How to lock/pause the thread running in another Class? - java

I have two classes. In Class1 I have a thread and in Class2 I have to pause/lock that thread which will be started immediately after the login. In my scenario, after the login (which is implemented in Class2) the Thread has to be made wait for some more additional login and getting data from DB. Please let me know how to control the Thread running in the other class from different class.
Class1:
public class Class1{
Class2 cls2 = new Class2();
cls2.logon();
// login which will start the thread in the Class2 as well
// Please suggest what should be done here
// DB realated stuff need be done here
// Have to unlock/resume the thread in Class2
}
Class2:
public class Class2{
public void receiveMessage(String str){
new StringProcessor(str);
}
public class StringProcessor implements Runnable {
//do some stuff but have to wait for the DB related stuff in Class1
}
public void logon(){
//Will create/logon the connection and the message will be start arriving
}
}
Actually after login there will be TCP/IP connection to receive the messages. The method receiveMessage() will be called whenever the message arrives. But I have to pause that
Cheers,
Sakthi. S

There are several approaches.
The wrong one is to use Thread.suspend/resume/destroy since they are deprecated and deadlock-prone.
You can either...
Implement your own signaling mechanism by using Object.wait, Object.notifyAll.
Use the Semaphore class or any other class in java.util.concurrent that suits your needs.

Related

java threading method within object with return value

I am pretty new to using multithreading, but I want to invoke a method asynchronously (in a separate Thread) rather than invoking it synchronously. The basic idea is that I'm creating a socket server with an object in memory, so for each client I will have to run something like object.getStuff() asynchronously.
The two constructs I found were:
having the class implement Runnable and threading this and
declaring a runnable class within a method.
Additionally this method needs a return value- will it be necessary to use Executor and Callable to achieve this? Could someone point me in the right direction for implementing this?
I have tried implement option 2, but this doesn't appear to be processing concurrently:
public class Test {
private ExecutorService exec = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(10);
public Thing getStuff(){
class Getter implements Callable<Thing>{
public Thing call(){
//do collection stuff
return Thing;
}
}
Callable<Thing> callable = new Getter();
Future<Thing> future = exec.submit(callable);
return future.get();
}
}
I am instantiating a single test object for the server and calling getStuff() for each client connection.
Threading Tutorial
The Java tutorial on concurrency has a good section on this. It's at https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/essential/concurrency/runthread.html. Essentially, you can either implement Runnable or Callable, or inherit from Thread.
Subclassing Thread
You can write a class, including an anonymous inner class, that extends Thread. Instantiate it, then invoke the start() method.
public class MyThread extends Thread {
public void run() {
System.out.println("This is a thread");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyThread m = new MyThread();
m.start();
}
}
Implementing Runnable
You can write a class that implements Runnable, then wrap an instance in a Thread and invoke start(). Very much like the previous.
public class MyRunnable implements Runnable {
public void run() {
System.out.println("This is a thread");
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyRunnable r = new MyRunnable();
(new Thread(r)).start();
}
}
Return Value
Runnable doesn't allow for return values. If you need that, you need to implement Callable instead. Callable looks a lot like Runnable, except you override the call() method instead of the run() method, and you need to give it to an ExecutorService.
public class MyCallable implements Callable<Integer> {
public Integer call() {
System.out.println("A thread using Callable<Integer>");
return 42;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
MyCallable c = new MyCallable();
Future<Integer> f = Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor().submit(c));
System.out.println("The thread returned: " +
f.get());
}
}
The two constructs I found were 1) having the class implement Runnable and threading 'this' and 2) declaring a runnable class within a method.
Option (2) probably is better. Most programs would be improved if they had more classes, not fewer. Each named entity in a program—each package, class, method, whatever—should have just one responsibility. In your option (1), you are asking the class to do two things.
For your option (2), you don't actually have to declare a whole class. You can either use an anonymous inner class, or if you can go with Java8 all the way, you can use a lambda expression. Google for either one to learn more.
Additionally this method needs a return value.
The classic way, is for the Runnable object to return the value through one of its own fields before the thread terminates. Then the parent thread, can examine the object and get the return value afterward.
Will it be necessary to use Executor and Callable to achieve this?
Necessary? A lot of people think that ExecutorService is a Good Thing.
Sounds like you are creating a server that serves multiple clients. Do these clients continually connect and disconnect? The advantage of using a thread pool (i.e., ThreadPoolExecutor) is that it saves your program from continually creating and destroying threads (e.g., every time a client connects/disconnects). Creating and destroying threads is expensive. If you have a lot of clients connecting and disconnecting, then using a thread pool could make a big difference in the performance of your server.
Creating and managing threads by yourself is generally bad approach.
As you already pointed - use Executors utility class to create executor and submit Callables to it.
public class RunWResult implements Runable{
private volatile ResultType var;
//the thread method
public void run(){
...
//generate a result and save it to var
var = someResult();
//notify waiting threads that a result has been generated
synchronized(this){
notify();
}
}
public ResultType runWithResult(){
//run the thread generating a result
Thread t = new Thread(this);
t.start();
//wait for t to create a result
try{
wait();
}catch(InterruptedException e){}
//return the result
return var;
}
}

