The Thread Manager is now released as version 2.0.1. Licensing information for the Thread Manager 2.0.1 is included with this release with the intent to make it as easy as possible for developers to create and ship multithreaded applications.
Some important programming issues to remember when using the Thread Manager:
1) The Thread Manager supplies a Resource Manager fix which supports all machines except for the Mac Plus. On a Mac Plus only, the main thread should be the only thread which uses the Resource Manager. Specifically, calls to UpdateResFile or CloseResFile should only be made by the main application thread on a Mac Plus. All other Macintoshes support Resource Manager calls from any cooperative thread.
2) The Thread Manager supplies a QuickDraw fix for System 7.1 and later. Under low stack space situations QuickDraw had a nasty habit of allowing stack/heap collision crashes to occur. This fix applies only to System 7.1 or later. If users of System 7.0 or 7.0.1 are experiencing problems related to QuickDraw & stack/heap collisions, they should update their systems to 7.1 or later to fix the problem.
3) It is considered a programming error to allocate memory, or cause memory to be allocated, during preemptive execution time or from any thread other than the main application thread before the MaxApplZone routine has been called. See Inside Macintosh Memory for information on using memory and expanding the application heap.
4) The PowerPC Thread Manager does not support preemptive threads - never did, never will. You can only use cooperative threads with the Power Thread Manager. A future version of System Software will provide system wide preemptive tasking services.
5) You can't use 680x0 and PowerPC based threads in the same application. A 680x0 application can only use 680x0 threads and a PowerPC application can only use PowerPC based threads. It is considered a programming error to mix the two in a single application.
Compiling with the Power Thread Manager:
The information below is for use with the MPW based PowerPC compiler, found on the 'Macintosh on Risc SDK'. This CD is purchasable through APDA.
Included in the Compiler Stuff folder is an Interfaces folder and Libraries folder. Inside the Interfaces folder you'll find UniversalCIncludes:Threads.h. This is a Universal header file (meaning can be used to compile both 680x0 and power applications). Place this file in the CIncludes folder in your MPW folder (this assumes you are set up for compiling PowerPC applications). Inside the Libraries folder you'll find ThreadsLib.xcoff, this goes in the PPCLibraries folder. In your makefile, you link against ThreadsLib.xcoff file, done as follows:
PPCLink … "{PPCLibraries}"ThreadsLib.xcoff
Then add this line to your makepef command line inside your makefile:
makepef … -l ThreadsLib.xcoff=ThreadsLib
If you have any bug reports or comments, please don’t hesitate to link or write. You can contact us through the following:
Alink: DEVSUPPORT (provided you have Apple developer support access)
or
Eric Anderson: ALink: Eric3, AOL: ERICTHREE
...or place your comments in the Developer Talk bulletin boards on AppleLink, the internet, Compuserve, AOL, or some other public discussion area.
