Question

I have a complex function (optimisation) that can potentially enter in a loop or just to take too much time, and the time allowed is set by the user.

Therefore I am trying to make to run the function in a separate thread, and to stop it if the maximum time is passed. I use a code similar to the one below, but it doesn’t work, so

int timeMax = 2; //time in minutes  
Thread Thread_Object = new Thread_Class(... args...);
try {
  Thread_Object.start();
  Thread_Object.join(timeMax*60*1000);
}

I think that I’m not using the function “join” properly, or it doesn’t do what I have understood. Any idea?

Thanks!

---

Thanks for the answers, currently I have found a better idea here*. It works but it still uses the function “stop” that is deprecated. The new code is:

Thread Thread_Object = new Thread_Class(... args...);

try {
  int timeMax = 1;
  Thread_Object.start();
  Thread.currentThread().sleep( timeMax * 1000 );

    if ( Thread_Object.isAlive() ) {
        Thread_Object.stop();
        Thread_Object.join();
    }

}
catch (InterruptedException e) {

}

not yet sure of the function of “join”, I’ll have to go to have a look at some book.

• java scripting API – how to stop the evaluation

Answer 1

I suggest you use a Timer.