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Revision 1.78 by root, Thu Sep 3 20:16:36 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.93 by root, Tue Sep 22 14:14:29 2009 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent::MP - multi-processing/message-passing framework 3AnyEvent::MP - erlang-style multi-processing/message-passing framework
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
31 31
32 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
34 34
35 # monitoring 35 # monitoring
36 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 36 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 37 mon $localport, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 38 mon $localport, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
39 39
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS 40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41 41
42 bin/aemp - stable. 42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work. 43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts. 44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable. 45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API, protocol not yet final. 46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
47
48 stay tuned.
49 47
50=head1 DESCRIPTION 48=head1 DESCRIPTION
51 49
52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 50This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
53 51
61 59
62=over 4 60=over 4
63 61
64=item port 62=item port
65 63
66A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 64Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
65messages to (with the C<snd> function).
67 66
68Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just 67Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
69some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of 68some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
70anything was listening for them or not. 69anything was listening for them or not.
71 70
82 81
83Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private 82Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
84(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes 83(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
85currently. 84currently.
86 85
87=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+> 86=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*>
88 87
89A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a 88A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
90network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a 89network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
91hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself 90hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
92doesn't interpret node IDs in any way. 91doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
96Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to 95Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
97each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport 96each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
98endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can 97endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
99be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on. 98be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
100 99
101=item seeds - C<host:port> 100=item seed nodes
102 101
103When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node 102When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
104about the network it first has to contact some other node within the 103about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
105network. This node is called a seed. 104network. This node is called a seed.
106 105
107Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes 106Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have
107to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes -
108any node can function as a seed node for others.
109
110In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
111maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have
112trouble connecting. They form the backbone of an AnyEvent::MP network.
113
108are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always 114Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
109be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network 115should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
110error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to 116seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
111join the network.
112 117
113Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way - 118=item seeds - C<host:port>
114every public node can be a seednode. 119
120Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
121TCP port) of nodes thta should be used as seed nodes.
122
123The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running,
124and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out
125of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish
126connections to some seednodes again to join the network.
115 127
116=back 128=back
117 129
118=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 130=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
119 131
136our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 148our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
137 149
138our @EXPORT = qw( 150our @EXPORT = qw(
139 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 151 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
140 configure 152 configure
141 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn 153 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub spawn cal
142 port 154 port
143); 155);
144 156
145our $SELF; 157our $SELF;
146 158
215L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 227L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
216connectivity with at least one node at any point in time. 228connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
217 229
218=back 230=back
219 231
220Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile. 232Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
221This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 233This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
222 234
223 configure 235 configure
224 236
225Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 237Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
474 486
475Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 487Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
476messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 488messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
477to stop monitoring again. 489to stop monitoring again.
478 490
491In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
492number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
493"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
494C<eval> if unsure.
495
496In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
497will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
498"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
499port is killed with the same reason.
500
501The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
502C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
503
504In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
505C<snd>.
506
507Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
508alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
509
510As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
511a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
512lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
513even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
514to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
515these problems do not exist.
516
479C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 517C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
480after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will 518after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
481arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message 519arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
482loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after 520loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
483the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 521the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
484port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 522port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
485delivered again. 523delivered again.
486 524
487Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a 525Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
488monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again. 526used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
527relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
528non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions).
489 529
490In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 530This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
491number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 531stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
492"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 532to ensure some maximum latency.
493C<eval> if unsure.
494
495In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
496will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
497"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
498port is killed with the same reason.
499
500The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
501C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
502
503In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
504C<snd>.
505
506As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
507a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
508lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
509even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
510to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
511these problems do not exist.
512 533
513Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 534Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
514 535
515 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 536 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
516 537
544 } 565 }
545 566
546 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 567 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
547 568
548 defined wantarray 569 defined wantarray
570 and $cb += 0
549 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 571 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
550} 572}
551 573
552=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 574=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
553 575
611the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 633the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
612C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 634C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
613exists or it runs out of package names. 635exists or it runs out of package names.
614 636
615The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 637The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
616object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 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.
617 641
618A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned 642A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
619port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed 643port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
620local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up 644local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
621when there is a problem. 645when there is a problem.
622 646
647C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
648caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
649called for the local node).
650
623Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 651Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
624 652
625 # this node, executed from within a port context: 653 # this node, executed from within a port context:
626 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 654 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
627 mon $server; 655 mon $server;
641 669
642sub _spawn { 670sub _spawn {
643 my $port = shift; 671 my $port = shift;
644 my $init = shift; 672 my $init = shift;
645 673
674 # rcv will create the actual port
646 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port"; 675 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
647 eval { 676 eval {
648 &{ load_func $init } 677 &{ load_func $init }
649 }; 678 };
650 _self_die if $@; 679 _self_die if $@;
685 ? $action[0]() 714 ? $action[0]()
686 : snd @action; 715 : snd @action;
687 }; 716 };
688} 717}
689 718
719=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
720
721A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
722given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
723
724The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
725the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
726
727A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
728
729If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
730then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
731elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
732
733If no time-out is given, then the local port will monitor the remote port
734instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
735
736Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
737might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
738this is indeed useful for something.
739
740=cut
741
742sub cal(@) {
743 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
744 my $cb = pop;
745
746 my $port = port {
747 undef $timeout;
748 kil $SELF;
749 &$cb;
750 };
751
752 if (defined $timeout) {
753 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
754 undef $timeout;
755 kil $port;
756 $cb->();
757 };
758 } else {
759 mon $_[0], sub {
760 kil $port;
761 $cb->();
762 };
763 }
764
765 push @_, $port;
766 &snd;
767
768 $port
769}
770
690=back 771=back
691 772
692=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 773=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
693 774
694AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node 775AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
846L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff. 927L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
847 928
848L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find 929L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
849your applications. 930your applications.
850 931
932L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
933all nodes.
934
851L<AnyEvent>. 935L<AnyEvent>.
852 936
853=head1 AUTHOR 937=head1 AUTHOR
854 938
855 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 939 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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