+ pthread_t pthread_id;
+ };
+
+ /** Create a new thread. This takes an already allocated
+ * Thread* pointer and initializes it to use this threading
+ * engine. On failure, this function may throw a CoreException.
+ * @param thread_to_init Pointer to a newly allocated Thread
+ * derived object.
+ */
+ void Start(Thread* thread_to_init);
+
+ /** Stop a thread gracefully.
+ * First, this function asks the thread to terminate by calling Thread::SetExitFlag().
+ * Next, it waits until the thread terminates (on the operating system level). Finally,
+ * all OS-level resources associated with the thread are released. The Thread instance
+ * passed to the function is NOT freed.
+ * When this function returns, the thread is stopped and you can destroy it or restart it
+ * at a later point.
+ * Stopping a thread that is not running is a bug.
+ * @param thread The thread to stop.
+ */
+ void Stop(Thread* thread);