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Revision 1.29 by root, Sat Apr 6 09:15:49 2013 UTC vs.
Revision 1.49 by root, Fri Apr 19 12:56:53 2013 UTC

27 27
28Special care has been taken to make this module useful from other modules, 28Special care has been taken to make this module useful from other modules,
29while still supporting specialised environments such as L<App::Staticperl> 29while still supporting specialised environments such as L<App::Staticperl>
30or L<PAR::Packer>. 30or L<PAR::Packer>.
31 31
32=head1 WHAT THIS MODULE IS NOT 32=head2 WHAT THIS MODULE IS NOT
33 33
34This module only creates processes and lets you pass file handles and 34This module only creates processes and lets you pass file handles and
35strings to it, and run perl code. It does not implement any kind of RPC - 35strings to it, and run perl code. It does not implement any kind of RPC -
36there is no back channel from the process back to you, and there is no RPC 36there is no back channel from the process back to you, and there is no RPC
37or message passing going on. 37or message passing going on.
38 38
39If you need some form of RPC, you can either implement it yourself 39If you need some form of RPC, you could use the L<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC>
40in whatever way you like, use some message-passing module such 40companion module, which adds simple RPC/job queueing to a process created
41as L<AnyEvent::MP>, some pipe such as L<AnyEvent::ZeroMQ>, use 41by this module.
42L<AnyEvent::Handle> on both sides to send e.g. JSON or Storable messages,
43and so on.
44 42
43Or you can implement it yourself in whatever way you like, use some
44message-passing module such as L<AnyEvent::MP>, some pipe such as
45L<AnyEvent::ZeroMQ>, use L<AnyEvent::Handle> on both sides to send
46e.g. JSON or Storable messages, and so on.
47
48=head2 COMPARISON TO OTHER MODULES
49
50There is an abundance of modules on CPAN that do "something fork", such as
51L<Parallel::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::Worker>
52or L<AnyEvent::Subprocess>. There are modules that implement their own
53process management, such as L<AnyEvent::DBI>.
54
55The problems that all these modules try to solve are real, however, none
56of them (from what I have seen) tackle the very real problems of unwanted
57memory sharing, efficiency, not being able to use event processing or
58similar modules in the processes they create.
59
60This module doesn't try to replace any of them - instead it tries to solve
61the problem of creating processes with a minimum of fuss and overhead (and
62also luxury). Ideally, most of these would use AnyEvent::Fork internally,
63except they were written before AnyEvent:Fork was available, so obviously
64had to roll their own.
65
45=head1 PROBLEM STATEMENT 66=head2 PROBLEM STATEMENT
46 67
47There are two traditional ways to implement parallel processing on UNIX 68There are two traditional ways to implement parallel processing on UNIX
48like operating systems - fork and process, and fork+exec and process. They 69like operating systems - fork and process, and fork+exec and process. They
49have different advantages and disadvantages that I describe below, 70have different advantages and disadvantages that I describe below,
50together with how this module tries to mitigate the disadvantages. 71together with how this module tries to mitigate the disadvantages.
152 173
153 # now $master_filehandle is connected to the 174 # now $master_filehandle is connected to the
154 # $slave_filehandle in the new process. 175 # $slave_filehandle in the new process.
155 }); 176 });
156 177
157 # MyModule::worker might look like this 178C<MyModule> might look like this:
179
180 package MyModule;
181
158 sub MyModule::worker { 182 sub worker {
159 my ($slave_filehandle) = @_; 183 my ($slave_filehandle) = @_;
160 184
161 # now $slave_filehandle is connected to the $master_filehandle 185 # now $slave_filehandle is connected to the $master_filehandle
162 # in the original prorcess. have fun! 186 # in the original prorcess. have fun!
163 } 187 }
182 } 206 }
183 207
184 # now do other things - maybe use the filehandle provided by run 208 # now do other things - maybe use the filehandle provided by run
185 # to wait for the processes to die. or whatever. 209 # to wait for the processes to die. or whatever.
