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Revision 1.41 by root, Mon Apr 8 03:20:53 2013 UTC vs.
Revision 1.63 by root, Wed Nov 26 13:36:18 2014 UTC

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, 42
43and so on. 43And if you need some automatic process pool management on top of
44L<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC>, you can look at the L<AnyEvent::Fork::Pool>
45companion module.
46
47Or you can implement it yourself in whatever way you like: use some
48message-passing module such as L<AnyEvent::MP>, some pipe such as
49L<AnyEvent::ZeroMQ>, use L<AnyEvent::Handle> on both sides to send
50e.g. JSON or Storable messages, and so on.
44 51
45=head2 COMPARISON TO OTHER MODULES 52=head2 COMPARISON TO OTHER MODULES
46 53
47There is an abundance of modules on CPAN that do "something fork", such as 54There is an abundance of modules on CPAN that do "something fork", such as
48L<Parallel::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::Worker> 55L<Parallel::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::ForkManager>, L<AnyEvent::Worker>
49or L<AnyEvent::Subprocess>. There are modules that implement their own 56or L<AnyEvent::Subprocess>. There are modules that implement their own
50process management, such as L<AnyEvent::DBI>. 57process management, such as L<AnyEvent::DBI>.
51 58
52The problems that all these modules try to solve are real, however, none 59The problems that all these modules try to solve are real, however, none
53of them (from what I have seen) tackle the very real problems of unwanted 60of them (from what I have seen) tackle the very real problems of unwanted
54memory sharing, efficiency, not being able to use event processing or 61memory sharing, efficiency or not being able to use event processing, GUI
55similar modules in the processes they create. 62toolkits or similar modules in the processes they create.
56 63
57This module doesn't try to replace any of them - instead it tries to solve 64This module doesn't try to replace any of them - instead it tries to solve
58the problem of creating processes with a minimum of fuss and overhead (and 65the problem of creating processes with a minimum of fuss and overhead (and
59also luxury). Ideally, most of these would use AnyEvent::Fork internally, 66also luxury). Ideally, most of these would use AnyEvent::Fork internally,
60except they were written before AnyEvent:Fork was available, so obviously 67except they were written before AnyEvent:Fork was available, so obviously
82 89
83=item Forking usually creates a copy-on-write copy of the parent 90=item Forking usually creates a copy-on-write copy of the parent
84process. 91process.
85 92
86For example, modules or data files that are loaded will not use additional 93For example, modules or data files that are loaded will not use additional
87memory after a fork. When exec'ing a new process, modules and data files 94memory after a fork. Exec'ing a new process, in contrast, means modules
88might need to be loaded again, at extra CPU and memory cost. But when 95and data files might need to be loaded again, at extra CPU and memory
89forking, literally all data structures are copied - if the program frees 96cost.
97
98But when forking, you still create a copy of your data structures - if
90them and replaces them by new data, the child processes will retain the 99the program frees them and replaces them by new data, the child processes
91old version even if it isn't used, which can suddenly and unexpectedly 100will retain the old version even if it isn't used, which can suddenly and
92increase memory usage when freeing memory. 101unexpectedly increase memory usage when freeing memory.
93 102
103For example, L<Gtk2::CV> is an image viewer optimised for large
104directories (millions of pictures). It also forks subprocesses for
105thumbnail generation, which inherit the data structure that stores all
106file information. If the user changes the directory, it gets freed in
107the main process, leaving a copy in the thumbnailer processes. This can
108lead to many times the memory usage that would actually be required. The
109solution is to fork early (and being unable to dynamically generate more
110subprocesses or do this from a module)... or to use L<AnyEvent:Fork>.
111
94The trade-off is between more sharing with fork (which can be good or 112There is a trade-off between more sharing with fork (which can be good or
95bad), and no sharing with exec. 113bad), and no sharing with exec.
96 114
97This module allows the main program to do a controlled fork, and allows 115This module allows the main program to do a controlled fork, and allows
98modules to exec processes safely at any time. When creating a custom 116modules to exec processes safely at any time. When creating a custom
99process pool you can take advantage of data sharing via fork without 117process pool you can take advantage of data sharing via fork without
104shared and what isn't, at all times. 122shared and what isn't, at all times.
105 123
106=item Exec'ing a new perl process might be difficult. 124=item Exec'ing a new perl process might be difficult.
