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Revision 1.22 by root, Tue Aug 4 18:33:30 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.35 by root, Thu Aug 6 10:21:48 2009 UTC

23 23
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27 27
28 # linking two ports, so they both crash together
29 lnk $port1, $port2;
30
31 # monitoring
32 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
33 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
34 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
35
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 36=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 37
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 38This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 39
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 40Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 41on the same or other hosts.
34 42
43For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
44manual page.
45
35At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 46At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
36so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 47so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
37stay tuned! 48stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
38 49
39=head1 CONCEPTS 50=head1 CONCEPTS
40 51
41=over 4 52=over 4
42 53
43=item port 54=item port
44 55
45A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 56A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
46you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 57
47messages they match, messages will not be queued. 58Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
59messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
60will not be queued.
48 61
49=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 62=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
50 63
51A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 64A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
52by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 65separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
66exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
67reference.
53 68
54=item node 69=item node
55 70
56A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 71A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
57port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 72port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
58among other things. 73create new ports, among other things.
59 74
60Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 75Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
61(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 76master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
62public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
63 77
64=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 78=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
65 79
66A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 80A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
67private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 81private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
68node (for public nodes). 82node (for public nodes).
69 83
84This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
85TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
86
87Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
88addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
89
90Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
91resolve it.
92
70=back 93=back
71 94
72=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 95=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
73 96
74=over 4 97=over 4
85 108
86use AE (); 109use AE ();
87 110
88use base "Exporter"; 111use base "Exporter";
89 112
90our $VERSION = '0.02'; 113our $VERSION = '0.1';
91our @EXPORT = qw( 114our @EXPORT = qw(
92 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 115 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
93 become_slave become_public 116 resolve_node initialise_node
94 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 117 snd rcv mon kil reg psub
95 port 118 port
96); 119);
97 120
98our $SELF; 121our $SELF;
108The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 131The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
109the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 132the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
110to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 133to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
111identifiers become invalid. 134identifiers become invalid.
112 135
113=item $noderef = node_of $portid 136=item $noderef = node_of $port
114 137
115Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 138Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
139
140=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
141
142=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
143
144Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
145itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
146it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
147
148This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
149never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
150
151All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
152
153There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
154
155=over 4
156
157=item public nodes
158
159For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
160noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
161which case the noderef will be guessed.
162
163Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
164to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
165and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
166
167=item slave nodes
168
169When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
170become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
171route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
172
173At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
174to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
175successfully connect to.
176
177=back
178
179This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
180nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
181server.
182
183Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
184
185 initialise_node;
186
187Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
188servers to become part of the network.
189
190 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
191
192Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
193
194 initialise_node 4041;
195
196Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
197
198 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
199
200Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
201
202 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
203
204=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
205
206Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
207abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
208reference.
209
210In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
211following forms are supported:
212
213=over 4
214
215=item the empty string
216
217An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
218specified.
219
220=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
221
222These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
223further resolved.
224
225=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
226
227These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
228looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
229specified.
230
231=back
116 232
117=item $SELF 233=item $SELF
118 234
119Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 235Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
120blocks. 236blocks.
123 239
124Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 240Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
125just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 241just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
126module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 242module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
127 243
128=item snd $portid, type => @data 244=item snd $port, type => @data
129 245
130=item snd $portid, @msg 246=item snd $port, @msg
131 247
132Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 248Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
133a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 249a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
134stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 250stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
135 251
145JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 261JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
146of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 262of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
147that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 263that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
148node, anything can be passed. 264node, anything can be passed.
149 265
150=item kil $portid[, @reason]
151
152Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
153
154If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
155ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
156
157Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
158C<mon>, see below).
159
160Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
161will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
162
163Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
164$message >>.
165
166=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason)
167
168=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
169
170=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
171
172Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
173
174In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
175of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
176"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
177C<eval> if unsure.
