Re: state terminology

[Paul Dickson <dickson@permanentmail.com>]

On Sun, 15 Jan 2006 10:58:48 +0100, Ingo Oeser wrote:

> Hi Jan,
> 
> On Saturday 14 January 2006 22:34, you wrote:
> > Is there a specific term (other than "hang") associated with this 
> > situation? It's not a "dead-lock", because there is no other process 
> > (anymore) which could potentially up the semaphore.
> 
> This is a simple "resource leak" (or "semaphore leak" in this case).
> 
> Explanation follows:
> 
> The resource semaphore is not usable by anyone anymore 
> and is still around.
> 
> Its pretty much the same as a memory leak. There is no one, who
> could free the memory anymore.
> 
> The reasons for the resource not being usable anymore is
> not significant for a resource leak.
> 
> Also insignificant is the fact that the amount of semaphores
> are just limited by available memory. If you repeat starting threads 
> doing the semaphore leak game from your example, you'll run out
> of memory and thus out of semaphores. This is another sign of leakage.
> 
> Do the above explanations sound ok?

But it's the functionality rather than the resource that's being lost.
So I wouldn't consider it to be a leak.

How about "locked-out" or "lock-out"?  It's akin to a locked room, with
the keys left inside.

	-Paul

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