107 125
108For example, it is not easy to find the correct path to the perl 126For example, it is not easy to find the correct path to the perl
109interpreter - C<$^X> might not be a perl interpreter at all. 127interpreter - C<$^X> might not be a perl interpreter at all. Worse, there
128might not even be a perl binary installed on the system.
110 129
111This module tries hard to identify the correct path to the perl 130This module tries hard to identify the correct path to the perl
112interpreter. With a cooperative main program, exec'ing the interpreter 131interpreter. With a cooperative main program, exec'ing the interpreter
113might not even be necessary, but even without help from the main program, 132might not even be necessary, but even without help from the main program,
114it will still work when used from a module. 133it will still work when used from a module.
120and modules are no longer loadable because they refer to a different 139and modules are no longer loadable because they refer to a different
121perl version, or parts of a distribution are newer than the ones already 140perl version, or parts of a distribution are newer than the ones already
122loaded. 141loaded.
123 142
124This module supports creating pre-initialised perl processes to be used as 143This module supports creating pre-initialised perl processes to be used as
125a template for new processes. 144a template for new processes at a later time, e.g. for use in a process
145pool.
126 146
127=item Forking might be impossible when a program is running. 147=item Forking might be impossible when a program is running.
128 148
129For example, POSIX makes it almost impossible to fork from a 149For example, POSIX makes it almost impossible to fork from a
130multi-threaded program while doing anything useful in the child - in 150multi-threaded program while doing anything useful in the child - in
131fact, if your perl program uses POSIX threads (even indirectly via 151fact, if your perl program uses POSIX threads (even indirectly via
132e.g. L<IO::AIO> or L<threads>), you cannot call fork on the perl level 152e.g. L<IO::AIO> or L<threads>), you cannot call fork on the perl level
133anymore without risking corruption issues on a number of operating 153anymore without risking memory corruption or worse on a number of
134systems. 154operating systems.
135 155
136This module can safely fork helper processes at any time, by calling 156This module can safely fork helper processes at any time, by calling
137fork+exec in C, in a POSIX-compatible way (via L<Proc::FastSpawn>). 157fork+exec in C, in a POSIX-compatible way (via L<Proc::FastSpawn>).
138 158
139=item Parallel processing with fork might be inconvenient or difficult 159=item Parallel processing with fork might be inconvenient or difficult
221 } 241 }
222 } 242 }
223 243
224=head2 use AnyEvent::Fork as a faster fork+exec 244=head2 use AnyEvent::Fork as a faster fork+exec
225 245
226This runs C</bin/echo hi>, with stdandard output redirected to /tmp/log 246This runs C</bin/echo hi>, with standard output redirected to F</tmp/log>
227and standard error redirected to the communications socket. It is usually 247and standard error redirected to the communications socket. It is usually
228faster than fork+exec, but still lets you prepare the environment. 248faster than fork+exec, but still lets you prepare the environment.
229 249
230 open my $output, ">/tmp/log" or die "$!"; 250 open my $output, ">/tmp/log" or die "$!";
231 251
247 ->send_arg ("/bin/echo", "hi") 267 ->send_arg ("/bin/echo", "hi")
248 ->run ("run", my $cv = AE::cv); 268 ->run ("run", my $cv = AE::cv);
249 269
250 my $stderr = $cv->recv; 270 my $stderr = $cv->recv;
251 271
272=head2 For stingy users: put the worker code into a C<DATA> section.
273
274When you want to be stingy with files, you can put your code into the
275C<DATA> section of your module (or program):
276
277 use AnyEvent::Fork;
278
279 AnyEvent::Fork
280 ->new
281 ->eval (do { local $/; <DATA> })
282 ->run ("doit", sub { ... });
283
284 __DATA__
285
286 sub doit {
287 ... do something!
288 }
289
290=head2 For stingy standalone programs: do not rely on external files at
291all.
292
293For single-file scripts it can be inconvenient to rely on external
294files - even when using a C<DATA> section, you still need to C<exec> an
295external perl interpreter, which might not be available when using
296L<App::Staticperl>, L<Urlader> or L<PAR::Packer> for example.
297
298Two modules help here - L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> forks a template process
299for all further calls to C<new_exec>, and L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>
300forks the main program as a template process.
301
302Here is how your main program should look like:
303
304 #! perl
305
306 # optional, as the very first thing.
