Why we need pthread_barrier_t?

  • When multiple threads are working together, it might be required that the threads wait for each other at a certain event or point in the program before proceeding ahead.
  • Let us say we have four threads, each of which is going to initialize a global variable. The 4 variables, in turn, might be used by all the four threads. Thus it would be feasible that all the threads wait for each other to finish the initialization of the variables before proceeding.
  • Such operations can be implemented by adding a barrier in the thread. A barrier is a point where the thread is going to wait for other threads and will proceed further only when a predefined number of threads reach the same barrier in their respective programs. To use a barrier we need to use variables of the type pthread_barrier_t.

Example

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#include<stdio.h>
#include<stdlib.h>
#include<unistd.h>
#include<pthread.h>
#include<syscall.h>

pthread_barrier_t barrier;

void *func1(void *arg)
{
    int var = 0;
    printf("Thread1: my id is %d and my parent id is %d\n", syscall(SYS_gettid), getpid());
    while(var < 5) {
        printf("Thread1: var is %d\n", var);
        var++;
        sleep(1);
    }
    pthread_barrier_wait(&barrier);
    printf("Thread1 exiting.....\n");
    pthread_exit(0);
}

void *func2(void *arg)
{
    int var = 0;
    printf("Thread2: my id is %d and my parent id is %d\n", syscall(SYS_gettid), getpid());
    while(var < 7) {
        printf("Thread2: var is %d\n", var);
        var++;
        sleep(1);
    }
    pthread_barrier_wait(&barrier);
    printf("Thread2 exiting.....\n");
    pthread_exit(0);
}

void *func3(void *arg)
{
    int var = 0;
    printf("Thread3: my id is %d and my parent id is %d\n", syscall(SYS_gettid), getpid());
    while(var < 9) {
        printf("Thread3: var is %d\n", var);
        var++;
        sleep(1);
    }
    pthread_barrier_wait(&barrier);
    printf("Thread3 exiting.....\n");
    pthread_exit(0);
}

int main()
{
    pthread_t thread1, thread2, thread3;

    pthread_barrier_init(&barrier, NULL, 3);

    printf("I am parent: %d\n", getpid());

    if (pthread_create(&thread1, NULL, func1, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_create for thread1 failed\n");
        return -1;
    }

    if (pthread_create(&thread2, NULL, func2, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_create for thread2 failed\n");
        return -1;
    }

    if (pthread_create(&thread3, NULL, func3, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_create for thread3 failed\n");
        return -1;
    }

    if (pthread_join(thread1, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_join failed thread1\n");
        return -1;
    } else
        printf("pthread_join success for thread1\n");

    if (pthread_join(thread2, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_join failed thread2\n");
        return -1;
    }else
               printf("pthread_join success for thread2\n");

    if (pthread_join(thread3, NULL) != 0) {
        perror("[FAIL]: pthread_join failed thread3\n");
        return -1;
    }else
               printf("pthread_join success for thread3\n");

    printf("[PASS]: barrier successful\n");
}