GTask

GTask — Cancellable synchronous or asynchronous task and result

Properties

gboolean completed Read

Types and Values

  GTask

Object Hierarchy

    GObject
    ╰── GTask

Implemented Interfaces

GTask implements GAsyncResult.

Includes

#include <gio/gio.h>

Description

A GTask represents and manages a cancellable "task".

Asynchronous operations

The most common usage of GTask is as a GAsyncResult, to manage data during an asynchronous operation. You call g_task_new() in the "start" method, followed by g_task_set_task_data() and the like if you need to keep some additional data associated with the task, and then pass the task object around through your asynchronous operation. Eventually, you will call a method such as g_task_return_pointer() or g_task_return_error(), which will save the value you give it and then invoke the task's callback function in the thread-default main context where it was created (waiting until the next iteration of the main loop first, if necessary). The caller will pass the GTask back to the operation's finish function (as a GAsyncResult), and you can use g_task_propagate_pointer() or the like to extract the return value.

Here is an example for using GTask as a GAsyncResult:

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typedef struct {
  CakeFrostingType frosting;
  char *message;
} DecorationData;

static void
decoration_data_free (DecorationData *decoration)
{
  g_free (decoration->message);
  g_slice_free (DecorationData, decoration);
}

static void
baked_cb (Cake     *cake,
          gpointer  user_data)
{
  GTask *task = user_data;
  DecorationData *decoration = g_task_get_task_data (task);
  GError *error = NULL;

  if (cake == NULL)
    {
      g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_NO_FLOUR,
                               "Go to the supermarket");
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  if (!cake_decorate (cake, decoration->frosting, decoration->message, &error))
    {
      g_object_unref (cake);
      // g_task_return_error() takes ownership of error
      g_task_return_error (task, error);
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
  g_object_unref (task);
}

void
baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                       guint                radius,
                       CakeFlavor           flavor,
                       CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                       const char          *message,
                       GCancellable        *cancellable,
                       GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                       gpointer             user_data)
{
  GTask *task;
  DecorationData *decoration;
  Cake  *cake;

  task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
  if (radius < 3)
    {
      g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_TOO_SMALL,
                               "%ucm radius cakes are silly",
                               radius);
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  cake = _baker_get_cached_cake (self, radius, flavor, frosting, message);
  if (cake != NULL)
    {
      // _baker_get_cached_cake() returns a reffed cake
      g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  decoration = g_slice_new (DecorationData);
  decoration->frosting = frosting;
  decoration->message = g_strdup (message);
  g_task_set_task_data (task, decoration, (GDestroyNotify) decoration_data_free);

  _baker_begin_cake (self, radius, flavor, cancellable, baked_cb, task);
}

Cake *
baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                        GAsyncResult  *result,
                        GError       **error)
{
  g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

  return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
}

Chained asynchronous operations

GTask also tries to simplify asynchronous operations that internally chain together several smaller asynchronous operations. g_task_get_cancellable(), g_task_get_context(), and g_task_get_priority() allow you to get back the task's GCancellable, GMainContext, and I/O priority when starting a new subtask, so you don't have to keep track of them yourself. g_task_attach_source() simplifies the case of waiting for a source to fire (automatically using the correct GMainContext and priority).

Here is an example for chained asynchronous operations:

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typedef struct {
  Cake *cake;
  CakeFrostingType frosting;
  char *message;
} BakingData;

static void
decoration_data_free (BakingData *bd)
{
  if (bd->cake)
    g_object_unref (bd->cake);
  g_free (bd->message);
  g_slice_free (BakingData, bd);
}

static void
decorated_cb (Cake         *cake,
              GAsyncResult *result,
              gpointer      user_data)
{
  GTask *task = user_data;
  GError *error = NULL;

  if (!cake_decorate_finish (cake, result, &error))
    {
      g_object_unref (cake);
      g_task_return_error (task, error);
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  // baking_data_free() will drop its ref on the cake, so we have to
  // take another here to give to the caller.
  g_task_return_pointer (task, g_object_ref (cake), g_object_unref);
  g_object_unref (task);
}

