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Revision 1.14 by root, Thu Apr 18 13:11:12 2013 UTC vs.
Revision 1.37 by root, Thu May 12 16:43:08 2016 UTC

2 2
3AnyEvent::Fork::RPC - simple RPC extension for AnyEvent::Fork 3AnyEvent::Fork::RPC - simple RPC extension for AnyEvent::Fork
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::Fork;
7 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC; 8 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC;
8 # use AnyEvent::Fork is not needed
9 9
10 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork 10 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork
11 ->new 11 ->new
12 ->require ("MyModule") 12 ->require ("MyModule")
13 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ( 13 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run (
14 "MyModule::server", 14 "MyModule::server",
15 ); 15 );
16 16
17 use AnyEvent;
18
17 my $cv = AE::cv; 19 my $cv = AE::cv;
18 20
19 $rpc->(1, 2, 3, sub { 21 $rpc->(1, 2, 3, sub {
20 print "MyModule::server returned @_\n"; 22 print "MyModule::server returned @_\n";
21 $cv->send; 23 $cv->send;
24 $cv->recv; 26 $cv->recv;
25 27
26=head1 DESCRIPTION 28=head1 DESCRIPTION
27 29
28This module implements a simple RPC protocol and backend for processes 30This module implements a simple RPC protocol and backend for processes
29created via L<AnyEvent::Fork>, allowing you to call a function in the 31created via L<AnyEvent::Fork> or L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>, allowing you
30child process and receive its return values (up to 4GB serialised). 32to call a function in the child process and receive its return values (up
33to 4GB serialised).
31 34
32It implements two different backends: a synchronous one that works like a 35It implements two different backends: a synchronous one that works like a
33normal function call, and an asynchronous one that can run multiple jobs 36normal function call, and an asynchronous one that can run multiple jobs
34concurrently in the child, using AnyEvent. 37concurrently in the child, using AnyEvent.
35 38
36It also implements an asynchronous event mechanism from the child to the 39It also implements an asynchronous event mechanism from the child to the
37parent, that could be used for progress indications or other information. 40parent, that could be used for progress indications or other information.
38
39Loading this module also always loads L<AnyEvent::Fork>, so you can make a
40separate C<use AnyEvent::Fork> if you wish, but you don't have to.
41 41
42=head1 EXAMPLES 42=head1 EXAMPLES
43 43
44=head2 Example 1: Synchronous Backend 44=head2 Example 1: Synchronous Backend
45 45
49silly, but illustrates the use of events. 49silly, but illustrates the use of events.
50 50
51First the parent process: 51First the parent process:
52 52
53 use AnyEvent; 53 use AnyEvent;
54 use AnyEvent::Fork;
54 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC; 55 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC;
55 56
56 my $done = AE::cv; 57 my $done = AE::cv;
57 58
58 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork 59 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork
59 ->new 60 ->new
60 ->require ("MyWorker") 61 ->require ("MyWorker")
61 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ("MyWorker::run", 62 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ("MyWorker::run",
62 on_error => sub { warn "FATAL: $_[0]"; exit 1 }, 63 on_error => sub { warn "ERROR: $_[0]"; exit 1 },
63 on_event => sub { warn "$_[0] requests handled\n" }, 64 on_event => sub { warn "$_[0] requests handled\n" },
64 on_destroy => $done, 65 on_destroy => $done,
65 ); 66 );
66 67
67 for my $id (1..6) { 68 for my $id (1..6) {
174you really I<are> done. 175you really I<are> done.
175 176
176=head2 Example 2: Asynchronous Backend 177=head2 Example 2: Asynchronous Backend
177 178
178This example implements multiple count-downs in the child, using 179This example implements multiple count-downs in the child, using
179L<AnyEvent> timers. While this is a bit silly (one could use timers in te 180L<AnyEvent> timers. While this is a bit silly (one could use timers in the
180parent just as well), it illustrates the ability to use AnyEvent in the 181parent just as well), it illustrates the ability to use AnyEvent in the
181child and the fact that responses can arrive in a different order then the 182child and the fact that responses can arrive in a different order then the
182requests. 183requests.
