How to read / write a shared variable using pthreads?

Question

I have two threads using C pthreads on linux. One of them writes data, and the other reads it. I use a variable to allow reading of the stream when it is allowed to read, and to write when it is allowed. Thus, the mutex is applied to this boolean called "newData". My question is: do I need to lock / unlock the mutex around access inside the if condition? Both methods work, but I think that only because the chances of overlapping write / read over this variable are very small. I show both alternatives to better explain my question:

Theme 1:

pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
if (!newData) {
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
    uchar *lattice_pos = lattice;
    int i;
    for(i=0; i<size; i++) {
        *lattice_pos = rand()%CHAR_MAX;
        lattice_pos++;
    }
    pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
    newData = TRUE;
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
} else {
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
}

Theme 2:

pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
if(newData) {
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
    renderUpdate();
    pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
    newData = FALSE;
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
} else {
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
}

The second version, which works, but I do not know if this is correct:

Theme 1:

if (!newData) {
    uchar *lattice_pos = lattice;
    int i;
    for(i=0; i<size; i++) {
        *lattice_pos = rand()%CHAR_MAX;
        lattice_pos++;
    }
    pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
    newData = TRUE;
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
}

Theme 2:

if(newData) {
    renderUpdate();
    pthread_mutex_lock( &lattice_mutex );
    newData = FALSE;
    pthread_mutex_unlock( &lattice_mutex );
}

Answer 1

- .

1:

pthread_mutex_lock(&lattice_mutex);
if (!newData) {
    pthread_mutex_unlock(&lattice_mutex);  // Omit?
    uchar *lattice_pos = lattice;
    int i;
    for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
        *lattice_pos++ = rand() % CHAR_MAX;
    pthread_mutex_lock(&lattice_mutex);   // Omit?
    newData = TRUE;
}
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lattice_mutex);

Thread 2: reader

pthread_mutex_lock(&lattice_mutex);
if (newData) {
    pthread_mutex_unlock(&lattice_mutex);   // Omit?
    renderUpdate();
    pthread_mutex_lock(&lattice_mutex);     // Omit?
    newData = FALSE;
}
pthread_mutex_unlock(&lattice_mutex);

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Answer 2

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