is boost::detail::atomic_count thread safe?

Question

I'm incrementing/decrementing boost::detail::atomic_count in multiple threads.
Wonder if this practice is ok or if I need a lock around it(then I could just use regular int variable)?

Thank you.

Answer 1

The entire purpose of an atomic variable is to be lock-free* and thread-safe.

So yes, it's perfectly safe; no, you don't need a lock.

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*That is, the "lock" is done at hardware level. Are you using something without understanding it first? :)