178
179In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
180a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
181under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
182
183In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
184
185Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
186
187 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
188
189Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
190
191 mon $port, $self;
192
193Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
194
195 mon $port, $self => "restart";
196
197=cut
198
199sub mon {
200 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
201
202 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
203
204 #TODO: ports must not be references
205 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
206 if (@_) {
207 # send a kill info message
208 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
209 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
210 } else {
211 # simply kill other port
212 my $port = $cb;
213 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
214 }
215 }
216
217 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
218
219 defined wantarray
220 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
221}
222
223=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
224
225Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
226is killed, the references will be freed.
227
228Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
229
230This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
231want to free them when the port gets killed:
232
233 $port->rcv (start => sub {
234 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
235 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
236 });
237 });
238
239=cut
240
241sub mon_guard {
242 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
243
244 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
245}
246
247=item $local_port = port 266=item $local_port = port
248 267
249Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 268Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
269matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
270depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
250 271
251=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 272=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
252 273
253Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 274Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
254pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 275matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
276a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
255 277
256The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 278The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
257callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 279callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
258will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 280will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
259 281
260The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 282The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
261be passed to the callback. 283be passed to the callback.
262 284
263If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 285If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
264 286
265 my $port; $port = miniport { 287 my $port; $port = port {
266 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 288 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
267 }; 289 };
268 290
269=cut 291=cut
292
293sub rcv($@);
270 294
271sub port(;&) { 295sub port(;&) {
272 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 296 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
273 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 297 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
274 298
275 if (@_) { 299 if (@_) {
300 rcv $port, shift;
301 } else {
302 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
303 }
304
305 $port
306}
307
308=item reg $port, $name
309
310Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
311exists it is replaced.
312
313A port can only be registered under one well known name.
314
315A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
316
317=cut
318
319sub reg(@) {
320 my ($port, $name) = @_;
321
322 $REG{$name} = $port;
323}
324
325=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
326
327Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
328one if required).
329
330=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
331
332=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
333
334=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
335
336Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
337port (after converting it to one if required).
338
339The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
340which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
341registered.
342
343The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
344executing the callback.
345
346Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
347C<kil>ed.
348
349If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
350first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
351matched.
352
353Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
354exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
355
356While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
357element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
358also the most efficient match (by far).
359
360=cut
361
362sub rcv($@) {
363 my $port = shift;
364 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
365
366 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
367 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
368
369 if (@_ == 1) {
276 my $cb = shift; 370 my $cb = shift;
371 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
277 $PORT{$id} = sub { 372 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
278 local $SELF = $port; 373 local $SELF = $port;
279 eval { 374 eval {
280 &$cb 375 &$cb
281 and kil $id; 376 and kil $port;
282 }; 377 };
283 _self_die if $@; 378 _self_die if $@;
284 }; 379 };
285 } else { 380 } else {
381 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
286 my $self = bless { 382 my $self = bless {
287 id => "$NODE#$id", 383 id => $port,
288 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 384 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
289 385
290 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
291 $PORT{$id} = sub { 386 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
292 local $SELF = $port; 387 local $SELF = $port;
293 388
294 eval { 389 eval {
295 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 390 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
296 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 391 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
297 && undef $_; 392 && undef $_;
298 } 393 }
299 394
300 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) { 395 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
301 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 396 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
302 && &{$_->[0]} 397 && &{$_->[0]}
303 && undef $_; 398 && undef $_;
304 } 399 }
305 400
306 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 401 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
307 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 402 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
308 && &{$_->[0]} 403 && &{$_->[0]}
309 && undef $_; 404 && undef $_;
405 }
310 } 406 };
407 _self_die if $@;
311 }; 408 };
312 _self_die if $@; 409
410 $self
313 }; 411 };
314 }
315 412
316 $port
317}
318
319=item reg $portid, $name
320
321Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
322exists it is replaced.
323
324A port can only be registered under one well known name.
325
326A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
327
328=cut
329
330sub reg(@) {
331 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
332
333 $REG{$name} = $portid;
334}
335
336=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
337
338=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
339
340=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
341
342Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
343
344The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
345which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
346registered.
347
348The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
349executing the callback.
350
351Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
352C<kil>ed.
353
354If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
355first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
356matched.
357
358Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
359exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
360
361While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
362element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
363also the most efficient match (by far).