Aperiodically trigger a thread to run in Java

My server aperiodically receives join requests from new clients. Upon receiving a new join request, the server runs a service that can be finished real quick. I implement the service as a Java class (called JC) implementing the Runnable interface. I have parameters within the JC class.
At the caller side, I like to have only one instance (or static) of the JC. My question is how to trigger the run() method in the JC every time. Please show me some code. Thanks.
Hope following edits make sense, which is my current implementation.
In the Server that wants to trigger thread executing:
public class Server {
private static RealService mm = new RealService();
private static void update(){
new Thread(mm).start();
}
}
In the Service class:
public class RealService implements Runnable{
#Override
public void run() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
// Do something
}
}
You're question is not really clear here, but I would suggest reading about TimerTask in Java
You could use a socket to listen for incoming requests, the server can spawn a new thread each time there is a request. Once the thread completes, you should intimate the client.
You could read about how a concurrent server works.

Java new Thread using this - Any reason if it is good / bad?

Just a quick question look at the code below, is there any reason why wouldn't do this or is it fine?
public class MyClass implements Runnable, MyClassInterface {
Thread threader;
void start() {
threader = new Thread(this);
threader.start();
}
#Override
public void run() {
Thread current = Thread.getCurrentThread();
while (threader = current) {
..
}
}
}
The original logic was not to expose that fact it runs in a separate thread to the caller
who creates a "MyClass" but then there are doubts if that is a good thing or bad.
Can anyone see any good reason not to do it or is it acceptable. It can be expected that MyClass.start() maybe called a few times.
EDIT: Updated the code to show it is implementing Runnable and one other interface, the interface is used by client code, the actual implementation may run in a separate thread, same thread or any other way. The idea was to abstract that away from the client, as the client is simply an object that "MyClass" will notify and is not aware (currently) of the Runnable interface it implements.
Perhaps that abstraction is not needed and client should have more control?
EDIT: The start() was simply to tell the object it is ready to start receiving notifications rather than start a thread.
Have a look at this: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/concurrency/threadPrimitiveDeprecation.html
In my opinion, it is a bad design, because you are breaking encapsulation by implementing an interface (Runnable) and by providing a public method (run) that are of no use of the consumer of the class.
You can start a thread from the start method without inhering from Runnable:
public class MyClass {
private Thread thread;
public void start() {
thread = new Thread(this::doWork); // Java 8 method reference
thread.start();
}
private void doWork() {
// ...
}
}
If you can't use method references from Java 8, replace this::doWork with:
new Runnable() { public void run() { doWork(); } }

Communication between thread inside a thread Java

I don't know how to solve this problem I hope that you can help me.
Behind Server side I have this:
class Baza0 implements Runnable{
anotherclass arraylist_handle = new anotherclass();
public method1(string s1){uses methods figured in arraylist_handle)
public run(){
while(true){
Socket s = s.accept();
if(s==NULL) continue;
//there I'm starting another thread that handles client connection
}
}
public static void main(){
Baza0 baza0 = new Baza0();
Thread t = new Thread(baza0);
}
}
Connected clients sends Strings by socketserver feature to client handler. How can I send this string from client handler to the method1 as parameter? It must use the only one Baza0 object, because of the ArrayList that must be common for all the clients.
EDIT
can someone tell me why something like Baza0.baza0.method1() won't work?
EDIT2
Look what I did!
I've made in Class Baza0 an static variable:
static Baza0 baza1;
and in main method I've started an Baza0 object:
Baza0 baza0 = new Baza0();
after this run the method that makes baza1 = baza0.
now from client handler I have access to method, by:
Baza0.baza1.method1(param);
It does work! :D ...don't know why.
If you are using the arraylist only for reading, then all the child threads are free to access it concurrently;
if the threads want to modify the list, then the list must be thread-safe;
if the modification involves many steps (reading and writing), then you must use synchronized blocks within which a "transaction" with the list happens.
Pass a Baza0 reference to Client Handler thread which can be used for calling method1.
public method1(string s1){
synchonized(arrayList){
//list operation
}
}
...
while(true){
Socket s = s.accept();
if(s==NULL) continue;
new Thread(
new WorkerRunnable(
clientSocket, this).start();
}
....
public class WorkerRunnable implements Runnable{
public WorkerRunnable(Socket socket,Baza0 ba){
this.socket = socket;
this.baza =ba;
}
public void run(){
...
this.ba.method1(...);
}
}
Your client thread must have a reference to that ArrayList - directly or (better) indirectly. Simplest way to do this is to pass Baza0 instance (this) to the client thread:
public class Client implements Runnable {
private final Baza0 baza;
public Client(Baza0 baza) {
this.baza = baza;
}
public void run() {
//...
baza.method1("Some string");
}
}
When you create your Client thread simply pass this:
new Thread(new Client(this)).start();
Important thread safety issue: method1() has to be synchronized or your ArrayList must be thread-safe.
I'd say what #Marko Topolnik said. Also I have a book Java Concurrency In Practice (that right now is not responding to me :-() or a link that led me to the book, in the blog The Java Specialists for handling thread issues. The book has examples of all queues, concurrent, synchronized lists, ways to implement code to do several things, etc, and all pretty straight forward, an example and a few paragraphs of every subject.

