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Revision 1.35 by root, Thu Aug 6 10:21:48 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.47 by root, Thu Aug 13 01:57:10 2009 UTC

8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # ports are message endpoints
16
17 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 18 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 21
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 22 # miniports
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 24
25 # full ports
26 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
18
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1; 30
31 # remote ports
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 33
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27
28 # linking two ports, so they both crash together
29 lnk $port1, $port2;
30 37
31 # monitoring 38 # monitoring
32 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
33 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
34 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
35 42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
51
36=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
37 53
38This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
39 55
40Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
43For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
44manual page. 60manual page.
45 61
46At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
47so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
48stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
49 65
50=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
51 67
52=over 4 68=over 4
53 69
98 114
99=cut 115=cut
100 116
101package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
102 118
103use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
104 120
105use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
106 122
107use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
108 124
109use AE (); 125use AE ();
110 126
111use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
112 128
113our $VERSION = '0.1'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
114our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
115 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
116 resolve_node initialise_node 133 resolve_node initialise_node
117 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
118 port 135 port
119); 136);
120 137
121our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
122 139
305 $port 322 $port
306} 323}
307 324
308=item reg $port, $name 325=item reg $port, $name
309 326
310Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 327=item reg $name
311exists it is replaced. 328
329Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
330C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
312 331
313A port can only be registered under one well known name. 332A port can only be registered under one well known name.
314 333
315A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. 334A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
316 335
317=cut 336=cut
318 337
319sub reg(@) { 338sub reg(@) {
320 my ($port, $name) = @_; 339 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
321 340
322 $REG{$name} = $port; 341 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
323} 342}
324 343
325=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 344=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
326 345
327Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 346Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
332=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ... 351=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
333 352
334=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ... 353=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
335 354
336Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full 355Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
337port (after converting it to one if required). 356port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
338 357
339The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after 358The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
340which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay 359which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
341registered. 360registered.
342 361
343The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 362The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
344executing the callback. 363executing the callback.
345 364
346Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 365Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being
347C<kil>ed. 366C<kil>ed.
348 367
349If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 368If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
350first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being 369first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
351matched. 370matched.
354exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 373exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
355 374
356While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 375While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
357element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 376element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
358also the most efficient match (by far). 377also the most efficient match (by far).
378
379Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
380
381 my $port = rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
383 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 },
384 ;
385
386Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
387in one go:
388
389 snd $otherport, reply =>
390 rcv port,
391 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
392 ...
393 ;
359 394
360=cut 395=cut
361 396
362sub rcv($@) { 397sub rcv($@) {
363 my $port = shift; 398 my $port = shift;
470 } 505 }
471} 506}
472 507
473=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 508=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
474 509
475=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport 510=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
476 511
512=item $guard = mon $port
513
477=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg 514=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
478 515
479Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 516Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
517messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
518to stop monitoring again.
480 519
520C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
521that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
522will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
523message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
524(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
525port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
526delivered again.
527
481In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 528In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
482of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 529number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
483"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 530"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
484C<eval> if unsure. 531C<eval> if unsure.
485 532
486In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 533In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
487a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 534will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
488under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 535"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
536port is killed with the same reason.
489 537
538The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
539C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
540
490In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 541In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
542C<snd>.
543
544As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
545a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
546lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
547even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
548to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
549these problems do not exist.
491 550
492Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 551Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
493 552
494 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 553 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
495 554
496Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 555Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
497 556
498 mon $port, $self; 557 mon $port;
499 558
500Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 559Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
501 560
502 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 561 mon $port, $self => "restart";
503 562
504=cut 563=cut
505 564
506sub mon { 565sub mon {
507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 566 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
508 567
509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 568 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
510 569
511 my $cb = shift; 570 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
512 571
513 unless (ref $cb) { 572 unless (ref $cb) {
514 if (@_) { 573 if (@_) {
515 # send a kill info message 574 # send a kill info message
516 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 575 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
547=cut 606=cut
548 607
549sub mon_guard { 608sub mon_guard {
550 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 609 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
551 610
611 #TODO: mon-less form?
612
552 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 613 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
553} 614}
554 615
555=item lnk $port1, $port2
556
557Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
558
559 mon $port1, $port2;
560 mon $port2, $port1;
561
562It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
563killed as well.
564
565=item kil $port[, @reason] 616=item kil $port[, @reason]
566 617
567Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 618Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
568 619
569If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 620If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
575Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 626Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
576will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 627will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
577 628
578Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 629Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
579$message >>. 630$message >>.
631
632=cut
633
634=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
635
636Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
637case it's the node where that port resides).
638
639The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
640permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
641
642After the port has been created, the init function is
643called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
644(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
645program, use C<::name>.
646
647If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
648the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
649C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
650exists or it runs out of package names.
651
652The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
653object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
654
655A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
656in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
657ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
658
659Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
660
661 # this node, executed from within a port context:
662 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
663 mon $server;
664
665 # init function on C<$othernode>
666 sub connect {
667 my ($srcport) = @_;
668
669 mon $srcport;
670
671 rcv $SELF, sub {
672 ...
673 };
674 }
675
676=cut
677
678sub _spawn {
679 my $port = shift;
680 my $init = shift;
681
682 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
683 eval {
684 &{ load_func $init }
685 };
686 _self_die if $@;
687}
688
689sub spawn(@) {
690 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
691
692 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
693
694 $_[0] =~ /::/
695 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
696
697 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
698 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
699
700 "$noderef#$id"
701}
580 702
581=back 703=back
582 704
583=head1 NODE MESSAGES 705=head1 NODE MESSAGES
584 706
717or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 839or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
718difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 840difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
719Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 841Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
720on a per-process basis. 842on a per-process basis.
721 843
722=item * Erlang has different semantics for monitoring and linking, AEMP has the same. 844=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
723 845
724Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 846Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
725as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, the 847as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
726semantics of monitoring and linking are identical, linking is simply 848
727two-way monitoring with automatic kill. 849In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
850that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
851on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
852the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
853more reliable.
854
855This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
856(hard to do in Erlang).
857
858=back
859
860=head1 RATIONALE
861
862=over 4
863
864=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
865
866We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
867thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
868the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
869overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
870
871Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
872procedures to be "valid".
873
874And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
875can't become much cheaper.
876
877=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
878
879In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
880format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
881default.
882
883The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
884faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
885experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
886than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
887easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
888always have to re-think your design.
889
890Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
891objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
728 892
729=back 893=back
730 894
731=head1 SEE ALSO 895=head1 SEE ALSO
732 896

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