MATLAB: Is it possible to interrupt timer callbacks in MATLAB 7.14 (R2012a)

atomiccallbackinterruptMATLABmutexoperationsemaphore

I would like to know if timer callbacks are interruptible and in which cases MATLAB functions are interruptible.

Best Answer

In contrast to GUI callbacks, which can be made interruptible using DRAWNOW or PAUSE commands, timer callbacks are not interruptible at all.

With regard to common MATLAB functions there are no limitations for interrupts. MATLAB functions can be interrupted between consecutive MATLAB commands. To make critical code sections safe, you would have to use mex files. This would allow to create some kind of semaphore or mutex.

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MATLAB: In multiple-execution scenarios, is the timer only looking for its own callback or for any other callback in the execution queue, in MATLAB 8.2 (R2013b)

The timer is only checking for its own function being executed, not any other callback, or callbacks from other timers.

MATLAB: How do running MATLAB files, GUI callbacks, and timer callbacks interoperate in MATLAB 7.3 (R2006b)

MATLAB has a single main execution thread and all MATLAB code executes within that thread. Timers and GUI callback functions can execute preemptively while other code is running. This provides multithreaded-like behavior, however, all the MATLAB code is being executed in the single main thread.

In general, a MATLAB function or callback completes execution and then the next callback executes. Certain commands pause the currently executing MATLAB function and allow MATLAB to process callbacks and graphics events. These commands include DRAWNOW, KEYBOARD, INPUT, and PAUSE. Timer functions, however, execute between lines of a running MATLAB function. This can cause unexpected behavior in functions that are not reentrant safe. You should design your code to handle reentrancy and you should not depend on global variables that might change state during reentrancy.

For more details on DRAWNOW execute the command:

doc drawnow

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MATLAB: In multiple-execution scenarios, is the timer only looking for its own callback or for any other callback in the execution queue, in MATLAB 8.2 (R2013b)

MATLAB: How do running MATLAB files, GUI callbacks, and timer callbacks interoperate in MATLAB 7.3 (R2006b)

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