
objects that can be allocated on a thread's stack. All other global
application data are shared by threads. Context switches are very
efficient since they involve only a few operations to save the current
thread's state, followed by a context switch to the new thread, and a
few instructions to restore the new thread's state. This distribution
includes:
- complete source code in C;
- detailed documentation in Microsoft Word 5.0 format;
- prebuilt libraries for 68K and PowerPC programs, including debug
versions of the libraries;
- a new interface that mimics Apple's Thread Manager;
- a simple test application that demonstrates how threads may be used;
- an application that compares the speed of Thread Library with the
speed of Apple's Thread Manager;
- Metrowerks CodeWarrior project files;
- AppleScript program for automatic builds.