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Thread: Java mutex causing "missed input" compared to busy loop?

  1. #1
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    Default Java mutex causing "missed input" compared to busy loop?

    Hey everyone, I'm writing a Java program that interfaces with a C program on my Linux server (it's a client/server chat program). Right now, I'm implementing a blocking feature for the input to block until the user presses "Enter" before sending the input to the server. To do this, I have two choices: a busy loop, and a mutex. The mutex is obviously the best alternative, but I'm running into an issue where sometimes the input just won't send to the server at *all*. With the busy loop, though, I just unset a flag and it works fine.

    Busy loop:

    String line = "";
    // Block until we receive some input.
    while (!this.inputField.isReady()) {
    }
    line = this.inputField.getText();
    this.writefp.write(line + "\n");
    this.writefp.flush();
    this.inputField.setReady(false);

    So, all I need to do in the textfield (in a keylistener) is:
    ...
    public void keyPressed(KeyEvent e) {
      if (e.getKeyCode() == KeyEvent.VK_ENTER) {
        ready = true;
        setText("");
      }
    }
    ...

    So, yes, this works. My mutex solution isn't so lucky:
    while (!this.inputField.isReady()) {
      synchronized(this.inputField.mutex) {
        try {
          this.inputField.mutex.wait();
        } ... //redacted for simplicity
      }
    }
    And the notifier:
    ...
    ready = true; 
    // This is in the TextField class.
    synchronized(this.mutex) {
      this.mutex.notify();
    }
    setText("");
    ...
    Maybe I'm misunderstanding a fundamental piece of Java's synchronization capabilities (this is much easier in C...). the mutex is just a standard Object, following online examples. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Norm's Avatar
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    Default Re: Java mutex causing "missed input" compared to busy loop?

    block until the user presses "Enter" before sending the input
    That sounds like the normal way a GUI program works. It doesn't do anything until it receives an event like the user pressing a button.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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