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Revision 1.64 by root, Fri Aug 28 00:58:44 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;
17
18 # ports are message endpoints
19
20 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
22 snd $port, @msg;
23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 24
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 27
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 29 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 32
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 33 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 35
36 # monitoring
37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
46 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
47
48 stay tuned.
27 49
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 51
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 53
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 57For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 58manual page.
37 59
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 60At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 61so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 62stay tuned!
41 63
42=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
43 65
44=over 4 66=over 4
45 67
46=item port 68=item port
47 69
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 70A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 71
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 72Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
53 75
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<noderef#portname>
55 77
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 78A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 80exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 81reference.
60 82
61=item node 83=item node
62 84
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 85A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 86which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 87ports.
66 88
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 89Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 90public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
91from any other node).
69 92
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 93=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
71 94
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 95A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 96network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 97hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
98doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 99
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 100=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 101
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 102Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 103each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
104endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
105be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 106
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 107=item seeds - C<host:port>
83resolve it. 108
109When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
110about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
111network. This node is called a seed.
112
113Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
114are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
115be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
116error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
117join the network.
84 118
85=back 119=back
86 120
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 121=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 122
90 124
91=cut 125=cut
92 126
93package AnyEvent::MP; 127package AnyEvent::MP;
94 128
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 129use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 130
97use common::sense; 131use common::sense;
98 132
99use Carp (); 133use Carp ();
100 134
101use AE (); 135use AE ();
102 136
103use base "Exporter"; 137use base "Exporter";
104 138
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 139our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
140
106our @EXPORT = qw( 141our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 142 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 143 resolve_node initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 144 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 145 port
111); 146);
112 147
113our $SELF; 148our $SELF;
114 149
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 153 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 154}
120 155
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 156=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 157
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 158The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the node
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 159ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 160a call to C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 161
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 162=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 163
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 164Extracts and returns the node ID part from a port ID or a node ID.
131 165
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 166=item initialise_node $profile_name
133 167
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 169"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
136reference. 170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
137 172
138In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the 173This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
139following forms are supported: 174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
140 175
141=over 4 176The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
177the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
142 178
143=item the empty string 179The function then looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
180L<aemp> commandline utility).
144 181
145An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was 182If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
146specified. 183this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
184special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
147 185
148=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>) 186The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
187aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
188to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
189outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
190binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
149 191
150These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be 192If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
151further resolved. 193treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and
194used as binds list.
152 195
153=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>) 196Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
197L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
198connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
154 199
155These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally 200Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
156looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was 201the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
157specified. 202most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
158 203
159=back 204 initialise_node;
205
206Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
207clients.
208
209 initialise_node "anon/";
210
211Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
212name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
213on the resulting addresses.
214
215 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
160 216
161=item $SELF 217=item $SELF
162 218
163Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 219Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
164blocks. 220blocks.
167 223
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 224Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 225just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 226module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 227
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 228=item snd $port, type => @data
173 229
174=item snd $portid, @msg 230=item snd $port, @msg
175 231
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 232Send 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 233a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 234
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 235While 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 236string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
182type etc.). 237type etc.).
183 238
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 239The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 240function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
186problems. 241problems.
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 244JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 245of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 246that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 247node, anything can be passed.
193 248
194=item kil $portid[, @reason] 249=item $local_port = port
195 250
196Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 251Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
252no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
197 253
198If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 254=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
199ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
200 255
201Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 256Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
202C<mon>, see below). 257creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
203 258
204Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 259The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
205will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 260global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
261port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
262(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
206 263
207Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 264If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
208$message >>.
209 265
266 my $port = port {
267 my @msg = @_;
268 ...
269 kil $SELF;
270 };
271
272=cut
273
274sub rcv($@);
275
276sub _kilme {
277 die "received message on port without callback";
278}
279
280sub port(;&) {
281 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
282 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
283
284 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
285
286 $port
287}
288
289=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
290
291Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
292remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
293C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
294
295The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
296executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
297result in the port being C<kil>ed.
298
299The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
300C<tag> match.
301
302=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
303
304Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
305given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
306C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
307registered for each tag.
308
309The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
310element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
311environment as the default callback (see above).
312
313Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
314
315 my $port = rcv port,
316 msg1 => sub { ... },
317 msg2 => sub { ... },
318 ;
319
320Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
321in one go:
322
323 snd $otherport, reply =>
324 rcv port,
325 msg1 => sub { ... },
326 ...