186 210
187 # My::Server::run might look like this 211C<My::Server> might look like this:
188 sub My::Server::run { 212
213 package My::Server;
214
215 sub run {
189 my ($slave, $listener, $id) = @_; 216 my ($slave, $listener, $id) = @_;
190 217
191 close $slave; # we do not use the socket, so close it to save resources 218 close $slave; # we do not use the socket, so close it to save resources
192 219
193 # we could go ballistic and use e.g. AnyEvent here, or IO::AIO, 220 # we could go ballistic and use e.g. AnyEvent here, or IO::AIO,
197 } 224 }
198 } 225 }
199 226
200=head2 use AnyEvent::Fork as a faster fork+exec 227=head2 use AnyEvent::Fork as a faster fork+exec
201 228
202This runs /bin/echo hi, with stdout redirected to /tmp/log and stderr to 229This runs C</bin/echo hi>, with standard output redirected to F</tmp/log>
203the communications socket. It is usually faster than fork+exec, but still 230and standard error redirected to the communications socket. It is usually
204let's you prepare the environment. 231faster than fork+exec, but still lets you prepare the environment.
205 232
206 open my $output, ">/tmp/log" or die "$!"; 233 open my $output, ">/tmp/log" or die "$!";
207 234
208 AnyEvent::Fork 235 AnyEvent::Fork
209 ->new 236 ->new
210 ->eval (' 237 ->eval ('
238 # compile a helper function for later use
211 sub run { 239 sub run {
212 my ($fh, $output, @cmd) = @_; 240 my ($fh, $output, @cmd) = @_;
213 241
214 # perl will clear close-on-exec on STDOUT/STDERR 242 # perl will clear close-on-exec on STDOUT/STDERR
215 open STDOUT, ">&", $output or die; 243 open STDOUT, ">&", $output or die;
226 254
227=head1 CONCEPTS 255=head1 CONCEPTS
228 256
229This module can create new processes either by executing a new perl 257This module can create new processes either by executing a new perl
230process, or by forking from an existing "template" process. 258process, or by forking from an existing "template" process.
259
260All these processes are called "child processes" (whether they are direct
261children or not), while the process that manages them is called the
262"parent process".
231 263
232Each such process comes with its own file handle that can be used to 264Each such process comes with its own file handle that can be used to
233communicate with it (it's actually a socket - one end in the new process, 265communicate with it (it's actually a socket - one end in the new process,
234one end in the main process), and among the things you can do in it are 266one end in the main process), and among the things you can do in it are
235load modules, fork new processes, send file handles to it, and execute 267load modules, fork new processes, send file handles to it, and execute
345use AnyEvent; 377use AnyEvent;
346use AnyEvent::Util (); 378use AnyEvent::Util ();
347 379
348use IO::FDPass; 380use IO::FDPass;
349 381
350our $VERSION = 0.5; 382our $VERSION = 0.7;
351
352our $PERL; # the path to the perl interpreter, deduces with various forms of magic
353
354=over 4
355
356=back
357
358=cut
359 383
360# the early fork template process 384# the early fork template process
361our $EARLY; 385our $EARLY;
362 386
363# the empty template process 387# the empty template process
364our $TEMPLATE; 388our $TEMPLATE;
389
390sub QUEUE() { 0 }
391sub FH() { 1 }
392sub WW() { 2 }
393sub PID() { 3 }
394sub CB() { 4 }
395
396sub _new {
397 my ($self, $fh, $pid) = @_;
398
399 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking $fh, 1;
400
401 $self = bless [
402 [], # write queue - strings or fd's
403 $fh,
404 undef, # AE watcher
405 $pid,
406 ], $self;
407
408 $self
409}
365 410
366sub _cmd { 411sub _cmd {
367 my $self = shift; 412 my $self = shift;
368 413
369 # ideally, we would want to use "a (w/a)*" as format string, but perl 414 # ideally, we would want to use "a (w/a)*" as format string, but perl
370 # versions from at least 5.8.9 to 5.16.3 are all buggy and can't unpack 415 # versions from at least 5.8.9 to 5.16.3 are all buggy and can't unpack
371 # it. 416 # it.
372 push @{ $self->[2] }, pack "a L/a*", $_[0], $_[1]; 417 push @{ $self->[QUEUE] }, pack "a L/a*", $_[0], $_[1];
373 418
374 $self->[3] ||= AE::io $self->[1], 1, sub { 419 $self->[WW] ||= AE::io $self->[FH], 1, sub {
375 do { 420 do {
376 # send the next "thing" in the queue - either a reference to an fh, 421 # send the next "thing" in the queue - either a reference to an fh,
377 # or a plain string. 422 # or a plain string.
