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Comparing AnyEvent-MP/MP.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.29 by root, Tue Aug 4 23:16:57 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.36 by root, Thu Aug 6 10:46:48 2009 UTC

23 23
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27 27
28 # linking two ports, so they both crash together
29 lnk $port1, $port2;
30
31 # monitoring
32 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
33 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
34 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
35
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 36=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 37
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 38This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 39
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 40Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
53 61
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 62=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 63
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 64A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 65separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to it's node 66exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 67reference.
60 68
61=item node 69=item node
62 70
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 71A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
103use base "Exporter"; 111use base "Exporter";
104 112
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 113our $VERSION = '0.1';
106our @EXPORT = qw( 114our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 115 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
108 resolve_node 116 resolve_node initialise_node
109 become_slave become_public
110 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 117 snd rcv mon kil reg psub
111 port 118 port
112); 119);
113 120
114our $SELF; 121our $SELF;
124The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 131The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
125the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 132the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
126to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 133to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
127identifiers become invalid. 134identifiers become invalid.
128 135
129=item $noderef = node_of $portid 136=item $noderef = node_of $port
130 137
131Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 138Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
139
140=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
141
142=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
143
144Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
145itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
146it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
147
148This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
149never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
150
151All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
152
153There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
154
155=over 4
156
157=item public nodes
158
159For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
160noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
161which case the noderef will be guessed.
162
163Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
164to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
165and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
166
167=item slave nodes
168
169When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
170become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
171route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
172
173At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
174to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
175successfully connect to.
176
177=back
178
179This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
180nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
181server.
182
183Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
184
185 initialise_node;
186
187Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
188servers to become part of the network.
189
190 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
191
192Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
193
194 initialise_node 4041;
195
196Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
197
198 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
199
200Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
201
202 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
132 203
133=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 204=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
134 205
135Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 206Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
136abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 207abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
168 239
169Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 240Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
170just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 241just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
171module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 242module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
172 243
173=item snd $portid, type => @data 244=item snd $port, type => @data
174 245
175=item snd $portid, @msg 246=item snd $port, @msg
176 247
177Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 248Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
178a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 249a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
179stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 250stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
180 251
190JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 261JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
191of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 262of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
192that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 263that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
193node, anything can be passed. 264node, anything can be passed.
194 265
195=item kil $portid[, @reason]
196
197Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
198
199If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
200ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
201
202Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
203C<mon>, see below).
204
205Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
206will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
207
208Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
209$message >>.
210
211=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason)
212
213=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
214
215=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
216
217Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
218
219In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
220of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
221"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
222C<eval> if unsure.
223
224In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
225a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
226under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
227
228In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
229
230Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
231
232 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
233
234Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
235
236 mon $port, $self;
237
238Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
239
240 mon $port, $self => "restart";
241
242=cut
243
244sub mon {
245 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
246
247 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
248
249 #TODO: ports must not be references
250 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
251 if (@_) {
252 # send a kill info message
253 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
254 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
255 } else {
256 # simply kill other port
257 my $port = $cb;
258 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
259 }
260 }
261
262 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
263
264 defined wantarray
265 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
266}
267
268=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
269
270Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
271is killed, the references will be freed.
272
273Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
274
275This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
276want to free them when the port gets killed:
277
278 $port->rcv (start => sub {
279 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
280 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
281 });
282 });
283
284=cut
285
286sub mon_guard {
287 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
288
289 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
290}
291
292=item lnk $port1, $port2
293
294Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
295
296 mon $port1, $port2;
297 mon $port2, $port1;
298
299It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
300killed as well.
301
302=item $local_port = port 266=item $local_port = port
303 267
304Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 268Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
269matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
270depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
305 271
306=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 272=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
307 273
308Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 274Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
309pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 275matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
276a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
310 277
311The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 278The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
312callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 279callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
313will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 280will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
314 281
315The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 282The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
316be passed to the callback. 283be passed to the callback.
