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NAME
threads - Perl interpreter-based threads
VERSION
This document describes threads version 2.26
WARNING
The "interpreter-based threads" provided by Perl are not the fast,
lightweight system for multitasking that one might expect or hope for.
Threads are implemented in a way that makes them easy to misuse. Few
people know how to use them correctly or will be able to provide help.
The use of interpreter-based threads in perl is officially discouraged.
SYNOPSIS
use threads ('yield',
'stack_size' => 64*4096,
'exit' => 'threads_only',
'stringify');
sub start_thread {
my @args = @_;
print('Thread started: ', join(' ', @args), "\n");
}
my $thr = threads->create('start_thread', 'argument');
$thr->join();
threads->create(sub { print("I am a thread\n"); })->join();
my $thr2 = async { foreach (@files) { ... } };
$thr2->join();
if (my $err = $thr2->error()) {
warn("Thread error: $err\n");
}
# Invoke thread in list context (implicit) so it can return a list
my ($thr) = threads->create(sub { return (qw/a b c/); });
# or specify list context explicitly
my $thr = threads->create({'context' => 'list'},
sub { return (qw/a b c/); });
my @results = $thr->join();
$thr->detach();
# Get a thread's object
$thr = threads->self();
$thr = threads->object($tid);
# Get a thread's ID
$tid = threads->tid();
$tid = $thr->tid();
$tid = "$thr";
# Give other threads a chance to run
threads->yield();
yield();
# Lists of non-detached threads
my @threads = threads->list();
my $thread_count = threads->list();
my @running = threads->list(threads::running);
my @joinable = threads->list(threads::joinable);
# Test thread objects
if ($thr1 == $thr2) {
...
}
# Manage thread stack size
$stack_size = threads->get_stack_size();
$old_size = threads->set_stack_size(32*4096);
# Create a thread with a specific context and stack size
my $thr = threads->create({ 'context' => 'list',
'stack_size' => 32*4096,
'exit' => 'thread_only' },
\&foo);
# Get thread's context
my $wantarray = $thr->wantarray();
# Check thread's state
if ($thr->is_running()) {
sleep(1);
}
if ($thr->is_joinable()) {
$thr->join();
}
# Send a signal to a thread
$thr->kill('SIGUSR1');
# Exit a thread
threads->exit();
DESCRIPTION
Since Perl 5.8, thread programming has been available using a model
called *interpreter threads* which provides a new Perl interpreter for
each thread, and, by default, results in no data or state information
being shared between threads.
(Prior to Perl 5.8, *5005threads* was available through the "Thread.pm"
API. This threading model has been deprecated, and was removed as of
Perl 5.10.0.)
As just mentioned, all variables are, by default, thread local. To use
shared variables, you need to also load threads::shared:
use threads;
use threads::shared;
When loading threads::shared, you must "use threads" before you "use
threads::shared". ("threads" will emit a warning if you do it the other
way around.)
It is strongly recommended that you enable threads via "use threads" as
early as possible in your script.
If needed, scripts can be written so as to run on both threaded and
non-threaded Perls:
my $can_use_threads = eval 'use threads; 1';
if ($can_use_threads) {
# Do processing using threads
...
} else {
# Do it without using threads
...
}
$thr = threads->create(FUNCTION, ARGS)
This will create a new thread that will begin execution with the
specified entry point function, and give it the *ARGS* list as
parameters. It will return the corresponding threads object, or
"undef" if thread creation failed.
*FUNCTION* may either be the name of a function, an anonymous
subroutine, or a code ref.
my $thr = threads->create('func_name', ...);
# or
my $thr = threads->create(sub { ... }, ...);
# or
my $thr = threads->create(\&func, ...);
The "->new()" method is an alias for "->create()".
$thr->join()
This will wait for the corresponding thread to complete its
execution. When the thread finishes, "->join()" will return the
return value(s) of the entry point function.
The context (void, scalar or list) for the return value(s) for
"->join()" is determined at the time of thread creation.
