Implementing semaphore by using mutex operations and primitives

Question

Some time ago had an interview and was asked to implement Semaphore by using mutex operations and primitives only (he allowed int to be considered as atomic). I came with soluti

Answer 1

lemme try this

`

# number of threads/workers
w = 10
# maximum concurrency
cr = 5
r_mutex = mutex()
w_mutex = [mutex() for x in range(w)]

# assuming mutex can be locked and unlocked by anyone 
# (essentially we need a binary semaphore)

def acquire(id):

    r_mutex.lock()
    cr -= 1
    # r_mutex.unlock()
    
    # if exceeding maximum concurrency
    if cr < 0:
        # lock twice to be waken up by someone
        w_mutex[id].lock()
        r_mutex.unlock()
        w_mutex[id].lock()
        w_mutex[id].unlock()
        return

    r_mutex.unlock()

    
    
       
def release(id):

    r_mutex.lock()
    cr += 1
    # someone must be waiting if cr < 0
    if cr <= 0:
        # maybe you can do this in a random order
        for w in w_mutex:
            if w.is_locked():
                w.unlock()
                break
    r_mutex.unlock()

`