Implementing a timer using threads

[Frits van Bommel]

BCS wrote:
> Max Samukha wrote:
>> A platform independent way to put a thread to sleep using Phobos:
>> import std.c.time;
>>
>> sleep(1);// secs
>> msleep(1000); millisecs
>> http://www.digitalmars.com/d/archives/digitalmars/D/29144.html
>>
>>  
> 
> However that gives the problem of not accounting for the run time of the 
> threads "action". Not alwyas a problem, but...
> 
> What is  thread suposed to do to "kill time"? e.i. let other things run 
> with out using up much CPU but keep poling the thread.
> 
> while(NothingToDo())
>     thisThread.MarkTime();

Couldn't you just do something like:
-----
time_t nextEvent = currentTime() + interval;
time_t now;		
while (true) {
     while ((now = currentTime()) < nextEvent)
          sleep(nextEvent - now);        // or msleep, if you prefer
     nextEvent += interval;
     action();
}
-----
(where time_t is some type suitable for measuring time)

That should sleep until it's time, right?