# Create thread in list context (implicit)
my ($thr1) = threads->create(sub {
my @results = qw(a b c);
return (@results);
});
# or (explicit)
my $thr1 = threads->create({'context' => 'list'},
sub {
my @results = qw(a b c);
return (@results);
});
# Retrieve list results from thread
my @res1 = $thr1->join();
# Create thread in scalar context (implicit)
my $thr2 = threads->create(sub {
my $result = 42;
return ($result);
});
# Retrieve scalar result from thread
my $res2 = $thr2->join();
# Create a thread in void context (explicit)
my $thr3 = threads->create({'void' => 1},
sub { print("Hello, world\n"); });
# Join the thread in void context (i.e., no return value)
$thr3->join();
See "THREAD CONTEXT" for more details.
If the program exits without all threads having either been joined
or detached, then a warning will be issued.
Calling "->join()" or "->detach()" on an already joined thread will
cause an error to be thrown.
$thr->detach()
Makes the thread unjoinable, and causes any eventual return value to
be discarded. When the program exits, any detached threads that are
still running are silently terminated.
If the program exits without all threads having either been joined
or detached, then a warning will be issued.
Calling "->join()" or "->detach()" on an already detached thread
will cause an error to be thrown.
threads->detach()
Class method that allows a thread to detach itself.
threads->self()
Class method that allows a thread to obtain its own *threads*
object.
$thr->tid()
Returns the ID of the thread. Thread IDs are unique integers with
the main thread in a program being 0, and incrementing by 1 for
every thread created.
threads->tid()
Class method that allows a thread to obtain its own ID.
"$thr"
If you add the "stringify" import option to your "use threads"
declaration, then using a threads object in a string or a string
context (e.g., as a hash key) will cause its ID to be used as the
value:
use threads qw(stringify);
my $thr = threads->create(...);
print("Thread $thr started\n"); # Prints: Thread 1 started
threads->object($tid)
This will return the *threads* object for the *active* thread
associated with the specified thread ID. If $tid is the value for
the current thread, then this call works the same as "->self()".
Otherwise, returns "undef" if there is no thread associated with the
TID, if the thread is joined or detached, if no TID is specified or
if the specified TID is undef.
threads->yield()
This is a suggestion to the OS to let this thread yield CPU time to
other threads. What actually happens is highly dependent upon the
underlying thread implementation.
You may do "use threads qw(yield)", and then just use "yield()" in
your code.
threads->list()
threads->list(threads::all)
threads->list(threads::running)
threads->list(threads::joinable)
With no arguments (or using "threads::all") and in a list context,
returns a list of all non-joined, non-detached *threads* objects. In
a scalar context, returns a count of the same.
With a *true* argument (using "threads::running"), returns a list of
all non-joined, non-detached *threads* objects that are still
running.
With a *false* argument (using "threads::joinable"), returns a list
of all non-joined, non-detached *threads* objects that have finished
running (i.e., for which "->join()" will not *block*).
$thr1->equal($thr2)
Tests if two threads objects are the same thread or not. This is
overloaded to the more natural forms:
if ($thr1 == $thr2) {
print("Threads are the same\n");
}
# or
if ($thr1 != $thr2) {
print("Threads differ\n");
}
(Thread comparison is based on thread IDs.)
async BLOCK;
"async" creates a thread to execute the block immediately following
it. This block is treated as an anonymous subroutine, and so must
have a semicolon after the closing brace. Like "threads->create()",
"async" returns a *threads* object.
$thr->error()
Threads are executed in an "eval" context. This method will return
"undef" if the thread terminates *normally*. Otherwise, it returns
the value of $@ associated with the thread's execution status in its
"eval" context.
$thr->_handle()
This *private* method returns a pointer (i.e., the memory location
expressed as an unsigned integer) to the internal thread structure
associated with a threads object. For Win32, this is a pointer to
the "HANDLE" value returned by "CreateThread" (i.e., "HANDLE *");
for other platforms, it is a pointer to the "pthread_t" structure
used in the "pthread_create" call (i.e., "pthread_t *").
