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Revision 1.63 by root, Thu Aug 27 21:29:37 2009 UTC

8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node;
17
18 # ports are message endpoints
19
20 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
22 snd $port, @msg;
23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 24
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 27
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 29 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 32
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 33 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 35
36 # monitoring
37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
46 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
47
48 stay tuned.
27 49
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 51
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 53
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 57For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 58manual page.
37 59
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 60At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 61so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 62stay tuned!
41 63
42=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
43 65
44=over 4 66=over 4
45 67
46=item port 68=item port
47 69
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 70A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 71
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 72Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages will not be queued.
52will not be queued.
53 74
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 75=item port ID - C<noderef#portname>
55 76
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 77A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 78separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 79exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 80reference.
60 81
61=item node 82=item node
62 83
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 84A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 85which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 86ports.
66 87
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 88Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 89public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
90from any other node).
69 91
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 92=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
71 93
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 94A node ID is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 95private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
74node (for public nodes). 96node (for public nodes).
75 97
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different). 99TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
90 112
91=cut 113=cut
92 114
93package AnyEvent::MP; 115package AnyEvent::MP;
94 116
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 117use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 118
97use common::sense; 119use common::sense;
98 120
99use Carp (); 121use Carp ();
100 122
101use AE (); 123use AE ();
102 124
103use base "Exporter"; 125use base "Exporter";
104 126
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 127our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
128
106our @EXPORT = qw( 129our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 130 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node 131 resolve_node initialise_node
109 become_slave become_public
110 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 132 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
111 port 133 port
112); 134);
113 135
114our $SELF; 136our $SELF;
115 137
119 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 141 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
120} 142}
121 143
122=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 144=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
123 145
124The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 146The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
125the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 147node id of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
126to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 148C<initialise_node>.
127identifiers become invalid.
128 149
129=item $noderef = node_of $portid 150=item $nodeid = node_of $port
130 151
131Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 152Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a node ID.
153
154=item initialise_node $profile_name
155
156Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
157itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
158it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
159
160This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
161never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
162
163All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
164either resolved or unresolved.
165
166The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
167(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
168the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
169the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
170seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
171
172There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
173
174=over 4
175
176=item public nodes
177
178For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
179C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
180noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
181
182After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints.
183
184=item slave nodes
185
186When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
187is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
188node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside, and cannot talk to
189each other (at least in this version of AnyEvent::MP).
190
191Slave nodes work by creating connections to all public nodes, using the
192L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> service.
193
194=back
195
196After initialising itself, the node will connect to all additional
197C<$seednodes> that are specified diretcly or via a profile. Seednodes are
198optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
199network.
200
201All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
202connecting to them indefinitely, so make sure that seednodes are really
203reliable and up (this might also change in the future).
204
205Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
206specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
207form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
208
209 initialise_node;
210
211Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
212C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
213
214 initialise_node "slave/";
215
216Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
217servers to become part of the network.
218
219 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
220
221Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
222
223 initialise_node 4041;
224
225Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
226
227 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
132 228
133=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 229=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
134 230
135Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 231Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
136abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 232abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
168 264
169Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 265Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
170just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 266just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
171module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 267module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
172 268
173=item snd $portid, type => @data 269=item snd $port, type => @data
174 270
175=item snd $portid, @msg 271=item snd $port, @msg
176 272
177Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 273Send 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 274a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
179stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
180 275
181While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 276While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
182string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 277string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
183type etc.). 278type etc.).
184 279
185The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 280The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
186function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 281function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
187problems. 282problems.
190JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 285JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
191of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 286of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
192that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 287that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
193node, anything can be passed. 288node, anything can be passed.
194 289
195=item kil $portid[, @reason] 290=item $local_port = port
196 291
197Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 292Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
293no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198 294
199If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 295=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
200ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
201 296
202Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 297Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203C<mon>, see below). 298creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 299
205Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 300The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 301global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
302port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
303(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
207 304
208Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 305If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
209$message >>.
210 306
307 my $port = port {
308 my @msg = @_;
309 ...
310 kil $SELF;
311 };
312
313=cut
314
315sub rcv($@);
316
317sub _kilme {
318 die "received message on port without callback";
319}
320
321sub port(;&) {
322 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
323 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
324
325 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
326
327 $port
328}
329
330=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
331
332Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
333remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
334C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
335
336The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
337executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
338result in the port being C<kil>ed.
339
340The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
341C<tag> match.
342
343=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
344
345Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
346given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
347C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
348registered for each tag.
349
350The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
351element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
352environment as the default callback (see above).
353
354Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
355
356 my $port = rcv port,
357 msg1 => sub { ... },
358 msg2 => sub { ... },
359 ;
360
361Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
362in one go:
363
364 snd $otherport, reply =>
365 rcv port,
366 msg1 => sub { ... },
367 ...