Threads; Creating a separate thread to periodically do something

As an addition to my current application, I need to create a separate thread which will periodically do some processing
I've create a new class to do all this, and this class will be loaded on startup of my application.
This is what I have so far :
public class PeriodicChecker extends Thread
{
static
{
Thread t = new Thread(new PeriodicChecker());
while(true)
{
t.run();
try
{
Thread.sleep(5000l);
}
catch (InterruptedException e)
{
e.printStackTrace();
}
}
}
/**
* Private constructor to prevent instantiation
*/
private PeriodicChecker()
{
}
#Override
public void run()
{
System.out.println("Thread is doing something");
// Actual business logic here, that is repeated
}
}
I want to make constructor private to prevent other people from attempting to instantiate this class accidentally. How can I achieve this?
Also, is there anything bad about my implementation of such requirements? I'm only creating one thread which will run then sleep, have I missed anything obvious? I haven't worked with threads before
Java offers ScheduledExecutorService to schedule and run periodic tasks or tasks with delay. It should provide all the features you need. Timer is another class that offers similar functionalities, but I would recommend the ScheduledExecutorService over Timer for its flexibility of configuration and better error management.
You have some conceptual erros in your code... for example:
You should call start() and not run(), because you are running the method sequentially and not simultaneously.
You can call start() only once, not once in each loop iteration. After that, the thread is in state TERMINATED, you should create a new thread to run it again
You should not create the thread in the static block, it is a bad practice, and maybe the Thread is running before you want it to run.
You should read some examples about thread, it is a little difficult to unserstand at the beginning, and you can have undesired effects very easily.
Here is a little example, that may do something similar to that you want:
public class PeriodicChecker extends Thread
{
#Override
public void run()
{
while(true) {
System.out.println("Thread is doing something");
Thread.sleep(5000);
}
}
}
public OtherClass {
public static void main(String args[]) {
Thread t = new PeriodicChecker();
t.start();
}
}
If you want that none can create a new Thread, you could create a singleton, so you will be sure that none is creating more threads.
I'd recommend you to consider Timer class - it provides functionality for periodic tasks execution.
Also you may take a look at "Timer & TimerTask versus Thread + sleep in Java" question discussion - there you can find some arguments and examples.
First of all to answer your specific question, you have already achieved your objective. You have declared your constructor to be private meaning no external class can call it like new PeriodicChecker().
Looking at your code however, there are a number of other problems:
Firstly, you are creating an instance of your class within its own static constructor. The purpose of a static constructor is to initialise any static state that your class may have, which instances of your class may then depend on. By creating an instance of the class within the static constructor, all of these guarantees go out the window.
Secondly, I don't think your thread is going to behave in the way you expect it to behave, primarily because you don't actually start another thread :). If you intend to start a new thread, you need to call the start() method on that thread object. Calling run() as you do does not actually create a new thread, but simply runs the run() method in the current thread.
Nowadays when you want to create a new thread to do something, the reccomended way of achieving this is to not extend Thread, but instead implement the Runnable interface. This allows you to decouple the mechanism of the thread, from the behaviour you intend to run.
Based on your requirements, I would suggest doing away with a top-level class like this, and instead create either a private inner class within your application start-up code, or even go for an anonymous inner class:
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
new Thread(new Runnable() {
#Override
public void run() {
while(true) {
System.out.println("Thread is doing something");
Thread.sleep(5000);
}
}
}).start();
}
}
It is almost never right to extend Thread. If you ever find yourself doing this, step back, take a look and ask yourself if you really need to change the way the Thread class works.
Almost all occurances where I see extends Thread the job would be better done implementing the Runnable interface or using some form of Timer.

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