This method is of no use for general Perl threads programming. Its
intent is to provide other (XS-based) thread modules with the
capability to access, and possibly manipulate, the underlying thread
structure associated with a Perl thread.
threads->_handle()
Class method that allows a thread to obtain its own *handle*.
EXITING A THREAD
The usual method for terminating a thread is to return() from the entry
point function with the appropriate return value(s).
threads->exit()
If needed, a thread can be exited at any time by calling
"threads->exit()". This will cause the thread to return "undef" in a
scalar context, or the empty list in a list context.
When called from the *main* thread, this behaves the same as
exit(0).
threads->exit(status)
When called from a thread, this behaves like "threads->exit()"
(i.e., the exit status code is ignored).
When called from the *main* thread, this behaves the same as
"exit(status)".
die()
Calling "die()" in a thread indicates an abnormal exit for the
thread. Any $SIG{__DIE__} handler in the thread will be called
first, and then the thread will exit with a warning message that
will contain any arguments passed in the "die()" call.
exit(status)
Calling exit() inside a thread causes the whole application to
terminate. Because of this, the use of "exit()" inside threaded
code, or in modules that might be used in threaded applications, is
strongly discouraged.
If "exit()" really is needed, then consider using the following:
threads->exit() if threads->can('exit'); # Thread friendly
exit(status);
use threads 'exit' => 'threads_only'
This globally overrides the default behavior of calling "exit()"
inside a thread, and effectively causes such calls to behave the
same as "threads->exit()". In other words, with this setting,
calling "exit()" causes only the thread to terminate.
Because of its global effect, this setting should not be used inside
modules or the like.
The *main* thread is unaffected by this setting.
threads->create({'exit' => 'thread_only'}, ...)
This overrides the default behavior of "exit()" inside the newly
created thread only.
$thr->set_thread_exit_only(boolean)
This can be used to change the *exit thread only* behavior for a
thread after it has been created. With a *true* argument, "exit()"
will cause only the thread to exit. With a *false* argument,
"exit()" will terminate the application.
The *main* thread is unaffected by this call.
threads->set_thread_exit_only(boolean)
Class method for use inside a thread to change its own behavior for
"exit()".
The *main* thread is unaffected by this call.
THREAD STATE
The following boolean methods are useful in determining the *state* of a
thread.
$thr->is_running()
Returns true if a thread is still running (i.e., if its entry point
function has not yet finished or exited).
$thr->is_joinable()
Returns true if the thread has finished running, is not detached and
has not yet been joined. In other words, the thread is ready to be
joined, and a call to "$thr->join()" will not *block*.
$thr->is_detached()
Returns true if the thread has been detached.
threads->is_detached()
Class method that allows a thread to determine whether or not it is
detached.
THREAD CONTEXT
As with subroutines, the type of value returned from a thread's entry
point function may be determined by the thread's *context*: list, scalar
or void. The thread's context is determined at thread creation. This is
necessary so that the context is available to the entry point function
via wantarray(). The thread may then specify a value of the appropriate
type to be returned from "->join()".
Explicit context
Because thread creation and thread joining may occur in different
contexts, it may be desirable to state the context explicitly to the
thread's entry point function. This may be done by calling "->create()"
with a hash reference as the first argument:
my $thr = threads->create({'context' => 'list'}, \&foo);
...
my @results = $thr->join();
In the above, the threads object is returned to the parent thread in
scalar context, and the thread's entry point function "foo" will be
called in list (array) context such that the parent thread can receive a
list (array) from the "->join()" call. ('array' is synonymous with
'list'.)
Similarly, if you need the threads object, but your thread will not be
returning a value (i.e., *void* context), you would do the following:
my $thr = threads->create({'context' => 'void'}, \&foo);
...
$thr->join();
The context type may also be used as the *key* in the hash reference
followed by a *true* value:
threads->create({'scalar' => 1}, \&foo);
...
my ($thr) = threads->list();
my $result = $thr->join();
Implicit context
If not explicitly stated, the thread's context is implied from the
context of the "->create()" call:
# Create thread in list context
my ($thr) = threads->create(...);
# Create thread in scalar context
my $thr = threads->create(...);
# Create thread in void context
threads->create(...);
$thr->wantarray()
This returns the thread's context in the same manner as wantarray().
threads->wantarray()
Class method to return the current thread's context. This returns the
same value as running wantarray() inside the current thread's entry
point function.