327 ;
328
329Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
330(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
331
332 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
333 my @reply = @_;
334
335 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
336 };
337
338=cut
339
340sub rcv($@) {
341 my $port = shift;
342 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
343
344 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
345 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
346
347 while (@_) {
348 if (ref $_[0]) {
349 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
350 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
351 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
352
353 $self->[2] = shift;
354 } else {
355 my $cb = shift;
356 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
357 local $SELF = $port;
358 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
359 };
360 }
361 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
362 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
363 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
364
365 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
366 local $SELF = $port;
367
368 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
369 shift;
370 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
371 } else {
372 &{ $self->[0] };
373 }
374 };
375
376 $self
377 };
378
379 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
380 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
381
382 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
383
384 if (defined $cb) {
385 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
386 } else {
387 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
388 }
389 }
390 }
391
392 $port
393}
394
395=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
396
397Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
398closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
399callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
400
401This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
402
403 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
404 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
405 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
406 snd @reply, $SELF;
407 };
408 };
409
410=cut
411
412sub psub(&) {
413 my $cb = shift;
414
415 my $port = $SELF
416 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
417
418 sub {
419 local $SELF = $port;
420
421 if (wantarray) {
422 my @res = eval { &$cb };
423 _self_die if $@;
424 @res
425 } else {
426 my $res = eval { &$cb };
427 _self_die if $@;
428 $res
429 }
430 }
431}
432
210=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 433=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
211 434
212=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 435=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
213 436
437=item $guard = mon $port
438
214=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 439=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
215 440
216Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 441Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
442messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
443to stop monitoring again.
217 444
445C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
446that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
447will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
448message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
449(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
450port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
451delivered again.
452
453Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
454and will not trigger again.
455
218In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 456In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
219of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 457number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
220"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 458"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
221C<eval> if unsure. 459C<eval> if unsure.
222 460
223In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 461In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
224a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 462will 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. 463"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
464port is killed with the same reason.
226 465
466The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
467C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
468
227In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 469In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
470C<snd>.
471
472As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
473a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
474lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
475even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
476to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
477these problems do not exist.
228 478
229Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 479Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
230 480
231 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 481 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
232 482
233Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 483Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
234 484
235 mon $port, $self; 485 mon $port;
236 486
237Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 487Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
238 488
239 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 489 mon $port, $self => "restart";
240 490
241=cut 491=cut
242 492
243sub mon { 493sub mon {
244 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 494 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
245 495
246 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 496 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
247 497
248 my $cb = shift; 498 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
249 499
250 unless (ref $cb) { 500 unless (ref $cb) {
251 if (@_) { 501 if (@_) {
252 # send a kill info message 502 # send a kill info message
253 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 503 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
284=cut 534=cut
285 535
286sub mon_guard { 536sub mon_guard {
287 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 537 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
288 538
539 #TODO: mon-less form?
540
289 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 541 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
290} 542}
291 543
292=item lnk $port1, $port2 544=item kil $port[, @reason]
293 545
294Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 546Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
295 547
296 mon $port1, $port2; 548If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
297 mon $port2, $port1; 549ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
298 550
299It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 551Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
300killed as well. 552C<mon>, see below).
301 553
302=item $local_port = port 554Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
555will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
303 556
304Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 557Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
305matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 558$message >>.
306depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
307 559
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 560=cut
327 561
328sub port(;&) { 562=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
329 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
330 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
331 563
332 if (@_) { 564Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
333 my $cb = shift; 565case it's the node where that port resides).
334 $PORT{$id} = sub { 566
335 local $SELF = $port; 567The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
336 eval { 568permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
337 &$cb 569
338 and kil $id; 570After the port has been created, the init function is
571called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
572(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
573program, use C<::name>.
574
575If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
576the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
577C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
578exists or it runs out of package names.
579
580The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
581object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
582
583A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
584in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
585ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
586
587Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
588
589 # this node, executed from within a port context:
590 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
591 mon $server;
592
593 # init function on C<$othernode>
594 sub connect {
595 my ($srcport) = @_;
596
597 mon $srcport;
598
599 rcv $SELF, sub {
339 }; 600 ...
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 }; 601 };
371 } 602 }
372 603
373 $port
374}
375
376=item reg $portid, $name
377
378Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
379exists it is replaced.
380
381A port can only be registered under one well known name.