static gboolean
decorator_ready (gpointer user_data)
{
  GTask *task = user_data;
  BakingData *bd = g_task_get_task_data (task);

  cake_decorate_async (bd->cake, bd->frosting, bd->message,
                       g_task_get_cancellable (task),
                       decorated_cb, task);

  return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
}

static void
baked_cb (Cake     *cake,
          gpointer  user_data)
{
  GTask *task = user_data;
  BakingData *bd = g_task_get_task_data (task);
  GError *error = NULL;

  if (cake == NULL)
    {
      g_task_return_new_error (task, BAKER_ERROR, BAKER_ERROR_NO_FLOUR,
                               "Go to the supermarket");
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  bd->cake = cake;

  // Bail out now if the user has already cancelled
  if (g_task_return_error_if_cancelled (task))
    {
      g_object_unref (task);
      return;
    }

  if (cake_decorator_available (cake))
    decorator_ready (task);
  else
    {
      GSource *source;

      source = cake_decorator_wait_source_new (cake);
      // Attach @source to @task's GMainContext and have it call
      // decorator_ready() when it is ready.
      g_task_attach_source (task, source, decorator_ready);
      g_source_unref (source);
    }
}

void
baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                       guint                radius,
                       CakeFlavor           flavor,
                       CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                       const char          *message,
                       gint                 priority,
                       GCancellable        *cancellable,
                       GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                       gpointer             user_data)
{
  GTask *task;
  BakingData *bd;

  task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
  g_task_set_priority (task, priority);

  bd = g_slice_new0 (BakingData);
  bd->frosting = frosting;
  bd->message = g_strdup (message);
  g_task_set_task_data (task, bd, (GDestroyNotify) baking_data_free);

  _baker_begin_cake (self, radius, flavor, cancellable, baked_cb, task);
}

Cake *
baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                        GAsyncResult  *result,
                        GError       **error)
{
  g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

  return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
}

Asynchronous operations from synchronous ones

You can use g_task_run_in_thread() to turn a synchronous operation into an asynchronous one, by running it in a thread. When it completes, the result will be dispatched to the thread-default main context where the GTask was created.

Running a task in a thread:

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typedef struct {
  guint radius;
  CakeFlavor flavor;
  CakeFrostingType frosting;
  char *message;
} CakeData;

static void
cake_data_free (CakeData *cake_data)
{
  g_free (cake_data->message);
  g_slice_free (CakeData, cake_data);
}

static void
bake_cake_thread (GTask         *task,
                  gpointer       source_object,
                  gpointer       task_data,
                  GCancellable  *cancellable)
{
  Baker *self = source_object;
  CakeData *cake_data = task_data;
  Cake *cake;
  GError *error = NULL;

  cake = bake_cake (baker, cake_data->radius, cake_data->flavor,
                    cake_data->frosting, cake_data->message,
                    cancellable, &error);
  if (cake)
    g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
  else
    g_task_return_error (task, error);
}

void
baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                       guint                radius,
                       CakeFlavor           flavor,
                       CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                       const char          *message,
                       GCancellable        *cancellable,
                       GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                       gpointer             user_data)
{
  CakeData *cake_data;
  GTask *task;

  cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);
  cake_data->radius = radius;
  cake_data->flavor = flavor;
  cake_data->frosting = frosting;
  cake_data->message = g_strdup (message);
  task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
  g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
  g_task_run_in_thread (task, bake_cake_thread);
  g_object_unref (task);
}

Cake *
baker_bake_cake_finish (Baker         *self,
                        GAsyncResult  *result,
                        GError       **error)
{
  g_return_val_if_fail (g_task_is_valid (result, self), NULL);

  return g_task_propagate_pointer (G_TASK (result), error);
}

Adding cancellability to uncancellable tasks

Finally, g_task_run_in_thread() and g_task_run_in_thread_sync() can be used to turn an uncancellable operation into a cancellable one. If you call g_task_set_return_on_cancel(), passing TRUE, then if the task's GCancellable is cancelled, it will return control back to the caller immediately, while allowing the task thread to continue running in the background (and simply discarding its result when it finally does finish). Provided that the task thread is careful about how it uses locks and other externally-visible resources, this allows you to make "GLib-friendly" asynchronous and cancellable synchronous variants of blocking APIs.

