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Revision 1.23 by root, Tue Aug 4 18:46:16 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.36 by root, Thu Aug 6 10:46:48 2009 UTC

23 23
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27 27
28 # linking two ports, so they both crash together
29 lnk $port1, $port2;
30
31 # monitoring
32 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
33 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
34 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
35
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 36=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 37
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 38This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 39
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 40Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
43 51
44=over 4 52=over 4
45 53
46=item port 54=item port
47 55
48A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 56A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 57
50messages they match, messages will not be queued. 58Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
59messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
60will not be queued.
51 61
52=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 62=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
53 63
54A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 64A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
55by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 65separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
66exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
67reference.
56 68
57=item node 69=item node
58 70
59A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 71A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
60port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 72port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
61among other things. 73create new ports, among other things.
62 74
63Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 75Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
64(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 76master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
65public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
66 77
67=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 78=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
68 79
69A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 80A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
70private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 81private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
71node (for public nodes). 82node (for public nodes).
72 83
84This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
85TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
86
87Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
88addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
89
90Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
91resolve it.
92
73=back 93=back
74 94
75=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 95=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
76 96
77=over 4 97=over 4
88 108
89use AE (); 109use AE ();
90 110
91use base "Exporter"; 111use base "Exporter";
92 112
93our $VERSION = '0.02'; 113our $VERSION = '0.1';
94our @EXPORT = qw( 114our @EXPORT = qw(
95 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 115 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
96 become_slave become_public 116 resolve_node initialise_node
97 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 117 snd rcv mon kil reg psub
98 port 118 port
99); 119);
100 120
101our $SELF; 121our $SELF;
111The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 131The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
112the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 132the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
113to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 133to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
114identifiers become invalid. 134identifiers become invalid.
115 135
116=item $noderef = node_of $portid 136=item $noderef = node_of $port
117 137
118Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 138Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
139
140=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
141
142=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
143
144Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
145itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
146it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
147
148This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
149never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
150
151All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
152
153There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
154
155=over 4
156
157=item public nodes
158
159For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
160noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
161which case the noderef will be guessed.
162
163Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
164to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
165and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
166
167=item slave nodes
168
169When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
170become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
171route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
172
173At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
174to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
175successfully connect to.
176
177=back
178
179This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
180nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
181server.
182
183Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
184
185 initialise_node;
186
187Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
188servers to become part of the network.
189
190 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
191
192Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
193
194 initialise_node 4041;
195
196Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
197
198 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
199
200Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
201
202 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
203
204=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
205
206Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
207abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
208reference.
209
210In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
211following forms are supported:
212
213=over 4
214
215=item the empty string
216
217An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
218specified.
219
220=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
221
222These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
223further resolved.
224
225=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
226
227These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
228looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
229specified.
230
231=back
119 232
120=item $SELF 233=item $SELF
121 234
122Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 235Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
123blocks. 236blocks.
126 239
127Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 240Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
128just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 241just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
129module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 242module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
130 243
131=item snd $portid, type => @data 244=item snd $port, type => @data
132 245
133=item snd $portid, @msg 246=item snd $port, @msg
134 247
135Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 248Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
136a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 249a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
137stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 250stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
138 251
148JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 261JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
149of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 262of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
150that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 263that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
151node, anything can be passed. 264node, anything can be passed.
152 265
153=item kil $portid[, @reason]
154
155Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
156
157If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
158ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
159
160Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
161C<mon>, see below).
162
163Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
164will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
165
166Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
167$message >>.
168
169=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason)
170
171=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
172
173=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
174
175Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
176
177In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
178of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
179"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
180C<eval> if unsure.
181
182In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
183a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
184under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
185
186In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
187
188Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
189
190 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
191
192Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
193
194 mon $port, $self;
195
196Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
197
198 mon $port, $self => "restart";
199
200=cut
201
202sub mon {
203 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
204
205 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
206
207 #TODO: ports must not be references
208 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
209 if (@_) {
210 # send a kill info message
211 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
212 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
213 } else {
214 # simply kill other port
215 my $port = $cb;
216 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
217 }
218 }
219
220 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
221
222 defined wantarray
223 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
224}
225
226=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
227
228Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
229is killed, the references will be freed.