307 # in case modules want to create their own processes.
308 use AnyEvent::Fork::Early;
309
310 # next, load all modules you need in your template process
311 use Example::My::Module
312 use Example::Whatever;
313
314 # next, put your run function definition and anything else you
315 # need, but do not use code outside of BEGIN blocks.
316 sub worker_run {
317 my ($fh, @args) = @_;
318 ...
319 }
320
321 # now preserve everything so far as AnyEvent::Fork object
322 # in $TEMPLATE.
323 use AnyEvent::Fork::Template;
324
325 # do not put code outside of BEGIN blocks until here
326
327 # now use the $TEMPLATE process in any way you like
328
329 # for example: create 10 worker processes
330 my @worker;
331 my $cv = AE::cv;
332 for (1..10) {
333 $cv->begin;
334 $TEMPLATE->fork->send_arg ($_)->run ("worker_run", sub {
335 push @worker, shift;
336 $cv->end;
337 });
338 }
339 $cv->recv;
340
252=head1 CONCEPTS 341=head1 CONCEPTS
253 342
254This module can create new processes either by executing a new perl 343This module can create new processes either by executing a new perl
255process, or by forking from an existing "template" process. 344process, or by forking from an existing "template" process.
345
346All these processes are called "child processes" (whether they are direct
347children or not), while the process that manages them is called the
348"parent process".
256 349
257Each such process comes with its own file handle that can be used to 350Each such process comes with its own file handle that can be used to
258communicate with it (it's actually a socket - one end in the new process, 351communicate with it (it's actually a socket - one end in the new process,
259one end in the main process), and among the things you can do in it are 352one end in the main process), and among the things you can do in it are
260load modules, fork new processes, send file handles to it, and execute 353load modules, fork new processes, send file handles to it, and execute
370use AnyEvent; 463use AnyEvent;
371use AnyEvent::Util (); 464use AnyEvent::Util ();
372 465
373use IO::FDPass; 466use IO::FDPass;
374 467
375our $VERSION = 0.6; 468our $VERSION = 1.2;
376
377=over 4
378
379=back
380
381=cut
382 469
383# the early fork template process 470# the early fork template process
384our $EARLY; 471our $EARLY;
385 472
386# the empty template process 473# the empty template process
387our $TEMPLATE; 474our $TEMPLATE;
475
476sub QUEUE() { 0 }
477sub FH() { 1 }
478sub WW() { 2 }
479sub PID() { 3 }
480sub CB() { 4 }
481
482sub _new {
483 my ($self, $fh, $pid) = @_;
484
485 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking $fh, 1;
486
487 $self = bless [
488 [], # write queue - strings or fd's
489 $fh,
490 undef, # AE watcher
491 $pid,
492 ], $self;
493
494 $self
495}
388 496
389sub _cmd { 497sub _cmd {
390 my $self = shift; 498 my $self = shift;
391 499
392 # ideally, we would want to use "a (w/a)*" as format string, but perl 500 # ideally, we would want to use "a (w/a)*" as format string, but perl
393 # versions from at least 5.8.9 to 5.16.3 are all buggy and can't unpack 501 # versions from at least 5.8.9 to 5.16.3 are all buggy and can't unpack
394 # it. 502 # it.
395 push @{ $self->[2] }, pack "a L/a*", $_[0], $_[1]; 503 push @{ $self->[QUEUE] }, pack "a L/a*", $_[0], $_[1];
396 504
397 $self->[3] ||= AE::io $self->[1], 1, sub { 505 $self->[WW] ||= AE::io $self->[FH], 1, sub {
398 do { 506 do {
399 # send the next "thing" in the queue - either a reference to an fh, 507 # send the next "thing" in the queue - either a reference to an fh,
400 # or a plain string. 508 # or a plain string.
