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Revision 1.49 by root, Thu Aug 13 15:29:58 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.71 by root, Sun Aug 30 19:52:56 2009 UTC

11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14 14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages 15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR- 16 initialise_node;
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19 17
20 # ports are message endpoints 18 # ports are message endpoints
21 19
22 # sending messages 20 # sending messages
23 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg; 22 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
26 24
27 # creating/using miniports 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
29 27
30 # creating/using full ports 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port; 29 my $port = port;
32 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
33 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
34 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
35
36 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
37 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
38 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
39 32
40 # create a port on another node 33 # create a port on another node
41 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
42 35
43 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
45 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
46 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
47 40
48=head1 CURRENT STATUS 41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
49 42
43 bin/aemp - stable.
50 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work 44 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
51 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated 45 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - uptodate, but incomplete.
52 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
53 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable 46 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
47 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API, protocol not yet final.
54 48
55 stay tuned. 49 stay tuned.
56 50
57=head1 DESCRIPTION 51=head1 DESCRIPTION
58 52
59This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 53This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
60 54
61Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 55Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
62on the same or other hosts. 56on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
63 57
64For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 58For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
65manual page. 59manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
66 60
67At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 61At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
68so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
69stay tuned!
70 62
71=head1 CONCEPTS 63=head1 CONCEPTS
72 64
73=over 4 65=over 4
74 66
75=item port 67=item port
76 68
77A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 69A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
78 70
79Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 71Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
80messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 72some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
81will not be queued. 73anything was listening for them or not.
82 74
83=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 75=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
84 76
85A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 77A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
86separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 78separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
87exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
88reference.
89 79
90=item node 80=item node
91 81
92A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 82A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
93port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 83which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
94create new ports, among other things. 84ports.
95 85
96Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 86Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
97master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 87(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
88currently.
98 89
99=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 90=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
100 91
101A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 92A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
102private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 93network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
103node (for public nodes). 94hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
95doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
104 96
105This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 97=item binds - C<ip:port>
106TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
107 98
108Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 99Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
109addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 100each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
101endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
102be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
110 103
111Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 104=item seeds - C<host:port>
112resolve it. 105
106When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
107about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
108network. This node is called a seed.
109
110Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
111are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
112be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
113error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
114join the network.
115
116Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
117every public node can be a seednode.
113 118
114=back 119=back
115 120
116=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 121=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
117 122
132use base "Exporter"; 137use base "Exporter";
133 138
134our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 139our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
135 140
136our @EXPORT = qw( 141our @EXPORT = qw(
137 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 142 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
138 resolve_node initialise_node 143 initialise_node
139 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 144 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
140 port 145 port
141); 146);
142 147
143our $SELF; 148our $SELF;
144 149
148 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 153 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
149} 154}
150 155
151=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 156=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
152 157
153The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 158The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
154the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 159ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
155to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 160a call to C<initialise_node>.
156identifiers become invalid.
157 161
158=item $noderef = node_of $port 162=item $nodeid = node_of $port
159 163
160Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 164Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
161 165
162=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 166=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
163 167
164=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
165
166Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
167itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 169"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
168it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
169 172
170This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 173This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
171never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
172 175
173All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be 176The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
174either resolved or unresolved. 177the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
175 178
176The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first 179The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
177(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find 180L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
178the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
179the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
180seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
181 181
182There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 182First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conviniently
183undocumented at the moment) will be used. Then they will be overwritten by
184any values specified in the global default configuration (see the F<aemp>
185utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if any. That means that
186the values specified in the profile have highest priority and the values
187specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest priority.
183 188
184=over 4 189If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
190this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
191special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
185 192
186=item public nodes 193The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
194aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
195to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
196outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
197binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
187 198
188For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to 199If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
189C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a 200used.
190noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
191 201
192After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to 202Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
193connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are 203L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
194optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing 204connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
195network.
196 205
197=item slave nodes
198
199When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
200is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
201node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
202their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
203
204At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
205directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
206will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
207first node it can successfully connect to.
208
209=back
210
211This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
212nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
213server.