Cancelling a task:

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static void
bake_cake_thread (GTask         *task,
                  gpointer       source_object,
                  gpointer       task_data,
                  GCancellable  *cancellable)
{
  Baker *self = source_object;
  CakeData *cake_data = task_data;
  Cake *cake;
  GError *error = NULL;

  cake = bake_cake (baker, cake_data->radius, cake_data->flavor,
                    cake_data->frosting, cake_data->message,
                    &error);
  if (error)
    {
      g_task_return_error (task, error);
      return;
    }

  // If the task has already been cancelled, then we don't want to add
  // the cake to the cake cache. Likewise, we don't  want to have the
  // task get cancelled in the middle of updating the cache.
  // g_task_set_return_on_cancel() will return %TRUE here if it managed
  // to disable return-on-cancel, or %FALSE if the task was cancelled
  // before it could.
  if (g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, FALSE))
    {
      // If the caller cancels at this point, their
      // GAsyncReadyCallback won't be invoked until we return,
      // so we don't have to worry that this code will run at
      // the same time as that code does. But if there were
      // other functions that might look at the cake cache,
      // then we'd probably need a GMutex here as well.
      baker_add_cake_to_cache (baker, cake);
      g_task_return_pointer (task, cake, g_object_unref);
    }
}

void
baker_bake_cake_async (Baker               *self,
                       guint                radius,
                       CakeFlavor           flavor,
                       CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                       const char          *message,
                       GCancellable        *cancellable,
                       GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
                       gpointer             user_data)
{
  CakeData *cake_data;
  GTask *task;

  cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);

  ...

  task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, callback, user_data);
  g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
  g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, TRUE);
  g_task_run_in_thread (task, bake_cake_thread);
}

Cake *
baker_bake_cake_sync (Baker               *self,
                      guint                radius,
                      CakeFlavor           flavor,
                      CakeFrostingType     frosting,
                      const char          *message,
                      GCancellable        *cancellable,
                      GError             **error)
{
  CakeData *cake_data;
  GTask *task;
  Cake *cake;

  cake_data = g_slice_new (CakeData);

  ...

  task = g_task_new (self, cancellable, NULL, NULL);
  g_task_set_task_data (task, cake_data, (GDestroyNotify) cake_data_free);
  g_task_set_return_on_cancel (task, TRUE);
  g_task_run_in_thread_sync (task, bake_cake_thread);

  cake = g_task_propagate_pointer (task, error);
  g_object_unref (task);
  return cake;
}

Porting from GSimpleAsyncResult

GTask's API attempts to be simpler than GSimpleAsyncResult's in several ways:

Functions

g_task_new ()

GTask *
g_task_new (gpointer source_object,
            GCancellable *cancellable,
            GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
            gpointer callback_data);

Creates a GTask acting on source_object , which will eventually be used to invoke callback in the current thread-default main context.

Call this in the "start" method of your asynchronous method, and pass the GTask around throughout the asynchronous operation. You can use g_task_set_task_data() to attach task-specific data to the object, which you can retrieve later via g_task_get_task_data().

By default, if cancellable is cancelled, then the return value of the task will always be G_IO_ERROR_CANCELLED, even if the task had already completed before the cancellation. This allows for simplified handling in cases where cancellation may imply that other objects that the task depends on have been destroyed. If you do not want this behavior, you can use g_task_set_check_cancellable() to change it.

Parameters

source_object

the GObject that owns this task, or NULL.

[nullable][type GObject]

cancellable

optional GCancellable object, NULL to ignore.

[nullable]

callback

a GAsyncReadyCallback.

[scope async]

callback_data

user data passed to callback .

[closure]

Returns

a GTask.

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_task_data ()

void
g_task_set_task_data (GTask *task,
                      gpointer task_data,
                      GDestroyNotify task_data_destroy);

Sets task 's task data (freeing the existing task data, if any).