183 184
184It also shows how to embed the actual child code into a C<__DATA__> 185It also shows how to embed the actual child code into a C<__DATA__>
189so silly anymore. 190so silly anymore.
190 191
191Without further ado, here is the code: 192Without further ado, here is the code:
192 193
193 use AnyEvent; 194 use AnyEvent;
195 use AnyEvent::Fork;
194 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC; 196 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC;
195 197
196 my $done = AE::cv; 198 my $done = AE::cv;
197 199
198 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork 200 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork
199 ->new 201 ->new
200 ->require ("AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::Async") 202 ->require ("AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::Async")
201 ->eval (do { local $/; <DATA> }) 203 ->eval (do { local $/; <DATA> })
202 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ("run", 204 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ("run",
203 async => 1, 205 async => 1,
204 on_error => sub { warn "FATAL: $_[0]"; exit 1 }, 206 on_error => sub { warn "ERROR: $_[0]"; exit 1 },
205 on_event => sub { print $_[0] }, 207 on_event => sub { print $_[0] },
206 on_destroy => $done, 208 on_destroy => $done,
207 ); 209 );
208 210
209 for my $count (3, 2, 1) { 211 for my $count (3, 2, 1) {
285 287
286This concludes the async example. Since L<AnyEvent::Fork> does not 288This concludes the async example. Since L<AnyEvent::Fork> does not
287actually fork, you are free to use about any module in the child, not just 289actually fork, you are free to use about any module in the child, not just
288L<AnyEvent>, but also L<IO::AIO>, or L<Tk> for example. 290L<AnyEvent>, but also L<IO::AIO>, or L<Tk> for example.
289 291
292=head2 Example 3: Asynchronous backend with Coro
293
294With L<Coro> you can create a nice asynchronous backend implementation by
295defining an rpc server function that creates a new Coro thread for every
296request that calls a function "normally", i.e. the parameters from the
297parent process are passed to it, and any return values are returned to the
298parent process, e.g.:
299
300 package My::Arith;
301
302 sub add {
303 return $_[0] + $_[1];
304 }
305
306 sub mul {
307 return $_[0] * $_[1];
308 }
309
310 sub run {
311 my ($done, $func, @arg) = @_;
312
313 Coro::async_pool {
314 $done->($func->(@arg));
315 };
316 }
317
318The C<run> function creates a new thread for every invocation, using the
319first argument as function name, and calls the C<$done> callback on it's
320return values. This makes it quite natural to define the C<add> and C<mul>
321functions to add or multiply two numbers and return the result.
322
323Since this is the asynchronous backend, it's quite possible to define RPC
324function that do I/O or wait for external events - their execution will
325overlap as needed.
326
327The above could be used like this:
328
329 my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork
330 ->new
331 ->require ("MyWorker")
332 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run ("My::Arith::run",
333 on_error => ..., on_event => ..., on_destroy => ...,
334 );
335
336 $rpc->(add => 1, 3, Coro::rouse_cb); say Coro::rouse_wait;
337 $rpc->(mul => 3, 2, Coro::rouse_cb); say Coro::rouse_wait;
338
339The C<say>'s will print C<4> and C<6>.
340
341=head2 Example 4: Forward AnyEvent::Log messages using C<on_event>
342
343This partial example shows how to use the C<event> function to forward
344L<AnyEvent::Log> messages to the parent.
345
346For this, the parent needs to provide a suitable C<on_event>:
347
348 ->AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run (
349 on_event => sub {
350 if ($_[0] eq "ae_log") {
351 my (undef, $level, $message) = @_;
352 AE::log $level, $message;
353 } else {
354 # other event types
355 }
356 },
357 )
358
359In the child, as early as possible, the following code should reconfigure
360L<AnyEvent::Log> to log via C<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event>:
361
362 $AnyEvent::Log::LOG->log_cb (sub {
363 my ($timestamp, $orig_ctx, $level, $message) = @{+shift};
364
365 if (defined &AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event) {
366 AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event (ae_log => $level, $message);
367 } else {
368 warn "[$$ before init] $message\n";
369 }
370 });
371
372There is an important twist - the C<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event> function
373is only defined when the child is fully initialised. If you redirect the
374log messages in your C<init> function for example, then the C<event>
375function might not yet be available. This is why the log callback checks
376whether the fucntion is there using C<defined>, and only then uses it to
377log the message.
