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Revision 1.34 by root, Wed Aug 5 23:50:46 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.77 by elmex, Thu Sep 3 07:57:30 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's node ID
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's node ID
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 11
12 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
13
14 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
15 configure;
16
17 # ports are message destinations
18
19 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
21 snd $port, @msg;
22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 23
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
16 26
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 28 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 31
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 32 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 34
35 # monitoring
36 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
39
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41
42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API, protocol not yet final.
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
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 54Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 55on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
34 56
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 and the examples under F<eg/>.
37
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
41 59
42=head1 CONCEPTS 60=head1 CONCEPTS
43 61
44=over 4 62=over 4
45 63
46=item port 64=item port
47 65
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 66A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 67
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 68Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 69some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 70anything was listening for them or not.
53 71
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 72=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
55 73
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 74A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 75separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference.
60 76
61=item node 77=item node
62 78
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 79A 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 80which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 81ports.
66 82
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 83Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 84(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
85currently.
69 86
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 87=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
71 88
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 89A 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 90network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 91hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
92doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 93
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 94=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 95
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 96Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 97each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
98endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
99be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 100
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 101=item seeds - C<host:port>
83resolve it. 102
103When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
104about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
105network. This node is called a seed.
106
107Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
108are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
109be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
110error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
111join the network.
112
113Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
114every public node can be a seednode.
84 115
85=back 116=back
86 117
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 118=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 119
90 121
91=cut 122=cut
92 123
93package AnyEvent::MP; 124package AnyEvent::MP;
94 125
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 126use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 127
97use common::sense; 128use common::sense;
98 129
99use Carp (); 130use Carp ();
100 131
101use AE (); 132use AE ();
102 133
103use base "Exporter"; 134use base "Exporter";
104 135
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 136our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
137
106our @EXPORT = qw( 138our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 139 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 140 configure
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 141 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 142 port
111); 143);
112 144
113our $SELF; 145our $SELF;
114 146
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 150 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 151}
120 152
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 153=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 154
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 155The 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 156ID 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 157a call to C<configure>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 158
128=item $noderef = node_of $port 159=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 160
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 161Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
131 162
132=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 163=item configure key => value...
133 164
134=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
135
136Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 165Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
137itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 166"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
138it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 167to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
168some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
139 169
140This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 170This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
141never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 171never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
142 172
143All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
144
145There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
146
147=over 4 173=over 4
148 174
149=item public nodes 175=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
150 176
151For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 177The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
152noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 178L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
153which case the noderef will be guessed. 179named C<profile> parameter. If it is missing, then the nodename (F<uname
180-n>) will be used as profile name.
154 181
155Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 182The profile data is then gathered as follows:
156to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
157and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
158 183
159=item slave nodes 184First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
185undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
186data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
187default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
188profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
160 189
161When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 190That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
162become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 191and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
163route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 192and can only be used to specify defaults.
164 193
165At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect 194If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
166to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can 195this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
167successfully connect to. 196special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
197
198=item step 2, bind listener sockets
199
200The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
201aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
202to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
203outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
204binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
205
206If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
207used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
208local IP address it finds.
209
210=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
211
212As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
213L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
214connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
168 215
169=back 216=back
170 217
171This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave 218Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile.
172nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master 219This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
173server.
174 220
175Example: become a public node listening on the default node. 221 configure
176 222
177 initialise_node; 223Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
224clients.
178 225
179Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 226 configure nodeid => "anon/";
180servers to become part of the network.
181 227
182 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2"; 228Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
229for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
230customary for aemp).
183 231
184Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>. 232 # use the aemp commandline utility
233 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
185 234
186 initialise_node 4041; 235 # then use it
236 configure profile => "seed";
187 237
188Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 238 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
239 # aemp run profile seed
189 240
190 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 241 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
191 242 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
192Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
193
194 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
195
196=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
197
198Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
199abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
200reference.
201
202In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
203following forms are supported:
204
205=over 4
206
207=item the empty string
208
209An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
210specified.