214
215Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one 206Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
216specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common 207the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
217form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 208most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
218 209
219 initialise_node; 210 initialise_node;
220 211
221Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via 212Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
222C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients. 213clients.
223 214
224 initialise_node "slave/"; 215 initialise_node "anon/";
225 216
226Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This 217Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
227form is also often used for commandline clients. 218name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
228 219on the resulting addresses.
229 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
230
231Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
232servers to become part of the network.
233
234 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
235
236Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
237
238 initialise_node 4041;
239
240Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
241 220
242 initialise_node "localhost:4044"; 221 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
243
244=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
245
246Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
247abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
248reference.
249
250In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
251following forms are supported:
252
253=over 4
254
255=item the empty string
256
257An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
258specified.
259
260=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
261
262These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
263further resolved.
264
265=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
266
267These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
268looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
269specified.
270
271=back
272 222
273=item $SELF 223=item $SELF
274 224
275Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 225Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
276blocks. 226blocks.
277 227
278=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 228=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
279 229
280Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 230Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
281just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 231just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
282module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 232module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
283 233
284=item snd $port, type => @data 234=item snd $port, type => @data
285 235
286=item snd $port, @msg 236=item snd $port, @msg
287 237
288Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 238Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
289a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 239local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
290stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
291 240
292While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 241While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
293string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 242use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
294type etc.). 243request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
244arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
295 245
296The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 246The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
297function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 247function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
298problems. 248forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
249and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
250never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
251receiving port.
299 252
300The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 253The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
301JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 254JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
302of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 255of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
303that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 256that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
304node, anything can be passed. 257node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
258these.
305 259
306=item $local_port = port 260=item $local_port = port
307 261
308Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 262Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
309matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 263no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
310depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
311 264
312=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 265=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
313 266
314Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 267Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
315matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
316a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 268creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
317 269
318The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 270The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
319callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 271global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
320will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 272port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
273(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
321 274
322The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 275If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
323be passed to the callback.
324 276
325If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 277 my $port = port {
326 278 my @msg = @_;
327 my $port; $port = port { 279 ...
328 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 280 kil $SELF;
329 }; 281 };
330 282
331=cut 283=cut
332 284
333sub rcv($@); 285sub rcv($@);
286
287sub _kilme {
288 die "received message on port without callback";
289}
334 290
335sub port(;&) { 291sub port(;&) {
336 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 292 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
337 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 293 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
338 294
339 if (@_) { 295 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
340 rcv $port, shift;
341 } else {
342 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
343 }
344 296
345 $port 297 $port
346} 298}
347 299
348=item reg $port, $name
349
350=item reg $name
351
352Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
353C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
354
355A port can only be registered under one well known name.
356
357A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
358
359=cut
360
361sub reg(@) {
362 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
363
364 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
365}
366
367=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 300=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
368 301
369Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 302Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
370one if required). 303remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
371 304C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
372=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
373
374=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
375
376=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
377
378Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
379port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
380
381The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
382which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
383registered.
384 305
385The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 306The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
386executing the callback. 307executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
308result in the port being C<kil>ed.
387 309
388Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 310The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
389C<kil>ed. 311C<tag> match.
390 312
391If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 313=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
392first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
393matched.
394 314
395Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 315Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
396exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 316given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
317C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
318registered for each tag.
397 319
398While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 320The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
399element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 321element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
400also the most efficient match (by far). 322environment as the default callback (see above).
401 323
402Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 324Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
403 325
404 my $port = rcv port, 326 my $port = rcv port,
405 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 327 msg1 => sub { ... },
406 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 328 msg2 => sub { ... },
407 ; 329 ;
408 330
409Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 331Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
410in one go: 332in one go:
411 333
412 snd $otherport, reply => 334 snd $otherport, reply =>
413 rcv port, 335 rcv port,
414 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 336 msg1 => sub { ... },
415 ... 337 ...
