Unix IPC primitives

POSIX support for monitors

Standard POSIX, IEEE 1003.1c, defines a programming interface (API) for the creation and synchronization of threads.

• In unix, this interface is implemented by the pthread library.

It allows for the implementation of monitors in C/C++.

• Using mutexes and condition variables.

• Note that they are of the Lampson / Redell type.

Some of the available functions:

• pthread_create - creates a new thread, similar to fork.

• pthread_exit - equivalent to exit.

• pthread_join - equivalent to waitpid.

• pthread_self - equivalent to getpid().

• pthread_mutex_* - manipulation of mutexes.

• pthread_cond_* - manipulation of condition variables.

• pthread_once - initialization.