378 423
379 if (ref $self->[2][0]) { 424 if (ref $self->[QUEUE][0]) {
380 # send fh 425 # send fh
381 unless (IO::FDPass::send fileno $self->[1], fileno ${ $self->[2][0] }) { 426 unless (IO::FDPass::send fileno $self->[FH], fileno ${ $self->[QUEUE][0] }) {
382 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK; 427 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK;
383 undef $self->[3]; 428 undef $self->[WW];
384 die "AnyEvent::Fork: file descriptor send failure: $!"; 429 die "AnyEvent::Fork: file descriptor send failure: $!";
385 } 430 }
386 431
387 shift @{ $self->[2] }; 432 shift @{ $self->[QUEUE] };
388 433
389 } else { 434 } else {
390 # send string 435 # send string
391 my $len = syswrite $self->[1], $self->[2][0]; 436 my $len = syswrite $self->[FH], $self->[QUEUE][0];
392 437
393 unless ($len) { 438 unless ($len) {
394 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK; 439 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK;
395 undef $self->[3]; 440 undef $self->[3];
396 die "AnyEvent::Fork: command write failure: $!"; 441 die "AnyEvent::Fork: command write failure: $!";
397 } 442 }
398 443
399 substr $self->[2][0], 0, $len, ""; 444 substr $self->[QUEUE][0], 0, $len, "";
400 shift @{ $self->[2] } unless length $self->[2][0]; 445 shift @{ $self->[QUEUE] } unless length $self->[QUEUE][0];
401 } 446 }
402 } while @{ $self->[2] }; 447 } while @{ $self->[QUEUE] };
403 448
404 # everything written 449 # everything written
405 undef $self->[3]; 450 undef $self->[WW];
406 451
407 # invoke run callback, if any 452 # invoke run callback, if any
408 $self->[4]->($self->[1]) if $self->[4]; 453 if ($self->[CB]) {
454 $self->[CB]->($self->[FH]);
455 @$self = ();
456 }
409 }; 457 };
410 458
411 () # make sure we don't leak the watcher 459 () # make sure we don't leak the watcher
412}
413
414sub _new {
415 my ($self, $fh, $pid) = @_;
416
417 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking $fh, 1;
418
419 $self = bless [
420 $pid,
421 $fh,
422 [], # write queue - strings or fd's
423 undef, # AE watcher
424 ], $self;
425
426 $self
427} 460}
428 461
429# fork template from current process, used by AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template 462# fork template from current process, used by AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template
430sub _new_fork { 463sub _new_fork {
431 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair; 464 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair;
436 if ($pid eq 0) { 469 if ($pid eq 0) {
437 require AnyEvent::Fork::Serve; 470 require AnyEvent::Fork::Serve;
438 $AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::OWNER = $parent; 471 $AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::OWNER = $parent;
439 close $fh; 472 close $fh;
440 $0 = "$_[1] of $parent"; 473 $0 = "$_[1] of $parent";
441 $SIG{CHLD} = 'IGNORE';
442 AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::serve ($slave); 474 AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::serve ($slave);
443 exit 0; 475 exit 0;
444 } elsif (!$pid) { 476 } elsif (!$pid) {
445 die "AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template: unable to fork template process: $!"; 477 die "AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template: unable to fork template process: $!";
446 } 478 }
553} 585}
554 586
555=item $pid = $proc->pid 587=item $pid = $proc->pid
556 588
557Returns the process id of the process I<iff it is a direct child of the 589Returns the process id of the process I<iff it is a direct child of the
558process> running AnyEvent::Fork, and C<undef> otherwise. 590process running AnyEvent::Fork>, and C<undef> otherwise.
559 591
560Normally, only processes created via C<< AnyEvent::Fork->new_exec >> and 592Normally, only processes created via C<< AnyEvent::Fork->new_exec >> and
561L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> are direct children, and you are responsible 593L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> are direct children, and you are responsible
562to clean up their zombies when they die. 594to clean up their zombies when they die.
563 595
564All other processes are not direct children, and will be cleaned up by 596All other processes are not direct children, and will be cleaned up by
565AnyEvent::Fork. 597AnyEvent::Fork itself.
566 598
567=cut 599=cut
568 600
569sub pid { 601sub pid {
570 $_[0][0] 602 $_[0][PID]
571} 603}
572 604
573=item $proc = $proc->eval ($perlcode, @args) 605=item $proc = $proc->eval ($perlcode, @args)
574 606
575Evaluates the given C<$perlcode> as ... perl code, while setting C<@_> to 607Evaluates the given C<$perlcode> as ... Perl code, while setting C<@_> to
576the strings specified by C<@args>, in the "main" package. 608the strings specified by C<@args>, in the "main" package.