416 ; 338 ;
339
340Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
341(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
342
343 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
344 my @reply = @_;
345
346 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
347 };
417 348
418=cut 349=cut
419 350
420sub rcv($@) { 351sub rcv($@) {
421 my $port = shift; 352 my $port = shift;
422 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 353 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
423 354
424 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 355 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
425 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 356 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
426 357
427 if (@_ == 1) { 358 while (@_) {
359 if (ref $_[0]) {
360 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
361 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
362 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
363
364 $self->[2] = shift;
365 } else {
428 my $cb = shift; 366 my $cb = shift;
429 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
430 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 367 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
431 local $SELF = $port; 368 local $SELF = $port;
432 eval { 369 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
433 &$cb 370 };
434 and kil $port;
435 }; 371 }
436 _self_die if $@; 372 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
437 };
438 } else {
439 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
440 my $self = bless { 374 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
441 id => $port,
442 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
443 375
444 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 376 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
445 local $SELF = $port; 377 local $SELF = $port;
446 378
447 eval {
448 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 379 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
449 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 380 shift;
450 && undef $_; 381 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
451 } 382 } else {
452
453 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
454 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
455 && &{$_->[0]} 383 &{ $self->[0] };
456 && undef $_;
457 }
458
459 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
460 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
461 && &{$_->[0]}
462 && undef $_;
463 } 384 }
464 }; 385 };
465 _self_die if $@; 386
387 $self
466 }; 388 };
467 389
468 $self
469 };
470
471 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 390 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
472 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 391 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
473 392
474 while (@_) {
475 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 393 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
476 394
477 if (!ref $match) { 395 if (defined $cb) {
478 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 396 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
479 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
480 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
481 @match
482 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
483 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
484 } else { 397 } else {
485 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 398 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
486 } 399 }
487 } 400 }
488 } 401 }
489 402
490 $port 403 $port
526 $res 439 $res
527 } 440 }
528 } 441 }
529} 442}
530 443
531=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 444=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
532 445
533=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 446=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
534 447
535=item $guard = mon $port 448=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
536 449
537=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 450=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
538 451
539Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 452Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
540messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 453messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
541to stop monitoring again. 454to stop monitoring again.
542 455
543C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 456C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
544that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port 457after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
545will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible 458arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
546message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" 459loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
547(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 460the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
548port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 461port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
549delivered again. 462delivered again.
463
464Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
465monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
550 466
551In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 467In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
552number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 468number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
553"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 469"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
554C<eval> if unsure. 470C<eval> if unsure.
616is killed, the references will be freed. 532is killed, the references will be freed.
617 533
618Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 534Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
619 535
620This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 536This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
621want to free them when the port gets killed: 537want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
622 538
623 $port->rcv (start => sub { 539 $port->rcv (start => sub {
624 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 540 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
625 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 541 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
626 }); 542 });
627 }); 543 });
628 544
629=cut 545=cut
638 554
639=item kil $port[, @reason] 555=item kil $port[, @reason]
640 556
641Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 557Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
642 558
643If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 559If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
644ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 560monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
561"normally").
645 562
646Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 563Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
647C<mon>, see below). 564C<mon>, see above).
648 565
649Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 566Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
650will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 567will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
651 568
652Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 569Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
657=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 574=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
658 575
659Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 576Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
660case it's the node where that port resides). 577case it's the node where that port resides).
661 578
662The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 579The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
663permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 580possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
664 581
665After the port has been created, the init function is 582After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
666called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 583node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
667(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main 584fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
668program, use C<::name>. 585specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
669 586
670If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 587If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
671the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 588the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
672C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 589C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
673exists or it runs out of package names. 590exists or it runs out of package names.
674 591
675The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 592The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
676object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 593object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
677 594
678A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 595A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
679in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 596port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
680ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 597local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
598when there is a problem.
681 599
682Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 600Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
683 601
684 # this node, executed from within a port context: 602 # this node, executed from within a port context:
685 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 603 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
715 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 633 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
716 634
717 $_[0] =~ /::/ 635 $_[0] =~ /::/
718 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 636 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
719 637
720 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 638 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
721 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
722 639
723 "$noderef#$id" 640 "$noderef#$id"
724} 641}
725 642
726=back 643=item after $timeout, @msg
727 644
728=head1 NODE MESSAGES 645=item after $timeout, $callback
729 646
730Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 647Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
731arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 648specified number of seconds.
