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Revision 1.31 by root, Wed Aug 5 19:55:58 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.52 by root, Fri Aug 14 15:13:20 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 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR-
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19
20 # ports are message endpoints
21
22 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 26
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $somple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 31 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 34
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 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
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
27 51
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 53
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 55
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 60manual page.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
41 65
42=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
43 67
44=over 4 68=over 4
45 69
90 114
91=cut 115=cut
92 116
93package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
94 118
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 120
97use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
98 122
99use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
100 124
101use AE (); 125use AE ();
102 126
103use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
104 128
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
106our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
108 resolve_node initialise_node 133 resolve_node initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
110 port 135 port
111); 136);
112 137
113our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
114 139
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 144}
120 145
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 147
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 149noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 151
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 152=item $noderef = node_of $port
129 153
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 154Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
155
156=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
157
158=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
159
160Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
161itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
162it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
163
164This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
165never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
166
167All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
168either resolved or unresolved.
169
170The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
171(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
172the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
173the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
174seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
175
176There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
177
178=over 4
179
180=item public nodes
181
182For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
183C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
184noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
185
186After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
187connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
188optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
189network.
190
191=item slave nodes
192
193When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
194is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
195node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
196their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
197
198At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
199directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
200will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
201first node it can successfully connect to.
202
203=back
204
205This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
206nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
207server.
208
209Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
210specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
211form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
212
213 initialise_node;
214
215Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
216C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
217
218 initialise_node "slave/";
219
220Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
221form is also often used for commandline clients.
222
223 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
224
225Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
226servers to become part of the network.
227
228 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
229
230Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
231
232 initialise_node 4041;
233
234Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
235
236 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
131 237
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 238=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
133 239
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 240Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 241abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
167 273
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 274Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 275just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 276module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 277
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 278=item snd $port, type => @data
173 279
174=item snd $portid, @msg 280=item snd $port, @msg
175 281
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 282Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 283a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 284
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 285While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 286string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
182type etc.). 287type etc.).
183 288
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 289The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 290function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
186problems. 291problems.
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 294JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 295of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 296that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 297node, anything can be passed.
193 298
194=item kil $portid[, @reason] 299=item $local_port = port
195 300
196Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 301Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
302no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
197 303
198If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 304=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
199ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
200 305
201Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 306Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
202C<mon>, see below). 307creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
203 308
204Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 309The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
205will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 310global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
311port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
312(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
206 313
207Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 314If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
208$message >>.
209 315
316 my $port = port {
317 my @msg = @_;
318 ...
319 kil $SELF;
320 };
321
322=cut
323
324sub rcv($@);
325
326sub _kilme {
327 die "received message on port without callback";
328}
329
330sub port(;&) {
331 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
332 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
333
334 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
335
336 $port
337}
338
339=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
340
341Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
342remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
343C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
344
345The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
346executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
347result in the port being C<kil>ed.
348
349The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
350C<tag> match.
351
352=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
353
354Register callbacks to be called on messages starting with the given tag on
355the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when C<$callback>
356is C<$undef>).
357
358The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
359element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
360environment as the default callback (see above).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ... },
366 msg2 => sub { ... },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ... },
375 ...
376 ;
377
378=cut
379
380sub rcv($@) {
381 my $port = shift;
382 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
383
384 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
385 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
386
387 while (@_) {
388 if (ref $_[0]) {
389 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
390 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
391 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
392
393 $self->[2] = shift;
394 } else {
395 my $cb = shift;
396 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
397 local $SELF = $port;
398 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
399 };
400 }
401 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
402 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
403 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
404
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port;
407
408 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
409 shift;
410 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
411 } else {
412 &{ $self->[0] };
413 }
414 };
415
416 $self
417 };
418
419 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
420 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
421
422 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
423
424 if (defined $cb) {
425 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
426 } else {
427 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
428 }
429 }
430 }
431
432 $port
433}
434
435=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
436
437Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
438closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
439callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
440
441This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
442
443 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
444 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
445 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
446 snd @reply, $SELF;
447 };
448 };
449
450=cut
451
452sub psub(&) {
453 my $cb = shift;
454
455 my $port = $SELF
456 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
457
458 sub {
459 local $SELF = $port;
460
461 if (wantarray) {
462 my @res = eval { &$cb };
463 _self_die if $@;
464 @res
465 } else {
466 my $res = eval { &$cb };
467 _self_die if $@;
468 $res
469 }
470 }
471}
472
210=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 473=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
211 474
212=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 475=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
213 476
477=item $guard = mon $port
478
214=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 479=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
215 480
216Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 481Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
482messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
483to stop monitoring again.
