custom RAII C++ implementation for scoped mutex locks

Note This is an old answer. C++11 contains better helpers that are more platform independent:

• std::lock_guard
• std::mutex, std::timed_mutex, std::recursive_mutex, std::recursive_timed_mutex

And other options like std::unique_lock, boost::unique_lock

Any RAII tutorial will do.

Here's the gist: (also on http://ideone.com/kkB86)

// stub mutex_t: implement this for your operating systemstruct mutex_t {     void Acquire() {}     void Release() {} };struct LockGuard{     LockGuard(mutex_t& mutex) : _ref(mutex)      {          _ref.Acquire();  // TODO operating system specific     }     ~LockGuard()      {           _ref.Release(); // TODO operating system specific     }   private:     LockGuard(const LockGuard&); // or use c++0x ` = delete`     mutex_t& _ref;};int main(){    mutex_t mtx;    {        LockGuard lock(mtx);        // LockGuard copy(lock); // ERROR: constructor private        // lock = LockGuard(mtx);// ERROR: no default assignment operator    }}

Of course you can make it generic towards mutex_t, you could prevent subclassing.Copying/assignment is already prohibited because of the reference field

EDIT For pthreads:

struct mutex_t{    public:        mutex_t(pthread_mutex_t &lock) : m_mutex(lock) {}        void Acquire() { pthread_mutex_lock(&m_mutex);   }        void Release() { pthread_mutex_unlock(&m_mutex); }    private:        pthread_mutex_t& m_mutex;};