48.12. $timeout

$timeout pauses for approximately the number of seconds specified.

On some operating systems, it may be necessary to implement $timeout with a loop that waits until the time has elapsed. On most modern operating systems, however, such a loop is unnecessary, since most operating systems provide a system call that waits, scheduling any other waiting processes in the meantime. Nonetheless, should MAINSAIL ever be implemented for a system without such a call, $timeout would consume a good deal of CPU time.