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

task_data

task-specific data.

[nullable]

task_data_destroy

GDestroyNotify for task_data .

[nullable]

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_priority ()

void
g_task_set_priority (GTask *task,
                     gint priority);

Sets task 's priority. If you do not call this, it will default to G_PRIORITY_DEFAULT.

This will affect the priority of GSources created with g_task_attach_source() and the scheduling of tasks run in threads, and can also be explicitly retrieved later via g_task_get_priority().

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

priority

the priority of the request

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_check_cancellable ()

void
g_task_set_check_cancellable (GTask *task,
                              gboolean check_cancellable);

Sets or clears task 's check-cancellable flag. If this is TRUE (the default), then g_task_propagate_pointer(), etc, and g_task_had_error() will check the task's GCancellable first, and if it has been cancelled, then they will consider the task to have returned an "Operation was cancelled" error (G_IO_ERROR_CANCELLED), regardless of any other error or return value the task may have had.

If check_cancellable is FALSE, then the GTask will not check the cancellable itself, and it is up to task 's owner to do this (eg, via g_task_return_error_if_cancelled()).

If you are using g_task_set_return_on_cancel() as well, then you must leave check-cancellable set TRUE.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

check_cancellable

whether GTask will check the state of its GCancellable for you.

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_return_on_cancel ()

gboolean
g_task_set_return_on_cancel (GTask *task,
                             gboolean return_on_cancel);

Sets or clears task 's return-on-cancel flag. This is only meaningful for tasks run via g_task_run_in_thread() or g_task_run_in_thread_sync().

If return_on_cancel is TRUE, then cancelling task 's GCancellable will immediately cause it to return, as though the task's GTaskThreadFunc had called g_task_return_error_if_cancelled() and then returned.

This allows you to create a cancellable wrapper around an uninterruptible function. The GTaskThreadFunc just needs to be careful that it does not modify any externally-visible state after it has been cancelled. To do that, the thread should call g_task_set_return_on_cancel() again to (atomically) set return-on-cancel FALSE before making externally-visible changes; if the task gets cancelled before the return-on-cancel flag could be changed, g_task_set_return_on_cancel() will indicate this by returning FALSE.

You can disable and re-enable this flag multiple times if you wish. If the task's GCancellable is cancelled while return-on-cancel is FALSE, then calling g_task_set_return_on_cancel() to set it TRUE again will cause the task to be cancelled at that point.

If the task's GCancellable is already cancelled before you call g_task_run_in_thread()/g_task_run_in_thread_sync(), then the GTaskThreadFunc will still be run (for consistency), but the task will also be completed right away.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

return_on_cancel

whether the task returns automatically when it is cancelled.

 

Returns

TRUE if task 's return-on-cancel flag was changed to match return_on_cancel . FALSE if task has already been cancelled.

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_source_tag ()

void
g_task_set_source_tag (GTask *task,
                       gpointer source_tag);

Sets task 's source tag. You can use this to tag a task return value with a particular pointer (usually a pointer to the function doing the tagging) and then later check it using g_task_get_source_tag() (or g_async_result_is_tagged()) in the task's "finish" function, to figure out if the response came from a particular place.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

source_tag

an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_set_name ()

void
g_task_set_name (GTask *task,
                 const gchar *name);

Sets task ’s name, used in debugging and profiling. The name defaults to NULL.

The task name should describe in a human readable way what the task does. For example, ‘Open file’ or ‘Connect to network host’. It is used to set the name of the GSource used for idle completion of the task.

This function may only be called before the task is first used in a thread other than the one it was constructed in.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

name

a human readable name for the task, or NULL to unset it.

[nullable]

Since: 2.60


g_task_report_error ()

void
g_task_report_error (gpointer source_object,
                     GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                     gpointer callback_data,
                     gpointer source_tag,
                     GError *error);

Creates a GTask and then immediately calls g_task_return_error() on it. Use this in the wrapper function of an asynchronous method when you want to avoid even calling the virtual method. You can then use g_async_result_is_tagged() in the finish method wrapper to check if the result there is tagged as having been created by the wrapper method, and deal with it appropriately if so.

