mysql blocks the ruby interpreter

mysql_block.rb

require 'rubygems'
require 'mysql'

# thanks to piyush_ in irc.

# mysql blocks the ruby interpreter
# alternatives:
# 1) use neverblock/mysqlplus mysql driver.
# 2) use jruby - will use java threads.
# 3) postgres driver does not block.
# 4) the ruby mysql lib uses threads so does not block but is slower and threading generally sucks in ruby.
# 5) check if there is a async mysql driver and a ruby binding to it.

# deployment:
# effect of threadpool like in ActiveRecord on this.
# mongrel_cluster will have seperate ruby instances what about passenger?
# using drb or like to seperate it out of the ruby interpreter.

# see http://gist.github.com/356462 for do_mysql

thread1 = Thread.new {
  while(true) do 
    print '*'
    sleep 1
  end
}

my = Mysql.connect('localhost', 'root', 'deepak123', 'railsdb')
puts "=== started blocking ==="
stmt = my.prepare "select sleep(10)"
stmt.execute  
puts "=== finished blocking ==="

thread1.join