401 509
402 if (ref $self->[2][0]) { 510 if (ref $self->[QUEUE][0]) {
403 # send fh 511 # send fh
404 unless (IO::FDPass::send fileno $self->[1], fileno ${ $self->[2][0] }) { 512 unless (IO::FDPass::send fileno $self->[FH], fileno ${ $self->[QUEUE][0] }) {
405 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK; 513 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK;
406 undef $self->[3]; 514 undef $self->[WW];
407 die "AnyEvent::Fork: file descriptor send failure: $!"; 515 die "AnyEvent::Fork: file descriptor send failure: $!";
408 } 516 }
409 517
410 shift @{ $self->[2] }; 518 shift @{ $self->[QUEUE] };
411 519
412 } else { 520 } else {
413 # send string 521 # send string
414 my $len = syswrite $self->[1], $self->[2][0]; 522 my $len = syswrite $self->[FH], $self->[QUEUE][0];
415 523
416 unless ($len) { 524 unless ($len) {
417 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK; 525 return if $! == Errno::EAGAIN || $! == Errno::EWOULDBLOCK;
418 undef $self->[3]; 526 undef $self->[WW];
419 die "AnyEvent::Fork: command write failure: $!"; 527 die "AnyEvent::Fork: command write failure: $!";
420 } 528 }
421 529
422 substr $self->[2][0], 0, $len, ""; 530 substr $self->[QUEUE][0], 0, $len, "";
423 shift @{ $self->[2] } unless length $self->[2][0]; 531 shift @{ $self->[QUEUE] } unless length $self->[QUEUE][0];
424 } 532 }
425 } while @{ $self->[2] }; 533 } while @{ $self->[QUEUE] };
426 534
427 # everything written 535 # everything written
428 undef $self->[3]; 536 undef $self->[WW];
429 537
430 # invoke run callback, if any 538 # invoke run callback, if any
431 $self->[4]->($self->[1]) if $self->[4]; 539 if ($self->[CB]) {
540 $self->[CB]->($self->[FH]);
541 @$self = ();
542 }
432 }; 543 };
433 544
434 () # make sure we don't leak the watcher 545 () # make sure we don't leak the watcher
435}
436
437sub _new {
438 my ($self, $fh, $pid) = @_;
439
440 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking $fh, 1;
441
442 $self = bless [
443 $pid,
444 $fh,
445 [], # write queue - strings or fd's
446 undef, # AE watcher
447 ], $self;
448
449 $self
450} 546}
451 547
452# fork template from current process, used by AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template 548# fork template from current process, used by AnyEvent::Fork::Early/Template
453sub _new_fork { 549sub _new_fork {
454 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair; 550 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair;
522 618
523You should use C<new> whenever possible, except when having a template 619You should use C<new> whenever possible, except when having a template
524process around is unacceptable. 620process around is unacceptable.
525 621
526The path to the perl interpreter is divined using various methods - first 622The path to the perl interpreter is divined using various methods - first
527C<$^X> is investigated to see if the path ends with something that sounds 623C<$^X> is investigated to see if the path ends with something that looks
528as if it were the perl interpreter. Failing this, the module falls back to 624as if it were the perl interpreter. Failing this, the module falls back to
529using C<$Config::Config{perlpath}>. 625using C<$Config::Config{perlpath}>.
530 626
627The path to perl can also be overriden by setting the global variable
628C<$AnyEvent::Fork::PERL> - it's value will be used for all subsequent
629invocations.
630
531=cut 631=cut
632
633our $PERL;
532 634
533sub new_exec { 635sub new_exec {
534 my ($self) = @_; 636 my ($self) = @_;
535 637
536 return $EARLY->fork 638 return $EARLY->fork
537 if $EARLY; 639 if $EARLY;
538 640
641 unless (defined $PERL) {
539 # first find path of perl 642 # first find path of perl
540 my $perl = $; 643 my $perl = $^X;
541 644
542 # first we try $^X, but the path must be absolute (always on win32), and end in sth. 645 # first we try $^X, but the path must be absolute (always on win32), and end in sth.