364
365=cut
366
367sub rcv($@) {
368 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
369
370 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
371 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
372
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
374 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
375
376 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 413 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
377 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 414 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
378 415
379 while (@_) { 416 while (@_) {
380 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 417 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
381 418
382 if (!ref $match) { 419 if (!ref $match) {
383 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 420 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
384 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 421 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
385 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 422 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
386 @match 423 @match
387 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 424 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
388 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb]; 425 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
389 } else { 426 } else {
390 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 427 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
428 }
391 } 429 }
392 } 430 }
431
432 $port
393} 433}
394 434
395=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 435=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
396 436
397Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 437Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
428 $res 468 $res
429 } 469 }
430 } 470 }
431} 471}
432 472
433=back 473=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
434 474
435=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 475=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport
436 476
437=over 4 477=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg
438 478
439=item become_public endpoint... 479Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
440 480
441Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 481In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
482of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
483"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
484C<eval> if unsure.
442 485
443If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 486In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
444AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 487a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
445local nodename resolves to. 488under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
446 489
447Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 490In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
448endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the
449local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and
450will become the node reference.
451 491
492Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
493
494 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
495
496Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
497
498 mon $port, $self;
499
500Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
501
502 mon $port, $self => "restart";
503
452=cut 504=cut
505
506sub mon {
507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
508
509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
510
511 my $cb = shift;
512
513 unless (ref $cb) {
514 if (@_) {
515 # send a kill info message
516 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
517 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
518 } else {
519 # simply kill other port
520 my $port = $cb;
521 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
522 }
523 }
524
525 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
526
527 defined wantarray
528 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
529}
530
531=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
532
533Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
534is killed, the references will be freed.
535
536Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
537
538This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
539want to free them when the port gets killed:
540
541 $port->rcv (start => sub {
542 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
543 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
544 });
545 });
546
547=cut
548
549sub mon_guard {
550 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
551
552 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
553}
554
555=item lnk $port1, $port2
556
557Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
558
559 mon $port1, $port2;
560 mon $port2, $port1;
561
562It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
563killed as well.
564
565=item kil $port[, @reason]
566
567Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
568
569If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
570ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
571
572Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
573C<mon>, see below).
574
575Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
576will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
577
578Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
579$message >>.
453 580
454=back 581=back
455 582
456=head1 NODE MESSAGES 583=head1 NODE MESSAGES
457 584
458Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 585Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
459arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 586arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
460message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 587message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
461the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 588the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
462 589
590While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
591
463=over 4 592=over 4
464 593
465=cut 594=cut
466 595
467=item lookup => $name, @reply 596=item lookup => $name, @reply
495 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 624 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
496 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 625 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
497 626
498=back 627=back
499 628
629=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
630
631AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
632== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
633programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
634sample:
635
636 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
637 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
638 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
639 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
640
641Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
642
643=over 4
644
645=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
646
647Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
648same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
649convenience functionality.
650
651This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
652cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
653
654=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
655
656Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
657needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
658purpose.
659
660(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
661
662=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
663
664Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
665sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
666background.
667
668=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
669
670Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
671without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
672and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
673
674AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
675holes in the message sequence.
676
677=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
678alive.
679
680In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
681linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
682still alive - and can receive messages.
683
684In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
685eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
686and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
687
688=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
689
690In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
691ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
692messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
693
694AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
695around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
696
697=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
698authentication and can use TLS.
699
700AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
701securely authenticate nodes.
702
703=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
704communications.
705
706The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
707language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
708language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
709
710It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
711with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
712protocol simple.
713
714=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
715
716In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
717or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
718difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
719Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
720on a per-process basis.
721
722=item * Erlang has different semantics for monitoring and linking, AEMP has the same.
723
724Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
725as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, the
726semantics of monitoring and linking are identical, linking is simply
727two-way monitoring with automatic kill.
728
729=back
730
500=head1 SEE ALSO 731=head1 SEE ALSO
501 732
502L<AnyEvent>. 733L<AnyEvent>.
503 734
504=head1 AUTHOR 735=head1 AUTHOR

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