THREAD STACK SIZE
The default per-thread stack size for different platforms varies
significantly, and is almost always far more than is needed for most
applications. On Win32, Perl's makefile explicitly sets the default
stack to 16 MB; on most other platforms, the system default is used,
which again may be much larger than is needed.
By tuning the stack size to more accurately reflect your application's
needs, you may significantly reduce your application's memory usage, and
increase the number of simultaneously running threads.
Note that on Windows, address space allocation granularity is 64 KB,
therefore, setting the stack smaller than that on Win32 Perl will not
save any more memory.
threads->get_stack_size();
Returns the current default per-thread stack size. The default is
zero, which means the system default stack size is currently in use.
$size = $thr->get_stack_size();
Returns the stack size for a particular thread. A return value of
zero indicates the system default stack size was used for the
thread.
$old_size = threads->set_stack_size($new_size);
Sets a new default per-thread stack size, and returns the previous
setting.
Some platforms have a minimum thread stack size. Trying to set the
stack size below this value will result in a warning, and the
minimum stack size will be used.
Some Linux platforms have a maximum stack size. Setting too large of
a stack size will cause thread creation to fail.
If needed, $new_size will be rounded up to the next multiple of the
memory page size (usually 4096 or 8192).
Threads created after the stack size is set will then either call
"pthread_attr_setstacksize()" *(for pthreads platforms)*, or supply
the stack size to "CreateThread()" *(for Win32 Perl)*.
(Obviously, this call does not affect any currently extant threads.)
use threads ('stack_size' => VALUE);
This sets the default per-thread stack size at the start of the
application.
$ENV{'PERL5_ITHREADS_STACK_SIZE'}
The default per-thread stack size may be set at the start of the
application through the use of the environment variable
"PERL5_ITHREADS_STACK_SIZE":
PERL5_ITHREADS_STACK_SIZE=1048576
export PERL5_ITHREADS_STACK_SIZE
perl -e'use threads; print(threads->get_stack_size(), "\n")'
This value overrides any "stack_size" parameter given to "use
threads". Its primary purpose is to permit setting the per-thread
stack size for legacy threaded applications.
threads->create({'stack_size' => VALUE}, FUNCTION, ARGS)
To specify a particular stack size for any individual thread, call
"->create()" with a hash reference as the first argument:
my $thr = threads->create({'stack_size' => 32*4096},
\&foo, @args);
$thr2 = $thr1->create(FUNCTION, ARGS)
This creates a new thread ($thr2) that inherits the stack size from
an existing thread ($thr1). This is shorthand for the following:
my $stack_size = $thr1->get_stack_size();
my $thr2 = threads->create({'stack_size' => $stack_size},
FUNCTION, ARGS);
THREAD SIGNALLING
When safe signals is in effect (the default behavior - see "Unsafe
signals" for more details), then signals may be sent and acted upon by
individual threads.
$thr->kill('SIG...');
Sends the specified signal to the thread. Signal names and
(positive) signal numbers are the same as those supported by kill().
For example, 'SIGTERM', 'TERM' and (depending on the OS) 15 are all
valid arguments to "->kill()".
Returns the thread object to allow for method chaining:
$thr->kill('SIG...')->join();
Signal handlers need to be set up in the threads for the signals they
are expected to act upon. Here's an example for *cancelling* a thread:
use threads;
sub thr_func
{
# Thread 'cancellation' signal handler
$SIG{'KILL'} = sub { threads->exit(); };
...
}
# Create a thread
my $thr = threads->create('thr_func');
...
# Signal the thread to terminate, and then detach
# it so that it will get cleaned up automatically
$thr->kill('KILL')->detach();
Here's another simplistic example that illustrates the use of thread
signalling in conjunction with a semaphore to provide rudimentary
*suspend* and *resume* capabilities:
use threads;
use Thread::Semaphore;
sub thr_func
{
my $sema = shift;
# Thread 'suspend/resume' signal handler
$SIG{'STOP'} = sub {
$sema->down(); # Thread suspended
$sema->up(); # Thread resumes
};
...
