Sync queue between two threads - c++

Question

This is a simple program which has a function start() which waits for user to enter something(using infinite loop) and stores it in queue. start() runs in a separate thread. After user enters some value, the size of queue remains zero in main. How can the queue be synchronized?
code: source.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "kl.h"
using namespace std;
int main()
{
std::thread t1(start);
while (1)
{
if (q.size() > 0)
{
std::cout << "never gets inside this if\n";
std::string first = q.front();
q.pop();
}
}
t1.join();
}
code: kl.h
#include <queue>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
void start();
static std::queue<std::string> q;
code: kl.cpp
#include "kl.h"
using namespace std;
void start()
{
char i;
string str;
while (1)
{
for (i = 0; i <= 1000; i++)
{
//other stuff and str input
q.push(str);
}
}
}

Answer 1

Your code contains a race - by me it crashed; both threads are potentially modifying a shared queue. (Also, you're looping with char i for values up to 1000 - not a good idea, probably.)
You should protect your shared queue with a std::mutex, and use a std::condition_variable to notify that there is a reason to check the queue.
Specifically, you should consider the following (which is very common for your case of a producer consumer):
Access the queue only when holding the mutex.
Use the condition variable to notify that you've pushed something into it.
Use the condition variable to specify a condition on when there's a point to continue processing.
Here is a rewrite of your code:
#include <iostream>
#include <queue>
#include <thread>
#include <condition_variable>
#include <mutex>
using namespace std;
std::queue<std::string> q;
std::mutex m;
std::condition_variable cv;
void start()
{
string str;
for (std::size_t i = 0; i <= 1000; i++) {
//other stuff and str input
std::cout << "here" << std::endl;
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(m);
q.push(str);
lk.unlock();
cv.notify_one();
}
}
int main()
{
std::thread t1(start);
for (std::size_t i = 0; i <= 1000; i++)
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(m);
cv.wait(lk, []{return !q.empty();});
std::string first = q.front();
q.pop();
}
t1.join();
}

Answer 2

My synced queue class example and its usage:
template<typename T>
class SyncQueue
{
std::queue<T> m_Que;
std::mutex m_Lock;
std::condition_variable m_ConVar;
public:
void enque(T item)
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_Lock);
m_Que.push(item);
lock.unlock();
m_ConVar.notify_all();
}
T deque()
{
std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(m_Lock);
do
{
m_ConVar.wait(lock);
} while(m_Que.size() == 0); // extra check from spontaneous notifications
auto ret = m_Que.front();
m_Que.pop();
return ret;
}
};
int main()
{
using namespace std::chrono_literals;
SyncQueue<int> sq;
std::thread consumer([&sq]()
{
std::cout << "consumer" << std::endl;
for(;;)
{
std::cout << sq.deque() << std::endl;
}
});
std::thread provider([&sq]()
{
std::this_thread::sleep_for(1s);
sq.enque(1);
std::this_thread::sleep_for(3s);
sq.enque(2);
std::this_thread::sleep_for(5s);
sq.enque(3);
});
consumer.join();
return 0;
}

Answer 3

/* Here I have a code snippate with Separate class for
Producing and Consuming along with buffer class */
#include <iostream>
#include <mutex>
#include <condition_variable>
#include <thread>
#include <deque>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;
mutex _mutex_1,_mutex_2;
condition_variable cv;
template <typename T>
class Queue
{
deque<T> _buffer;
const unsigned int max_size = 10;
public:
Queue() = default;
void push(const T& item)
{
while(1)
{
unique_lock<mutex> locker(_mutex_1);
cv.wait(locker,[this](){ return _buffer.size() < max_size; });
_buffer.push_back(item);
locker.unlock();
cv.notify_all();
return;
}
}
T pop()
{
while(1)
{
unique_lock<mutex> locker(_mutex_1);
cv.wait(locker,[this](){ return _buffer.size() > 0; });
int back = _buffer.back();
_buffer.pop_back();
locker.unlock();
cv.notify_all();
return back;
}
}
};
class Producer
{
Queue<int>* _buffer;
public:
Producer(Queue<int>* _buf)
{
this->_buffer = _buf;
}
void run()
{
while(1)
{
auto num = rand()%100;
_buffer->push(num);
_mutex_2.lock();
cout<<"Produced:"<<num<<endl;
this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(50));
_mutex_2.unlock();
}
}
};
class Consumer
{
Queue<int>* _buffer;
public:
Consumer(Queue<int>* _buf)
{
this->_buffer = _buf;
}
void run()
{
while(1)
{
auto num = _buffer->pop();
_mutex_2.lock();
cout<<"Consumed:"<<num<<endl;
this_thread::sleep_for(chrono::milliseconds(50));
_mutex_2.unlock();
}
}
};
void client()
{
Queue<int> b;
Producer p(&b);
Consumer c(&b);
thread producer_thread(&Producer::run, &p);
thread consumer_thread(&Consumer::run, &c);
producer_thread.join();
consumer_thread.join();
}
int main()
{
client();
return 0;
}