<font size=3>I really like the question:<br>
"What kinds of non-sequential programming tasks do we want to make<br>
easy...and how would we like to be able to specify those tasks?"<br>
<br>
in a language design sort of way - but I've not needed threads (save<br>
for on http related hack) so - anybody out there got any ideas?<br>
<br>
Over on a P6 list: </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Damian Conway wrote:</font>
<br><tt><font size=2>> Leon Timmermans wrote:<br>
> For the love of $DEITY, let's please not repeat ithreads!<br>
<br>
$AMEN!<br>
<br>
Backwards compatibility is not the major design criterion for Perl 6,<br>
so there's no need to recapitulate our own phylogeny here.<br>
<br>
The problem is: while most people can agree on what have proved to be<br>
unsatisfactory threading models, not many people can seem to agree on<br>
what would constititute a satisfactory threading model (or, possibly, models).<br>
<br>
What we really need is some anecdotal evidence from folks who are actually<br>
using threading in real-world situations (in *any* languages). What has
worked<br>
in practice? What has worked well? What was painful? What was error-prone?<br>
And for which kinds of tasks?<br>
<br>
And we also need to stand back a little further and ask: is "threading"<br>
the right approach at all? Do threads work in *any* language? Are there<br>
better metaphors?<br>
<br>
Perhaps we need to think more Perlishly and reframe the entire question.<br>
Not: "What threading model do we need?", but: "What kinds
of non-sequential<br>
programming tasks do we want to make easy...and how would we like to be<br>
able to specify those tasks?"<br>
<br>
As someone who doesn't (need to) use threading to solve the kinds of<br>
problems I work on, I'm well aware that I'm not the right person to help<br>
in this design work. We need those poor souls who already suffer under<br>
threads to share their tales of constant misery (and their occasional<br>
moments of triumph) so we can identify successful patterns of use<br>
and steal^Wborg^Wborrow the very best available solutions.<br>
<br>
Damian<br>
</font></tt>