}
# Create a semaphore and pass it to a thread
my $sema = Thread::Semaphore->new();
my $thr = threads->create('thr_func', $sema);
# Suspend the thread
$sema->down();
$thr->kill('STOP');
...
# Allow the thread to continue
$sema->up();
CAVEAT: The thread signalling capability provided by this module does
not actually send signals via the OS. It *emulates* signals at the
Perl-level such that signal handlers are called in the appropriate
thread. For example, sending "$thr->kill('STOP')" does not actually
suspend a thread (or the whole process), but does cause a $SIG{'STOP'}
handler to be called in that thread (as illustrated above).
As such, signals that would normally not be appropriate to use in the
"kill()" command (e.g., "kill('KILL', $$)") are okay to use with the
"->kill()" method (again, as illustrated above).
Correspondingly, sending a signal to a thread does not disrupt the
operation the thread is currently working on: The signal will be acted
upon after the current operation has completed. For instance, if the
thread is *stuck* on an I/O call, sending it a signal will not cause the
I/O call to be interrupted such that the signal is acted up immediately.
Sending a signal to a terminated/finished thread is ignored.
WARNINGS
Perl exited with active threads:
If the program exits without all threads having either been joined
or detached, then this warning will be issued.
NOTE: If the *main* thread exits, then this warning cannot be
suppressed using "no warnings 'threads';" as suggested below.
Thread creation failed: pthread_create returned #
See the appropriate *man* page for "pthread_create" to determine the
actual cause for the failure.
Thread # terminated abnormally: ...
A thread terminated in some manner other than just returning from
its entry point function, or by using "threads->exit()". For
example, the thread may have terminated because of an error, or by
using "die".
Using minimum thread stack size of #
Some platforms have a minimum thread stack size. Trying to set the
stack size below this value will result in the above warning, and
the stack size will be set to the minimum.
Thread creation failed: pthread_attr_setstacksize(*SIZE*) returned 22
The specified *SIZE* exceeds the system's maximum stack size. Use a
smaller value for the stack size.
If needed, thread warnings can be suppressed by using:
no warnings 'threads';
in the appropriate scope.
ERRORS
This Perl not built to support threads
The particular copy of Perl that you're trying to use was not built
using the "useithreads" configuration option.
Having threads support requires all of Perl and all of the XS
modules in the Perl installation to be rebuilt; it is not just a
question of adding the threads module (i.e., threaded and
non-threaded Perls are binary incompatible).
Cannot change stack size of an existing thread
The stack size of currently extant threads cannot be changed,
therefore, the following results in the above error:
$thr->set_stack_size($size);
Cannot signal threads without safe signals
Safe signals must be in effect to use the "->kill()" signalling
method. See "Unsafe signals" for more details.
Unrecognized signal name: ...
The particular copy of Perl that you're trying to use does not
support the specified signal being used in a "->kill()" call.
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
Before you consider posting a bug report, please consult, and possibly
post a message to the discussion forum to see if what you've encountered
is a known problem.
Thread-safe modules
See "Making your module threadsafe" in perlmod when creating modules
that may be used in threaded applications, especially if those
modules use non-Perl data, or XS code.
Using non-thread-safe modules
Unfortunately, you may encounter Perl modules that are not
*thread-safe*. For example, they may crash the Perl interpreter
during execution, or may dump core on termination. Depending on the
module and the requirements of your application, it may be possible
to work around such difficulties.
If the module will only be used inside a thread, you can try loading
the module from inside the thread entry point function using
"require" (and "import" if needed):
sub thr_func
{
require Unsafe::Module
# Unsafe::Module->import(...);
....
}
If the module is needed inside the *main* thread, try modifying your
application so that the module is loaded (again using "require" and
"->import()") after any threads are started, and in such a way that
no other threads are started afterwards.
