Chapter 8. Introduction to POSIX threads

This chapter gives you an introduction to parallel programming on AIX using POSIX threads by providing several example programs that explain the following concepts:

• Creating and joining POSIX threads

• Mutexes (mutual exclusive locks)

• Condition variables

• Read-write locks

• Thread-specific data

• Thread scheduling

• Environment variables

For further information about POSIX thread programming on AIX, please refer to the following sections in AIX 5L Version 5.2 General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs:

• “Parallel Programming”

• “Programming on Multiprocessor Systems”

• “Threads Programming Guidelines”