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Revision 1.104 by root, Fri Nov 6 17:47:20 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.122 by root, Wed Feb 29 18:44:59 2012 UTC

30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
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 # destroy a prot again 35 # destroy a port again
36 kil $port; # "normal" kill 36 kil $port; # "normal" kill
37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill 37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill
38 38
39 # monitoring 39 # monitoring
40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
78 78
79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just 79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of 80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
81anything was listening for them or not. 81anything was listening for them or not.
82 82
83Ports are represented by (printable) strings called "port IDs".
84
83=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname> 85=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
84 86
85A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 87A 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). 88separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
87 89
91which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new 93which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
92ports. 94ports.
93 95
94Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private 96Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
95(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes 97(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
96currently. 98currently, but all nodes can talk to public nodes.
97 99
100Nodes is represented by (printable) strings called "node IDs".
101
98=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*> 102=item node ID - C<[A-Za-z0-9_\-.:]*>
99 103
100A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a 104A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
101network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a 105network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
102hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself 106hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
103doesn't interpret node IDs in any way. 107doesn't interpret node IDs in any way except to uniquely identify a node.
104 108
105=item binds - C<ip:port> 109=item binds - C<ip:port>
106 110
107Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to 111Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
108each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport 112each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
113endpoints - binds.
114
109endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can 115Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can be used, which
110be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on. 116specify TCP ports to listen on. So a bind is basically just a tcp socket
117in listening mode thta accepts conenctions form other nodes.
111 118
112=item seed nodes 119=item seed nodes
113 120
114When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node 121When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network it is in - it
115about the network it first has to contact some other node within the 122needs to connect to at least one other node that is already in the
116network. This node is called a seed. 123network. These other nodes are called "seed nodes".
117 124
118Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have 125Seed nodes themselves are not special - they are seed nodes only because
119to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes - 126some other node I<uses> them as such, but any node can be used as seed
120any node can function as a seed node for others. 127node for other nodes, and eahc node cna use a different set of seed nodes.
121 128
122In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to 129In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
123maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have 130maintain the network - all nodes using the same seed node form are part of
124trouble connecting. They form the backbone of an AnyEvent::MP network. 131the same network. If a network is split into multiple subnets because e.g.
132the network link between the parts goes down, then using the same seed
133nodes for all nodes ensures that eventually the subnets get merged again.
125 134
126Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node 135Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
127should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a 136should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
128seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else. 137seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
129 138
139For small networks, it's best if every node uses the same set of seed
140nodes. For large networks, it can be useful to specify "regional" seed
141nodes for most nodes in an area, and use all seed nodes as seed nodes for
142each other. What's important is that all seed nodes connections form a
143complete graph, so that the network cannot split into separate subnets
144forever.
145
146Seed nodes are represented by seed IDs.
147
130=item seeds - C<host:port> 148=item seed IDs - C<host:port>
131 149
132Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a 150Seed IDs are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
133TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes. 151TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
134 152
135The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running, 153=item global nodes
136and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out 154
137of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish 155An AEMP network needs a discovery service - nodes need to know how to
138connections to some seednodes again to join the network. 156connect to other nodes they only know by name. In addition, AEMP offers a
157distributed "group database", which maps group names to a list of strings
158- for example, to register worker ports.
159
160A network needs at least one global node to work, and allows every node to
161be a global node.
162
163Any node that loads the L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module becomes a global
164node and tries to keep connections to all other nodes. So while it can
165make sense to make every node "global" in small networks, it usually makes
166sense to only make seed nodes into global nodes in large networks (nodes
167keep connections to seed nodes and global nodes, so makign them the same
168reduces overhead).
139 169
140=back 170=back
141 171
142=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 172=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
143 173
145 175
146=cut 176=cut
147 177
148package AnyEvent::MP; 178package AnyEvent::MP;
149 179
180use AnyEvent::MP::Config ();
150use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel; 181use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
182use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel qw(%NODE %PORT %PORT_DATA $UNIQ $RUNIQ $ID);
151 183
152use common::sense; 184use common::sense;
153 185
154use Carp (); 186use Carp ();
155 187
156use AE (); 188use AE ();
157 189
158use base "Exporter"; 190use base "Exporter";
159 191
160our $VERSION = 1.23; 192our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Config::VERSION;
161 193
162our @EXPORT = qw( 194our @EXPORT = qw(
163 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 195 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
164 configure 196 configure
165 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal 197 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal
194some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes. 226some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
195 227
196This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or 228This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
197never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 229never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
198 230
231The key/value pairs are basically the same ones as documented for the
232F<aemp> command line utility (sans the set/del prefix), with two additions:
233
234=over 4
235
236=item norc => $boolean (default false)
237
238If true, then the rc file (e.g. F<~/.perl-anyevent-mp>) will I<not>
239be consulted - all configuraiton options must be specified in the
240C<configure> call.
241
242=item force => $boolean (default false)
243
244IF true, then the values specified in the C<configure> will take
245precedence over any values configured via the rc file. The default is for
246the rc file to override any options specified in the program.
247
248=back
249
199=over 4 250=over 4
200 251
201=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles 252=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
202 253
203The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the 254The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
216That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority 267That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
217and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority, 268and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
218and can only be used to specify defaults. 269and can only be used to specify defaults.
219 270
220If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of 271If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
221this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The 272this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID, with
222special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID. 273a slash (C</>) attached.
274
275If the node ID (or profile name) ends with a slash (C</>), then a random
276string is appended to make it unique.
223 277
224=item step 2, bind listener sockets 278=item step 2, bind listener sockets
225 279
226The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding 280The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
227aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid 281aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
233used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every 287used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
234local IP address it finds. 288local IP address it finds.
