Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Andrew Johnson <[email protected]> · Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:16:19 -0500

Hi Michael,

On 2012-06-11 Michael Davidsaver wrote:
> A better thing to do might be
> 
> #if defined(vxWorks) || defined(__rtems__)
> typedef void* epicsSpinId
> #else
> typedef epicsMutexID* epicsSpinId
> #endif

Can we design the default implementation to use atomic variables instead of 
mutexes, unless there really is no alternative?  On a workstation OS the act 
of taking or releasing a mutex always requires a context switch, whereas an 
atomic operation does not.  Spin-lock operations are supposed to be lighter 
than a mutex ones on SMP, and that aspect of your suggestion is bothering me.

- Andrew
-- 
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.
-- Napoleon Bonaparte

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System