217 484
485C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
486that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
487will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
488message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
489(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
490port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
491delivered again.
492
218In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 493In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
219of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 494number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
220"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 495"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
221C<eval> if unsure. 496C<eval> if unsure.
222 497
223In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 498In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
224a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 499will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
225under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 500"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
501port is killed with the same reason.
226 502
503The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
504C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
505
227In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 506In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
507C<snd>.
508
509As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
510a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
511lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
512even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
513to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
514these problems do not exist.
228 515
229Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 516Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
230 517
231 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 518 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
232 519
233Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 520Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
234 521
235 mon $port, $self; 522 mon $port;
236 523
237Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 524Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
238 525
239 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 526 mon $port, $self => "restart";
240 527
241=cut 528=cut
242 529
243sub mon { 530sub mon {
244 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 531 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
245 532
246 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 533 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
247 534
248 my $cb = shift; 535 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
249 536
250 unless (ref $cb) { 537 unless (ref $cb) {
251 if (@_) { 538 if (@_) {
252 # send a kill info message 539 # send a kill info message
253 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 540 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
284=cut 571=cut
285 572
286sub mon_guard { 573sub mon_guard {
287 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 574 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
288 575
576 #TODO: mon-less form?
577
289 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 578 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
290} 579}
291 580
292=item lnk $port1, $port2 581=item kil $port[, @reason]
293 582
294Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 583Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
295 584
296 mon $port1, $port2; 585If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
297 mon $port2, $port1; 586ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
298 587
299It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 588Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
300killed as well. 589C<mon>, see below).
301 590
302=item $local_port = port 591Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
592will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
303 593
304Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 594Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
305matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 595$message >>.
306depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
307 596
308=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
309
310Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
311pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
312
313The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
314callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
315will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
316
317The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
318be passed to the callback.
319
320If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
321
322 my $port; $port = port {
323 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
324 };
325
326=cut 597=cut
327 598
328sub port(;&) { 599=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
329 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
330 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
331 600
332 if (@_) { 601Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
333 my $cb = shift; 602case it's the node where that port resides).
334 $PORT{$id} = sub { 603
335 local $SELF = $port; 604The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
336 eval { 605permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
337 &$cb 606
338 and kil $id; 607After the port has been created, the init function is
608called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
609(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
610program, use C<::name>.
611
612If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
613the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
614C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
615exists or it runs out of package names.
616
617The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
618object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
619
620A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
621in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
622ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
623
624Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
625
626 # this node, executed from within a port context:
627 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
628 mon $server;
629
630 # init function on C<$othernode>
631 sub connect {
632 my ($srcport) = @_;
633
634 mon $srcport;
635
636 rcv $SELF, sub {
339 }; 637 ...
340 _self_die if $@;
341 };
342 } else {
343 my $self = bless {
344 id => "$NODE#$id",
345 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
346
347 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
348 $PORT{$id} = sub {
349 local $SELF = $port;
350
351 eval {
352 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
353 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
354 && undef $_;
355 }
356
357 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
358 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
359 && &{$_->[0]}
360 && undef $_;
361 }
362
363 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
364 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
365 && &{$_->[0]}
366 && undef $_;
367 }
368 };
369 _self_die if $@;
370 }; 638 };
371 } 639 }
372 640
373 $port 641=cut
642
643sub _spawn {
644 my $port = shift;
645 my $init = shift;
646
647 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
648 eval {
649 &{ load_func $init }
650 };
651 _self_die if $@;
374} 652}
375 653
376=item reg $portid, $name 654sub spawn(@) {
655 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
377 656
378Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 657 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
379exists it is replaced.
380 658
381A port can only be registered under one well known name. 659 $_[0] =~ /::/
660 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
382 661
383A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. 662 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
663 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
384 664
385=cut 665 "$noderef#$id"
386
387sub reg(@) {
388 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
389
390 $REG{$name} = $portid;
391} 666}
392
393=item rcv $portid, $callback->(@msg)
394
395Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (or newly created port
396object, see C<port>). Full ports are configured with the following calls:
397
398=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
399
400=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
401
402=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
403
404Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
405
406The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
407which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
408registered.