235 289
236=item step 3, connect to seed nodes 290=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
237 291
238As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the 292As the last step, the seed ID list from the profile is passed to the
239L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 293L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
240connectivity with at least one node at any point in time. 294connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
241 295
242=back 296=back
243 297
249Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 303Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
250clients. 304clients.
251 305
252 configure nodeid => "anon/"; 306 configure nodeid => "anon/";
253 307
254Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable 308Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which is suitable
255for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040, 309for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
256customary for aemp). 310customary for aemp).
257 311
258 # use the aemp commandline utility 312 # use the aemp commandline utility
259 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040' 313 # aemp profile seed binds '*:4040'
260 314
261 # then use it 315 # then use it
262 configure profile => "seed"; 316 configure profile => "seed";
263 317
264 # or simply use aemp from the shell again: 318 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
334sub _kilme { 388sub _kilme {
335 die "received message on port without callback"; 389 die "received message on port without callback";
336} 390}
337 391
338sub port(;&) { 392sub port(;&) {
339 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 393 my $id = "$UNIQ." . ++$ID;
340 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 394 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
341 395
342 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme; 396 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
343 397
344 $port 398 $port
492Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 546Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
493closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv> 547closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
494callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed. 548callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
495 549
496The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub { 550The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub {
497BLOCK } } >>. 551BLOCK }, @_ } >>.
498 552
499This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks: 553This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
500 554
501 rcv delayed_reply => sub { 555 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
502 my ($delay, @reply) = @_; 556 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
650 704
651=item kil $port[, @reason] 705=item kil $port[, @reason]
652 706
653Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 707Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
654 708
655If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports 709If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" -
656monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies 710monitor callback will be invoked, but the kil will not cause linked ports
657"normally"). 711(C<mon $mport, $lport> form) to get killed.
658 712
659Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 713If a C<@reason> is specified, then linked ports (C<mon $mport, $lport>
660C<mon>, see above). 714form) get killed with the same reason.
661 715
662Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 716Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
663will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 717will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
664 718
665Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 719Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
731} 785}
732 786
733sub spawn(@) { 787sub spawn(@) {
734 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; 788 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
735 789
736 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 790 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . ++$ID;
737 791
738 $_[0] =~ /::/ 792 $_[0] =~ /::/
739 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 793 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
740 794
741 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_; 795 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
742 796
743 "$nodeid#$id" 797 "$nodeid#$id"
744} 798}
799
745 800
746=item after $timeout, @msg 801=item after $timeout, @msg
747 802
748=item after $timeout, $callback 803=item after $timeout, $callback
749 804
859ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot 914ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
860occur. 915occur.
861 916
862=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 917=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
863 918
864Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore 919Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages out of order, and
865needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no 920therefore needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve
866useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of 921no useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities
867AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to 922of AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
868filter messages without dequeuing them. 923filter messages without dequeuing them.
869 924
870(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 925This is not a philosophical difference, but simply stems from AnyEvent::MP
926being event-based, while Erlang is process-based.
927
928You cna have a look at L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on
929top of AEMP and Coro threads.
871 930
872=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 931=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
873 932
874Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and 933Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process until
934a conenction has been established and the message sent (and so does not
875so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, 935need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends return immediately, connection
876connection establishment is handled in the background. 936establishment is handled in the background.
877 937
878=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. 938=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
879 939
880Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get 940Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
881lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, 941lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
882b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 942b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
883 943
884AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message 944AEMP guarantees (modulo hardware errors) correct ordering, and the
885is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until 945guarantee that after one message is lost, all following ones sent to the
886monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message 946same port are lost as well, until monitoring raises an error, so there are
887sequence. 947no silent "holes" in the message sequence.
948
949If you want your software to be very reliable, you have to cope with
950corrupted and even out-of-order messages in both Erlang and AEMP. AEMP
951simply tries to work better in common error cases, such as when a network
952link goes down.
888 953
889=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 954=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
890 955
891In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID 956In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses an Erlang
892known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages 957process ID known to other nodes for a completely different process,
893destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 958causing messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated
959process.
894 960
895AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 961AEMP does not reuse port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
896around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 962around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
897 963
898=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 964=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
899authentication and can use TLS. 965authentication and can use TLS.
900 966
903 969
904=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 970=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
905communications. 971communications.
906 972
907The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming 973The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
908language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 974language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging), and binary,
909language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is 975language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
910used, the protocol is actually completely text-based. 976used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
911 977
912It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 978It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
913with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the 979with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
914protocol simple. 980protocol simple.
915 981
916=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 982=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
917 983
918In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 984In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages or
919or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 985I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single Erlang processes is
920difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 986difficult to implement.
921Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 987
922on a per-process basis. 988Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in Erlang, as one can choose
989between automatic kill, exit message or callback on a per-port basis.
923 990
924=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 991=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
925 992
926Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the 993Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
927same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 994same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
949overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere. 1016overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
950 1017
951Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 1018Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
952procedures to be "valid". 1019procedures to be "valid".
953 1020
954And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a 1021And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single
955global hash - it can't become much cheaper. 1022code reference stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
956 1023
957=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable? 1024=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
958 1025
959In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 1026In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
960format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by 1027format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
976 1043
977L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction. 1044L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
978 1045
979L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff. 1046L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
980 1047
981L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find 1048L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintenance and port groups, to find
982your applications. 1049your applications.
1050
1051L<AnyEvent::MP::DataConn> - establish data connections between nodes.
983 1052
984L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from 1053L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
985all nodes. 1054all nodes.
986 1055
987L<AnyEvent>. 1056L<AnyEvent>.

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