211
212=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
213
214These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
215further resolved.
216
217=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
218
219These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
220looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
221specified.
222
223=back
224 243
225=item $SELF 244=item $SELF
226 245
227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 246Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
228blocks. 247blocks.
229 248
230=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 249=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
231 250
232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 251Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 252just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 253module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
235 254
236=item snd $port, type => @data 255=item snd $port, type => @data
237 256
238=item snd $port, @msg 257=item snd $port, @msg
239 258
240Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 259Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
241a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 260local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
242stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
243 261
244While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 262While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
245string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 263use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
246type etc.). 264request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
265arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
247 266
248The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 267The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
249function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 268function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
250problems. 269forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
270and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
271never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
272receiving port.
251 273
252The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 274The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
253JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 275JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
254of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 276of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
255that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 277that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
256node, anything can be passed. 278node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
279these.
257 280
258=item $local_port = port 281=item $local_port = port
259 282
260Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 283Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
261matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 284no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
262depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
263 285
264=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 286=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
265 287
266Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 288Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
267matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
268a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 289creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
269 290
270The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 291The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
271callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 292global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
272will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 293port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
294(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
273 295
274The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 296If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
275be passed to the callback.
276 297
277If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 298 my $port = port {
278 299 my @msg = @_;
279 my $port; $port = port { 300 ...
280 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 301 kil $SELF;
281 }; 302 };
282 303
283=cut 304=cut
284 305
285sub rcv($@); 306sub rcv($@);
307
308sub _kilme {
309 die "received message on port without callback";
310}
286 311
287sub port(;&) { 312sub port(;&) {
288 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 313 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
289 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 314 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
290 315
291 if (@_) { 316 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
292 rcv $port, shift;
293 } else {
294 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
295 }
296 317
297 $port 318 $port
298} 319}
299 320
300=item reg $port, $name
301
302Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
303exists it is replaced.
304
305A port can only be registered under one well known name.
306
307A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
308
309=cut
310
311sub reg(@) {
312 my ($port, $name) = @_;
313
314 $REG{$name} = $port;
315}
316
317=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 321=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
318 322
319Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 323Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
320one if required). 324remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
321 325C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
322=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
323
324=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
325
326=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
327
328Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
329port (after converting it to one if required).
330
331The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
332which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
333registered.
334 326
335The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 327The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
336executing the callback. 328executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
329result in the port being C<kil>ed.
337 330
338Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 331The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
339C<kil>ed. 332C<tag> match.
340 333
341If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 334=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
342first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
343matched.
344 335
345Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 336Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
346exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 337given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
338C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
339registered for each tag.
347 340
348While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 341The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
349element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 342element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
350also the most efficient match (by far). 343environment as the default callback (see above).
344
345Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
346
347 my $port = rcv port,
348 msg1 => sub { ... },
349 msg2 => sub { ... },
350 ;
351
352Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
353in one go:
354
355 snd $otherport, reply =>
356 rcv port,
357 msg1 => sub { ... },
358 ...
