Blocking the Current Thread

Embedding or extension code sometimes needs to block, but blocking should allow other MzScheme threads to execute. To allow other threads to run, block using scheme_block_until. This procedure takes two functions: a polling function that tests whether the blocking operation can be completed, and a prepare-to-sleep function that sets bits in fd_sets when MzScheme decides to sleep (because all MzScheme threads are blocked). Under Windows and BeOS, an ``fd_set'' can also accomodate OS-level semaphores or other handles via scheme_add_fd_handle.

Since the functions passed to scheme_block_until are called by the Scheme thread scheduler, they must never raise exceptions, call scheme_apply, or trigger the evaluation of Scheme code in any way. The scheme_block_until function itself may call the current exception handler, however, in reaction to a break (if breaks are enabled).