wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

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fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

Indeed, it is boring !

How does the bug materialize ?
The main code hangs, or the program does anything ?
Is there a system error message ?

How many 'PoolingSubmit' do you have between two 'PoolingWait' ?
deltarho[1859]
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

CryptoRndII is robust - I will put money on it.

What we have is the latest version of ThreadPooling is failing PractRand but the version before that seems OK. ThreadInitThenMultiStart got to 1TB successfully.

I have just tried the latest version of ThreadPooling again, and it failed PractRand at 32MB; so it was OK to 16MB. I am getting a type of failure in PractRand that I have never seen before, and I don't know what it means.

This is my SwitchBuffer procedure

Code: Select all

Private Sub SwitchBuffer
  t1.PoolingWait
  t1plus.PoolingWait
  Swap ptrBaseBuffer0, ptrBaseBuffer1
  Swap ptrBaseBuffer0plus, ptrBaseBuffer1plus
  ptrBuffer = ptrBaseBuffer0
  SwitchBufferCriteria = Cast( Integer, ptrBuffer ) + BufferSize
  t1.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1)
  t1plus.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1plus)
End Sub
I will try to analyse that but, for the moment, I cannot see why that should go wrong with the latest version of ThreadPooling.
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

I'm trying to find a code configuration that crashes .....
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

@deltarho[1859]

In this new version of 'ThreadPooling', there is 2 changes:
1) call 'memmove' instead of use a [For..Next] loop to shift the data in the two arrays ('_pThread()' and '_p()'),
2) do not restart the internal thread at each 'PoolingWait' (using '_mutex3').

The first change seems to be safe, but it changes a little the execution time.

Could you test the below version with just the change #1 ?
Version that I call 'intermediate 1':

Code: Select all

#include once "crt/string.bi"
Type ThreadPooling
    Public:
        Declare Constructor()
        Declare Sub PoolingSubmit(Byval pThread As Function(Byval As Any Ptr) As String, Byval p As Any Ptr = 0)
        Declare Sub PoolingWait()
        Declare Sub PoolingWait(values() As String)
        
        Declare Property PoolingState() As Ubyte
        
        Declare Destructor()
    Private:
        Dim As Function(Byval p As Any Ptr) As String _pThread0
        Dim As Any Ptr _p0
        Dim As Function(Byval p As Any Ptr) As String _pThread(Any)
        Dim As Any Ptr _p(Any)
        Dim As Any Ptr _mutex1
        Dim As Any Ptr _mutex2
        Dim As Any Ptr _pt
        Dim As Byte _end
        Dim As String _returnF(Any)
        Dim As Ubyte _state
        Declare Static Sub _Thread(Byval p As Any Ptr)
End Type

Constructor ThreadPooling()
    Redim This._pThread(0)
    Redim This._p(0)
    Redim This._returnF(0)
    This._mutex1 = Mutexcreate()
    This._mutex2 = Mutexcreate()
    Mutexlock(This._mutex2)
    This._pt= Threadcreate(@ThreadPooling._Thread, @This)
End Constructor

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingSubmit(Byval pThread As Function(Byval As Any Ptr) As String, Byval p As Any Ptr = 0)
    Mutexlock(This._mutex1)
    If Ubound(This._pThread) = 0 Then
        Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    End If
    Redim Preserve This._pThread(Ubound(This._pThread) + 1)
    This._pThread(Ubound(This._pThread)) = pThread
    Redim Preserve This._p(Ubound(This._p) + 1)
    This._p(Ubound(This._p)) = p
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex1)
    This._state = 1
End Sub

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingWait()
    This._end = 1
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    .ThreadWait(This._pt)
    This._end = 0
    Redim This._returnF(0)
    This._state = 0
    This._pt= Threadcreate(@ThreadPooling._Thread, @This)
End Sub

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingWait(values() As String)
    This._end = 1
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    .ThreadWait(This._pt)
    This._end = 0
    If Ubound(This._returnF) > 0 Then
        Redim values(1 To Ubound(This._returnF))
        For I As Integer = 1 To Ubound(This._returnF)
            values(I) = This._returnF(I)
        Next I
        Redim This._returnF(0)
    Else
        Erase values
    End If
    This._state = 0
    This._pt= Threadcreate(@ThreadPooling._Thread, @This)
End Sub

Property ThreadPooling.PoolingState() As Ubyte
    Return This._state
End Property

