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Multi threading

 
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Skit3000
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Joined: 11 May 2002
Posts: 2166
Location: The Netherlands

PostPosted: Sun May 22, 2005 2:28 pm    Post subject: Multi threading Reply with quote

Recently I found a little article about Multi Threading on the IBasic forum. I converted it to VDS as far as I could, and it is already able to start a new thread. The only thing I can't get to work, is the 4th parameter of the CreateThread function, which should be used to pass variables or text to the newly created thread. Does anybody have any ideas?

Warning: You have to compile this code to an EXE and run the EXE file itself, don't start the program from within the IDE because it will then crash on shutdown.

Code:
# Sources:
# - http://www.pyxia.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=9799
# - http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dllproc/base/createthread.asp

#define command,mt
#define function,mt

option decimalsep,.

# The code below checks if a label should be started insteed of
# the normal code.
if @mt(label)
  goto @mt(label)
end

  DIALOG CREATE,Test Dialog,-1,0,240,272
REM *** Gewijzigd door de Dialoog Ontwerper op 22-5-2005 - 16:21 ***
  DIALOG ADD,EDIT,EDIT1,10,30,180,20
  DIALOG ADD,BUTTON,BUTTON1,40,30,180,20,Start a new thread
  DIALOG ADD,BUTTON,BUTTON2,190,30,180,20,Give a value to "%a"
  DIALOG ADD,BUTTON,BUTTON3,220,30,180,20,Read out the value
  DIALOG ADD,TEXT,TEXT1,160,30,,,These buttons are just for testing:
  DIALOG SHOW


:Evloop
wait event
%%Event = @event()
if %%Event
  goto %%Event
end
goto Evloop

:Button1button
# The line below should create a new thread and it
# should go to the label :Test
mt label, Test
# Run the code below while the new thread is executing
%%Text = Busy doing something...
%%Timer = 55
repeat
  dialog set,EDIT1,%%Text
  %%Text = @strdel(%%Text,1,1)@substr(%%Text,1,1)
  %%Timer = @pred(%%Timer)
  wait 0.1
until @equal(%%Timer,0)
goto Evloop

:Button2button
# Give %a a value and show the memory address of the variable
%a = Just some value
info @addr("%a")
goto Evloop

:Button3button
# This code can show the value of a variable if you specify
# the memory address
%c = @input(Enter a value)
info @mt(getvar, %c)
goto Evloop

:Close
# This will stop the current thread
mt stop
exit


:Test
# This code should be called by MT when creating a new thread
info New thread started!
wait 5
info New thread stopped!
stop




:mt
if @equal(%1,label)
  if @unequal(%2,)
    #mt label, <label>
    loadlib kernel32.dll
    # %a will contain the Thread ID of the newly created child
    %a = @fill(10)
    # %b contains the label which should be called in the new child
    %b = %2@chr(0)
    # This will start the new thread.
    %9 = @lib(kernel32.dll,CreateThread,INT:,0,0,@sum($401BE0),@addr("%b"),0,@addr("%a"))
    # Check if there occured any errors.
    if @unequal(%9,0)
      # No errors or whatsoever.
      # @val(@substr(%a,1,2))                   = Child Thread ID
      # @lib(kernel32,GetCurrentThreadId,INT:,) = Own Thread ID
    else
      # Something went wrong
      error 39
    end
    freelib kernel32.dll
    exit
  else
    # @mt(label)
    # This should return the label specified with mt label, <label>
    # THIS SHOULD STILL BE MADE!!!
    exit
  end
end
if @equal(%1,stop)
  # mt stop
  # This should stop this thread from running
  loadlib kernel32.dll
  %x = @lib(kernel32.dll,ExitThread,INT:,0)
  freelib kernel32.dll
end
if @equal(%1,getvar)
  # @mt(getvar, <varid>)
  # <varid> = @addr("%varname")
  %a = @fill(1024)
  loadlib kernel32
  # Put the value of %2 into %A
  %z = @lib(kernel32,RtlMoveMemory,INT:,@addr("%a"),%2,@len(%a))
  %a = @trim(%a)
  freelib kernel32
  exit %a
end
exit

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FreezingFire
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 12:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting... Smile
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Skit3000
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I can find a way to pass on a variable on creation of the new thread, I can make something to make subroutines which don't affect the main program when you run them, which can be useful when you are doing creating server programs or programs like a virusscanner... Smile

Another example of something for which multithreading can be useful to, is a program which manipulates files or large strings. The original thread can be used to show the status, while the second thread executes the real code. This way, your application will stay available for user input all the time, while the engine stay on executing... Smile

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jwfv
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can think of tons of uses for that functionality.
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Skit3000
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 7:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And it only needs a little more code to let it function so that you can easily use it... Wink
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Garrett
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Posts: 2149
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PostPosted: Mon May 23, 2005 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Who can't think of a ton of things to do with multithreading ability!!! Very Happy

I could use it for a ton of things I have right now.


I'll send you a box of virtual chocolate chip cookies if you get this all
sorted. Smile

(·:.) <- partially eaten virtual chocolate chip cookie Smile

-Garrett
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LiquidCode
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PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 1:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes that would be great. I could use that to create plugins for programs. I'll send you virtual Ice cream cones ( )>...well kind of... LOL Rolling Eyes
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Skit3000
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PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are some virtual plasters for the Stupid-s while developing... Razz

(::| . . |::)

Well, no joking now, does anybody know how to used the 4th parameter of the CreateThread function so I'm able to work this example out into a DSU? Smile

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Aslan
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PostPosted: Tue May 24, 2005 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why do you have %a and %b in quotes when using the @addr() function?

eg.

