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Comparing AnyEvent-MP/MP.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.22 by root, Tue Aug 4 18:33:30 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.42 by root, Sun Aug 9 00:41:49 2009 UTC

8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # ports are message endpoints
16
17 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 18 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 21
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 22 # miniports
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 24
25 # full ports
26 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
18
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1; 30
31 # remote ports
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 33
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 43=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 44
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 45This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 46
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 47Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 48on the same or other hosts.
34 49
50For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
51manual page.
52
35At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 53At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
36so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 54so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
37stay tuned! 55stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
38 56
39=head1 CONCEPTS 57=head1 CONCEPTS
40 58
41=over 4 59=over 4
42 60
43=item port 61=item port
44 62
45A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 63A 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 64
47messages they match, messages will not be queued. 65Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
66messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
67will not be queued.
48 68
49=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 69=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
50 70
51A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 71A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
52by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 72separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
73exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
74reference.
53 75
54=item node 76=item node
55 77
56A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 78A 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, 79port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
58among other things. 80create new ports, among other things.
59 81
60Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 82Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
61(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 83master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
62public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
63 84
64=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 85=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
65 86
66A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 87A 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 88private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
68node (for public nodes). 89node (for public nodes).
69 90
91This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
92TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
93
94Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
95addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
96
97Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
98resolve it.
99
70=back 100=back
71 101
72=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 102=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
73 103
74=over 4 104=over 4
85 115
86use AE (); 116use AE ();
87 117
88use base "Exporter"; 118use base "Exporter";
89 119
90our $VERSION = '0.02'; 120our $VERSION = '0.1';
91our @EXPORT = qw( 121our @EXPORT = qw(
92 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 122 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
93 become_slave become_public 123 resolve_node initialise_node
94 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 124 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
95 port 125 port
96); 126);
97 127
98our $SELF; 128our $SELF;
99 129
108The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 138The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
109the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 139the 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 140to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
111identifiers become invalid. 141identifiers become invalid.
112 142
113=item $noderef = node_of $portid 143=item $noderef = node_of $port
114 144
115Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 145Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
146
147=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
148
149=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
150
151Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
152itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
153it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
154
155This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
156never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
157
158All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
159
160There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
161
162=over 4
163
164=item public nodes
165
166For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
167noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
168which case the noderef will be guessed.
169
170Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
171to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
172and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
173
174=item slave nodes
175
176When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
177become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
178route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
179
180At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
181to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
182successfully connect to.
183
184=back
185
186This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
187nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
188server.
189
190Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
191
192 initialise_node;
193
194Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
195servers to become part of the network.
196
197 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
198
199Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
200
201 initialise_node 4041;
202
203Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
204
205 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
206
207Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
208
209 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
210
211=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
212
213Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
214abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
215reference.
216
217In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
218following forms are supported:
219
220=over 4
221
222=item the empty string
223
224An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
225specified.
226
227=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
228
229These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
230further resolved.
231
232=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
233
234These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
235looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
236specified.
237
238=back
116 239
117=item $SELF 240=item $SELF
118 241
119Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 242Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
120blocks. 243blocks.
123 246
124Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 247Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
125just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 248just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
126module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 249module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
127 250
128=item snd $portid, type => @data 251=item snd $port, type => @data
129 252
130=item snd $portid, @msg 253=item snd $port, @msg
131 254
132Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 255Send 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 256a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
134stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 257stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
135 258
145JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 268JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
146of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 269of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
147that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 270that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
148node, anything can be passed. 271node, anything can be passed.
149 272
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 273=item $local_port = port
248 274
249Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 275Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
276matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
277depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
250 278
251=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 279=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
252 280
253Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 281Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
254pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 282matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
283a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
255 284
256The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 285The 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 286callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
258will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 287will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
259 288
260The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 289The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
261be passed to the callback. 290be passed to the callback.
