This chapter provided an overview of two threading APIs: the Microsoft Windows model, and the POSIX threads (Pthreads) model. When developing applications based on these APIs, you should keep the following points in mind:

• Multi-threaded applications targeting Microsoft Windows can be written in either native or managed code.

• Since the CreateThread() function does not perform per-thread initialization of C runtime datablocks and variables, you cannot reliably use CreateThread() in any application that uses the C runtime library. Use _beginthreadex() function instead.

• Thread termination should be handled very carefully. Avoid using functions such as TerminateThread().

• Threads can communicate with one another using Events.

• Thread synchronization may be accomplished through the use of Mutexes, Semaphores, CriticalSections, and Interlocked functions.

• Thread pool support is built into the API.

• Windows supports multiple thread-priority levels.

• Processor affinity is a mechanism that allows the programmer to specify which processor a thread should try to run on.

• POSIX threads (Pthreads) is a portable threading API that is supported on a number of platforms.

• Different platforms support different Pthreads capabilities. Features may not be available in all Pthreads environments.