This project is a solution to an Operating System assignment focusing on thread synchronization using POSIX semaphores and pthreads. The problem simulates a mining operation involving explorers, miners, and transporters. The following guidelines and specifications are implemented in the solution:
- Explorers: Simulated by threads that search for materials within a field, taking between 2-4 seconds to find the material. Once found, they signal the miners and continue exploring.
- Miners: Activated by explorers' signals, these threads extract the material, taking 2-5 seconds. After extraction, miners wait for the next signal at the extraction location.
- Transporters: Transport the extracted material to storage, requiring 4 seconds for a round trip. Once completed, they wait at the storage for the next signal.
- Each explorer, miner, and transporter is simulated by separate threads running continuously.
- Thread operations are synchronized using semaphores to ensure mutual exclusion and proper sequence of actions.
- Threads print messages to indicate their current operations (e.g., exploring, mining, transporting).
- The program gracefully handles interruption (CTRL+C) to cancel all threads and terminate the application.
- The solution is implemented in POSIX C, utilizing pthread for multithreading and semaphores for synchronization.
- Proper error handling for thread creation and semaphore initialization is included.
- The source code is well-commented and uses meaningful variable and function names.
- POSIX-compliant operating system (e.g., Linux).
- GCC compiler or any other POSIX-compliant C compiler.
- Compile the program using gcc -pthread -o mining_solution mining_solution.c.
- Run the compiled program with ./mining_solution.
- Press CTRL+C to terminate the program.