577 609
578This call is meant to do any custom initialisation that might be required 610This call is meant to do any custom initialisation that might be required
579(for example, the C<require> method uses it). It's not supposed to be used 611(for example, the C<require> method uses it). It's not supposed to be used
580to completely take over the process, use C<run> for that. 612to completely take over the process, use C<run> for that.
581 613
582The code will usually be executed after this call returns, and there is no 614The code will usually be executed after this call returns, and there is no
583way to pass anything back to the calling process. Any evaluation errors 615way to pass anything back to the calling process. Any evaluation errors
584will be reported to stderr and cause the process to exit. 616will be reported to stderr and cause the process to exit.
585 617
586If you want to execute some code to take over the process (see the 618If you want to execute some code (that isn't in a module) to take over the
587"fork+exec" example in the SYNOPSIS), you should compile a function via 619process, you should compile a function via C<eval> first, and then call
588C<eval> first, and then call it via C<run>. This also gives you access to 620it via C<run>. This also gives you access to any arguments passed via the
589any arguments passed via the C<send_xxx> methods, such as file handles. 621C<send_xxx> methods, such as file handles. See the L<use AnyEvent::Fork as
622a faster fork+exec> example to see it in action.
590 623
591Returns the process object for easy chaining of method calls. 624Returns the process object for easy chaining of method calls.
592 625
593=cut 626=cut
594 627
620=item $proc = $proc->send_fh ($handle, ...) 653=item $proc = $proc->send_fh ($handle, ...)
621 654
622Send one or more file handles (I<not> file descriptors) to the process, 655Send one or more file handles (I<not> file descriptors) to the process,
623to prepare a call to C<run>. 656to prepare a call to C<run>.
624 657
625The process object keeps a reference to the handles until this is done, 658The process object keeps a reference to the handles until they have
626so you must not explicitly close the handles. This is most easily 659been passed over to the process, so you must not explicitly close the
627accomplished by simply not storing the file handles anywhere after passing 660handles. This is most easily accomplished by simply not storing the file
628them to this method. 661handles anywhere after passing them to this method - when AnyEvent::Fork
662is finished using them, perl will automatically close them.
629 663
630Returns the process object for easy chaining of method calls. 664Returns the process object for easy chaining of method calls.
631 665
632Example: pass a file handle to a process, and release it without 666Example: pass a file handle to a process, and release it without
633closing. It will be closed automatically when it is no longer used. 667closing. It will be closed automatically when it is no longer used.
640sub send_fh { 674sub send_fh {
641 my ($self, @fh) = @_; 675 my ($self, @fh) = @_;
642 676
643 for my $fh (@fh) { 677 for my $fh (@fh) {
644 $self->_cmd ("h"); 678 $self->_cmd ("h");
645 push @{ $self->[2] }, \$fh; 679 push @{ $self->[QUEUE] }, \$fh;
646 } 680 }
647 681
648 $self 682 $self
649} 683}
650 684
651=item $proc = $proc->send_arg ($string, ...) 685=item $proc = $proc->send_arg ($string, ...)
652 686
653Send one or more argument strings to the process, to prepare a call to 687Send one or more argument strings to the process, to prepare a call to
654C<run>. The strings can be any octet string. 688C<run>. The strings can be any octet strings.
655 689
656The protocol is optimised to pass a moderate number of relatively short 690The protocol is optimised to pass a moderate number of relatively short
657strings - while you can pass up to 4GB of data in one go, this is more 691strings - while you can pass up to 4GB of data in one go, this is more
658meant to pass some ID information or other startup info, not big chunks of 692meant to pass some ID information or other startup info, not big chunks of
659data. 693data.
675Enter the function specified by the function name in C<$func> in the 709Enter the function specified by the function name in C<$func> in the
676process. The function is called with the communication socket as first 710process. The function is called with the communication socket as first
677argument, followed by all file handles and string arguments sent earlier 711argument, followed by all file handles and string arguments sent earlier
678via C<send_fh> and C<send_arg> methods, in the order they were called. 712via C<send_fh> and C<send_arg> methods, in the order they were called.
679 713
714The process object becomes unusable on return from this function - any
715further method calls result in undefined behaviour.
716
680The function name should be fully qualified, but if it isn't, it will be 717The function name should be fully qualified, but if it isn't, it will be
681looked up in the main package. 718looked up in the C<main> package.
682 719
683If the called function returns, doesn't exist, or any error occurs, the 720If the called function returns, doesn't exist, or any error occurs, the
684process exits. 721process exits.
