View Problem
Parallel
Threads

Create read/write lock on a shared resource.

Create multiple threads or processes who are either readers or writers. There should be more readers then writers.

(From Wikipedia):

Multiple readers can read the data in parallel but an exclusive lock is needed while writing the data. When a writer is writing the data, readers will be blocked until the writer is finished writing.

Example:

-Output-

Thread one says that the value is 8.
Thread three says that the value is 8.
Thread two is taking the lock.
Thread four tried to read the value, but could not.
Thread five tried to write to the value, but could not.
Thread two is changing the value to 9.
Thread two is releasing the lock.
Thread four says that the value is 9.
...

--Notice that when a needed resource is locked, a thread can set a timer and try again in the future, or wait to be notified that the resource is no longer locked.
ExpandDiskEdit
cpp boost
class reader
{
string name_;
public:
reader(const string& name) : name_(name) {}

void operator()() {
for (;;this_thread::sleep(posix_time::milliseconds(1)))
{
shared_lock<shared_mutex> lock(m, try_to_lock);
lock_guard<mutex> cout_lock(io_m);
cout << "Thread " << name_;
if (lock)
cout << " says that the value is " << shared_value << "." << endl;
else
cout << " tried to read the value, but could not." << endl;
}
}
};

class writer
{
string name_;
public:
writer(const string& name) : name_(name) {}
void operator()() {
for (;;this_thread::sleep(posix_time::milliseconds(1)))
{
unique_lock<shared_mutex> lock(m, try_to_lock);
lock_guard<mutex> cout_lock(io_m);
cout << "Thread " << name_;
if (lock)
{
cout << " is taking the lock." << endl;
shared_value = rand() % 10;
cout << "Thread " << name_ << " is changing the value to " << shared_value << endl;
cout << "Thread " << name_ << " is releasing the lock. " << endl;
}
else
cout << " tried to write to the value, but could not." << endl;
}
}
};

int main()
{
thread t1 = thread(reader("one"));
thread t2 = thread(reader("two"));
thread t3 = thread(reader("three"));
thread t4 = thread(writer("four"));
writer("five")();
}

Submit a new solution for ruby, csharp, or cpp
There are 7 other solutions in additional languages (clojure, fsharp, groovy, java ...)