tf::AsyncTask class

class to create a dependent asynchronous task

A tf::AsyncTask is a lightweight handle that retains shared ownership of a dependent async task created by an executor. This shared ownership ensures that the async task remains alive when adding it to the dependency list of another async task, thus avoiding the classical ABA problem.

// main thread retains shared ownership of async task A
tf::AsyncTask A = executor.silent_dependent_async([](){});

// task A remains alive (i.e., at least one ref count by the main thread) 
// when being added to the dependency list of async task B
tf::AsyncTask B = executor.silent_dependent_async([](){}, A);

Currently, tf::AsyncTask is implemented based on the logic of C++ smart pointer std::shared_ptr and is considered cheap to copy or move as long as only a handful of objects own it. When a worker completes an async task, it will remove the task from the executor, decrementing the number of shared owners by one. If that counter reaches zero, the task is destroyed.

Constructors, destructors, conversion operators

AsyncTask() defaulted: constructs an empty task handle
~AsyncTask(): destroys the managed asynchronous task if this is the last owner
AsyncTask(const AsyncTask& rhs): constructs an asynchronous task that shares ownership of rhs
AsyncTask(AsyncTask&& rhs): move-constructs an asynchronous task from rhs

Public functions

auto operator=(const AsyncTask& rhs) -> AsyncTask&: copy-assigns the asynchronous task from rhs
auto operator=(AsyncTask&& rhs) -> AsyncTask&: move-assigns the asynchronous task from rhs
auto empty() const -> bool: checks if the asynchronous task stores nothing
void reset(): release the managed object of this
auto hash_value() const -> size_t: obtains a hash value of this asynchronous task
auto use_count() const -> size_t: returns the number of shared owners that are currently managing this asynchronous task
auto is_done() const -> bool: returns the boolean indicating whether the async task is done

Function documentation

AsyncTask& tf::AsyncTask::operator=(const AsyncTask& rhs)

copy-assigns the asynchronous task from rhs

Releases the managed object of this and retains a new shared ownership of rhs.

AsyncTask& tf::AsyncTask::operator=(AsyncTask&& rhs)

move-assigns the asynchronous task from rhs

Releases the managed object of this and takes over the ownership of rhs.