685 722
686Preparing the process is done in the background - when all commands have 723Preparing the process is done in the background - when all commands have
687been sent, the callback is invoked with the local communications socket 724been sent, the callback is invoked with the local communications socket
688as argument. At this point you can start using the socket in any way you 725as argument. At this point you can start using the socket in any way you
689like. 726like.
690
691The process object becomes unusable on return from this function - any
692further method calls result in undefined behaviour.
693 727
694If the communication socket isn't used, it should be closed on both sides, 728If the communication socket isn't used, it should be closed on both sides,
695to save on kernel memory. 729to save on kernel memory.
696 730
697The socket is non-blocking in the parent, and blocking in the newly 731The socket is non-blocking in the parent, and blocking in the newly
736=cut 770=cut
737 771
738sub run { 772sub run {
739 my ($self, $func, $cb) = @_; 773 my ($self, $func, $cb) = @_;
740 774
741 $self->[4] = $cb; 775 $self->[CB] = $cb;
742 $self->_cmd (r => $func); 776 $self->_cmd (r => $func);
777}
778
779=item $proc->to_fh ($cb->($fh))
780
781Flushes all commands out to the process and then calls the callback with
782the communications socket.
783
784The process object becomes unusable on return from this function - any
785further method calls result in undefined behaviour.
786
787The point of this method is to give you a file handle thta you cna pass
788to another process. In that other process, you can call C<new_from_fh
789AnyEvent::Fork::RPC> to create a new C<AnyEvent::Fork> object from it,
790thereby effectively passing a fork object to another process.
791
792=cut
793
794sub to_fh {
795 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
796
797 $self->[CB] = $cb;
798
799 unless ($self->[WW]) {
800 $self->[CB]->($self->[FH]);
801 @$self = ();
802 }
803}
804
805=item new_from_fh AnyEvent::Fork $fh
806
807Takes a file handle originally rceeived by the C<to_fh> method and creates
808a new C<AnyEvent:Fork> object. The child process itself will not change in
809any way, i.e. it will keep all the modifications done to it before calling
810C<to_fh>.
811
812The new object is very much like the original object, except that the
813C<pid> method will return C<undef> even if the process is a direct child.
814
815=cut
816
817sub new_from_fh {
818 my ($class, $fh) = @_;
819
820 $class->_new ($fh)
743} 821}
744 822
745=back 823=back
746 824
747=head1 PERFORMANCE 825=head1 PERFORMANCE
757 835
758 2079 new processes per second, using manual socketpair + fork 836 2079 new processes per second, using manual socketpair + fork
759 837
760Then I did the same thing, but instead of calling fork, I called 838Then I did the same thing, but instead of calling fork, I called
761AnyEvent::Fork->new->run ("CORE::exit") and then again waited for the 839AnyEvent::Fork->new->run ("CORE::exit") and then again waited for the
762socket form the child to close on exit. This does the same thing as manual 840socket from the child to close on exit. This does the same thing as manual
763socket pair + fork, except that what is forked is the template process 841socket pair + fork, except that what is forked is the template process
764(2440kB), and the socket needs to be passed to the server at the other end 842(2440kB), and the socket needs to be passed to the server at the other end
765of the socket first. 843of the socket first.
766 844
767 2307 new processes per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new 845 2307 new processes per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new
772 479 vfork+execs per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new_exec 850 479 vfork+execs per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new_exec
773 851
774So how can C<< AnyEvent->new >> be faster than a standard fork, even 852So how can C<< AnyEvent->new >> be faster than a standard fork, even
775though it uses the same operations, but adds a lot of overhead? 853though it uses the same operations, but adds a lot of overhead?
776 854
777The difference is simply the process size: forking the 6MB process takes 855The difference is simply the process size: forking the 5MB process takes
778so much longer than forking the 2.5MB template process that the overhead 856so much longer than forking the 2.5MB template process that the extra
779introduced is canceled out. 857overhead is canceled out.
780 858
781If the benchmark process grows, the normal fork becomes even slower: 859If the benchmark process grows, the normal fork becomes even slower:
782 860
783 1340 new processes, manual fork in a 20MB process 861 1340 new processes, manual fork of a 20MB process
784 731 new processes, manual fork in a 200MB process 862 731 new processes, manual fork of a 200MB process
785 235 new processes, manual fork in a 2000MB process 863 235 new processes, manual fork of a 2000MB process
786 864
787What that means (to me) is that I can use this module without having a 865What that means (to me) is that I can use this module without having a bad
788very bad conscience because of the extra overhead required to start new 866conscience because of the extra overhead required to start new processes.