Sub ThreadPooling._Thread(Byval p As Any Ptr)
    Dim As ThreadPooling Ptr pThis = p
    Do
        Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        While Ubound(pThis->_pThread) = 0
            Mutexunlock(pThis->_mutex1)
            pThis->_state = 4
            Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex2)
            If pThis->_end = 1 And Ubound(pThis->_pThread) = 0 Then Exit Sub
            Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        Wend
        pThis->_pThread0 = pThis->_pThread(1)
        pThis->_p0 = pThis->_p(1)
        If Ubound(pThis->_pThread) > 1 Then
            memmove(@pThis->_pThread(1), @pThis->_pThread(2), (Ubound(pThis->_pThread) - 1) * Sizeof(pThis->_pThread))
            memmove(@pThis->_p(1), @pThis->_p(2), (Ubound(pThis->_p) - 1) * Sizeof(pThis->_p))
        End If
        Redim Preserve pThis->_pThread(Ubound(pThis->_pThread) - 1)
        Redim Preserve pThis->_p(Ubound(pThis->_p) - 1)
        Mutexunlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        Redim Preserve pThis->_ReturnF(Ubound(pThis->_returnF) + 1)
        pThis->_state = 2
        pThis->_returnF(Ubound(pThis->_returnF)) = pThis->_pThread0(pThis->_p0)
    Loop
End Sub

Destructor ThreadPooling()
    This._end = 1
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    .ThreadWait(This._pt)
    Mutexdestroy(This._mutex1)
    Mutexdestroy(This._mutex2)
End Destructor
deltarho[1859]
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

fxm wrote:Could you test the below version with just the change #1
That failed PractRand at 4KB; before we switch a buffer so the intitial buffer fills have failed.

I am double-checking the version before the latest version of ThreadPooling. I pulled out of the last test at 8Gb but thought that I'd let it run a bit longer. It has just gone past 32GB.
Last edited by deltarho[1859] on Feb 15, 2021 19:29, edited 1 time in total.
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

Can you test again another version with just the change #2.
Version that I call 'Intermediate 2':

Code: Select all

Type ThreadPooling  '' new version
    Public:
        Declare Constructor()
        Declare Sub PoolingSubmit(Byval pThread As Function(Byval As Any Ptr) As String, Byval p As Any Ptr = 0)
        Declare Sub PoolingWait()
        Declare Sub PoolingWait(values() As String)
        
        Declare Property PoolingState() As Ubyte
        
        Declare Destructor()
    Private:
        Dim As Function(Byval p As Any Ptr) As String _pThread0
        Dim As Any Ptr _p0
        Dim As Function(Byval p As Any Ptr) As String _pThread(Any)
        Dim As Any Ptr _p(Any)
        Dim As Any Ptr _mutex1
        Dim As Any Ptr _mutex2
        Dim As Any Ptr _mutex3
        Dim As Any Ptr _pt
        Dim As Byte _end
        Dim As String _returnF(Any)
        Dim As Ubyte _state
        Declare Static Sub _Thread(Byval p As Any Ptr)
End Type

Constructor ThreadPooling()
    Redim This._pThread(0)
    Redim This._p(0)
    Redim This._returnF(0)
    This._mutex1 = Mutexcreate()
    This._mutex2 = Mutexcreate()
    Mutexlock(This._mutex2)
    This._mutex3 = Mutexcreate()
    Mutexlock(This._mutex3)
    This._pt= Threadcreate(@ThreadPooling._Thread, @This)
End Constructor

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingSubmit(Byval pThread As Function(Byval As Any Ptr) As String, Byval p As Any Ptr = 0)
    Mutexlock(This._mutex1)
    If Ubound(This._pThread) = 0 Then
        Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    End If
    Redim Preserve This._pThread(Ubound(This._pThread) + 1)
    This._pThread(Ubound(This._pThread)) = pThread
    Redim Preserve This._p(Ubound(This._p) + 1)
    This._p(Ubound(This._p)) = p
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex1)
    This._state = 1
End Sub

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingWait()
    Mutexlock(This._mutex3)
    Redim This._returnF(0)
    This._state = 0
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex3)
End Sub

Sub ThreadPooling.PoolingWait(values() As String)
    Mutexlock(This._mutex3)
    If Ubound(This._returnF) > 0 Then
        Redim values(1 To Ubound(This._returnF))
        For I As Integer = 1 To Ubound(This._returnF)
            values(I) = This._returnF(I)
        Next I
        Redim This._returnF(0)
    Else
        Erase values
    End If
    This._state = 0
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex3)
End Sub

Property ThreadPooling.PoolingState() As Ubyte
    Return This._state
End Property