317 284
318If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 285If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
319 286
320 my $port; $port = miniport { 287 my $port; $port = port {
321 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 288 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
322 }; 289 };
323 290
324=cut 291=cut
292
293sub rcv($@);
325 294
326sub port(;&) { 295sub port(;&) {
327 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 296 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
328 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 297 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
329 298
330 if (@_) { 299 if (@_) {
300 rcv $port, shift;
301 } else {
302 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
303 }
304
305 $port
306}
307
308=item reg $port, $name
309
310=item reg $name
311
312Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
313C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
314
315A port can only be registered under one well known name.
316
317A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
318
319=cut
320
321sub reg(@) {
322 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
323
324 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
325}
326
327=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
328
329Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
330one if required).
331
332=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
333
334=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
335
336=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
337
338Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
339port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
340
341The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
342which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
343registered.
344
345The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
346executing the callback.
347
348Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
349C<kil>ed.
350
351If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
352first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
353matched.
354
355Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
356exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
357
358While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
359element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
360also the most efficient match (by far).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
366 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
375 ...
376 ;
377
378=cut
379
380sub rcv($@) {
381 my $port = shift;
382 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
383
384 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
385 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
386
387 if (@_ == 1) {
331 my $cb = shift; 388 my $cb = shift;
389 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
332 $PORT{$id} = sub { 390 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
333 local $SELF = $port; 391 local $SELF = $port;
334 eval { 392 eval {
335 &$cb 393 &$cb
336 and kil $id; 394 and kil $port;
337 }; 395 };
338 _self_die if $@; 396 _self_die if $@;
339 }; 397 };
340 } else { 398 } else {
399 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
341 my $self = bless { 400 my $self = bless {
342 id => "$NODE#$id", 401 id => $port,
343 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 402 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
344 403
345 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
346 $PORT{$id} = sub { 404 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
347 local $SELF = $port; 405 local $SELF = $port;
348 406
349 eval { 407 eval {
350 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 408 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
351 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 409 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
352 && undef $_; 410 && undef $_;
353 } 411 }
354 412
355 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) { 413 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
356 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 414 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
357 && &{$_->[0]} 415 && &{$_->[0]}
358 && undef $_; 416 && undef $_;
359 } 417 }
360 418
361 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 419 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
362 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 420 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
363 && &{$_->[0]} 421 && &{$_->[0]}
364 && undef $_; 422 && undef $_;
423 }
365 } 424 };
425 _self_die if $@;
366 }; 426 };
367 _self_die if $@; 427
428 $self
368 }; 429 };
369 }
370 430
371 $port
372}
373
374=item reg $portid, $name
375
376Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
377exists it is replaced.
378
379A port can only be registered under one well known name.
380
381A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
382
383=cut
384
385sub reg(@) {
386 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
387
388 $REG{$name} = $portid;
389}
390
391=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
392
393=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
394
395=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
396
397Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
398
399The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
400which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
401registered.
402
403The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
404executing the callback.
405
406Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
407C<kil>ed.
408
409If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
410first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
411matched.
412
413Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
414exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
415
416While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
417element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
418also the most efficient match (by far).
419
420=cut
421
422sub rcv($@) {
423 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
424
425 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
426 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
427
428 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
429 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430
431 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 431 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
432 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 432 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
433 433
434 while (@_) { 434 while (@_) {
435 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 435 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
436 436
437 if (!ref $match) { 437 if (!ref $match) {
438 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 438 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
439 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 439 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
440 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 440 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
441 @match 441 @match
442 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 442 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
443 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb]; 443 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
444 } else { 444 } else {
445 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 445 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
446 }
446 } 447 }
447 } 448 }
449
450 $port
448} 451}
449 452
450=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 453=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
451 454
452Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 455Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
483 $res 486 $res
484 } 487 }
485 } 488 }
486} 489}
487 490
488=back 491=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
489 492
490=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 493=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
491 494
492=over 4 495=item $guard = mon $port
493 496
494=item become_public $noderef 497=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
495 498
496Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 499Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and
500optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again.