See also g_task_report_new_error().

Parameters

source_object

the GObject that owns this task, or NULL.

[nullable][type GObject]

callback

a GAsyncReadyCallback.

[scope async]

callback_data

user data passed to callback .

[closure]

source_tag

an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task

 

error

error to report.

[transfer full]

Since: 2.36


g_task_report_new_error ()

void
g_task_report_new_error (gpointer source_object,
                         GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
                         gpointer callback_data,
                         gpointer source_tag,
                         GQuark domain,
                         gint code,
                         const char *format,
                         ...);

Creates a GTask and then immediately calls g_task_return_new_error() on it. Use this in the wrapper function of an asynchronous method when you want to avoid even calling the virtual method. You can then use g_async_result_is_tagged() in the finish method wrapper to check if the result there is tagged as having been created by the wrapper method, and deal with it appropriately if so.

See also g_task_report_error().

Parameters

source_object

the GObject that owns this task, or NULL.

[nullable][type GObject]

callback

a GAsyncReadyCallback.

[scope async]

callback_data

user data passed to callback .

[closure]

source_tag

an opaque pointer indicating the source of this task

 

domain

a GQuark.

 

code

an error code.

 

format

a string with format characters.

 

...

a list of values to insert into format .

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_task_data ()

gpointer
g_task_get_task_data (GTask *task);

Gets task 's task_data.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's task_data.

[transfer none]

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_priority ()

gint
g_task_get_priority (GTask *task);

Gets task 's priority

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's priority

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_cancellable ()

GCancellable *
g_task_get_cancellable (GTask *task);

Gets task 's GCancellable

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's GCancellable.

[transfer none]

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_check_cancellable ()

gboolean
g_task_get_check_cancellable (GTask *task);

Gets task 's check-cancellable flag. See g_task_set_check_cancellable() for more details.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_return_on_cancel ()

gboolean
g_task_get_return_on_cancel (GTask *task);

Gets task 's return-on-cancel flag. See g_task_set_return_on_cancel() for more details.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_context ()

GMainContext *
g_task_get_context (GTask *task);

Gets the GMainContext that task will return its result in (that is, the context that was the thread-default main context at the point when task was created).

This will always return a non-NULL value, even if the task's context is the default GMainContext.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's GMainContext.

[transfer none]

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_source_object ()

gpointer
g_task_get_source_object (GTask *task);

Gets the source object from task . Like g_async_result_get_source_object(), but does not ref the object.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's source object, or NULL.

[transfer none][nullable][type GObject]

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_source_tag ()

gpointer
g_task_get_source_tag (GTask *task);

Gets task 's source tag. See g_task_set_source_tag().

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task 's source tag.

[transfer none]

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_name ()

const gchar *
g_task_get_name (GTask *task);

Gets task ’s name. See g_task_set_name().

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

task ’s name, or NULL.

[nullable][transfer none]

Since: 2.60


g_task_return_boolean ()

void
g_task_return_boolean (GTask *task,
                       gboolean result);

Sets task 's result to result and completes the task (see g_task_return_pointer() for more discussion of exactly what this means).

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

result

the gboolean result of a task function.

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_return_int ()

void
g_task_return_int (GTask *task,
                   gssize result);

Sets task 's result to result and completes the task (see g_task_return_pointer() for more discussion of exactly what this means).

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

result

the integer (gssize) result of a task function.

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_return_pointer ()

void
g_task_return_pointer (GTask *task,
                       gpointer result,
                       GDestroyNotify result_destroy);

Sets task 's result to result and completes the task. If result is not NULL, then result_destroy will be used to free result if the caller does not take ownership of it with g_task_propagate_pointer().

"Completes the task" means that for an ordinary asynchronous task it will either invoke the task's callback, or else queue that callback to be invoked in the proper GMainContext, or in the next iteration of the current GMainContext. For a task run via g_task_run_in_thread() or g_task_run_in_thread_sync(), calling this method will save result to be returned to the caller later, but the task will not actually be completed until the GTaskThreadFunc exits.