Sub ThreadPooling._Thread(Byval p As Any Ptr)
    Dim As ThreadPooling Ptr pThis = p
    Do
        Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        While Ubound(pThis->_pThread) = 0
            Mutexunlock(pThis->_mutex1)
            Mutexunlock(pThis->_mutex3)
            pThis->_state = 4
            Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex2)
            If pThis->_end = 1 And Ubound(pThis->_pThread) = 0 Then Exit Sub
            Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex3)
            Mutexlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        Wend
        pThis->_pThread0 = pThis->_pThread(1)
        pThis->_p0 = pThis->_p(1)
        For I As Integer = 2 To Ubound(pThis->_pThread)
            pThis->_pThread(I - 1) = pThis->_pThread(I)
            pThis->_p(I - 1) = pThis->_p(I)
        Next I
        Redim Preserve pThis->_pThread(Ubound(pThis->_pThread) - 1)
        Redim Preserve pThis->_p(Ubound(pThis->_p) - 1)
        Mutexunlock(pThis->_mutex1)
        Redim Preserve pThis->_ReturnF(Ubound(pThis->_returnF) + 1)
        pThis->_state = 2
        pThis->_returnF(Ubound(pThis->_returnF)) = pThis->_pThread0(pThis->_p0)
    Loop
End Sub

Destructor ThreadPooling()
    This._end = 1
    Mutexunlock(This._mutex2)
    .ThreadWait(This._pt)
    Mutexdestroy(This._mutex1)
    Mutexdestroy(This._mutex2)
    Mutexdestroy(This._mutex3)
End Destructor
deltarho[1859]
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

That failed at 8MB.

See my last post edit.
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

I did not understand very well.
Among these 2 versions ("intermediate 1" and "intermediate 2"), is there one that works?
deltarho[1859]
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

@fxm

With regard your very latest code I dumped 128MB and tested it with Fourmilab's ENT. All seemed OK but ENT really only checks distribution uniformity. I could join a file to itself and ENT would not complain; PractRand would and so it should.
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

I did not understand very well.
Among these 2 versions ("intermediate 1" and "intermediate 2"), is there one that works?
"intermediate 1" fails at 4KB
"intermediate 2" fails at 8MB

The version that is working, getting to 32GB, is pre mutex3.
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

Between "intermediary 1" and the one you call "pre mutex3", there is only change #1.
It's weird, unless “memmove” is not thread-safe!
MrSwiss
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by MrSwiss »

@fxm, have you tried to force -mt in compilation?
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

MrSwiss wrote:@fxm, have you tried to force -mt in compilation?
@deltarho[1859]
Can you try this ?
deltarho[1859]
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by deltarho[1859] »

Using -mt

"intermediate 1" froze at 1GB
"intermediate 2" fails at 4MB

I have never seen PractRand freeze before.

There is a debate at the PowerBASIC forum on whether PowerBASIC has a future or not. In one post I wrote: "It is hard work to develop a perfect design, but that is more to do with our imagination than the language we are using." One member responded with: "Over the years, I have found that a program that is easy to write is hard to use, and a program that is hard to write is easy to use."

ThreadPooling is easy to use but some code, especially _Thread, is extremely complex.
fxm
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Re: wth -- Thread time .vs Subroutine time

Post by fxm »

deltarho[1859] wrote:This is my SwitchBuffer procedure

Code: Select all

Private Sub SwitchBuffer
  t1.PoolingWait
  t1plus.PoolingWait
  Swap ptrBaseBuffer0, ptrBaseBuffer1
  Swap ptrBaseBuffer0plus, ptrBaseBuffer1plus
  ptrBuffer = ptrBaseBuffer0
  SwitchBufferCriteria = Cast( Integer, ptrBuffer ) + BufferSize
  t1.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1)
  t1plus.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1plus)
End Sub
Do you remember this constraint:
Warning: The information supplied to the user thread procedure via the passed pointer (by 'PoolingSubmit') should not be changed between 'PoolingSubmit' and 'PoolingWait' due to the time uncertainty on the real call of the user thread procedure in this interval.
I do not know what is after:
t1.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1)
t1plus.PoolingSubmit(@FillBuffer, ptrBaseBuffer1plus)

because it is the end of the 'SwitchBuffer' Sub, but I hope that the two pointers 'ptrBaseBuffer1' and 'ptrBaseBuffer1plus' (and their pointed data) are not modified by the main code (and the other secondary thread) before next:
t1.PoolingWait
t1plus.PoolingWait


Same constraint between 'ThreadStart' and 'ThreadWait'.
Last edited by fxm on Feb 15, 2021 23:09, edited 2 times in total.
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