359 ;
360
361Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
362(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
363
364 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
365 my @reply = @_;
366
367 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
368 };
351 369
352=cut 370=cut
353 371
354sub rcv($@) { 372sub rcv($@) {
355 my $port = shift; 373 my $port = shift;
356 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 374 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
357 375
358 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 376 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
359 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 377 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
360 378
361 if (@_ == 1) { 379 while (@_) {
380 if (ref $_[0]) {
381 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
382 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
383 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
384
385 $self->[2] = shift;
386 } else {
362 my $cb = shift; 387 my $cb = shift;
363 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
364 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 388 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
365 local $SELF = $port; 389 local $SELF = $port;
366 eval { 390 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
367 &$cb 391 };
368 and kil $port;
369 }; 392 }
370 _self_die if $@; 393 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
371 };
372 } else {
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 394 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
374 my $self = bless { 395 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
375 id => $port,
376 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
377 396
378 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 397 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
379 local $SELF = $port; 398 local $SELF = $port;
380 399
381 eval {
382 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 400 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
383 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 401 shift;
384 && undef $_; 402 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
385 } 403 } else {
386
387 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
388 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
389 && &{$_->[0]} 404 &{ $self->[0] };
390 && undef $_;
391 }
392
393 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
394 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
395 && &{$_->[0]}
396 && undef $_;
397 } 405 }
398 }; 406 };
399 _self_die if $@; 407
408 $self
400 }; 409 };
401 410
402 $self
403 };
404
405 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 411 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
406 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 412 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
407 413
408 while (@_) {
409 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 414 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
410 415
411 if (!ref $match) { 416 if (defined $cb) {
412 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 417 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
413 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
414 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
415 @match
416 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
417 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
418 } else { 418 } else {
419 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 419 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
420 } 420 }
421 } 421 }
422 } 422 }
423 423
424 $port 424 $port
460 $res 460 $res
461 } 461 }
462 } 462 }
463} 463}
464 464
465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
466 466
467=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport 467=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
468 468
469=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg 469=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
470 470
471=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
472
471Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 473Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
474messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
475to stop monitoring again.
472 476
477C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
478after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
479arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
480loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
481the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
482port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
483delivered again.
484
485Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
486monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
487
473In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 488In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
474of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 489number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
475"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 490"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
476C<eval> if unsure. 491C<eval> if unsure.
477 492
478In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 493In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
479a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 494will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
480under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 495"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
496port is killed with the same reason.
481 497
498The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
499C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
500
482In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 501In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
502C<snd>.
503
504As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
505a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
506lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
507even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
508to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
509these problems do not exist.
483 510
484Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 511Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
485 512
486 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 513 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
487 514
488Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 515Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
489 516
490 mon $port, $self; 517 mon $port;
491 518
492Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 519Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
493 520
494 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 521 mon $port, $self => "restart";
495 522
496=cut 523=cut
497 524
498sub mon { 525sub mon {
499 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 526 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
500 527
501 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 528 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
502 529
503 my $cb = shift; 530 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
504 531
505 unless (ref $cb) { 532 unless (ref $cb) {
506 if (@_) { 533 if (@_) {
507 # send a kill info message 534 # send a kill info message
508 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 535 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
526is killed, the references will be freed. 553is killed, the references will be freed.
527 554
528Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 555Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
529 556
530This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 557This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
531want to free them when the port gets killed: 558want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
532 559
533 $port->rcv (start => sub { 560 $port->rcv (start => sub {
534 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 561 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
535 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 562 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
536 }); 563 });
537 }); 564 });
538 565
539=cut 566=cut
540 567
541sub mon_guard { 568sub mon_guard {
542 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 569 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
543 570
571 #TODO: mon-less form?
572
544 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 573 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
545} 574}
546 575
547=item lnk $port1, $port2
548
549Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
550
551 mon $port1, $port2;
552 mon $port2, $port1;
553
554It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
555killed as well.
556
557=item kil $port[, @reason] 576=item kil $port[, @reason]
558 577
559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 578Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
560 579
561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 580If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
562ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 581monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
582"normally").
563 583
564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 584Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
565C<mon>, see below). 585C<mon>, see above).
566 586
567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 587Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 588will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
569 589
570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 590Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
571$message >>. 591$message >>.
572 592
593=cut
594
595=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
596
597Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
598case it's the node where that port resides).
599
600The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
601possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
602
603After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
604node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
605fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
606specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
607
608If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
609the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
610C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
611exists or it runs out of package names.
612
613The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
614object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
615
616A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
617port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
618local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
619when there is a problem.
620
621Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
622
623 # this node, executed from within a port context:
624 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
625 mon $server;
626
627 # init function on C<$othernode>
628 sub connect {
629 my ($srcport) = @_;
630
631 mon $srcport;
632
633 rcv $SELF, sub {
634 ...
