``mutex`` --- Mutual exclusion support ************************************** Deprecated since version The: ``mutex`` module has been removed in Python 3.0. The ``mutex`` module defines a class that allows mutual-exclusion via acquiring and releasing locks. It does not require (or imply) ``threading`` or multi-tasking, though it could be useful for those purposes. The ``mutex`` module defines the following class: class class mutex.mutex Create a new (unlocked) mutex. A mutex has two pieces of state --- a "locked" bit and a queue. When the mutex is not locked, the queue is empty. Otherwise, the queue contains zero or more ``(function, argument)`` pairs representing functions (or methods) waiting to acquire the lock. When the mutex is unlocked while the queue is not empty, the first queue entry is removed and its ``function(argument)`` pair called, implying it now has the lock. Of course, no multi-threading is implied -- hence the funny interface for ``lock()``, where a function is called once the lock is acquired. Mutex Objects ============= ``mutex`` objects have following methods: mutex.test() Check whether the mutex is locked. mutex.testandset() "Atomic" test-and-set, grab the lock if it is not set, and return ``True``, otherwise, return ``False``. mutex.lock(function, argument) Execute ``function(argument)``, unless the mutex is locked. In the case it is locked, place the function and argument on the queue. See ``unlock()`` for explanation of when ``function(argument)`` is executed in that case. mutex.unlock() Unlock the mutex if queue is empty, otherwise execute the first element in the queue.