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Revision 1.43 by root, Sun Aug 9 16:08:16 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.71 by root, Sun Aug 30 19:52:56 2009 UTC

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 13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node;
14 17
15 # ports are message endpoints 18 # ports are message endpoints
16 19
17 # sending messages 20 # sending messages
18 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg; 22 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
21 24
22 # miniports 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
24 27
25 # full ports 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
26 my $port = port; 29 my $port = port;
27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
30 32
31 # remote ports 33 # create a port on another node
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
33
34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
37 35
38 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42 40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 bin/aemp - stable.
44 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - uptodate, but incomplete.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
47 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API, protocol not yet final.
48
49 stay tuned.
50
43=head1 DESCRIPTION 51=head1 DESCRIPTION
44 52
45This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 53This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
46 54
47Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 55Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
48on the same or other hosts. 56on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
49 57
50For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 58For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
51manual page. 59manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
52 60
53At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 61At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
54so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
55stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
56 62
57=head1 CONCEPTS 63=head1 CONCEPTS
58 64
59=over 4 65=over 4
60 66
61=item port 67=item port
62 68
63A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 69A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
64 70
65Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 71Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
66messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 72some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
67will not be queued. 73anything was listening for them or not.
68 74
69=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 75=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
70 76
71A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 77A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
72separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 78separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
73exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
74reference.
75 79
76=item node 80=item node
77 81
78A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 82A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
79port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 83which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
80create new ports, among other things. 84ports.
81 85
82Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 86Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
83master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 87(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
88currently.
84 89
85=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 90=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
86 91
87A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 92A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
88private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 93network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
89node (for public nodes). 94hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
95doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
90 96
91This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 97=item binds - C<ip:port>
92TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
93 98
94Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 99Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
95addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 100each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
101endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
102be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
96 103
97Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 104=item seeds - C<host:port>
98resolve it. 105
106When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
107about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
108network. This node is called a seed.
109
110Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
111are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
112be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
113error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
114join the network.
115
116Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
117every public node can be a seednode.
99 118
100=back 119=back
101 120
102=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 121=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
103 122
105 124
106=cut 125=cut
107 126
108package AnyEvent::MP; 127package AnyEvent::MP;
109 128
110use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 129use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
111 130
112use common::sense; 131use common::sense;
113 132
114use Carp (); 133use Carp ();
115 134
116use AE (); 135use AE ();
117 136
118use base "Exporter"; 137use base "Exporter";
119 138
120our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Base::VERSION; 139our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
121 140
122our @EXPORT = qw( 141our @EXPORT = qw(
123 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 142 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
124 resolve_node initialise_node 143 initialise_node
125 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 144 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
126 port 145 port
127); 146);
128 147
129our $SELF; 148our $SELF;
130 149
134 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 153 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
135} 154}
136 155
137=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 156=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
138 157
139The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 158The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
140the 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
141to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 160a call to C<initialise_node>.
142identifiers become invalid.
143 161
144=item $noderef = node_of $port 162=item $nodeid = node_of $port
145 163
146Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 164Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
147 165
148=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 166=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
149 167
150=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
151
152Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
153itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 169"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
154it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
155 172
156This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 173This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
157never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
158 175
159All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 176The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
177the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
160 178
161There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 179The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
180L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
162 181
163=over 4 182First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conviniently
183undocumented at the moment) will be used. Then they will be overwritten by
184any values specified in the global default configuration (see the F<aemp>
185utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if any. That means that
186the values specified in the profile have highest priority and the values
187specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest priority.
164 188
165=item public nodes 189If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
190this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
191special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
166 192
167For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 193The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
168noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 194aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
169which case the noderef will be guessed. 195to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
196outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
197binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
170 198
171Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 199If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
172to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 200used.
173and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
174 201
175=item slave nodes 202Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
203L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
204connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
176 205
177When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 206Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
178become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 207the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
179route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 208most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
180
181At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
182to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
183successfully connect to.
184
185=back
186
187This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
188nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
189server.
190
191Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
192 209
193 initialise_node; 210 initialise_node;
194 211
195Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 212Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
196servers to become part of the network. 213clients.
197 214
198 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
199
200Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
201
202 initialise_node 4041; 215 initialise_node "anon/";
203 216
204Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 217Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
218name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
219on the resulting addresses.
205 220
206 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 221 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
207
208Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
209
210 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
211
212=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
213
214Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
215abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
216reference.
217
218In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
219following forms are supported:
220
221=over 4
222
223=item the empty string
224
225An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
226specified.
227
228=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
229
230These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
231further resolved.
232
233=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
234
235These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
236looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
237specified.
238
239=back
240 222
241=item $SELF 223=item $SELF
242 224
243Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 225Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
244blocks. 226blocks.
245 227
246=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 228=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
247 229
248Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 230Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
249just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 231just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
250module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 232module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
251 233
252=item snd $port, type => @data 234=item snd $port, type => @data
253 235
254=item snd $port, @msg 236=item snd $port, @msg
255 237
256Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 238Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
257a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 239local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
258stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
259 240
260While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 241While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
261string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 242use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
262type etc.). 243request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
244arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
263 245
264The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 246The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
265function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 247function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
266problems. 248forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
249and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
250never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
251receiving port.
