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Revision 1.84 by root, Tue Sep 8 01:42:14 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 but incomplete, protocol not yet final.
47
48stay 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). 66Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
67messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 68
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 69Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 70some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 71anything was listening for them or not.
53 72
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 73=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
55 74
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 75A 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 76separator, 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 77
61=item node 78=item node
62 79
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 80A 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 81which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 82ports.
66 83
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 84Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 85(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
86currently.
69 87
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 88=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*>
71 89
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 90A 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 91network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 92hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
93doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 94
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 95=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 96
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 97Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 98each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
99endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
100be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 101
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 102=item seed nodes
83resolve it. 103
104When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
105about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
106network. This node is called a seed.
107
108Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have
109to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes -
110any node can function as a seed node for others.
111
112In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
113maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have
114trouble connecting. They form the backbone of the AnyEvent::MP network.
115
116Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
117should always be available.
118
119=item seeds - C<host:port>
120
121Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
122TCP port) of nodes thta should be used as seed nodes.
123
124The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running,
125and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out
126of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish
127connections to some seednodes again to join the network.
84 128
85=back 129=back
86 130
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 131=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 132
90 134
91=cut 135=cut
92 136
93package AnyEvent::MP; 137package AnyEvent::MP;
94 138
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 139use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 140
97use common::sense; 141use common::sense;
98 142
99use Carp (); 143use Carp ();
100 144
101use AE (); 145use AE ();
102 146
103use base "Exporter"; 147use base "Exporter";
104 148
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 149our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
150
106our @EXPORT = qw( 151our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 152 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 153 configure
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 154 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 155 port
111); 156);
112 157
113our $SELF; 158our $SELF;
114 159
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 163 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 164}
120 165
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 166=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 167
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 168The 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 169ID 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 170a call to C<configure>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 171
128=item $noderef = node_of $port 172=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 173
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 174Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
131 175
132=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 176=item configure $profile, key => value...
133 177
134=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master... 178=item configure key => value...
135 179
136Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 180Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
137itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 181"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
138it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 182to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
183some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
139 184
140This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 185This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
141never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 186never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
142 187
143All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
144
145There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
146
147=over 4 188=over 4
148 189
149=item public nodes 190=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
150 191
151For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 192The 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 193L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
153which case the noderef will be guessed. 194named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
195missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
154 196
155Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 197The profile data is then gathered as follows:
156to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
157and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
158 198
159=item slave nodes 199First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
200undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
201data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
202default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
203profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
160 204
161When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 205That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
162become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 206and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
163route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 207and can only be used to specify defaults.
164 208
165At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect 209If 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 210this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
167successfully connect to. 211special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
212
213=item step 2, bind listener sockets
214
215The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
216aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
217to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
218outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
219binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
220
221If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
222used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
223local IP address it finds.
224
225=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
226
227As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
228L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
229connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
168 230
169=back 231=back
170 232
171This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave 233Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile.
172nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master 234This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
173server.
174 235
175Example: become a public node listening on the default node. 236 configure
176 237
177 initialise_node; 238Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
239clients.
178 240
179Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 241 configure nodeid => "anon/";
180servers to become part of the network.
181 242
182 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2"; 243Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
244for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
245customary for aemp).
183 246
184Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>. 247 # use the aemp commandline utility
248 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
185 249
186 initialise_node 4041; 250 # then use it
251 configure profile => "seed";
187 252
188Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 253 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
254 # aemp run profile seed
189 255
190 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 256 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
191 257 # 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
224 258
225=item $SELF 259=item $SELF
226 260
227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 261Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
228blocks. 262blocks.
229 263
230=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 264=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
231 265
232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 266Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 267just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 268module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
235 269
236=item snd $port, type => @data 270=item snd $port, type => @data
237 271
238=item snd $port, @msg 272=item snd $port, @msg
239 273
240Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 274Send 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 275local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
242stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
243 276
244While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 277While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
245string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 278use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
246type etc.). 279request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
280arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
247 281
248The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 282The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
249function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 283function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
250problems. 284forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
285and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
286never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
287receiving port.
251 288
252The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 289The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
253JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 290JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
254of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 291of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
255that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 292that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
256node, anything can be passed. 293node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
294these.
257 295
258=item $local_port = port 296=item $local_port = port
259 297
260Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 298Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
261matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 299no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
262depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
263 300
264=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 301=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
265 302
266Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 303Creates 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. 304creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
269 305
270The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 306The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
271callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 307global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
272will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 308port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
309(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
273 310
274The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 311If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
275be passed to the callback.
276 312
277If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 313 my $port = port {
278 314 my @msg = @_;
279 my $port; $port = port { 315 ...
