Java is Multithreaded

Hype

There are many things going on at the same time in the world around us. Multithreading is a way of building applications with multiple threads[1] Unfortunately, writing programs that deal with many things happening at once can be much more difficult than writing in the conventional single-threaded C and C++ style.

Java has a sophisticated set of synchronization primitives that are based on the widely used monitor and condition variable paradigm introduced by C.A.R.Hoare[2]. By integrating these concepts into the language (rather than only in classes) they become much easier to use and are more robust.

Reality

Java's threading is relatively easy to use from the standpoint of the programmer. In fact it may be one of the easiest multithreaded environments around. However, it's just beginning to be integrated with host thread environments, and few VMs support multiple processors.

Bottom Line: B


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Copyright 1997 Elliotte Rusty Harold
elharo@sunsite.unc.edu
Last Modified Sunday, March 9, 1997