378
290=head1 PARENT PROCESS USAGE 379=head1 PARENT PROCESS USAGE
291 380
292This module exports nothing, and only implements a single function: 381This module exports nothing, and only implements a single function:
293 382
294=over 4 383=over 4
301 390
302use Errno (); 391use Errno ();
303use Guard (); 392use Guard ();
304 393
305use AnyEvent; 394use AnyEvent;
306use AnyEvent::Fork; # we don't actually depend on it, this is for convenience
307 395
308our $VERSION = 0.1; 396our $VERSION = 1.21;
309 397
310=item my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run $fork, $function, [key => value...] 398=item my $rpc = AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::run $fork, $function, [key => value...]
311 399
312The traditional way to call it. But it is way cooler to call it in the 400The traditional way to call it. But it is way cooler to call it in the
313following way: 401following way:
333Called on (fatal) errors, with a descriptive (hopefully) message. If 421Called on (fatal) errors, with a descriptive (hopefully) message. If
334this callback is not provided, but C<on_event> is, then the C<on_event> 422this callback is not provided, but C<on_event> is, then the C<on_event>
335callback is called with the first argument being the string C<error>, 423callback is called with the first argument being the string C<error>,
336followed by the error message. 424followed by the error message.
337 425
338If neither handler is provided it prints the error to STDERR and will 426If neither handler is provided, then the error is reported with loglevel
339start failing badly. 427C<error> via C<AE::log>.
340 428
341=item on_event => $cb->(...) 429=item on_event => $cb->(...)
342 430
343Called for every call to the C<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event> function in the 431Called for every call to the C<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::event> function in the
344child, with the arguments of that function passed to the callback. 432child, with the arguments of that function passed to the callback.
366It is called very early - before the serialisers are created or the 454It is called very early - before the serialisers are created or the
367C<$function> name is resolved into a function reference, so it could be 455C<$function> name is resolved into a function reference, so it could be
368used to load any modules that provide the serialiser or function. It can 456used to load any modules that provide the serialiser or function. It can
369not, however, create events. 457not, however, create events.
370 458
459=item done => $function (default C<CORE::exit>)
460
461The function to call when the asynchronous backend detects an end of file
462condition when reading from the communications socket I<and> there are no
463outstanding requests. It's ignored by the synchronous backend.
464
465By overriding this you can prolong the life of a RPC process after e.g.
466the parent has exited by running the event loop in the provided function
467(or simply calling it, for example, when your child process uses L<EV> you
468could provide L<EV::run> as C<done> function).
469
470Of course, in that case you are responsible for exiting at the appropriate
471time and not returning from
472
371=item async => $boolean (default: 0) 473=item async => $boolean (default: 0)
372 474
373The default server used in the child does all I/O blockingly, and only 475The default server used in the child does all I/O blockingly, and only
374allows a single RPC call to execute concurrently. 476allows a single RPC call to execute concurrently.
375 477
376Setting C<async> to a true value switches to another implementation that 478Setting C<async> to a true value switches to another implementation that
377uses L<AnyEvent> in the child and allows multiple concurrent RPC calls. 479uses L<AnyEvent> in the child and allows multiple concurrent RPC calls (it
480does not support recursion in the event loop however, blocking condvar
481calls will fail).
378 482
379The actual API in the child is documented in the section that describes 483The actual API in the child is documented in the section that describes
380the calling semantics of the returned C<$rpc> function. 484the calling semantics of the returned C<$rpc> function.
381 485
382If you want to pre-load the actual back-end modules to enable memory 486If you want to pre-load the actual back-end modules to enable memory
390 494
391All arguments, result data and event data have to be serialised to be 495All arguments, result data and event data have to be serialised to be
392transferred between the processes. For this, they have to be frozen and 496transferred between the processes. For this, they have to be frozen and
393thawed in both parent and child processes. 497thawed in both parent and child processes.
