The order of things

Question

import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
public class Wire
     public static void main(String[] args)
          String host;
          System.out.println("Beginning main process");
          if (args.length > 0) host =(args[0]);
          else
               host = "localhost";
               System.out.println("No host set, setting host to localhost");
          int port;
          if (args.length > 1) port = Integer.parseInt(args[1]);
          else
               port = 7337;
               System.out.println("No port set, setting port to 7337");
          int timeout = 5000;
          System.out.println("Setting timeout to 5 seconds");
          Socket s = WireThread.openSocket(host, port, timeout);
          if (s == null)
               System.out.println("The socket could not be opened.");
          else
               System.out.println(s);
class WireThread implements Runnable
     public static Socket openSocket(String aHost, int aPort,
     int timeout)
     WireThread wirethread = new WireThread(aHost, aPort);
     Thread t = new Thread(wirethread);
     System.out.println("Starting client thread");
     t.start();
     try
     System.out.println("Join method");
     t.join(timeout);
     catch (InterruptedException exception)
          System.out.println("Interrupted Exception");
     return wirethread.getSocket();
     public WireThread(String aHost, int aPort)
     System.out.println("Setting WireThread variables");
     socket = null;
     host = aHost;
     port = aPort;
     public void run()
     System.out.println("Setting client socket");
     try
     socket = new Socket(host, port);
     catch (IOException exception)
          System.out.println("I/0 Exception");
     public Socket getSocket()
     System.out.println("Getting remote server socket");
     return socket;
     private String host;
     private int port;
     private Socket socket;
this is a simple socket connect client I made. As you can see, I added plenty of println calls to see what order things take place. My question is, why does "Join method" show up before "Setting client socket" Doesn't t.start call the run method? Or is t.join doing it?

Answer 1

This is because you have implemented and started a thread. At the point "t.start();", two process will be running concurrently: statements after t.start() will continue to execute at the same time the run method is being executed. No order can be garuanteed from here on, therefore the "Join method" would show up even before the "Setting client socket".
If you do require order of execution, do not use a thread, or check for a flag to be set before continuing execution.