280 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 316 kil $SELF;
281 }; 317 };
282 318
283=cut 319=cut
284 320
285sub rcv($@); 321sub rcv($@);
322
323sub _kilme {
324 die "received message on port without callback";
325}
286 326
287sub port(;&) { 327sub port(;&) {
288 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 328 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
289 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 329 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
290 330
291 if (@_) { 331 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
292 rcv $port, shift;
293 } else {
294 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
295 }
296 332
297 $port 333 $port
298} 334}
299 335
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) 336=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
318 337
319Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 338Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
320one if required). 339remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
321 340C<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...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
327
328Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
329port (after converting it to one if required).
330
331The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
332which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
333registered.
334 341
335The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 342The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
336executing the callback. 343executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
344result in the port being C<kil>ed.
337 345
338Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 346The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
339C<kil>ed. 347C<tag> match.
340 348
341If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 349=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
342first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
343matched.
344 350
345Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 351Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
346exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 352given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
353C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
354registered for each tag.
347 355
348While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 356The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
349element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 357element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
350also the most efficient match (by far). 358environment as the default callback (see above).
359
360Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
361
362 my $port = rcv port,
363 msg1 => sub { ... },
364 msg2 => sub { ... },
365 ;
366
367Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
368in one go:
369
370 snd $otherport, reply =>
371 rcv port,
372 msg1 => sub { ... },
373 ...
374 ;
375
376Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
377(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
378
379 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
380 my @reply = @_;
381
382 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
383 };
351 384
352=cut 385=cut
353 386
354sub rcv($@) { 387sub rcv($@) {
355 my $port = shift; 388 my $port = shift;
356 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 389 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
357 390
358 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 391 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
359 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
360 393
361 if (@_ == 1) { 394 while (@_) {
395 if (ref $_[0]) {
396 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
397 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
398 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
399
400 $self->[2] = shift;
401 } else {
362 my $cb = shift; 402 my $cb = shift;
363 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
364 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 403 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
365 local $SELF = $port; 404 local $SELF = $port;
366 eval { 405 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
367 &$cb 406 };
368 and kil $port;
369 }; 407 }
370 _self_die if $@; 408 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
371 };
372 } else {
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 409 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
374 my $self = bless { 410 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
375 id => $port,
376 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
377 411
378 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 412 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
379 local $SELF = $port; 413 local $SELF = $port;
380 414
381 eval {
382 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 415 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
383 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 416 shift;
384 && undef $_; 417 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
385 } 418 } else {
386
387 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
388 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
389 && &{$_->[0]} 419 &{ $self->[0] };
390 && undef $_;
391 }
392
393 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
394 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
395 && &{$_->[0]}
396 && undef $_;
397 } 420 }
398 }; 421 };
399 _self_die if $@; 422
423 $self
400 }; 424 };
401 425
402 $self
403 };
404
405 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 426 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
406 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 427 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
407 428
408 while (@_) {
409 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 429 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
410 430
411 if (!ref $match) { 431 if (defined $cb) {
412 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 432 $self->[1]{$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 { 433 } else {
419 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 434 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
420 } 435 }
421 } 436 }
422 } 437 }
423 438
424 $port 439 $port
460 $res 475 $res
461 } 476 }
462 } 477 }
463} 478}
464 479
465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 480=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
466 481
467=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport 482=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
468 483
469=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg 484=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
470 485
486=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
487
471Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 488Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
489messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
490to stop monitoring again.
472 491
473In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 492In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
474of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 493number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
475"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 494"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
476C<eval> if unsure. 495C<eval> if unsure.
477 496
478In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 497In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
479a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 498will 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. 499"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
500port is killed with the same reason.
481 501
502The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
503C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
504
482In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 505In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
506C<snd>.
507
508Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
509alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
510
511As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
512a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
513lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
514even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
515to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
516these problems do not exist.
517
518C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
519after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
520arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
521loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
522the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
523port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
524delivered again.
525
526Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
527used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
528relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
529non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions).
530
531This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
532stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
533to ensure some maximum latency.
483 534
484Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 535Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
485 536
486 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 537 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
487 538
488Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 539Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
489 540
490 mon $port, $self; 541 mon $port;
491 542
492Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 543Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
493 544
494 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 545 mon $port, $self => "restart";
495 546
496=cut 547=cut
497 548
498sub mon { 549sub mon {
499 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 550 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
500 551
501 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 552 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
502 553
503 my $cb = shift; 554 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
504 555
505 unless (ref $cb) { 556 unless (ref $cb) {
506 if (@_) { 557 if (@_) {
507 # send a kill info message 558 # send a kill info message
508 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 559 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
526is killed, the references will be freed. 577is killed, the references will be freed.