394 498
395By default, only octet strings can be passed between the processes, which 499By default, only octet strings can be passed between the processes,
396is reasonably fast and efficient and requires no extra modules. 500which is reasonably fast and efficient and requires no extra modules
501(the C<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC> distribution does not provide these extra
502serialiser modules).
397 503
398For more complicated use cases, you can provide your own freeze and thaw 504For more complicated use cases, you can provide your own freeze and thaw
399functions, by specifying a string with perl source code. It's supposed to 505functions, by specifying a string with perl source code. It's supposed to
400return two code references when evaluated: the first receives a list of 506return two code references when evaluated: the first receives a list of
401perl values and must return an octet string. The second receives the octet 507perl values and must return an octet string. The second receives the octet
408Here are some examples - some of them are also available as global 514Here are some examples - some of them are also available as global
409variables that make them easier to use. 515variables that make them easier to use.
410 516
411=over 4 517=over 4
412 518
413=item octet strings - C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::STRING_SERIALISER> 519=item C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::STRING_SERIALISER> - octet strings only
414 520
415This serialiser concatenates length-prefixes octet strings, and is the 521This serialiser (currently the default) concatenates length-prefixes octet
416default. 522strings, and is the default. That means you can only pass (and return)
523strings containing character codes 0-255.
524
525The main advantages of this serialiser are the high speed and that it
526doesn't need another module. The main disadvantage is that you are very
527limited in what you can pass - only octet strings.
417 528
418Implementation: 529Implementation:
419 530
420 ( 531 (
421 sub { pack "(w/a*)*", @_ }, 532 sub { pack "(w/a*)*", @_ },
422 sub { unpack "(w/a*)*", shift } 533 sub { unpack "(w/a*)*", shift }
423 ) 534 )
424 535
425=item json - C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::JSON_SERIALISER> 536=item C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::CBOR_XS_SERIALISER> - uses L<CBOR::XS>
537
538This serialiser creates CBOR::XS arrays - you have to make sure the
539L<CBOR::XS> module is installed for this serialiser to work. It can be
540beneficial for sharing when you preload the L<CBOR::XS> module in a template
541process.
542
543L<CBOR::XS> is about as fast as the octet string serialiser, but supports
544complex data structures (similar to JSON) and is faster than any of the
545other serialisers. If you have the L<CBOR::XS> module available, it's the
546best choice.
547
548The encoder enables C<allow_sharing> (so this serialisation method can
549encode cyclic and self-referencing data structures).
550
551Implementation:
552
553 use CBOR::XS ();
554 (
555 sub { CBOR::XS::encode_cbor_sharing \@_ },
556 sub { @{ CBOR::XS::decode_cbor shift } }
557 )
558
559=item C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::JSON_SERIALISER> - uses L<JSON::XS> or L<JSON>
426 560
427This serialiser creates JSON arrays - you have to make sure the L<JSON> 561This serialiser creates JSON arrays - you have to make sure the L<JSON>
428module is installed for this serialiser to work. It can be beneficial for 562module is installed for this serialiser to work. It can be beneficial for
429sharing when you preload the L<JSON> module in a template process. 563sharing when you preload the L<JSON> module in a template process.
430 564
438 ( 572 (
439 sub { JSON::encode_json \@_ }, 573 sub { JSON::encode_json \@_ },
440 sub { @{ JSON::decode_json shift } } 574 sub { @{ JSON::decode_json shift } }
441 ) 575 )
442 576
443=item storable - C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::STORABLE_SERIALISER> 577=item C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::STORABLE_SERIALISER> - L<Storable>
444 578
445This serialiser uses L<Storable>, which means it has high chance of 579This serialiser uses L<Storable>, which means it has high chance of
446serialising just about anything you throw at it, at the cost of having 580serialising just about anything you throw at it, at the cost of having
447very high overhead per operation. It also comes with perl. 581very high overhead per operation. It also comes with perl. It should be
582used when you need to serialise complex data structures.
