haiku/docs/user/support/support_intro.dox

/*
 * Copyright 2007-2010, Haiku, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 * Distributed under the terms of the MIT License.
 *
 * Documentation by:
 *  Niels Sascha Reedijk <niels.reedijk@gmail.com>
 *  Nicolas de Leon <insdel@haqr.net>
 */

/*!
  \page support_intro Introduction to the Support Kit

  The Support Kit provides a handy set of classes that you can use in your
  applications. These classes provide:
  
  - \b Thread \b Safety. Haiku can execute multiple threads of an application
    in parallel, letting certain parts of an application continue when one part
	is stalled, as well as letting an application process multiple pieces of
	data at the same time on multicore or multiprocessor systems. However,
	there are times when multiple threads desire to work on the same piece of
	data at the same time, potentially causing a conflict where variables or
	pointers are changed by one thread causing another to execute incorrectly.
	To prevent this, Haiku implements a \"locking\" mechanism, allowing one
	thread to \"lock out\" other threads from executing code that might modify
	the same data.
  - \b Archiving \b and \b IO. These classes allow a programmer to convert
    objects into a form that can more easily be transferred to other
	applications or stored to disk, as well as performing basic input and
	output operations.
  - \b Memory \b Allocation. This class allows a programmer to hand off some of
    the duties of memory accounting and management.
  - \b Common \b Datatypes. To avoid unnecessary duplication of code and to
    make life easier for programmers, Haiku includes classes that handle
	management of ordered lists and strings.
  
  There are also a number of utility functions to time actions, play system
  alert sounds, compare strings, and atomically manipulate integers. Have a
  look at the overview, or go straight to the complete
  \link support list of components \endlink of this kit.

  \section Overview
  - Thread Safety:
    - BLocker provides a semaphore-like locking mechanism allowing for
	  recursive locks.
      - BAutolock provides a simple method of automatically removing a lock
	    when a function ends.
    - \ref TLS.h "Thread Local Storage" allows a global variable\'s content to
	  be sensitive to thread context.
  - Archiving and IO:
    - BArchivable provides an interface for \"archiving\" objects so that they
	  may be sent to other applications where an identical copy will be
	  recreated.
      - BArchiver simplifies archiving of BArchivable hierarchies.
      - BUnarchiver simplifies unarchiving hierarchies that have been archived
	    using BArchiver.
    - BFlattenable provides an interface for \"flattening\" objects so that
	  they may be easily stored to disk.
    - BDataIO provides an interface for generalized read/write streams.
      - BPositionIO extends BDataIO to allow seeking within the data.
        - BBufferIO creates a buffer and attaches it to a BPositionIO stream,
		  allowing for reduced load on the underlying stream.
        - BMemoryIO allows operation on an already-existing buffer.
        - BMallocIO creates and allows operation on a buffer.
  - Memory Allocation:
    - BBlockCache allows an application to allocate a \"pool\" of memory blocks
	  that the application can fetch and dispose of as it pleases, letting the
	  application make only a few large memory allocations, instead of many
	  expensive small allocations.
  - Common Datatypes:
    - BList allows simple ordered lists and provides common access,
	  modification, and comparison functions.
    - BString allows strings and provides common access, modification, and
	  comparison functions.
  - BStopWatch allows an application to measure the time an action takes.
  - \ref support_globals "Global functions"
  - \ref TypeConstants.h "Common types and constants"
  - Error codes for all kits
*/

// Short listing of documents that belong to this module so that people can
// find these from the module overview. 
// This should become standardized in Doxygen though. There is an item on
// the todo list on this.

/*!
  \addtogroup support

  For a better overview, have a look at \ref support_intro .
*/