527 578
528Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 579Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
529 580
530This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 581This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
531want to free them when the port gets killed: 582want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
532 583
533 $port->rcv (start => sub { 584 $port->rcv (start => sub {
534 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 585 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
535 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 586 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
536 }); 587 });
537 }); 588 });
538 589
539=cut 590=cut
540 591
541sub mon_guard { 592sub mon_guard {
542 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 593 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
543 594
595 #TODO: mon-less form?
596
544 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 597 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
545} 598}
546 599
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] 600=item kil $port[, @reason]
558 601
559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 602Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
560 603
561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 604If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
562ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 605monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
606"normally").
563 607
564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 608Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
565C<mon>, see below). 609C<mon>, see above).
566 610
567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 611Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 612will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
569 613
570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 614Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
571$message >>. 615$message >>.
572 616
617=cut
618
619=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
620
621Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
622case it's the node where that port resides).
623
624The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
625possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
626
627After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
628node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
629fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
630specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
631
632If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
633the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
634C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
635exists or it runs out of package names.
636
637The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
638object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. It I<must>
639call one of the C<rcv> functions to set callbacks on C<$SELF>, otherwise
640the port might not get created.
641
642A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
643port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
644local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
645when there is a problem.
646
647C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
648caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
649called for the local node).
650
651Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
652
653 # this node, executed from within a port context:
654 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
655 mon $server;
656
657 # init function on C<$othernode>
658 sub connect {
659 my ($srcport) = @_;
660
661 mon $srcport;
662
663 rcv $SELF, sub {
664 ...
665 };
666 }
667
668=cut
669
670sub _spawn {
671 my $port = shift;
672 my $init = shift;
673
674 # rcv will create the actual port
675 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
676 eval {
677 &{ load_func $init }
678 };
679 _self_die if $@;
680}
681
682sub spawn(@) {
683 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
684
685 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
686
687 $_[0] =~ /::/
688 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
689
690 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
691
692 "$nodeid#$id"
693}
694
695=item after $timeout, @msg
696
697=item after $timeout, $callback
698
699Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
700specified number of seconds.
701
702This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
703AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
704so it may go away in the future.
705
706=cut
707
708sub after($@) {
709 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
710
711 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
712 undef $t;
713 ref $action[0]
714 ? $action[0]()
715 : snd @action;
716 };
717}
718
573=back 719=back
574 720
575=head1 NODE MESSAGES 721=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
576 722
577Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 723AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
578arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 724== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
579message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 725programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
580the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 726sample:
581 727
582While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 728 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
729 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
730 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
731 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
732
733Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
583 734
584=over 4 735=over 4
585 736
586=cut 737=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
587 738
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 739Erlang 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 740way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
641convenience functionality. 741configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
642 742
643This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 743=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
644cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 744uses "local ports are like remote ports".
745
746The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
747only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
748when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
749port.
750
751Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
752they are not.
753
754AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
755ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
756occur.
645 757
646=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 758=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
647 759
648Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 760Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
649needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 761needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
650purpose. 762useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
763AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
764filter messages without dequeuing them.
651 765
652(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 766(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
653 767
654=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 768=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
655 769
656Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 770Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
657sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 771so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
658background. 772connection establishment is handled in the background.
659 773
660=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 774=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
661 775
662Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 776Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
663without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 777without 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). 778and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
665 779
666AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 780AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
667holes in the message sequence. 781is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
668 782monitoring 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 783sequence.
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.
679 784
680=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 785=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
681 786
682In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 787In 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 788known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
684messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 789destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
685 790
686AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 791AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
687around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 792around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
688 793
689=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 794=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
690authentication and can use TLS. 795authentication and can use TLS.
691 796
692AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 797AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
693securely authenticate nodes. 798securely authenticate nodes.
694 799
695=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 800=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
696communications. 801communications.
697 802
698The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 803The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
699language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 804language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
700language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 805language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
806used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
701 807
702It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 808It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
703with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 809with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
704protocol simple. 810protocol simple.
705 811
812=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
813
814In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
815or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
816difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
817Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
818on a per-process basis.
819
820=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
821
822Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
823same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
824
825In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
826that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
827on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
828remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
829reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
830
831This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
832(hard to do in Erlang).
833
706=back 834=back
707 835
836=head1 RATIONALE
837
838=over 4
839
840=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
841
842We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
843that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
844the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
845overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
846
847Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
848procedures to be "valid".
849
850And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
851global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
852
853=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
854
855In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
856format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
857default (although all nodes will accept it).
858
859The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
860faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
861experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
862than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
863easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
864always have to re-think your design.
865
866Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
867objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
868
869=back
870
708=head1 SEE ALSO 871=head1 SEE ALSO
872
873L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
874
875L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
876
877L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
878your applications.
879
880L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
881all nodes.
709 882
710L<AnyEvent>. 883L<AnyEvent>.
711 884
712=head1 AUTHOR 885=head1 AUTHOR
713 886

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