Code:
%9 = @lib(kernel32.dll,CreateThread,INT:,0,0,@sum($401BE0),@addr("%b"),0,@addr("%a"))
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Skit3000
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PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 6:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The @addr("%a") will receive the handle of the new thread, so you can control it from the parent thread. The @addr("%b") function is there to pass on a value to the new thread, in this case the parameter of the "mt label" command, so that the new thread knows what to do. My problem is that I am not able to read out the value of that @addr("%b") pointer with the new thread.

This is what MSDN says about the 4th parameter:

MSDN wrote:
lpParameter
[in] Pointer to a variable to be passed to the thread.


To retreive the lpParameter variable, you should call a function like "GetThreadStartInformation", which unfortunately is a Windows Server 2003 only function... Sad

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Skit3000
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PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 1:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, I found another way of doing this by setting a variable which can be accessed from every thread inside the process. But when the new thread is loaded, it seems that a lot of functions which require the kernel32.dll (or well, I guess) are simply skipped, like the "wait 10" command in the ": Testlabel" label below:

Code:
# Sources:
# - http://www.pyxia.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=9799
# - http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dllproc/base/createthread.asp

#define command,mt
#define function,mt

option decimalsep,.

# A dialog should be created before the @mt(label) can be used.
DIALOG CREATE,New Dialog,-1,0,240,160

# The code below checks if a label should be started insteed of
# the normal code.
if @mt(label)
  goto @mt(label)
end

  DIALOG CREATE,Test Dialog,-1,0,240,272
REM *** Gewijzigd door de Dialoog Ontwerper op 22-5-2005 - 16:21 ***
  DIALOG ADD,EDIT,EDIT1,10,30,180,20
  DIALOG ADD,BUTTON,BUTTON1,40,30,180,20,Start a new thread
  DIALOG SHOW

:Evloop
wait event
%%Event = @event()
if %%Event
  goto %%Event
end
goto Evloop

:Button1button
# The line below should create a new thread and it
# should go to the label :Testlabel
mt label, Testlabel
# Run the code below while the new thread is executing
%%Text = Busy doing something...
%%Timer = 55
repeat
  dialog set,EDIT1,%%Text
  %%Text = @strdel(%%Text,1,1)@substr(%%Text,1,1)
  %%Timer = @pred(%%Timer)
  wait 0.1
until @equal(%%Timer,0)
goto Evloop

:Close
# This will stop the current thread
mt stop
exit


:Testlabel
# This code should be called by MT when creating a new thread
info New thread started!
# Simulate heavy usage
wait 10
info New thread stopped!
mt stop






:mt
if @equal(%1,label)
  if @unequal(%2,)
    #mt label, <label>
    # Creates a new thread which will load the <label> label.
    loadlib kernel32.dll
    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Set the environment variable
    %a = label
    %b = %2
    %x = @lib(kernel32.dll,SetEnvironmentVariableA,BOOL:,INT:@addr("%a"),INT:@addr("%b"))
    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # %a will contain the Thread ID of the newly created child
    %a = @fill(10)
    # %b contains the label which should be called in the new child
    %b = %2@chr(0)
    # This will start the new thread.
    %9 = @lib(kernel32.dll,CreateThread,INT:,0,0,@sum($401BE0),@addr("%b"),0,@addr("%a"))
    # Check if there occured any errors.
    if @unequal(%9,0)
      # No errors or whatsoever.
      # @val(@substr(%a,1,2))                   = Child Thread ID
      # @lib(kernel32,GetCurrentThreadId,INT:,) = Own Thread ID
    else
      # Something went wrong
      error 39
    end
    freelib kernel32.dll
    exit
  else
    # @mt(label)
    # This should return the label specified with mt label, <label>
    # THIS SHOULD STILL BE MADE!!!
    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    loadlib kernel32.dll
    %a = label
    %b = @fill(100)
    %x = @lib(kernel32.dll,GetEnvironmentVariableA,BOOL:,INT:@addr("%a"),INT:@addr("%b"),@len(%b))
    freelib kernel32.dll
    # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    exit @trim(%b)
  end
end
if @equal(%1,stop)
  # mt stop
  # This should stop this thread from running
  loadlib kernel32.dll
  %x = @lib(kernel32.dll,ExitThread,INT:,0)
  freelib kernel32.dll
end
exit

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Aslan
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PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry, I'm still a bit confused Confused



Code:
 # Set the environment variable
      %a = label
      %b = %2
      %x = @lib(kernel32.dll,SetEnvironmentVariableA,BOOL:,INT:@addr("%a"),INT:@addr("%b"))


You set %a and %b but by putting them in quotes in the @lib() function you are passing the text "%a" and "%b" instead of "label" and whatever %2 is, respectfully. Or are the quotes needed to get the address of the variable itself.

Ummm, I think I just answered my own question Razz

Nevermind Insane
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jules
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PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Skit3000 wrote:
Ok, I found another way of doing this by setting a variable which can be accessed from every thread inside the process. But when the new thread is loaded, it seems that a lot of functions which require the kernel32.dll (or well, I guess) are simply skipped, like the "wait 10" command in the ": Testlabel" label below:


I didn't try any of this, but it seems like you might be running into a problem I encountered when combining sme DSUs. You can loadlib as many times as you like, but it takes only one freelib to free it.

It's better to loadlib at the start if the program, and free at the end of it, then your DSU cannot affect anthing else that might be using functions from the same DLL. Actually, you don't even need to free it, because VDS will do that when the program terminates.

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briguy
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Any update to this code? Is this a dead project or semi working?
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