Console closing with only threads?

Question

I ran into an issue where the application closes even though threads are running in the background when a while( true ) loop is not running on it's own(without a thread) in the main method.

Pseudo example:

public static void Method1() {
    while( true ) {}
}
public static void Method2() {
    while( true ) {}
}
public static void main() {
    Thread myThread1 = new Thread( () => Method1() );
    Thread myThread2 = new Thread( () => Method2() );
    myThread1.Start();
    myThread2.Start();
}

Now when that program runs, it stops execution after starting the threads, even though the threads are running infinite while loops. How do I void this? I know I can add an infinite loop in the main method, but that seems odd.

Someone recommended I use a mutex or semaphone, however I don't now where to start with those or how to apply them to my application.

Answer 1

I think all you should need is to set the threads' IsBackground property to false:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.threading.thread.isbackground%28v=vs.110%29.aspx

Answer 2

When the main thread exits, the app exits. That's normal.

You can just use Thread.Join to wait for them both to terminate.

myThread1.Start();
myThread2.Start();
myThread1.Join(); 
myThread2.Join();

Edit: actually, @adv12's answer is better: set the threads to be foreground threads so that the app won't terminate until they finish.

Answer 3

Yes you can use a mutex, see the MSDN documentation

In the class

private static Mutex mut = new Mutex();

And in your methods use

mut.WaitOne();
mut.ReleaseMutex();

The main will exit but the threads will run until the mutex is released