Execute and finish of methods

Question

This is a very naive question, please forgive my ignorance if I use the wrong terms.

If I have a series of instructions as in the snippet,

bool methodComplete = false;
methodComplete = doSomeMethod(someParam, etcParam); //long & complex method that returns true
if (methodComplete)
   doSomeOtherMethod();

will the method doSomeMethod() finish its execution before if (methodComplete) is evaluated?

Or is this a case for an asynchronous pattern if I want to guarantee it is completed?

Answer 1

The language specifications define how a program will effectively behave from the point of the user/programmer. So, yes, you can assume that the program behaves as that:

• It computes doSomeMethod
• It stores the results in methodComplete
• It executes the if clauses

That said, some optimizations might result in code executed ahead, see Speculative execution.

Answer 2

will the method doSomeMethod() finished executing before if (methodComplete) is evaluated?

Yes^*.

or is this a case for an asynchronous pattern if I want to guarantee it has completed?

Only if you are doing parallel computing.

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^*)_{It can get to be a no if your code is executing in parallel..}