trusty (3) pthread_once.3posix.gz

NAME

       pthread_once - dynamic package initialization

SYNOPSIS

       #include <pthread.h>

       int pthread_once(pthread_once_t *once_control,
              void (*init_routine)(void));
       pthread_once_t once_control = PTHREAD_ONCE_INIT;

DESCRIPTION

       The  first  call  to pthread_once() by any thread in a process, with a given once_control, shall call the
       init_routine with no arguments. Subsequent calls of pthread_once() with the same once_control  shall  not
       call the init_routine. On return from pthread_once(), init_routine shall have completed. The once_control
       parameter shall determine whether the associated initialization routine has been called.

       The pthread_once() function is not a cancellation point. However, if init_routine is a cancellation point
       and is canceled, the effect on once_control shall be as if pthread_once() was never called.

       The constant PTHREAD_ONCE_INIT is defined in the <pthread.h> header.

       The  behavior  of  pthread_once()  is  undefined if once_control has automatic storage duration or is not
       initialized by PTHREAD_ONCE_INIT.

RETURN VALUE

       Upon successful completion, pthread_once() shall  return  zero;  otherwise,  an  error  number  shall  be
       returned to indicate the error.

ERRORS

       The pthread_once() function may fail if:

       EINVAL If either once_control or init_routine is invalid.

       The pthread_once() function shall not return an error code of [EINTR].

       The following sections are informative.

EXAMPLES

       None.

APPLICATION USAGE

       None.

RATIONALE

       Some  C  libraries  are  designed  for dynamic initialization. That is, the global initialization for the
       library is performed when the first procedure in the library is called.  In  a  single-threaded  program,
       this  is  normally  implemented  using a static variable whose value is checked on entry to a routine, as
       follows:

              static int random_is_initialized = 0;
              extern int initialize_random();

              int random_function()
              {
                  if (random_is_initialized == 0) {
                      initialize_random();
                      random_is_initialized = 1;
                  }
                  ... /* Operations performed after initialization. */
              }

       To keep the same structure in a multi-threaded program, a new primitive  is  needed.  Otherwise,  library
       initialization  has  to be accomplished by an explicit call to a library-exported initialization function
       prior to any use of the library.

       For dynamic library initialization in a multi-threaded process,  a  simple  initialization  flag  is  not
       sufficient;  the  flag  needs  to  be  protected  against modification by multiple threads simultaneously
       calling into the library. Protecting the flag requires the use of a mutex; however, mutexes  have  to  be
       initialized  before  they are used. Ensuring that the mutex is only initialized once requires a recursive
       solution to this problem.

       The use of pthread_once() not only supplies an implementation-guaranteed means of dynamic initialization,
       it  provides  an  aid to the reliable construction of multi-threaded and realtime systems.  The preceding
       example then becomes:

              #include <pthread.h>
              static pthread_once_t random_is_initialized = PTHREAD_ONCE_INIT;
              extern int initialize_random();

              int random_function()
              {
                  (void) pthread_once(&random_is_initialized, initialize_random);
                  ... /* Operations performed after initialization. */
              }

       Note that a pthread_once_t cannot be an  array  because  some  compilers  do  not  accept  the  construct
       &<array_name>.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

       None.

SEE ALSO

       The Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, <pthread.h>

COPYRIGHT

       Portions of this text are reprinted and reproduced in electronic form from IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition,
       Standard for Information Technology -- Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX), The Open  Group  Base
       Specifications Issue 6, Copyright (C) 2001-2003 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
       Inc and The Open Group. In the event of any discrepancy between this version and the  original  IEEE  and
       The  Open  Group  Standard,  the  original  IEEE and The Open Group Standard is the referee document. The
       original Standard can be obtained online at http://www.opengroup.org/unix/online.html .