Threads

Threads are important in Jtrix because (a) we're working in a distributed environment, and (b) excessive thread use makes a netlet more expensive to run. Luckily Jtrix provides some rather clever tools to help manage threads. We split them into two camps, and we'll look at both in this chapter:

• Managing concurrency. Any netlet can be a server of some kind. For example, our Hello2Provider (Section ) is a netlet providing a message. It could be invoked any number of times simultaneously by clients leading to excessive use. Fortunately, Jtrix lets us control this.
• Asynchronous facets. Normally, invoking a method on a facet will occur synchronously. That is, our netlet waits for the method to return and then continues. But we can also invoke a facet method asynchronously. That is, our netlet calls the method and returns immediately. Some time later the method call may return, and our netlet can handle it then.