Thread optimization

An application program executes on a computer capable of executing multiple execution threads. The threads produce varying processor loads. The application program assigns task requests to the execution threads and keeps track of how many of the threads have become active. The application program also maintains a variable limit on the number of active execution threads. Each execution thread calls a gating function before performing its assigned task request, and also calls an exit function after performing the assigned task request. The gating and exit functions maintain a current count of active execution threads. Furthermore, the gating function potentially changes the variable limit depending on the current processor load of the computer. In addition, the gating function temporarily delays execution of its execution thread depending on a comparison of the number of active execution threads to the variable limit.