732message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
733the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
734 649
735While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 650This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
651AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
652so it may go away in the future.
736 653
737=over 4
738
739=cut 654=cut
740 655
741=item lookup => $name, @reply 656sub after($@) {
657 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
742 658
743Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 659 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
744 660 undef $t;
745=item devnull => ... 661 ref $action[0]
746 662 ? $action[0]()
747Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 663 : snd @action;
748 664 };
749=item relay => $port, @msg 665}
750
751Simply forwards the message to the given port.
752
753=item eval => $string[ @reply]
754
755Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
756form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
757
758Example: crash another node.
759
760 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
761
762=item time => @reply
763
764Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
765
766Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
767C<timereply> message.
768
769 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
770 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
771 666
772=back 667=back
773 668
774=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 669=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
775 670
785 680
786Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 681Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
787 682
788=over 4 683=over 4
789 684
790=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 685=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
791 686
792Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 687Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
793same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 688way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
794convenience functionality. 689configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
795 690
796This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 691=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
797cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 692uses "local ports are like remote ports".
693
694The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
695only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
696when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
697port.
698
699Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
700they are not.
701
702AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
703ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
704occur.
798 705
799=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 706=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
800 707
801Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 708Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
802needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 709needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
803purpose. 710useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
711AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
712filter messages without dequeing them.
804 713
805(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 714(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
806 715
807=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 716=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
808 717
809Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 718Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
810sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 719so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
811background. 720connection establishment is handled in the background.
812 721
813=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 722=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
814 723
815Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 724Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
816without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 725without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
817and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 726and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
818 727
819AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 728AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
820holes in the message sequence. 729is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
821 730monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
822=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 731sequence.
823alive.
824
825In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
826linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
827still alive - and can receive messages.
828
829In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
830eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
831and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
832 732
833=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 733=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
834 734
835In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 735In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
836ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 736known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
837messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 737destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
838 738
839AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 739AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
840around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 740around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
841 741
842=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 742=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
843authentication and can use TLS. 743authentication and can use TLS.
844 744
845AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 745AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
846securely authenticate nodes. 746securely authenticate nodes.
847 747
848=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 748=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
849communications. 749communications.
850 750
851The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 751The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
852language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 752language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
853language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 753language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
754used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
854 755
855It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 756It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
856with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 757with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
857protocol simple. 758protocol simple.
858 759
859=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 760=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
860 761
861In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 762In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
864Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 765Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
865on a per-process basis. 766on a per-process basis.
866 767
867=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 768=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
868 769
869Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 770Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
870as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 771same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
871 772
872In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 773In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
873that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 774that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
874on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 775on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
875the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 776remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
876more reliable. 777reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
877 778
878This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 779This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
879(hard to do in Erlang). 780(hard to do in Erlang).
880 781
881=back 782=back
882 783
883=head1 RATIONALE 784=head1 RATIONALE
884 785
885=over 4 786=over 4
886 787
887=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects? 788=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
888 789
889We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods 790We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
890thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over 791that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
891the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of 792the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
892overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object. 793overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
893 794
894Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 795Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
895procedures to be "valid". 796procedures to be "valid".
896 797
897And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it 798And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
898can't become much cheaper. 799global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
899 800
900=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable? 801=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
901 802
902In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 803In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
903format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by 804format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
904default. 805default (although all nodes will accept it).
905 806
906The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times 807The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
907faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of 808faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
908experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems 809experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
909than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel 810than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
910easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you 811easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
911always have to re-think your design. 812always have to re-think your design.
912 813
913Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than 814Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
914objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient. 815objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
915 816
916=back 817=back
917 818
918=head1 SEE ALSO 819=head1 SEE ALSO
919 820
821L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
822
823L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
824
825L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
826your applications.
827
920L<AnyEvent>. 828L<AnyEvent>.
921 829
922=head1 AUTHOR 830=head1 AUTHOR
923 831
924 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 832 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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