543 # that looks like perl. this obviously only works for posix and win32 646 # that looks like perl. this obviously only works for posix and win32
544 unless ( 647 unless (
545 ($^O eq "MSWin32" || $perl =~ m%^/%) 648 ($^O eq "MSWin32" || $perl =~ m%^/%)
546 && $perl =~ m%[/\\]perl(?:[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)+)?(\.exe)?$%i 649 && $perl =~ m%[/\\]perl(?:[0-9]+(\.[0-9]+)+)?(\.exe)?$%i
547 ) { 650 ) {
548 # if it doesn't look perlish enough, try Config 651 # if it doesn't look perlish enough, try Config
549 require Config; 652 require Config;
550 $perl = $Config::Config{perlpath}; 653 $perl = $Config::Config{perlpath};
551 $perl =~ s/(?:\Q$Config::Config{_exe}\E)?$/$Config::Config{_exe}/; 654 $perl =~ s/(?:\Q$Config::Config{_exe}\E)?$/$Config::Config{_exe}/;
655 }
656
657 $PERL = $perl;
552 } 658 }
553 659
554 require Proc::FastSpawn; 660 require Proc::FastSpawn;
555 661
556 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair; 662 my ($fh, $slave) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_socketpair;
564 #local $ENV{PERL5LIB} = join ":", grep !ref, @INC; 670 #local $ENV{PERL5LIB} = join ":", grep !ref, @INC;
565 my %env = %ENV; 671 my %env = %ENV;
566 $env{PERL5LIB} = join +($^O eq "MSWin32" ? ";" : ":"), grep !ref, @INC; 672 $env{PERL5LIB} = join +($^O eq "MSWin32" ? ";" : ":"), grep !ref, @INC;
567 673
568 my $pid = Proc::FastSpawn::spawn ( 674 my $pid = Proc::FastSpawn::spawn (
569 $perl, 675 $PERL,
570 ["perl", "-MAnyEvent::Fork::Serve", "-e", "AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::me", fileno $slave, $$], 676 ["perl", "-MAnyEvent::Fork::Serve", "-e", "AnyEvent::Fork::Serve::me", fileno $slave, $$],
571 [map "$_=$env{$_}", keys %env], 677 [map "$_=$env{$_}", keys %env],
572 ) or die "unable to spawn AnyEvent::Fork server: $!"; 678 ) or die "unable to spawn AnyEvent::Fork server: $!";
573 679
574 $self->_new ($fh, $pid) 680 $self->_new ($fh, $pid)
575} 681}
576 682
577=item $pid = $proc->pid 683=item $pid = $proc->pid
578 684
579Returns the process id of the process I<iff it is a direct child of the 685Returns the process id of the process I<iff it is a direct child of the
580process running AnyEvent::Fork>, and C<undef> otherwise. 686process running AnyEvent::Fork>, and C<undef> otherwise. As a general
687rule (that you cannot rely upon), processes created via C<new_exec>,
688L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> or L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> are direct
689children, while all other processes are not.
581 690
582Normally, only processes created via C<< AnyEvent::Fork->new_exec >> and 691Or in other words, you do not normally have to take care of zombies for
583L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> are direct children, and you are responsible 692processes created via C<new>, but when in doubt, or zombies are a problem,
584to clean up their zombies when they die. 693you need to check whether a process is a diretc child by calling this
585 694method, and possibly creating a child watcher or reap it manually.
586All other processes are not direct children, and will be cleaned up by
587AnyEvent::Fork itself.
588 695
589=cut 696=cut
590 697
591sub pid { 698sub pid {
592 $_[0][0] 699 $_[0][PID]
593} 700}
594 701
595=item $proc = $proc->eval ($perlcode, @args) 702=item $proc = $proc->eval ($perlcode, @args)
596 703
597Evaluates the given C<$perlcode> as ... perl code, while setting C<@_> to 704Evaluates the given C<$perlcode> as ... Perl code, while setting C<@_> to
598the strings specified by C<@args>, in the "main" package. 705the strings specified by C<@args>, in the "main" package.
599 706
600This call is meant to do any custom initialisation that might be required 707This call is meant to do any custom initialisation that might be required
601(for example, the C<require> method uses it). It's not supposed to be used 708(for example, the C<require> method uses it). It's not supposed to be used
602to completely take over the process, use C<run> for that. 709to completely take over the process, use C<run> for that.
664sub send_fh { 771sub send_fh {
665 my ($self, @fh) = @_; 772 my ($self, @fh) = @_;
666 773
667 for my $fh (@fh) { 774 for my $fh (@fh) {
668 $self->_cmd ("h"); 775 $self->_cmd ("h");
669 push @{ $self->[2] }, \$fh; 776 push @{ $self->[QUEUE] }, \$fh;
670 } 777 }
671 778
672 $self 779 $self
673} 780}
674 781
723 830
724Even if not used otherwise, the socket can be a good indicator for the 831Even if not used otherwise, the socket can be a good indicator for the
725existence of the process - if the other process exits, you get a readable 832existence of the process - if the other process exits, you get a readable
726event on it, because exiting the process closes the socket (if it didn't 833event on it, because exiting the process closes the socket (if it didn't
727create any children using fork). 834create any children using fork).
