Returning a value from thread?

Question

How do I return a value from a thread?

Answer 1

My favorite class, runs any method on another thread with just 2 lines of code.

class ThreadedExecuter where T : class
{
    public delegate void CallBackDelegate(T returnValue);
    public delegate T MethodDelegate();
    private CallBackDelegate callback;
    private MethodDelegate method;

    private Thread t;

    public ThreadedExecuter(MethodDelegate method, CallBackDelegate callback)
    {
        this.method = method;
        this.callback = callback;
        t = new Thread(this.Process);
    }
    public void Start()
    {
        t.Start();
    }
    public void Abort()
    {
        t.Abort();
        callback(null); //can be left out depending on your needs
    }
    private void Process()
    {
        T stuffReturned = method();
        callback(stuffReturned);
    }
}

usage

    void startthework()
    {
        ThreadedExecuter executer = new ThreadedExecuter(someLongFunction, longFunctionComplete);
        executer.Start();
    }
    string someLongFunction()
    {
        while(!workComplete)
            WorkWork();
        return resultOfWork;
    }
    void longFunctionComplete(string s)
    {
        PrintWorkComplete(s);
    }

Beware that longFunctionComplete will NOT execute on the same thread as starthework.

For methods that take parameters you can always use closures, or expand the class.