382
383A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
384
385=cut 604=cut
386 605
387sub reg(@) { 606sub _spawn {
388 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
389
390 $REG{$name} = $portid;
391}
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; 607 my $port = shift;
431 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2; 608 my $init = shift;
432 609
433 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 610 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
434 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 611 eval {
435 612 &{ load_func $init }
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 }; 613 };
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 $@; 614 _self_die if $@;
489 @res 615}
490 } else { 616
491 my $res = eval { &$cb }; 617sub spawn(@) {
492 _self_die if $@; 618 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
493 $res 619
494 } 620 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
621
622 $_[0] =~ /::/
623 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
624
625 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
626
627 "$noderef#$id"
628}
629
630=item after $timeout, @msg
631
632=item after $timeout, $callback
633
634Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
635specified number of seconds.
636
637This is simply a utility function that come sin handy at times.
638
639=cut
640
641sub after($@) {
642 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
643
644 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
645 undef $t;
646 ref $action[0]
647 ? $action[0]()
648 : snd @action;
495 } 649 };
496} 650}
497 651
498=back 652=back
499 653
500=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
501
502=over 4
503
504=item become_public $noderef
505
506Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
507
508The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
509(if missing then the empty string is used).
510
511It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
512tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
513which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
514
515=cut
516
517=back
518
519=head1 NODE MESSAGES
520
521Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
522arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
523message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
524the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
525
526While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
527
528=over 4
529
530=cut
531
532=item lookup => $name, @reply
533
534Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
535
536=item devnull => ...
537
538Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
539
540=item relay => $port, @msg
541
542Simply forwards the message to the given port.
543
544=item eval => $string[ @reply]
545
546Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
547form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
548
549Example: crash another node.
550
551 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
552
553=item time => @reply
554
555Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
556
557Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
558C<timereply> message.
559
560 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
561 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
562
563=back
564
565=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 654=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
566 655
567AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 656AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
568== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 657== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
569programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 658programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
570sample: 659sample:
571 660
572 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 661 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
573 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 662 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 6 663 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
575 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 664 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
576 665
577Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 666Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
578 667
579=over 4 668=over 4
580 669
585convenience functionality. 674convenience functionality.
586 675
587This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 676This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
588cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 677cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
589 678
679=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
680uses "local ports are like remote ports".
681
682The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
683only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
684when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
685port.
686
687Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
688they are not.
689
690AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
691ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
692occur.
693
590=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 694=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
591 695
592Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 696Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
593needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 697needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
594purpose. 698useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
699AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
700filter messages without dequeing them.
595 701
596(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 702(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
597 703
598=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 704=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
599 705
600Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 706Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
601sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 707so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
602background. 708connection establishment is handled in the background.
603 709
604=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 710=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
605 711
606Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 712Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
607without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 713without 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). 714and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
609 715
610AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 716AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
611holes in the message sequence. 717holes in the message sequence.
612 718
613=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 719=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
614alive. 720alive.
615 721
616In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 722In 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 723linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
618still alive - and can receive messages. 724still alive - and can receive messages.
619 725
620In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 726In 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 727eventually 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. 728and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
623 729
624=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 730=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
625 731
626In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 732In 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 733known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
628messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 734destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
629 735
630AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 736AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
631around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 737around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
632 738
633=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 739=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
637securely authenticate nodes. 743securely authenticate nodes.
638 744
639=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 745=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
640communications. 746communications.
641 747
642The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 748The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
643language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 749language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
644language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 750language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
645 751
646It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 752It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
647with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 753with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
648protocol simple. 754protocol simple.
649 755
756=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
757
758In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
759or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
760difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
761Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
762on a per-process basis.
763
764=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
765
766Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
767as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
768
769In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
770that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
771on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
772the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
773more reliable.
774
775This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
776(hard to do in Erlang).
777
778=back
779
780=head1 RATIONALE
781
782=over 4
783
784=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
785
786We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
787thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
788the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
789overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
790
791Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
792procedures to be "valid".
793
794And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
795can't become much cheaper.
796
797=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
798
799In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
800format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
801default.
802
803The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
804faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
805experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
806than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
807easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
808always have to re-think your design.
809
810Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
811objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
812
650=back 813=back
651 814
652=head1 SEE ALSO 815=head1 SEE ALSO
653 816
654L<AnyEvent>. 817L<AnyEvent>.

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