Re: threads and libc

Dick Treumann (treumann@kgn.ibm.com)
Mon, 03 Mar 1997 11:11:15 -0500

I agree with Eric's concern about why text is needed related to MPI
using thread safe libraries. If an MPI implementation describes itself
as not supporting threads then the standard must not force it to use
thread safe libraries. If the implementation claims to support threads
then the use of thread safe libraries ought to go without saying.

No matter how sexy threads seem to some people, there will continue to
be well written programs which do not use them. If those programs can be
run on an MPI implementation which bypasses the costs of thread safe
libraries that should be permitted. (eg malloc cannot be thread safe
without a lock and that costs something)

If text like that on pg 170 is needed then it should be moved to the
discussion of what constitutes a threads safe MPI.

Dick 

-- 
Dick Treumann                               IBM RS/6000 Division
(Internet) treumann@pok.ibm.com             Poughkeepsie, NY
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