Difficulty: Medium · Puzzle 5 of 6 · Topic: Fork Join Puzzles
Predict the timeline when `join_any` is used but no `disable fork` follows.
module p5;
initial begin
fork
begin #4 $display("%0t fast", $time); end
begin #9 $display("%0t slow", $time); end
join_any
$display("%0t after_any", $time);
#10 $display("%0t later", $time);
end
endmodule`join_any` only releases the parent when one child finishes. It does not terminate remaining children.
1) `fast` branch ends first at t=4.
2) Parent resumes at t=4 and prints `after_any`.
3) `slow` branch is still alive and prints at t=9.
4) Parent waits #10 from t=4 and prints `later` at t=14.Answer: fast@4, after_any@4, slow@9, later@14
Interviewees often assume `join_any` implies automatic cancellation of remaining branches.
What minimal code change guarantees `slow` cannot print?