230
231Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
232
233This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
234want to free them when the port gets killed:
235
236 $port->rcv (start => sub {
237 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
238 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
239 });
240 });
241
242=cut
243
244sub mon_guard {
245 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
246
247 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
248}
249
250=item $local_port = port 266=item $local_port = port
251 267
252Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 268Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
269matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
270depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
253 271
254=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 272=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
255 273
256Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 274Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
257pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 275matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
276a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
258 277
259The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 278The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
260callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 279callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
261will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 280will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
262 281
263The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 282The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
264be passed to the callback. 283be passed to the callback.
265 284
266If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 285If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
267 286
268 my $port; $port = miniport { 287 my $port; $port = port {
269 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 288 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
270 }; 289 };
271 290
272=cut 291=cut
292
293sub rcv($@);
273 294
274sub port(;&) { 295sub port(;&) {
275 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 296 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
276 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 297 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
277 298
278 if (@_) { 299 if (@_) {
300 rcv $port, shift;
301 } else {
302 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
303 }
304
305 $port
306}
307
308=item reg $port, $name
309
310=item reg $name
311
312Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
313C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
314
315A port can only be registered under one well known name.
316
317A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
318
319=cut
320
321sub reg(@) {
322 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
323
324 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
325}
326
327=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
328
329Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
330one if required).
331
332=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
333
334=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
335
336=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
337
338Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
339port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
340
341The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
342which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
343registered.
344
345The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
346executing the callback.
347
348Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
349C<kil>ed.
350
351If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
352first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
353matched.
354
355Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
356exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
357
358While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
359element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
360also the most efficient match (by far).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
366 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
375 ...
376 ;
377
378=cut
379
380sub rcv($@) {
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 if (@_ == 1) {
279 my $cb = shift; 388 my $cb = shift;
389 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
280 $PORT{$id} = sub { 390 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
281 local $SELF = $port; 391 local $SELF = $port;
282 eval { 392 eval {
283 &$cb 393 &$cb
284 and kil $id; 394 and kil $port;
285 }; 395 };
286 _self_die if $@; 396 _self_die if $@;
287 }; 397 };
288 } else { 398 } else {
399 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
289 my $self = bless { 400 my $self = bless {
290 id => "$NODE#$id", 401 id => $port,
291 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 402 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
292 403
293 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
294 $PORT{$id} = sub { 404 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
295 local $SELF = $port; 405 local $SELF = $port;
296 406
297 eval { 407 eval {
298 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 408 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
299 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 409 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
300 && undef $_; 410 && undef $_;
301 } 411 }
302 412
303 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) { 413 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
304 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 414 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
305 && &{$_->[0]} 415 && &{$_->[0]}
306 && undef $_; 416 && undef $_;
307 } 417 }
308 418
309 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 419 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
310 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 420 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
311 && &{$_->[0]} 421 && &{$_->[0]}
312 && undef $_; 422 && undef $_;
423 }
313 } 424 };
425 _self_die if $@;
314 }; 426 };
315 _self_die if $@; 427
428 $self
316 }; 429 };
317 }
318 430
319 $port
320}
321
322=item reg $portid, $name
323
324Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
325exists it is replaced.
326
327A port can only be registered under one well known name.
328
329A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
330
331=cut
332
333sub reg(@) {
334 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
335
336 $REG{$name} = $portid;
337}
338
339=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
340
341=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
342
343=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
344
345Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
346
347The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
348which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
349registered.
350
351The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
352executing the callback.
353
354Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
355C<kil>ed.
356
357If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
358first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
359matched.
360
361Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
362exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
363
364While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
365element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
366also the most efficient match (by far).