835
836=over 4
837
838=item Compatibility to L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>
839
840If you want to write code that works with both this module and
841L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>, you need to write your code so that it assumes
842there are two file handles for communications, which might not be unix
843domain sockets. The C<run> function should start like this:
844
845 sub run {
846 my ($rfh, @args) = @_; # @args is your normal arguments
847 my $wfh = fileno $rfh ? $rfh : *STDOUT;
848
849 # now use $rfh for reading and $wfh for writing
850 }
851
852This checks whether the passed file handle is, in fact, the process
853C<STDIN> handle. If it is, then the function was invoked visa
854L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>, so STDIN should be used for reading and
855C<STDOUT> should be used for writing.
856
857In all other cases, the function was called via this module, and there is
858only one file handle that should be sued for reading and writing.
859
860=back
728 861
729Example: create a template for a process pool, pass a few strings, some 862Example: create a template for a process pool, pass a few strings, some
730file handles, then fork, pass one more string, and run some code. 863file handles, then fork, pass one more string, and run some code.
731 864
732 my $pool = AnyEvent::Fork 865 my $pool = AnyEvent::Fork
760=cut 893=cut
761 894
762sub run { 895sub run {
763 my ($self, $func, $cb) = @_; 896 my ($self, $func, $cb) = @_;
764 897
765 $self->[4] = $cb; 898 $self->[CB] = $cb;
766 $self->_cmd (r => $func); 899 $self->_cmd (r => $func);
900}
901
902=back
903
904=head2 EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
905
906These methods might go away completely or change behaviour, at any time.
907
908=over 4
909
910=item $proc->to_fh ($cb->($fh)) # EXPERIMENTAL, MIGHT BE REMOVED
911
912Flushes all commands out to the process and then calls the callback with
913the communications socket.
914
915The process object becomes unusable on return from this function - any
916further method calls result in undefined behaviour.
917
918The point of this method is to give you a file handle that you can pass
919to another process. In that other process, you can call C<new_from_fh
920AnyEvent::Fork $fh> to create a new C<AnyEvent::Fork> object from it,
921thereby effectively passing a fork object to another process.
922
923=cut
924
925sub to_fh {
926 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
927
928 $self->[CB] = $cb;
929
930 unless ($self->[WW]) {
931 $self->[CB]->($self->[FH]);
932 @$self = ();
933 }
934}
935
936=item new_from_fh AnyEvent::Fork $fh # EXPERIMENTAL, MIGHT BE REMOVED
937
938Takes a file handle originally rceeived by the C<to_fh> method and creates
939a new C<AnyEvent:Fork> object. The child process itself will not change in
940any way, i.e. it will keep all the modifications done to it before calling
941C<to_fh>.
942
943The new object is very much like the original object, except that the
944C<pid> method will return C<undef> even if the process is a direct child.
945
946=cut
947
948sub new_from_fh {
949 my ($class, $fh) = @_;
950
951 $class->_new ($fh)
767} 952}
768 953
769=back 954=back
770 955
771=head1 PERFORMANCE 956=head1 PERFORMANCE
781 966
782 2079 new processes per second, using manual socketpair + fork 967 2079 new processes per second, using manual socketpair + fork
783 968
784Then I did the same thing, but instead of calling fork, I called 969Then I did the same thing, but instead of calling fork, I called
785AnyEvent::Fork->new->run ("CORE::exit") and then again waited for the 970AnyEvent::Fork->new->run ("CORE::exit") and then again waited for the
786socket form the child to close on exit. This does the same thing as manual 971socket from the child to close on exit. This does the same thing as manual
787socket pair + fork, except that what is forked is the template process 972socket pair + fork, except that what is forked is the template process
788(2440kB), and the socket needs to be passed to the server at the other end 973(2440kB), and the socket needs to be passed to the server at the other end
789of the socket first. 974of the socket first.
790 975
791 2307 new processes per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new 976 2307 new processes per second, using AnyEvent::Fork->new
798So how can C<< AnyEvent->new >> be faster than a standard fork, even 983So how can C<< AnyEvent->new >> be faster than a standard fork, even
799though it uses the same operations, but adds a lot of overhead? 984though it uses the same operations, but adds a lot of overhead?