267 252
268The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 253The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
269JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 254JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
270of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 255of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
271that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 256that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
272node, anything can be passed. 257node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
258these.
273 259
274=item $local_port = port 260=item $local_port = port
275 261
276Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 262Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
277matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 263no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
278depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
279 264
280=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 265=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
281 266
282Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 267Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
283matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
284a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 268creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
285 269
286The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 270The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
287callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 271global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
288will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 272port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
273(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
289 274
290The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 275If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
291be passed to the callback.
292 276
293If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 277 my $port = port {
294 278 my @msg = @_;
295 my $port; $port = port { 279 ...
296 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 280 kil $SELF;
297 }; 281 };
298 282
299=cut 283=cut
300 284
301sub rcv($@); 285sub rcv($@);
286
287sub _kilme {
288 die "received message on port without callback";
289}
302 290
303sub port(;&) { 291sub port(;&) {
304 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 292 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
305 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 293 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
306 294
307 if (@_) { 295 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
308 rcv $port, shift;
309 } else {
310 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
311 }
312 296
313 $port 297 $port
314} 298}
315 299
316=item reg $port, $name
317
318=item reg $name
319
320Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
321C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
322
323A port can only be registered under one well known name.
324
325A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
326
327=cut
328
329sub reg(@) {
330 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
331
332 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
333}
334
335=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 300=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
336 301
337Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 302Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
338one if required). 303remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
339 304C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
340=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
341
342=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
343
344=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
345
346Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
347port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
348
349The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
350which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
351registered.
352 305
353The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 306The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
354executing the callback. 307executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
308result in the port being C<kil>ed.
355 309
356Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 310The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
357C<kil>ed. 311C<tag> match.
358 312
359If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 313=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
360first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
361matched.
362 314
363Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 315Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
364exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 316given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
317C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
318registered for each tag.
365 319
366While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 320The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
367element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 321element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
368also the most efficient match (by far). 322environment as the default callback (see above).
369 323
370Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 324Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
371 325
372 my $port = rcv port, 326 my $port = rcv port,
373 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 327 msg1 => sub { ... },
374 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 328 msg2 => sub { ... },
375 ; 329 ;
376 330
377Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 331Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
378in one go: 332in one go:
379 333
380 snd $otherport, reply => 334 snd $otherport, reply =>
381 rcv port, 335 rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 336 msg1 => sub { ... },
383 ... 337 ...
384 ; 338 ;
339
340Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
341(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
342
343 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
344 my @reply = @_;
345
346 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
347 };
385 348
386=cut 349=cut
387 350
388sub rcv($@) { 351sub rcv($@) {
389 my $port = shift; 352 my $port = shift;
390 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 353 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
391 354
392 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 355 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 356 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
394 357
395 if (@_ == 1) { 358 while (@_) {
359 if (ref $_[0]) {
360 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
361 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
362 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
363
364 $self->[2] = shift;
365 } else {
396 my $cb = shift; 366 my $cb = shift;
397 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
398 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 367 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
399 local $SELF = $port; 368 local $SELF = $port;
400 eval { 369 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
401 &$cb 370 };
402 and kil $port;
403 }; 371 }
404 _self_die if $@; 372 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
405 };
406 } else {
407 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
408 my $self = bless { 374 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
409 id => $port,
410 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
411 375
412 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 376 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
413 local $SELF = $port; 377 local $SELF = $port;
414 378
415 eval {
416 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 379 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
417 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 380 shift;
418 && undef $_; 381 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
419 } 382 } else {
420
421 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
422 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
423 && &{$_->[0]} 383 &{ $self->[0] };
424 && undef $_;
425 }
426
427 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
428 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
429 && &{$_->[0]}
430 && undef $_;
431 } 384 }
432 }; 385 };
433 _self_die if $@; 386
387 $self
434 }; 388 };
435 389
436 $self
437 };
438
439 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 390 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
440 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 391 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
441 392
442 while (@_) {
443 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 393 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
444 394
445 if (!ref $match) { 395 if (defined $cb) {
446 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 396 $self->[1]{$tag} = $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 { 397 } else {
453 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 398 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
454 } 399 }
455 } 400 }
456 } 401 }
457 402
458 $port 403 $port
494 $res 439 $res
495 } 440 }
496 } 441 }
497} 442}
498 443
499=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 444=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
500 445
501=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 446=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
502 447
503=item $guard = mon $port 448=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
504 449
505=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 450=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
506 451
507Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 452Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
508messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 453messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
509to stop monitoring again. 454to stop monitoring again.
510 455
511C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 456C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
512that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port 457after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
513will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible 458arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
514message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" 459loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
515(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 460the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
516port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 461port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
517delivered again. 462delivered again.
463
464Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
465monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
518 466
519In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 467In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
520number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 468number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
521"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 469"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
522C<eval> if unsure. 470C<eval> if unsure.
584is killed, the references will be freed. 532is killed, the references will be freed.