Note that since the task may be completed before returning from g_task_return_pointer(), you cannot assume that result is still valid after calling this, unless you are still holding another reference on it.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

result

the pointer result of a task function.

[nullable][transfer full]

result_destroy

a GDestroyNotify function.

[nullable]

Since: 2.36


g_task_return_value ()

void
g_task_return_value (GTask *task,
                     GValue *result);

Sets task 's result to result (by copying it) and completes the task.

If result is NULL then a GValue of type G_TYPE_POINTER with a value of NULL will be used for the result.

This is a very generic low-level method intended primarily for use by language bindings; for C code, g_task_return_pointer() and the like will normally be much easier to use.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

result

the GValue result of a task function.

[nullable][transfer none]

Since: 2.64


g_task_return_error ()

void
g_task_return_error (GTask *task,
                     GError *error);

Sets task 's result to error (which task assumes ownership of) and completes the task (see g_task_return_pointer() for more discussion of exactly what this means).

Note that since the task takes ownership of error , and since the task may be completed before returning from g_task_return_error(), you cannot assume that error is still valid after calling this. Call g_error_copy() on the error if you need to keep a local copy as well.

See also g_task_return_new_error().

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

error

the GError result of a task function.

[transfer full]

Since: 2.36


g_task_return_new_error ()

void
g_task_return_new_error (GTask *task,
                         GQuark domain,
                         gint code,
                         const char *format,
                         ...);

Sets task 's result to a new GError created from domain , code , format , and the remaining arguments, and completes the task (see g_task_return_pointer() for more discussion of exactly what this means).

See also g_task_return_error().

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

domain

a GQuark.

 

code

an error code.

 

format

a string with format characters.

 

...

a list of values to insert into format .

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_return_error_if_cancelled ()

gboolean
g_task_return_error_if_cancelled (GTask *task);

Checks if task 's GCancellable has been cancelled, and if so, sets task 's error accordingly and completes the task (see g_task_return_pointer() for more discussion of exactly what this means).

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

Returns

TRUE if task has been cancelled, FALSE if not

Since: 2.36


g_task_propagate_boolean ()

gboolean
g_task_propagate_boolean (GTask *task,
                          GError **error);

Gets the result of task as a gboolean.

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return FALSE and set error .

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

error

return location for a GError

 

Returns

the task result, or FALSE on error

Since: 2.36


g_task_propagate_int ()

gssize
g_task_propagate_int (GTask *task,
                      GError **error);

Gets the result of task as an integer (gssize).

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return -1 and set error .

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

error

return location for a GError

 

Returns

the task result, or -1 on error

Since: 2.36


g_task_propagate_pointer ()

gpointer
g_task_propagate_pointer (GTask *task,
                          GError **error);

Gets the result of task as a pointer, and transfers ownership of that value to the caller.

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead return NULL and set error .

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

error

return location for a GError

 

Returns

the task result, or NULL on error.

[transfer full]

Since: 2.36


g_task_propagate_value ()

gboolean
g_task_propagate_value (GTask *task,
                        GValue *value,
                        GError **error);

Gets the result of task as a GValue, and transfers ownership of that value to the caller. As with g_task_return_value(), this is a generic low-level method; g_task_propagate_pointer() and the like will usually be more useful for C code.

If the task resulted in an error, or was cancelled, then this will instead set error and return FALSE.

Since this method transfers ownership of the return value (or error) to the caller, you may only call it once.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

value

return location for the GValue.

[out caller-allocates]

error

return location for a GError

 

Returns

TRUE if task succeeded, FALSE on error.

Since: 2.64


g_task_had_error ()

gboolean
g_task_had_error (GTask *task);

Tests if task resulted in an error.

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

Returns

TRUE if the task resulted in an error, FALSE otherwise.

Since: 2.36


g_task_get_completed ()

gboolean
g_task_get_completed (GTask *task);

Gets the value of “completed”. This changes from FALSE to TRUE after the task’s callback is invoked, and will return FALSE if called from inside the callback.

Parameters

task

a GTask.

