[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Re: netcdf ncsync()

This archive contains answers to questions sent to Unidata support through mid-2025. Note that the archive is no longer being updated. We provide the archive for reference; many of the answers presented here remain technically correct, even if somewhat outdated. For the most up-to-date information on the use of NSF Unidata software and data services, please consult the Software Documentation first.

  • Subject: Re: netcdf ncsync()
  • Date: Wed, 14 Feb 1996 10:54:44 -0700
> Harvey was telling me some of this in IITA discussions.  Sounds very
> exciting.  Does process-level concurrency imply thread-safe?  I've heard
> one wish here in ATD that the netcdf library be MT-safe.
>

By "process level concurrency", I mean that it safe for multiple processes
to access it concurently, not multiple threads.

This is the goal for 3.0. The reason for this and not "MT-safe" is basically
that there currently are _portable_ primitives serializing access to file
structures between cooperating processes: fcntl() locking is in the POSIX
spec and is widely implemented.

The current situation with regards to threads is much bleaker.
There is a draft POSIX spec implemented on DEC OSF/1 and several other
incompatible interfaces on various operating systems. EG, it's
not ready for prime time. Since we are by no means experts in this area, we
are basically hanging out waiting until we have a consistant interface to
use.