hi! class someclass { public: bool a_writer(...); bool a_reader(...); bool another_reader(...); .... private: .... boost::mutex mutex; boost::detail::atomic_count locked; }; someclass::someclass():locked(0) { } bool someclass::a_writer(.....) { boost::mutex::scoped_lock scoped_lock(mutex,true); ++locked; if(something) { ........... --locked; return true; } ............ --locked; return false; } bool someclass::a_reader(.....) { boost::mutex::scoped_lock scoped_lock(mutex,(locked!=0)); if(something) { ......... return true; } ............ return false; } bool someclass::another_reader(.....) { boost::mutex::scoped_lock scoped_lock(mutex,(locked!=0)); if(something) { ........... return true; } ............ return false; } I wanna combine atomic_count and scope locking so I can avoid locking on every operation. writers will get the lock,blocking all others,readers is able to go on. the method a_writer(....) is not used very often... I know that what I am doing is not recommended,atomic_count.hpp is for internal use only, but is so usefull!! would this work as I expect? does it worth it? thanks!