800 985
801The difference is simply the process size: forking the 5MB process takes 986The difference is simply the process size: forking the 5MB process takes
802so much longer than forking the 2.5MB template process that the extra 987so much longer than forking the 2.5MB template process that the extra
803overhead introduced is canceled out. 988overhead is canceled out.
804 989
805If the benchmark process grows, the normal fork becomes even slower: 990If the benchmark process grows, the normal fork becomes even slower:
806 991
807 1340 new processes, manual fork of a 20MB process 992 1340 new processes, manual fork of a 20MB process
808 731 new processes, manual fork of a 200MB process 993 731 new processes, manual fork of a 200MB process
868initialising them, for example, by calling C<init Gtk2> manually. 1053initialising them, for example, by calling C<init Gtk2> manually.
869 1054
870=item exiting calls object destructors 1055=item exiting calls object destructors
871 1056
872This only applies to users of L<AnyEvent::Fork:Early> and 1057This only applies to users of L<AnyEvent::Fork:Early> and
873L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, or when initialiasing code creates objects 1058L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, or when initialising code creates objects
874that reference external resources. 1059that reference external resources.
875 1060
876When a process created by AnyEvent::Fork exits, it might do so by calling 1061When a process created by AnyEvent::Fork exits, it might do so by calling
877exit, or simply letting perl reach the end of the program. At which point 1062exit, or simply letting perl reach the end of the program. At which point
878Perl runs all destructors. 1063Perl runs all destructors.
898to make it so, mostly due to the bloody broken perl that nobody seems to 1083to make it so, mostly due to the bloody broken perl that nobody seems to
899care about. The fork emulation is a bad joke - I have yet to see something 1084care about. The fork emulation is a bad joke - I have yet to see something
900useful that you can do with it without running into memory corruption 1085useful that you can do with it without running into memory corruption
901issues or other braindamage. Hrrrr. 1086issues or other braindamage. Hrrrr.
902 1087
1088Since fork is endlessly broken on win32 perls (it doesn't even remotely
1089work within it's documented limits) and quite obviously it's not getting
1090improved any time soon, the best way to proceed on windows would be to
1091always use C<new_exec> and thus never rely on perl's fork "emulation".
1092
903Cygwin perl is not supported at the moment due to some hilarious 1093Cygwin perl is not supported at the moment due to some hilarious
904shortcomings of its API - see L<IO::FDPoll> for more details. 1094shortcomings of its API - see L<IO::FDPoll> for more details. If you never
1095use C<send_fh> and always use C<new_exec> to create processes, it should
1096work though.
1097
1098=head1 USING AnyEvent::Fork IN SUBPROCESSES
1099
1100AnyEvent::Fork itself cannot generally be used in subprocesses. As long as
1101only one process ever forks new processes, sharing the template processes
1102is possible (you could use a pipe as a lock by writing a byte into it to
1103unlock, and reading the byte to lock for example)
1104
1105To make concurrent calls possible after fork, you should get rid of the
1106template and early fork processes. AnyEvent::Fork will create a new
1107template process as needed.
1108
1109 undef $AnyEvent::Fork::EARLY;
1110 undef $AnyEvent::Fork::TEMPLATE;
1111
1112It doesn't matter whether you get rid of them in the parent or child after
1113a fork.
905 1114
906=head1 SEE ALSO 1115=head1 SEE ALSO
907 1116
908L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early> (to avoid executing a perl interpreter), 1117L<AnyEvent::Fork::Early>, to avoid executing a perl interpreter at all
1118(part of this distribution).
1119
909L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template> (to create a process by forking the main 1120L<AnyEvent::Fork::Template>, to create a process by forking the main
910program at a convenient time). 1121program at a convenient time (part of this distribution).
911 1122
912=head1 AUTHOR 1123L<AnyEvent::Fork::Remote>, for another way to create processes that is
1124mostly compatible to this module and modules building on top of it, but
1125works better with remote processes.
1126
1127L<AnyEvent::Fork::RPC>, for simple RPC to child processes (on CPAN).
1128
1129L<AnyEvent::Fork::Pool>, for simple worker process pool (on CPAN).
1130
1131=head1 AUTHOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION
913 1132
914 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 1133 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
915 http://home.schmorp.de/ 1134 http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/AnyEvent-Fork
916 1135
917=cut 1136=cut
918 1137
9191 11381
920 1139

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