409
410The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
411executing the callback.
412
413Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
414C<kil>ed.
415
416If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
417first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
418matched.
419
420Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
421exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
422
423While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
424element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
425also the most efficient match (by far).
426
427=cut
428
429sub rcv($@) {
430 my $portid = shift;
431 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2;
432
433 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
434 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
435
436 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
437 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
438
439 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
440 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
441
442 while (@_) {
443 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
444
445 if (!ref $match) {
446 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
447 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
448 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
449 @match
450 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
451 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
452 } else {
453 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
454 }
455 }
456
457 $portid
458}
459
460=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
461
462Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
463closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
464callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
465
466This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
467
468 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
469 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
470 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
471 snd @reply, $SELF;
472 };
473 };
474
475=cut
476
477sub psub(&) {
478 my $cb = shift;
479
480 my $port = $SELF
481 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
482
483 sub {
484 local $SELF = $port;
485
486 if (wantarray) {
487 my @res = eval { &$cb };
488 _self_die if $@;
489 @res
490 } else {
491 my $res = eval { &$cb };
492 _self_die if $@;
493 $res
494 }
495 }
496}
497
498=back
499
500=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
501
502=over 4
503
504=item become_public $noderef
505
506Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
507
508The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
509(if missing then the empty string is used).
510
511It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
512tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
513which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
514
515=cut
516 667
517=back 668=back
518 669
519=head1 NODE MESSAGES 670=head1 NODE MESSAGES
520 671
562 713
563=back 714=back
564 715
565=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 716=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
566 717
567AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 718AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
568== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 719== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
569programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 720programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
570sample: 721sample:
571 722
572 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 723 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
573 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 724 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
574 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 725 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
575 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 726 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
576 727
577Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 728Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
578 729
579=over 4 730=over 4
580 731
585convenience functionality. 736convenience functionality.
586 737
587This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 738This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
588cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 739cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
589 740
741=item Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
742uses "local ports are like remote ports".
743
744The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
745only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
746when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
747port.
748
749Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
750they are not.
751
752AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
753ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
754occur.
755
590=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 756=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
591 757
592Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 758Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
593needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 759needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
594purpose. 760useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
761AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
762filter messages without dequeing them.
595 763
596(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 764(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
597 765
598=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 766=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
599 767
600Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 768Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
601sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 769so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
602background. 770connection establishment is handled in the background.
603 771
604=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 772=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
605 773
606Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 774Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
607without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 775without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
608and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 776and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
609 777
610AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 778AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
611holes in the message sequence. 779holes in the message sequence.
612 780
613=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 781=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
614alive. 782alive.
615 783
616In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 784In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
617linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 785linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
618still alive - and can receive messages. 786still alive - and can receive messages.
619 787
620In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 788In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
621eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 789eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
622and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 790and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
623 791
624=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 792=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
625 793
626In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 794In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
627ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 795known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
628messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 796destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
629 797
630AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 798AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
631around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 799around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
632 800
633=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 801=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
637securely authenticate nodes. 805securely authenticate nodes.
638 806
639=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 807=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
640communications. 808communications.
641 809
642The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 810The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
643language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 811language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
644language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 812language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
645 813
646It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 814It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
647with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 815with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
648protocol simple. 816protocol simple.
649 817
818=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
819
820In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
821or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
822difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
823Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
824on a per-process basis.
825
826=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
827
828Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
829as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
830
831In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
832that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
833on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
834the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
835more reliable.
836
837This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
838(hard to do in Erlang).
839
840=back
841
842=head1 RATIONALE
843
844=over 4
845
846=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
847
848We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
849thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
850the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
851overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
852
853Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
854procedures to be "valid".
855
856And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
857can't become much cheaper.
858
859=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
860
861In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
862format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
863default.
864
865The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
866faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
867experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
868than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
869easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
870always have to re-think your design.
871
872Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
873objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
874
650=back 875=back
651 876
652=head1 SEE ALSO 877=head1 SEE ALSO
653 878
654L<AnyEvent>. 879L<AnyEvent>.

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