448 583
449Implementation: 584Implementation:
450 585
451 use Storable (); 586 use Storable ();
452 ( 587 (
453 sub { Storable::freeze \@_ }, 588 sub { Storable::freeze \@_ },
454 sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } } 589 sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } }
455 ) 590 )
456 591
592=item C<$AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::NSTORABLE_SERIALISER> - portable Storable
593
594This serialiser also uses L<Storable>, but uses it's "network" format
595to serialise data, which makes it possible to talk to different
596perl binaries (for example, when talking to a process created with
597L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>).
598
599Implementation:
600
601 use Storable ();
602 (
603 sub { Storable::nfreeze \@_ },
604 sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } }
605 )
606
457=back 607=back
458 608
459=back 609=back
460 610
461See the examples section earlier in this document for some actual 611See the examples section earlier in this document for some actual
462examples. 612examples.
463 613
464=cut 614=cut
465 615
466our $STRING_SERIALISER = '(sub { pack "(w/a*)*", @_ }, sub { unpack "(w/a*)*", shift })'; 616our $STRING_SERIALISER = '(sub { pack "(w/a*)*", @_ }, sub { unpack "(w/a*)*", shift })';
617our $CBOR_XS_SERIALISER = 'use CBOR::XS (); (sub { CBOR::XS::encode_cbor_sharing \@_ }, sub { @{ CBOR::XS::decode_cbor shift } })';
467our $JSON_SERIALISER = 'use JSON (); (sub { JSON::encode_json \@_ }, sub { @{ JSON::decode_json shift } })'; 618our $JSON_SERIALISER = 'use JSON (); (sub { JSON::encode_json \@_ }, sub { @{ JSON::decode_json shift } })';
468our $STORABLE_SERIALISER = 'use Storable (); (sub { Storable::freeze \@_ }, sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } })'; 619our $STORABLE_SERIALISER = 'use Storable (); (sub { Storable::freeze \@_ }, sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } })';
620our $NSTORABLE_SERIALISER = 'use Storable (); (sub { Storable::nfreeze \@_ }, sub { @{ Storable::thaw shift } })';
469 621
470sub run { 622sub run {
471 my ($self, $function, %arg) = @_; 623 my ($self, $function, %arg) = @_;
472 624
473 my $serialiser = delete $arg{serialiser} || $STRING_SERIALISER; 625 my $serialiser = delete $arg{serialiser} || $STRING_SERIALISER;
476 my $on_destroy = delete $arg{on_destroy}; 628 my $on_destroy = delete $arg{on_destroy};
477 629
478 # default for on_error is to on_event, if specified 630 # default for on_error is to on_event, if specified
479 $on_error ||= $on_event 631 $on_error ||= $on_event
480 ? sub { $on_event->(error => shift) } 632 ? sub { $on_event->(error => shift) }
481 : sub { die "AnyEvent::Fork::RPC: uncaught error: $_[0].\n" }; 633 : sub { AE::log die => "AnyEvent::Fork::RPC: uncaught error: $_[0]." };
482 634
483 # default for on_event is to raise an error 635 # default for on_event is to raise an error
484 $on_event ||= sub { $on_error->("event received, but no on_event handler") }; 636 $on_event ||= sub { $on_error->("event received, but no on_event handler") };
485 637
486 my ($f, $t) = eval $serialiser; die $@ if $@; 638 my ($f, $t) = eval $serialiser; die $@ if $@;
507 }; 659 };
508 660
509 my $module = "AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::" . ($arg{async} ? "Async" : "Sync"); 661 my $module = "AnyEvent::Fork::RPC::" . ($arg{async} ? "Async" : "Sync");
510 662
511 $self->require ($module) 663 $self->require ($module)
512 ->send_arg ($function, $arg{init}, $serialiser) 664 ->send_arg ($function, $arg{init}, $serialiser, $arg{done} || "$module\::do_exit")
513 ->run ("$module\::run", sub { 665 ->run ("$module\::run", sub {
514 $fh = shift; 666 $fh = shift;
515 667
516 my ($id, $len); 668 my ($id, $len);
