How do I use mutexes in programming?

What are mutexes and how do I use them in my code?

Mutexes, or mutual exclusions, are used to prevent multiple threads from accessing shared resources simultaneously. You can use them in programming by creating a mutex object and locking it before accessing the shared resource.

Can you show me a simple example of using a mutex in Python?

Sure! Here's a basic example:

import threading

mutex = threading.Lock()

shared_resource = 0

def thread_function():
    global shared_resource
    mutex.acquire()
    try:
        shared_resource += 1
    finally:
        mutex.release()

threads = [threading.Thread(target=thread_function) for _ in range(10)]
for thread in threads:
    thread.start()
for thread in threads:
    thread.join()

print(shared_resource)

What happens if I forget to release the mutex?

If you forget to release the mutex, it can lead to a deadlock situation where other threads are unable to access the shared resource, causing your program to hang.

Are there any alternatives to mutexes?

Yes, alternatives include semaphores, read-write locks, and condition variables, each with its own use cases and benefits.