262 291
263If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 292If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
264 293
265 my $port; $port = miniport { 294 my $port; $port = port {
266 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 295 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
267 }; 296 };
268 297
269=cut 298=cut
299
300sub rcv($@);
270 301
271sub port(;&) { 302sub port(;&) {
272 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 303 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
273 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 304 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
274 305
275 if (@_) { 306 if (@_) {
307 rcv $port, shift;
308 } else {
309 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
310 }
311
312 $port
313}
314
315=item reg $port, $name
316
317=item reg $name
318
319Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
320C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
321
322A port can only be registered under one well known name.
323
324A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
325
326=cut
327
328sub reg(@) {
329 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
330
331 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
332}
333
334=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
335
336Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
337one if required).
338
339=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
340
341=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
342
343=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
344
345Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
346port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
347
348The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
349which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
350registered.
351
352The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
353executing the callback.
354
355Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being
356C<kil>ed.
357
358If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
359first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
360matched.
361
362Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
363exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
364
365While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
366element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
367also the most efficient match (by far).
368
369Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
370
371 my $port = rcv port,
372 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
373 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 },
374 ;
375
376Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
377in one go:
378
379 snd $otherport, reply =>
380 rcv port,
381 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
382 ...
383 ;
384
385=cut
386
387sub rcv($@) {
388 my $port = shift;
389 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
390
391 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
393
394 if (@_ == 1) {
276 my $cb = shift; 395 my $cb = shift;
396 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
277 $PORT{$id} = sub { 397 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
278 local $SELF = $port; 398 local $SELF = $port;
279 eval { 399 eval {
280 &$cb 400 &$cb
281 and kil $id; 401 and kil $port;
282 }; 402 };
283 _self_die if $@; 403 _self_die if $@;
284 }; 404 };
285 } else { 405 } else {
406 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
286 my $self = bless { 407 my $self = bless {
287 id => "$NODE#$id", 408 id => $port,
288 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 409 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
289 410
290 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
291 $PORT{$id} = sub { 411 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
292 local $SELF = $port; 412 local $SELF = $port;
293 413
294 eval { 414 eval {
295 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 415 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
296 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 416 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
297 && undef $_; 417 && undef $_;
298 } 418 }
299 419
300 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) { 420 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
301 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 421 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
302 && &{$_->[0]} 422 && &{$_->[0]}
303 && undef $_; 423 && undef $_;
304 } 424 }
305 425
306 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 426 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
307 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 427 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
308 && &{$_->[0]} 428 && &{$_->[0]}
309 && undef $_; 429 && undef $_;
430 }
310 } 431 };
432 _self_die if $@;
311 }; 433 };
312 _self_die if $@; 434
435 $self
313 }; 436 };
314 }
315 437
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 438 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
377 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 439 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
378 440
379 while (@_) { 441 while (@_) {
380 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 442 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
381 443
382 if (!ref $match) { 444 if (!ref $match) {
383 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 445 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
384 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 446 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
385 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 447 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
386 @match 448 @match
387 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 449 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
388 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb]; 450 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
389 } else { 451 } else {
390 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 452 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
453 }
391 } 454 }
392 } 455 }
456
457 $port
393} 458}
394 459
395=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 460=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
396 461
397Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 462Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
428 $res 493 $res
429 } 494 }
430 } 495 }
431} 496}
432 497
433=back 498=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
434 499
435=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 500=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
436 501
437=over 4 502=item $guard = mon $port
438 503
439=item become_public endpoint... 504=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
440 505
441Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 506Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
507messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
508to stop monitoring again.
442 509
443If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 510C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
444AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 511that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
445local nodename resolves to. 512will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
513message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
514(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
515port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
516delivered again.
446 517
447Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 518In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
448endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 519number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
449local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 520"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
450will become the node reference. 521C<eval> if unsure.
451 522
523In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport)
524will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
525"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
526port is killed with the same reason.