If the above does not work, or is not adequate for your application,
then file a bug report on <https://rt.cpan.org/Public/> against the
problematic module.
Memory consumption
On most systems, frequent and continual creation and destruction of
threads can lead to ever-increasing growth in the memory footprint
of the Perl interpreter. While it is simple to just launch threads
and then "->join()" or "->detach()" them, for long-lived
applications, it is better to maintain a pool of threads, and to
reuse them for the work needed, using queues to notify threads of
pending work. The CPAN distribution of this module contains a simple
example (examples/pool_reuse.pl) illustrating the creation, use and
monitoring of a pool of *reusable* threads.
Current working directory
On all platforms except MSWin32, the setting for the current working
directory is shared among all threads such that changing it in one
thread (e.g., using "chdir()") will affect all the threads in the
application.
On MSWin32, each thread maintains its own the current working
directory setting.
Locales
Prior to Perl 5.28, locales could not be used with threads, due to
various race conditions. Starting in that release, on systems that
implement thread-safe locale functions, threads can be used, with
some caveats. This includes Windows starting with Visual Studio
2005, and systems compatible with POSIX 2008. See "Multi-threaded
operation" in perllocale.
Each thread (except the main thread) is started using the C locale.
The main thread is started like all other Perl programs; see
"ENVIRONMENT" in perllocale. You can switch locales in any thread as
often as you like.
If you want to inherit the parent thread's locale, you can, in the
parent, set a variable like so:
$foo = POSIX::setlocale(LC_ALL, NULL);
and then pass to threads->create() a sub that closes over $foo.
Then, in the child, you say
POSIX::setlocale(LC_ALL, $foo);
Or you can use the facilities in threads::shared to pass $foo; or if
the environment hasn't changed, in the child, do
POSIX::setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
Environment variables
Currently, on all platforms except MSWin32, all *system* calls
(e.g., using "system()" or back-ticks) made from threads use the
environment variable settings from the *main* thread. In other
words, changes made to %ENV in a thread will not be visible in
*system* calls made by that thread.
To work around this, set environment variables as part of the
*system* call. For example:
my $msg = 'hello';
system("FOO=$msg; echo \$FOO"); # Outputs 'hello' to STDOUT
On MSWin32, each thread maintains its own set of environment
variables.
Catching signals
Signals are *caught* by the main thread (thread ID = 0) of a script.
Therefore, setting up signal handlers in threads for purposes other
than "THREAD SIGNALLING" as documented above will not accomplish
what is intended.
This is especially true if trying to catch "SIGALRM" in a thread. To
handle alarms in threads, set up a signal handler in the main
thread, and then use "THREAD SIGNALLING" to relay the signal to the
thread:
# Create thread with a task that may time out
my $thr = threads->create(sub {
threads->yield();
eval {
$SIG{ALRM} = sub { die("Timeout\n"); };
alarm(10);
... # Do work here
alarm(0);
};
if ($@ =~ /Timeout/) {
warn("Task in thread timed out\n");
}
};
# Set signal handler to relay SIGALRM to thread
$SIG{ALRM} = sub { $thr->kill('ALRM') };
... # Main thread continues working
Parent-child threads
On some platforms, it might not be possible to destroy *parent*
threads while there are still existing *child* threads.
Unsafe signals
Since Perl 5.8.0, signals have been made safer in Perl by postponing
their handling until the interpreter is in a *safe* state. See "Safe
Signals" in perl58delta and "Deferred Signals (Safe Signals)" in
perlipc for more details.
Safe signals is the default behavior, and the old, immediate, unsafe
signalling behavior is only in effect in the following situations:
* Perl has been built with "PERL_OLD_SIGNALS" (see "perl -V").
* The environment variable "PERL_SIGNALS" is set to "unsafe" (see
"PERL_SIGNALS" in perlrun).
* The module Perl::Unsafe::Signals is used.
If unsafe signals is in effect, then signal handling is not
thread-safe, and the "->kill()" signalling method cannot be used.