585 533
586Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 534Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
587 535
588This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 536This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
589want to free them when the port gets killed: 537want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
590 538
591 $port->rcv (start => sub { 539 $port->rcv (start => sub {
592 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 540 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
593 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 541 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
594 }); 542 });
595 }); 543 });
596 544
597=cut 545=cut
606 554
607=item kil $port[, @reason] 555=item kil $port[, @reason]
608 556
609Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 557Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
610 558
611If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 559If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
612ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 560monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
561"normally").
613 562
614Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 563Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
615C<mon>, see below). 564C<mon>, see above).
616 565
617Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 566Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
618will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 567will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
619 568
620Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 569Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
625=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 574=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
626 575
627Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 576Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
628case it's the node where that port resides). 577case it's the node where that port resides).
629 578
630The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 579The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
631permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 580possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
632 581
633After the port has been created, the init function is 582After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
634called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 583node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
635(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main 584fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
636program, use C<::name>. 585specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
637 586
638If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 587If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
639the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 588the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
640C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 589C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
641exists or it runs out of package names. 590exists or it runs out of package names.
642 591
643The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 592The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
644object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 593object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
645 594
646A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 595A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
647in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 596port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
648ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 597local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
598when there is a problem.
649 599
650Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 600Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
651 601
652 # this node, executed from within a port context: 602 # this node, executed from within a port context:
653 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 603 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
683 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 633 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
684 634
685 $_[0] =~ /::/ 635 $_[0] =~ /::/
686 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 636 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
687 637
688 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 638 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
689 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
690 639
691 "$noderef#$id" 640 "$noderef#$id"
692} 641}
693 642
694=back 643=item after $timeout, @msg
695 644
696=head1 NODE MESSAGES 645=item after $timeout, $callback
697 646
698Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 647Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
699arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 648specified number of seconds.
700message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
701the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
702 649
703While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 650This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
651AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
652so it may go away in the future.
704 653
705=over 4
706
707=cut 654=cut
708 655
709=item lookup => $name, @reply 656sub after($@) {
657 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
710 658
711Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 659 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
712 660 undef $t;
713=item devnull => ... 661 ref $action[0]
714 662 ? $action[0]()
715Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 663 : snd @action;
716 664 };
717=item relay => $port, @msg 665}
718
719Simply forwards the message to the given port.
720
721=item eval => $string[ @reply]
722
723Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
724form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
725
726Example: crash another node.
727
728 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
729
730=item time => @reply
731
732Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
733
734Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
735C<timereply> message.
736
737 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
738 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
739 666
740=back 667=back
741 668
742=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 669=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
743 670
753 680
754Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 681Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
755 682
756=over 4 683=over 4
757 684
758=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 685=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
759 686
760Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 687Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
761same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 688way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
762convenience functionality. 689configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
763 690
764This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 691=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
765cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 692uses "local ports are like remote ports".
693
694The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
695only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
696when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
697port.
698
699Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
700they are not.
701
702AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
703ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
704occur.
766 705
767=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 706=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
768 707
769Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 708Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
770needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 709needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
771purpose. 710useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
711AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
712filter messages without dequeing them.
772 713
773(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 714(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
774 715
775=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 716=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
776 717
777Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 718Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
778sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 719so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
779background. 720connection establishment is handled in the background.
780 721
781=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 722=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
782 723
783Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 724Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
784without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 725without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
785and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 726and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
786 727
787AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 728AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
788holes in the message sequence. 729is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
789 730monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
790=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 731sequence.
791alive.
792
793In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
794linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
795still alive - and can receive messages.
796
797In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
798eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
799and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
800 732
801=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 733=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
802 734
803In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 735In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
804ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 736known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
805messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 737destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
806 738
807AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 739AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
808around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 740around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
809 741
810=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 742=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
811authentication and can use TLS. 743authentication and can use TLS.
812 744
813AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 745AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
814securely authenticate nodes. 746securely authenticate nodes.
815 747
816=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 748=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
817communications. 749communications.
818 750
819The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 751The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
820language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 752language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
821language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 753language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
754used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
822 755
823It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 756It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
824with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 757with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
825protocol simple. 758protocol simple.
826 759
827=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 760=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
828 761
829In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 762In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
832Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 765Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
833on a per-process basis. 766on a per-process basis.
834 767
835=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 768=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
836 769
837Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 770Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
838as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 771same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
839 772
840In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 773In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
841that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 774that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
842on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 775on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
843the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 776remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
844more reliable. 777reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
845 778
846This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 779This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
847(hard to do in Erlang). 780(hard to do in Erlang).
848 781
849=back 782=back
850 783
784=head1 RATIONALE
785
786=over 4
787
788=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
789
790We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
791that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
792the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
793overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
794
795Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
796procedures to be "valid".
797
798And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
799global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
800
801=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
802
803In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
804format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
805default (although all nodes will accept it).
806
807The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
808faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
809experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
810than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
811easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
812always have to re-think your design.
813
814Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
815objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
816
817=back
818
851=head1 SEE ALSO 819=head1 SEE ALSO
820
821L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
822
823L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
824
825L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
826your applications.
852 827
853L<AnyEvent>. 828L<AnyEvent>.
854 829
855=head1 AUTHOR 830=head1 AUTHOR
856 831

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