517 $rw = AE::io $fh, 0, sub { 669 $rw = AE::io $fh, 0, sub {
518 $rlen = $rlen * 2 + 16 if $rlen - 128 < length $rbuf; 670 $rlen = $rlen * 2 + 16 if $rlen - 128 < length $rbuf;
519 $len = sysread $fh, $rbuf, $rlen - length $rbuf, length $rbuf; 671 $len = sysread $fh, $rbuf, $rlen - length $rbuf, length $rbuf;
520 672
521 if ($len) { 673 if ($len) {
522 while (8 <= length $rbuf) { 674 while (8 <= length $rbuf) {
523 ($id, $len) = unpack "LL", $rbuf; 675 ($id, $len) = unpack "NN", $rbuf;
524 8 + $len <= length $rbuf 676 8 + $len <= length $rbuf
525 or last; 677 or last;
526 678
527 my @r = $t->(substr $rbuf, 8, $len); 679 my @r = $t->(substr $rbuf, 8, $len);
528 substr $rbuf, 0, 8 + $len, ""; 680 substr $rbuf, 0, 8 + $len, "";
544 undef $rw; undef $ww; # it ends here 696 undef $rw; undef $ww; # it ends here
545 697
546 if (@rcb || %rcb) { 698 if (@rcb || %rcb) {
547 $on_error->("unexpected eof"); 699 $on_error->("unexpected eof");
548 } else { 700 } else {
549 $on_destroy->(); 701 $on_destroy->()
702 if $on_destroy;
550 } 703 }
551 } elsif ($! != Errno::EAGAIN && $! != Errno::EWOULDBLOCK) { 704 } elsif ($! != Errno::EAGAIN && $! != Errno::EWOULDBLOCK) {
552 undef $rw; undef $ww; # it ends here 705 undef $rw; undef $ww; # it ends here
553 $on_error->("read: $!"); 706 $on_error->("read: $!");
554 } 707 }
557 $ww ||= AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb; 710 $ww ||= AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb;
558 }); 711 });
559 712
560 my $guard = Guard::guard { 713 my $guard = Guard::guard {
561 $shutdown = 1; 714 $shutdown = 1;
562 $ww ||= $fh && AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb; 715
716 shutdown $fh, 1 if $fh && !$ww;
563 }; 717 };
564 718
565 my $id; 719 my $id;
566 720
567 $arg{async} 721 $arg{async}
569 $id = ($id == 0xffffffff ? 0 : $id) + 1; 723 $id = ($id == 0xffffffff ? 0 : $id) + 1;
570 $id = ($id == 0xffffffff ? 0 : $id) + 1 while exists $rcb{$id}; # rarely loops 724 $id = ($id == 0xffffffff ? 0 : $id) + 1 while exists $rcb{$id}; # rarely loops
571 725
572 $rcb{$id} = pop; 726 $rcb{$id} = pop;
573 727
574 $guard; # keep it alive 728 $guard if 0; # keep it alive
575 729
576 $wbuf .= pack "LL/a*", $id, &$f; 730 $wbuf .= pack "NN/a*", $id, &$f;
577 $ww ||= $fh && AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb; 731 $ww ||= $fh && AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb;
578 } 732 }
579 : sub { 733 : sub {
580 push @rcb, pop; 734 push @rcb, pop;
581 735
582 $guard; # keep it alive 736 $guard; # keep it alive
583 737
584 $wbuf .= pack "L/a*", &$f; 738 $wbuf .= pack "N/a*", &$f;
585 $ww ||= $fh && AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb; 739 $ww ||= $fh && AE::io $fh, 1, $wcb;
586 } 740 }
587} 741}
588 742
589=item $rpc->(..., $cb->(...)) 743=item $rpc->(..., $cb->(...))
628child process to the parent, except that there is no notion of return 782child process to the parent, except that there is no notion of return
629values. 783values.
630 784
631See the examples section earlier in this document for some actual 785See the examples section earlier in this document for some actual
632examples. 786examples.
787
788=back
789
790=head2 PROCESS EXIT
791
792If and when the child process exits depends on the backend and
793configuration. Apart from explicit exits (e.g. by calling C<exit>) or
794runtime conditions (uncaught exceptions, signals etc.), the backends exit
795under these conditions:
796
797=over 4
798
799=item Synchronous Backend
800
801The synchronous backend is very simple: when the process waits for another
802request to arrive and the writing side (usually in the parent) is closed,
803it will exit normally, i.e. as if your main program reached the end of the
804file.