635 };
636 }
637
638=cut
639
640sub _spawn {
641 my $port = shift;
642 my $init = shift;
643
644 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
645 eval {
646 &{ load_func $init }
647 };
648 _self_die if $@;
649}
650
651sub spawn(@) {
652 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
653
654 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
655
656 $_[0] =~ /::/
657 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
658
659 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
660
661 "$nodeid#$id"
662}
663
664=item after $timeout, @msg
665
666=item after $timeout, $callback
667
668Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
669specified number of seconds.
670
671This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
672AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
673so it may go away in the future.
674
675=cut
676
677sub after($@) {
678 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
679
680 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
681 undef $t;
682 ref $action[0]
683 ? $action[0]()
684 : snd @action;
685 };
686}
687
573=back 688=back
574 689
575=head1 NODE MESSAGES 690=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
576 691
577Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 692AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
578arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 693== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
579message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 694programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
580the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 695sample:
581 696
582While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 697 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
698 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
699 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
700 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
701
702Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
583 703
584=over 4 704=over 4
585 705
586=cut 706=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
587 707
588=item lookup => $name, @reply
589
590Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
591
592=item devnull => ...
593
594Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
595
596=item relay => $port, @msg
597
598Simply forwards the message to the given port.
599
600=item eval => $string[ @reply]
601
602Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
603form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
604
605Example: crash another node.
606
607 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
608
609=item time => @reply
610
611Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
612
613Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
614C<timereply> message.
615
616 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
617 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
618
619=back
620
621=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
622
623AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node
624== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
625programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
626sample:
627
628 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
629 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
630 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
631 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
632
633Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
634
635=over 4
636
637=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
638
639Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 708Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
640same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 709way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
641convenience functionality. 710configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
642 711
643This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 712=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
644cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 713uses "local ports are like remote ports".
714
715The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
716only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
717when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
718port.
719
720Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
721they are not.
722
723AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
724ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
725occur.
645 726
646=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 727=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
647 728
648Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 729Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
649needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 730needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
650purpose. 731useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
732AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
733filter messages without dequeuing them.
651 734
652(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 735(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
653 736
654=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 737=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
655 738
656Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 739Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
657sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 740so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
658background. 741connection establishment is handled in the background.
659 742
660=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 743=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
661 744
662Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 745Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
663without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 746without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
664and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 747and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
665 748
666AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 749AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
667holes in the message sequence. 750is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
668 751monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
669=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 752sequence.
670alive.
671
672In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
673linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
674still alive - and can receive messages.
675
676In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
677eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
678and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
679 753
680=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 754=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
681 755
682In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 756In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
683ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 757known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
684messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 758destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
685 759
686AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 760AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
687around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 761around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
688 762
689=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 763=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
690authentication and can use TLS. 764authentication and can use TLS.
691 765
692AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 766AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
693securely authenticate nodes. 767securely authenticate nodes.
694 768
695=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 769=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
696communications. 770communications.
697 771
698The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 772The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
699language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 773language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
700language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 774language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
775used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
701 776
702It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 777It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
703with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 778with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
704protocol simple. 779protocol simple.
705 780
781=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
782
783In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
784or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
785difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
786Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
787on a per-process basis.
788
789=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
790
791Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
792same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
793
794In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
795that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
796on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
797remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
798reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
799
800This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
801(hard to do in Erlang).
802
706=back 803=back
707 804
805=head1 RATIONALE
806
807=over 4
808
809=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
810
811We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
812that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
813the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
814overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
815
816Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
817procedures to be "valid".
818
819And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
820global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
821
822=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
823
824In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
825format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
826default (although all nodes will accept it).
827
828The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
829faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
830experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
831than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
832easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
833always have to re-think your design.
834
835Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
836objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
837
838=back
839
708=head1 SEE ALSO 840=head1 SEE ALSO
841
842L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
843
844L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
845
846L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
847your applications.
709 848
710L<AnyEvent>. 849L<AnyEvent>.
711 850
712=head1 AUTHOR 851=head1 AUTHOR
713 852

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