How do I implement condition variables in my code?

How do I implement condition variables in my code?

Condition variables are synchronization primitives that enable threads to wait until a particular condition occurs. You can implement them using mutexes and condition variable functions provided by your programming language's threading library.

Can you give me a code example in C++?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#include <iostream>
#include <thread>
#include <mutex>
#include <condition_variable>

std::mutex mtx;
std::condition_variable cv;
bool ready = false;

void worker() {
    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mtx);
    cv.wait(lock, [] { return ready; }); // Wait until ready is true
    std::cout << "Worker thread is running!" << std::endl;
}

int main() {
    std::thread t(worker);
    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));
    {
        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mtx);
        ready = true;
    }
    cv.notify_one(); // Notify the worker thread
    t.join();
    return 0;
}

What are the common pitfalls when using condition variables?

Common pitfalls include forgetting to lock the mutex before accessing shared data, failing to notify waiting threads, and potential deadlocks if not managed properly.