# Ruby and --enable-pthread

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-and-enable-pthread/172739>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [July 27, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-and-enable-pthread/172739 "2009-07-27T10:08:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![denisb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@denisb](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/denisb)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2009, 10:08am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-and-enable-pthread/172739/1 "2009-07-27T10:08:57Z")

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Hi guys,

Sorry, maybe this is a simple question but what compiling ruby with  
–enable-pthread actually does? Does it mean that with this option I  
will have thread support in Ruby and without it there will be no  
threads?

I know that enabling pthread leads to performance degradation (at least  
in version 1.8.7) but without this option it seems there are still  
threads enabled it ruby.

Thanks,

Denis