367
368=cut
369
370sub rcv($@) {
371 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
372
373 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
374 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
375
376 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
377 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
378
379 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 431 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
380 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 432 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
381 433
382 while (@_) { 434 while (@_) {
383 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 435 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
384 436
385 if (!ref $match) { 437 if (!ref $match) {
386 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 438 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
387 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 439 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
388 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 440 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
389 @match 441 @match
390 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 442 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
391 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb]; 443 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
392 } else { 444 } else {
393 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 445 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
446 }
394 } 447 }
395 } 448 }
449
450 $port
396} 451}
397 452
398=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 453=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
399 454
400Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 455Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
431 $res 486 $res
432 } 487 }
433 } 488 }
434} 489}
435 490
436=back 491=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
437 492
438=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 493=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
439 494
440=over 4 495=item $guard = mon $port
441 496
442=item become_public endpoint... 497=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
443 498
444Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 499Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and
500optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again.
445 501
446If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
447AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
448local nodename resolves to. 504"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
505C<eval> if unsure.
449 506
450Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport)
451endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 508will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
452local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
453will become the node reference. 510port is killed with the same reason.
454 511
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514
515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>.
517
518Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
519
520 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
521
522Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
523
524 mon $port;
525
526Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
527
528 mon $port, $self => "restart";
529
455=cut 530=cut
531
532sub mon {
533 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
534
535 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
536
537 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
538
539 unless (ref $cb) {
540 if (@_) {
541 # send a kill info message
542 my (@msg) = @_;
543 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
544 } else {
545 # simply kill other port
546 my $port = $cb;
547 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
548 }
549 }
550
551 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
552
553 defined wantarray
554 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
555}
556
557=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
558
559Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
560is killed, the references will be freed.
561
562Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
563
564This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
565want to free them when the port gets killed:
566
567 $port->rcv (start => sub {
568 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
569 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
570 });
571 });
572
573=cut
574
575sub mon_guard {
576 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
577
578 #TODO: mon-less form?
579
580 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
581}
582
583=item lnk $port1, $port2
584
585=item lnk $otherport
586
587Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
588
589 mon $port1, $port2;
590 mon $port2, $port1;
591
592It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
593killed as well.
594
595The one-argument form assumes that one port is C<$SELF>.
596
597=cut
598
599sub lnk {
600 my $port1 = shift;
601 my $port2 = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'lnk: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
602
603 mon $port1, $port2;
604 mon $port2, $port1;
605}
606
607=item kil $port[, @reason]
608
609Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
610
611If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
612ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
613
614Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
615C<mon>, see below).
616
617Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
618will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
619
620Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
621$message >>.
456 622
457=back 623=back
458 624
459=head1 NODE MESSAGES 625=head1 NODE MESSAGES
460 626
461Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 627Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
462arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 628arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
463message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 629message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
464the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 630the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
465 631
632While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
633
466=over 4 634=over 4
467 635
468=cut 636=cut
469 637
470=item lookup => $name, @reply 638=item lookup => $name, @reply
498 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 666 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
499 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 667 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
500 668
501=back 669=back
502 670
671=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
672
673AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
674== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
675programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
676sample:
677
678 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
679 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
680 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
681 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
682
683Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
684
685=over 4
686
687=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
688
689Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
690same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
691convenience functionality.
692
693This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
694cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
695
696=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
697
698Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
699needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
700purpose.
701
702(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
703
704=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
705
706Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
707sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
708background.
709
710=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
711
712Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
713without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
714and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
715
716AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
717holes in the message sequence.
718
719=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
720alive.
721
722In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
723linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
724still alive - and can receive messages.
725
726In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
727eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
728and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
729
730=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
731
732In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
733ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
734messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
735
736AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
737around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
738
739=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
740authentication and can use TLS.
741
742AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
743securely authenticate nodes.
744
745=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
746communications.
747
748The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
749language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
750language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
751
752It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
753with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
754protocol simple.
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 has different semantics for monitoring and linking, AEMP has the same.
765
766Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
767as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, the
768semantics of monitoring and linking are identical, linking is simply
769two-way monitoring with automatic kill.
770
771=back
772
503=head1 SEE ALSO 773=head1 SEE ALSO
504 774
505L<AnyEvent>. 775L<AnyEvent>.
506 776
507=head1 AUTHOR 777=head1 AUTHOR

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