805
806That means that if your parent process exits, the RPC process will usually
807exit as well, either because it is idle anyway, or because it executes a
808request. In the latter case, you will likely get an error when the RPc
809process tries to send the results to the parent (because agruably, you
810shouldn't exit your parent while there are still outstanding requests).
811
812The process is usually quiescent when it happens, so it should rarely be a
813problem, and C<END> handlers can be used to clean up.
814
815=item Asynchronous Backend
816
817For the asynchronous backend, things are more complicated: Whenever it
818listens for another request by the parent, it might detect that the socket
819was closed (e.g. because the parent exited). It will sotp listening for
820new requests and instead try to write out any remaining data (if any) or
821simply check whether the socket can be written to. After this, the RPC
822process is effectively done - no new requests are incoming, no outstanding
823request data can be written back.
824
825Since chances are high that there are event watchers that the RPC server
826knows nothing about (why else would one use the async backend if not for
827the ability to register watchers?), the event loop would often happily
828continue.
829
830This is why the asynchronous backend explicitly calls C<CORE::exit> when
831it is done (under other circumstances, such as when there is an I/O error
832and there is outstanding data to write, it will log a fatal message via
833L<AnyEvent::Log>, also causing the program to exit).
834
835You can override this by specifying a function name to call via the C<done>
836parameter instead.
633 837
634=back 838=back
635 839
636=head1 ADVANCED TOPICS 840=head1 ADVANCED TOPICS
637 841
693are queued and the jobs are slow, they will all run concurrently. The 897are queued and the jobs are slow, they will all run concurrently. The
694child must implement some queueing/limiting mechanism if this causes 898child must implement some queueing/limiting mechanism if this causes
695problems. Alternatively, the parent could limit the amount of rpc calls 899problems. Alternatively, the parent could limit the amount of rpc calls
696that are outstanding. 900that are outstanding.
697 901
902Blocking use of condvars is not supported (in the main thread, outside of
903e.g. L<Coro> threads).
904
698Using event-based modules such as L<IO::AIO>, L<Gtk2>, L<Tk> and so on is 905Using event-based modules such as L<IO::AIO>, L<Gtk2>, L<Tk> and so on is
699easy. 906easy.
700 907
701=back 908=back
702 909
718half it has passed earlier. 925half it has passed earlier.
719 926
720Here is some (untested) pseudocode to that effect: 927Here is some (untested) pseudocode to that effect:
721 928
722 use AnyEvent::Util; 929 use AnyEvent::Util;
930 use AnyEvent::Fork;
723 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC; 931 use AnyEvent::Fork::RPC;
724 use IO::FDPass; 932 use IO::FDPass;
725 933
726 my ($s1, $s2) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair; 934 my ($s1, $s2) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair;
727 935
763 971
764Of course, this might be blocking if you pass a lot of file descriptors, 972Of course, this might be blocking if you pass a lot of file descriptors,
765so you might want to look into L<AnyEvent::FDpasser> which can handle the 973so you might want to look into L<AnyEvent::FDpasser> which can handle the
766gory details. 974gory details.
767 975
976=head1 EXCEPTIONS
977
978There are no provisions whatsoever for catching exceptions at this time -
979in the child, exceptions might kill the process, causing calls to be lost
980and the parent encountering a fatal error. In the parent, exceptions in
981the result callback will not be caught and cause undefined behaviour.
982
768=head1 SEE ALSO 983=head1 SEE ALSO
769 984
770L<AnyEvent::Fork> (to create the processes in the first place), 985L<AnyEvent::Fork>, to create the processes in the first place.
986
987L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>, likewise, but helpful for remote processes.
988
771L<AnyEvent::Fork::Pool> (to manage whole pools of processes). 989L<AnyEvent::Fork::Pool>, to manage whole pools of processes.
772 990
773=head1 AUTHOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION 991=head1 AUTHOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION
774 992
775 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 993 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
776 http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/AnyEvent-Fork-RPC 994 http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/AnyEvent-Fork-RPC

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