789processes.
790 867
791=head1 TYPICAL PROBLEMS 868=head1 TYPICAL PROBLEMS
792 869
793This section lists typical problems that remain. I hope by recognising 870This section lists typical problems that remain. I hope by recognising
794them, most can be avoided. 871them, most can be avoided.
795 872
796=over 4 873=over 4
797 874
798=item "leaked" file descriptors for exec'ed processes 875=item leaked file descriptors for exec'ed processes
799 876
800POSIX systems inherit file descriptors by default when exec'ing a new 877POSIX systems inherit file descriptors by default when exec'ing a new
801process. While perl itself laudably sets the close-on-exec flags on new 878process. While perl itself laudably sets the close-on-exec flags on new
802file handles, most C libraries don't care, and even if all cared, it's 879file handles, most C libraries don't care, and even if all cared, it's
803often not possible to set the flag in a race-free manner. 880often not possible to set the flag in a race-free manner.
823libraries or the code that leaks those file descriptors. 900libraries or the code that leaks those file descriptors.
824 901
825Fortunately, most of these leaked descriptors do no harm, other than 902Fortunately, most of these leaked descriptors do no harm, other than
826sitting on some resources. 903sitting on some resources.
827 904
828=item "leaked" file descriptors for fork'ed processes 905=item leaked file descriptors for fork'ed processes
829 906
830Normally, L<AnyEvent::Fork> does start new processes by exec'ing them, 907Normally, L<AnyEvent::Fork> does start new processes by exec'ing them,
831which closes file descriptors not marked for being inherited. 908which closes file descriptors not marked for being inherited.
832 909
833However, L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> and L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> offer 910However, L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> and L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> offer
842 919
843The solution is to either not load these modules before use'ing 920The solution is to either not load these modules before use'ing
844L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> or L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, or to delay 921L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> or L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, or to delay
845initialising them, for example, by calling C<init Gtk2> manually. 922initialising them, for example, by calling C<init Gtk2> manually.
846 923
847=item exit runs destructors 924=item exiting calls object destructors
848 925
849This only applies to users of Lc<AnyEvent::Fork:Early> and 926This only applies to users of L<AnyEvent::Fork:Early> and
850L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>. 927L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, or when initialising code creates objects
928that reference external resources.
851 929
852When a process created by AnyEvent::Fork exits, it might do so by calling 930When a process created by AnyEvent::Fork exits, it might do so by calling
853exit, or simply letting perl reach the end of the program. At which point 931exit, or simply letting perl reach the end of the program. At which point
854Perl runs all destructors. 932Perl runs all destructors.
855 933
874to make it so, mostly due to the bloody broken perl that nobody seems to 952to make it so, mostly due to the bloody broken perl that nobody seems to
875care about. The fork emulation is a bad joke - I have yet to see something 953care about. The fork emulation is a bad joke - I have yet to see something
876useful that you can do with it without running into memory corruption 954useful that you can do with it without running into memory corruption
877issues or other braindamage. Hrrrr. 955issues or other braindamage. Hrrrr.
878 956
879Cygwin perl is not supported at the moment, as it should implement fd 957Since fork is endlessly broken on win32 perls (it doesn't even remotely
880passing, but doesn't, and rolling my own is hard, as cygwin doesn't 958work within it's documented limits) and quite obviously it's not getting
881support enough functionality to do it. 959improved any time soon, the best way to proceed on windows would be to
960always use C<new_exec> and thus never rely on perl's fork "emulation".
961
962Cygwin perl is not supported at the moment due to some hilarious
963shortcomings of its API - see L<IO::FDPoll> for more details. If you never
964use C<send_fh> and always use C<new_exec> to create processes, it should
965work though.
882 966
883=head1 SEE ALSO 967=head1 SEE ALSO
884 968
885L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> (to avoid executing a perl interpreter), 969L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early>, to avoid executing a perl interpreter at all
970(part of this distribution).
971
886L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> (to create a process by forking the main 972L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, to create a process by forking the main
887program at a convenient time). 973program at a convenient time (part of this distribution).
888 974
889=head1 AUTHOR 975L<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC>, for simple RPC to child processes (on CPAN).
976
977=head1 AUTHOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION
890 978
891 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 979 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
892 http://home.schmorp.de/ 980 http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/AnyEvent-Fork
893 981
894=cut 982=cut
895 983
8961 9841
897 985

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