527
528The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
529C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
530
531In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
532C<snd>.
533
534As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
535a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
536lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
537even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
538to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
539these problems do not exist.
540
541Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
542
543 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
544
545Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
546
547 mon $port;
548
549Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
550
551 mon $port, $self => "restart";
552
452=cut 553=cut
554
555sub mon {
556 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
557
558 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
559
560 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
561
562 unless (ref $cb) {
563 if (@_) {
564 # send a kill info message
565 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
566 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
567 } else {
568 # simply kill other port
569 my $port = $cb;
570 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
571 }
572 }
573
574 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
575
576 defined wantarray
577 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
578}
579
580=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
581
582Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
583is killed, the references will be freed.
584
585Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
586
587This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
588want to free them when the port gets killed:
589
590 $port->rcv (start => sub {
591 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
592 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
593 });
594 });
595
596=cut
597
598sub mon_guard {
599 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
600
601 #TODO: mon-less form?
602
603 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
604}
605
606=item kil $port[, @reason]
607
608Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
609
610If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
611ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
612
613Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
614C<mon>, see below).
615
616Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
617will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
618
619Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
620$message >>.
621
622=cut
623
624=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
625
626Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
627case it's the node where that port resides).
628
629The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
630permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
631
632After the port has been created, the init function is
633called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
634(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
635program, use C<::name>.
636
637If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
638the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
639C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
640exists or it runs out of package names.
641
642The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
643object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
644
645A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
646in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
647ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
648
649Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
650
651 # this node, executed from within a port context:
652 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
653 mon $server;
654
655 # init function on C<$othernode>
656 sub connect {
657 my ($srcport) = @_;
658
659 mon $srcport;
660
661 rcv $SELF, sub {
662 ...
663 };
664 }
665
666=cut
667
668sub _spawn {
669 my $port = shift;
670 my $init = shift;
671
672 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
673 eval {
674 &{ load_func $init }
675 };
676 _self_die if $@;
677}
678
679sub spawn(@) {
680 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
681
682 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
683
684 $_[0] =~ /::/
685 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
686
687 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
688 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
689
690 "$noderef#$id"
691}
453 692
454=back 693=back
455 694
456=head1 NODE MESSAGES 695=head1 NODE MESSAGES
457 696
458Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 697Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
459arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 698arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
460message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 699message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
461the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 700the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
462 701
702While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
703
463=over 4 704=over 4
464 705
465=cut 706=cut
466 707
467=item lookup => $name, @reply 708=item lookup => $name, @reply
495 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 736 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
496 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 737 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
497 738
498=back 739=back
499 740
741=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
742
743AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
744== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
745programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
746sample:
747
748 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
749 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
750 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
751 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
752
753Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
754
755=over 4
756
757=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
758
759Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
760same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
761convenience functionality.
762
763This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
764cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
765
766=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
767
768Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
769needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
770purpose.
771
772(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
773
774=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
775
776Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
777sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
778background.
779
780=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
781
782Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
783without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
784and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
785
786AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
787holes in the message sequence.
788
789=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
790alive.
791
792In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
793linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
794still alive - and can receive messages.
795
796In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
797eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
798and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
799
800=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
801
802In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
803ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
804messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
805
806AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
807around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
808
809=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
810authentication and can use TLS.
811
812AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
813securely authenticate nodes.
814
815=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
816communications.
817
818The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
819language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
820language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
821
822It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
823with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
824protocol simple.
825
826=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
827
828In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
829or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
830difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
831Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
832on a per-process basis.
833
834=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
835
836Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
837as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
838
839In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
840that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
841on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
842the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
843more reliable.
844
845This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
846(hard to do in Erlang).
847
848=back
849
500=head1 SEE ALSO 850=head1 SEE ALSO
501 851
502L<AnyEvent>. 852L<AnyEvent>.
503 853
504=head1 AUTHOR 854=head1 AUTHOR

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