497 501
498The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node 502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
499(if missing then the empty string is used). 503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
504"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
505C<eval> if unsure.
500 506
501It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node 507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport)
502tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in 508will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
503which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses. 509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
510port is killed with the same reason.
504 511
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514
515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>.
517
518Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
519
520 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
521
522Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
523
524 mon $port;
525
526Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
527
528 mon $port, $self => "restart";
529
505=cut 530=cut
531
532sub mon {
533 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
534
535 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
536
537 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
538
539 unless (ref $cb) {
540 if (@_) {
541 # send a kill info message
542 my (@msg) = @_;
543 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
544 } else {
545 # simply kill other port
546 my $port = $cb;
547 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
548 }
549 }
550
551 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
552
553 defined wantarray
554 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
555}
556
557=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
558
559Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
560is killed, the references will be freed.
561
562Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
563
564This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
565want to free them when the port gets killed:
566
567 $port->rcv (start => sub {
568 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
569 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
570 });
571 });
572
573=cut
574
575sub mon_guard {
576 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
577
578 #TODO: mon-less form?
579
580 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
581}
582
583=item lnk $port1, $port2
584
585=item lnk $otherport
586
587Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
588
589 mon $port1, $port2;
590 mon $port2, $port1;
591
592It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
593killed as well.
594
595The one-argument form assumes that one port is C<$SELF>.
596
597=cut
598
599sub lnk {
600 my $port1 = shift;
601 my $port2 = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'lnk: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
602
603 mon $port1, $port2;
604 mon $port2, $port1;
605}
606
607=item kil $port[, @reason]
608
609Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
610
611If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
612ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
613
614Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
615C<mon>, see below).
616
617Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
618will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
619
620Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
621$message >>.
506 622
507=back 623=back
508 624
509=head1 NODE MESSAGES 625=head1 NODE MESSAGES
510 626
552 668
553=back 669=back
554 670
555=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 671=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
556 672
557AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 673AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
558== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 674== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
559programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 675programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
560sample: 676sample:
561 677
562 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 678 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
563 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 679 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
564 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 680 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
565 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 681 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
566 682
567Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 683Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
568 684
569=over 4 685=over 4
570 686
581 697
582Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 698Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
583needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 699needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
584purpose. 700purpose.
585 701
586(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 702(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
587 703
588=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 704=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
589 705
590Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 706Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
591sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 707sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
592background. 708background.
593 709
594=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 710=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
595 711
598and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 714and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
599 715
600AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 716AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
601holes in the message sequence. 717holes in the message sequence.
602 718
603=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 719=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
604alive. 720alive.
605 721
606In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 722In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
607linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 723linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
608still alive - and can receive messages. 724still alive - and can receive messages.
609 725
610In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 726In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
611eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 727eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
612and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 728and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
613 729
614=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 730=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
615 731
616In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 732In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
617ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 733ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
618messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 734messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
619 735
620AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 736AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
621around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 737around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
627securely authenticate nodes. 743securely authenticate nodes.
628 744
629=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 745=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
630communications. 746communications.
631 747
632The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 748The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
633language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 749language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
634language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 750language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
635 751
636It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 752It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
637with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 753with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
638protocol simple. 754protocol simple.
639 755
756=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
757
758In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
759or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
760difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
761Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
762on a per-process basis.
763
764=item * Erlang has different semantics for monitoring and linking, AEMP has the same.
765
766Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
767as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, the
768semantics of monitoring and linking are identical, linking is simply
769two-way monitoring with automatic kill.
770
640=back 771=back
641 772
642=head1 SEE ALSO 773=head1 SEE ALSO
643 774
644L<AnyEvent>. 775L<AnyEvent>.

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