This algorithm uses a monitor to solve the first readers-writers problem.
1 readerwriter: monitor 2 var readcount: integer; 3 writing: boolean; 4 oktoread, oktowrite: condition; 5 procedure entry beginread; 6 begin 7 readcount := readcount + 1; 8 if writing then 9 oktoread.wait; 10 end; 11 procedure entry endread; 12 begin 13 readcount := readcount - 1; 14 if readcount = 0 then 15 oktowrite.signal; 16 end; 17 procedure entry beginwrite; 18 begin 19 if readcount > 0 or writing then 20 oktowrite.wait; 21 writing := true; 22 end; 23 procedure entry endwrite; 24 var i: integer; 25 begin 26 writing := false; 27 if readcount > 0 then 28 for i := 1 to readcount 29 oktoread.signal; 30 else 31 oktowrite.signal; 32 end; 33 begin 34 readcount := 0; writing := false; 35 end.
lines 1-4: Here, readcount contains the number of processes reading the file, and writing is true when a writer is writing to the file. Oktoread and oktowrite correspond to the logical conditions of being able to access the file for reading and writing, respectively.
lines 7-9 In this routine, the reader announces that it is ready to read (by adding 1 to readcount). If a writer is accessing the file, it blocks on the condition variable oktoread; when done, the writer will signal on that condition variable, and the reader can proceed.
lines 13-15 In this routine, the reader announces that it is done (by subtracting 1 from readcount). If no more readers are reading, it indicates a writer may go ahead by signalling on the condition variable oktowrite.
lines 19-21 In this routine, the writer first sees if any readers or writers are accessing the file; if so, it waits until they are done. Then it indicates that it is writing to the file by setting the boolean writing to true.
lines 26-31 Here, the writer first announces it is done by setting writing to false. Since readers have priority, it then checks to see if any readers are waiting; if so, it signals all of them (as many readers can access the file simultaneously). If not, it signals any writers waiting.
line 34 This initializes the variables.
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