Identity of objects returned from threads
When a value is returned from a thread through a "join" operation,
the value and everything that it references is copied across to the
joining thread, in much the same way that values are copied upon
thread creation. This works fine for most kinds of value, including
arrays, hashes, and subroutines. The copying recurses through array
elements, reference scalars, variables closed over by subroutines,
and other kinds of reference.
However, everything referenced by the returned value is a fresh copy
in the joining thread, even if a returned object had in the child
thread been a copy of something that previously existed in the
parent thread. After joining, the parent will therefore have a
duplicate of each such object. This sometimes matters, especially if
the object gets mutated; this can especially matter for private data
to which a returned subroutine provides access.
Returning blessed objects from threads
Returning blessed objects from threads does not work. Depending on
the classes involved, you may be able to work around this by
returning a serialized version of the object (e.g., using
Data::Dumper or Storable), and then reconstituting it in the joining
thread. If you're using Perl 5.10.0 or later, and if the class
supports shared objects, you can pass them via shared queues.
END blocks in threads
It is possible to add END blocks to threads by using require or eval
with the appropriate code. These "END" blocks will then be executed
when the thread's interpreter is destroyed (i.e., either during a
"->join()" call, or at program termination).
However, calling any threads methods in such an "END" block will
most likely *fail* (e.g., the application may hang, or generate an
error) due to mutexes that are needed to control functionality
within the threads module.
For this reason, the use of "END" blocks in threads is strongly
discouraged.
Open directory handles
In perl 5.14 and higher, on systems other than Windows that do not
support the "fchdir" C function, directory handles (see opendir)
will not be copied to new threads. You can use the "d_fchdir"
variable in Config.pm to determine whether your system supports it.
In prior perl versions, spawning threads with open directory handles
would crash the interpreter. [perl #75154]
<https://rt.perl.org/rt3/Public/Bug/Display.html?id=75154>
Detached threads and global destruction
If the main thread exits while there are detached threads which are
still running, then Perl's global destruction phase is not executed
because otherwise certain global structures that control the
operation of threads and that are allocated in the main thread's
memory may get destroyed before the detached thread is destroyed.
If you are using any code that requires the execution of the global
destruction phase for clean up (e.g., removing temp files), then do
not use detached threads, but rather join all threads before exiting
the program.
Perl Bugs and the CPAN Version of threads
Support for threads extends beyond the code in this module (i.e.,
threads.pm and threads.xs), and into the Perl interpreter itself.
Older versions of Perl contain bugs that may manifest themselves
despite using the latest version of threads from CPAN. There is no
workaround for this other than upgrading to the latest version of
Perl.
Even with the latest version of Perl, it is known that certain
constructs with threads may result in warning messages concerning
leaked scalars or unreferenced scalars. However, such warnings are
harmless, and may safely be ignored.
You can search for threads related bug reports at
<https://rt.cpan.org/Public/>. If needed submit any new bugs,
problems, patches, etc. to:
<https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=threads>
REQUIREMENTS
Perl 5.8.0 or later
SEE ALSO
threads on MetaCPAN: <https://metacpan.org/release/threads>
Code repository for CPAN distribution:
<https://github.com/Dual-Life/threads>
threads::shared, perlthrtut
<https://www.perl.com/pub/a/2002/06/11/threads.html> and
<https://www.perl.com/pub/a/2002/09/04/threads.html>
Perl threads mailing list: <https://lists.perl.org/list/ithreads.html>
Stack size discussion: <https://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=532956>
Sample code in the *examples* directory of this distribution on CPAN.
AUTHOR
Artur Bergman <sky AT crucially DOT net>
CPAN version produced by Jerry D. Hedden <jdhedden AT cpan DOT org>
LICENSE
threads is released under the same license as Perl.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Richard Soderberg <perl AT crystalflame DOT net> - Helping me out tons,
trying to find reasons for races and other weird bugs!
Simon Cozens <simon AT brecon DOT co DOT uk> - Being there to answer
zillions of annoying questions
Rocco Caputo <troc AT netrus DOT net>
Vipul Ved Prakash <mail AT vipul DOT net> - Helping with debugging
Dean Arnold <darnold AT presicient DOT com> - Stack size API
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