 

Returns

TRUE if the task has completed, FALSE otherwise.

Since: 2.44


g_task_run_in_thread ()

void
g_task_run_in_thread (GTask *task,
                      GTaskThreadFunc task_func);

Runs task_func in another thread. When task_func returns, task 's GAsyncReadyCallback will be invoked in task 's GMainContext.

This takes a ref on task until the task completes.

See GTaskThreadFunc for more details about how task_func is handled.

Although GLib currently rate-limits the tasks queued via g_task_run_in_thread(), you should not assume that it will always do this. If you have a very large number of tasks to run, but don't want them to all run at once, you should only queue a limited number of them at a time.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

task_func

a GTaskThreadFunc.

[scope async]

Since: 2.36


g_task_run_in_thread_sync ()

void
g_task_run_in_thread_sync (GTask *task,
                           GTaskThreadFunc task_func);

Runs task_func in another thread, and waits for it to return or be cancelled. You can use g_task_propagate_pointer(), etc, afterward to get the result of task_func .

See GTaskThreadFunc for more details about how task_func is handled.

Normally this is used with tasks created with a NULL callback, but note that even if the task does have a callback, it will not be invoked when task_func returns. “completed” will be set to TRUE just before this function returns.

Although GLib currently rate-limits the tasks queued via g_task_run_in_thread_sync(), you should not assume that it will always do this. If you have a very large number of tasks to run, but don't want them to all run at once, you should only queue a limited number of them at a time.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

task_func

a GTaskThreadFunc.

[scope async]

Since: 2.36


GTaskThreadFunc ()

void
(*GTaskThreadFunc) (GTask *task,
                    gpointer source_object,
                    gpointer task_data,
                    GCancellable *cancellable);

The prototype for a task function to be run in a thread via g_task_run_in_thread() or g_task_run_in_thread_sync().

If the return-on-cancel flag is set on task , and cancellable gets cancelled, then the GTask will be completed immediately (as though g_task_return_error_if_cancelled() had been called), without waiting for the task function to complete. However, the task function will continue running in its thread in the background. The function therefore needs to be careful about how it uses externally-visible state in this case. See g_task_set_return_on_cancel() for more details.

Other than in that case, task will be completed when the GTaskThreadFunc returns, not when it calls a g_task_return_ function.

Parameters

task

the GTask

 

source_object

task 's source object.

[type GObject]

task_data

task 's task data

 

cancellable

task 's GCancellable, or NULL

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_attach_source ()

void
g_task_attach_source (GTask *task,
                      GSource *source,
                      GSourceFunc callback);

A utility function for dealing with async operations where you need to wait for a GSource to trigger. Attaches source to task 's GMainContext with task 's priority, and sets source 's callback to callback , with task as the callback's user_data.

It will set the source ’s name to the task’s name (as set with g_task_set_name()), if one has been set.

This takes a reference on task until source is destroyed.

Parameters

task

a GTask

 

source

the source to attach

 

callback

the callback to invoke when source triggers

 

Since: 2.36


g_task_is_valid ()

gboolean
g_task_is_valid (gpointer result,
                 gpointer source_object);

Checks that result is a GTask, and that source_object is its source object (or that source_object is NULL and result has no source object). This can be used in g_return_if_fail() checks.

Parameters

result

A GAsyncResult.

[type Gio.AsyncResult]

source_object

the source object expected to be associated with the task.

[nullable][type GObject]

Returns

TRUE if result and source_object are valid, FALSE if not

Since: 2.36

Types and Values

GTask

typedef struct _GTask GTask;

The opaque object representing a synchronous or asynchronous task and its result.

Property Details

The “completed” property

  “completed”                gboolean

Whether the task has completed, meaning its callback (if set) has been invoked. This can only happen after g_task_return_pointer(), g_task_return_error() or one of the other return functions have been called on the task.

This property is guaranteed to change from FALSE to TRUE exactly once.

The “notify” signal for this change is emitted in the same main context as the task’s callback, immediately after that callback is invoked.

Owner: GTask

Flags: Read

Default value: FALSE

Since: 2.44

See Also

GAsyncResult