This is the README for ThreadedApp.1.0.s.tar.gz [Download] [Browse] [Up]
ThreadedApp v 1.0
Chris Roehrig <croehrig@House.ORG>
March 1997
Writing multi-threaded applications in NEXTSTEP is not as easy as it could
be. I wrote ThreadedApp to make it easy to write multi-threaded
applications that use the AppKit. In particular, it provides an easy
mechanism for threads to use the AppKit features in a safe and robust way.
So now there's no excuse not to use threads! Let's make those Apps
RESPONSIVE!
ThreadedApp
Support for multi-threaded applications for NEXTSTEP 3.3.
ThreadedApp is a subclass of Application that contains the functionality of
the OpenStep NSThread object, but also provides increased support for
interaction with the AppKit. The AppKit is not thread-safe and only the
main thread can use it. All other threads must message the main thread
to perform any functions (drawing, etc) that involve the AppKit.
ThreadedApp does this by introducing the notion of callback methods.
This is a flexible mechanism whereby a thread can request that the main
application thread invoke a method on its behalf. This allows a thread
to have virtually full access to the AppKit in a way that is easy to
understand and use.
The callback mechanism uses Mach messages to make requests to the main
AppKit thread. The main thread only receives the messages when it is in
an event loop, so it is crucial that the main thread remains responsive to
events. (This is only good user-interface design anyways.)
ThreadedApp provides support for locking shared data or code via the
CJRLock and CJRConditionLock classes. These classes allow the main AppKit
thread to "block" while waiting to acquire a lock, but still remain
responsive to events so that other threads may still perform callbacks.
Send any bug reports, comments, etc. to Chris Roehrig <croehrig@House.ORG>
If you find ThreadedApp useful and are using it in an application, send me
a note; I'd like to hear about it!
Chris
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.