title: Conductor solution to philosophers dinner
body: <p>The conductor solution to the philosopher dinner problem as described suggest that a semphore of size four be used and that all philosophers attempt to get left fork before right fork.
  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_philosophers_problem#Conductor_solution" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dining_philosophers_problem#Conductor_solution</a></p>
  
  <p>Should the semaphore be used for everybody accessing the left fork and everyone accessing the right fork?</p>
  
  <p>What should a philosopher do if they can get left fork but don't get right fork within specified time? Should they give left fork back?</p>
  
  <p>Does it matter what order philosophers return forks in?</p>
  
  <p>Surely this solution can still result in starvation. For example the wiki says that A and C both have two forks. This means the semaphore will say no more forks to anyone and hang onto the fifth.
  The fork between D and E must stay on the table.  Then say A returns his right fork.</p>
  
  <p>Now the semaphore will be back at 3.</p>
  
  <p>D can try again for left fork and then realise he can't get right.
  B can only get left. Again no use.   </p>
  
  <p>And A could try to pick the right fork again as he already has his left. This means we go around in circle.</p>
  
  <p>I am missing something </p>
  
  <p>help?</p>