Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!mcdchg!laidbak!obdient!vpnet!akcs.dgy
From: akcs.dgy@vpnet.chi.il.us (Donald Yuniskis)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: re-entrant libraries - is C deficient?
Message-ID: <270c3137-57f.3comp.lang.c-1@vpnet.chi.il.us>
Date: 5 Oct 90 09:55:04 GMT
References: <3154@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU> <TOM.90Oct3071829@hcx2.ssd.csd.harris.
Lines: 13

>Back to the original point - the C library is definitely deficient when it
>comes to being re-entrant. The standard AT&T and/or Berkely source is chock
>full of global variables being used to pass junk around between internal
>static routines, etc. This becomes a real drag when you try to implement
>threads. The C library needs lots of work before it can be used safely from
>multiple threads of control...

Having just re-invented most of the standard libraries (string, math, stdio,
etc) from scratch for a project, I can heartily confirm this observation.  A
simple examination of the man pages for each function (with a _little_ bit
of thought) should point out most of the routines at risk.  Don't even
_THINK_ of using a "store bought" library if you're developing in a
multi-threaded environment!