368 ;
369
370Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
371(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
372
373 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
374 my @reply = @_;
375
376 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
377 };
378
379=cut
380
381sub rcv($@) {
382 my $port = shift;
383 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
384
385 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
387
388 while (@_) {
389 if (ref $_[0]) {
390 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
391 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
393
394 $self->[2] = shift;
395 } else {
396 my $cb = shift;
397 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
398 local $SELF = $port;
399 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
400 };
401 }
402 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
403 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
404 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
405
406 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
407 local $SELF = $port;
408
409 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
410 shift;
411 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
412 } else {
413 &{ $self->[0] };
414 }
415 };
416
417 $self
418 };
419
420 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
421 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
422
423 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
424
425 if (defined $cb) {
426 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
427 } else {
428 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
429 }
430 }
431 }
432
433 $port
434}
435
436=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
437
438Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
439closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
440callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
441
442This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
443
444 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
445 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
446 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
447 snd @reply, $SELF;
448 };
449 };
450
451=cut
452
453sub psub(&) {
454 my $cb = shift;
455
456 my $port = $SELF
457 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
458
459 sub {
460 local $SELF = $port;
461
462 if (wantarray) {
463 my @res = eval { &$cb };
464 _self_die if $@;
465 @res
466 } else {
467 my $res = eval { &$cb };
468 _self_die if $@;
469 $res
470 }
471 }
472}
473
211=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 474=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
212 475
213=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 476=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
214 477
478=item $guard = mon $port
479
215=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 480=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
216 481
217Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 482Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
483messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
484to stop monitoring again.
218 485
486C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
487that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
488will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
489message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
490(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
491port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
492delivered again.
493
494Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
495and will not trigger again.
496
219In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 497In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
220of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 498number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
221"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 499"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
222C<eval> if unsure. 500C<eval> if unsure.
223 501
224In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 502In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
225a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 503will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
226under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 504"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
505port is killed with the same reason.
227 506
507The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
508C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
509
228In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 510In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
511C<snd>.
512
513As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
514a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
515lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
516even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
517to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
518these problems do not exist.
229 519
230Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 520Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
231 521
232 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 522 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
233 523
234Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 524Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
235 525
236 mon $port, $self; 526 mon $port;
237 527
238Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 528Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
239 529
240 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 530 mon $port, $self => "restart";
241 531
242=cut 532=cut
243 533
244sub mon { 534sub mon {
245 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 535 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
246 536
247 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 537 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
248 538
249 my $cb = shift; 539 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
250 540
251 unless (ref $cb) { 541 unless (ref $cb) {
252 if (@_) { 542 if (@_) {
253 # send a kill info message 543 # send a kill info message
254 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 544 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
285=cut 575=cut
286 576
287sub mon_guard { 577sub mon_guard {
288 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 578 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
289 579
580 #TODO: mon-less form?
581
290 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 582 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
291} 583}
292 584
293=item lnk $port1, $port2 585=item kil $port[, @reason]
294 586
295Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 587Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
296 588
297 mon $port1, $port2; 589If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
298 mon $port2, $port1; 590ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
299 591
300It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 592Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
301killed as well. 593C<mon>, see below).
302 594
303=item $local_port = port 595Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
596will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
304 597
305Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 598Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
599$message >>.
306 600
307=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
308
309Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
310pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
311
312The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
313callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
314will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
315
316The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
317be passed to the callback.
318
319If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
320
321 my $port; $port = miniport {
322 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
323 };
324
325=cut 601=cut
326 602
327sub port(;&) { 603=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
328 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
329 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
330 604
331 if (@_) { 605Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
332 my $cb = shift; 606case it's the node where that port resides).
333 $PORT{$id} = sub { 607
334 local $SELF = $port; 608The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
335 eval { 609permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
336 &$cb 610
337 and kil $id; 611After the port has been created, the init function is
612called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
613(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
614program, use C<::name>.
615
616If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
617the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
618C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
619exists or it runs out of package names.
620
621The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
622object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
623
624A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
625in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
626ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
627
628Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
629
630 # this node, executed from within a port context:
631 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
632 mon $server;
633
634 # init function on C<$othernode>
635 sub connect {
636 my ($srcport) = @_;
637
638 mon $srcport;
639
640 rcv $SELF, sub {
338 }; 641 ...
339 _self_die if $@;
340 };
341 } else {
342 my $self = bless {
343 id => "$NODE#$id",
344 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
345
346 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
347 $PORT{$id} = sub {
348 local $SELF = $port;
349
350 eval {
351 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
352 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
353 && undef $_;
354 }
355
356 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
357 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
358 && &{$_->[0]}
359 && undef $_;
360 }
361
362 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
363 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
364 && &{$_->[0]}
365 && undef $_;
366 }
367 };
368 _self_die if $@;
369 }; 642 };
370 } 643 }
371 644
372 $port
373}
374
375=item reg $portid, $name
376
377Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
378exists it is replaced.
379
380A port can only be registered under one well known name.
381
382A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
383
384=cut 645=cut
385 646
386sub reg(@) { 647sub _spawn {
387 my ($portid, $name) = @_; 648 my $port = shift;
649 my $init = shift;
388 650
389 $REG{$name} = $portid; 651 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
390} 652 eval {
391 653 &{ load_func $init }
392=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
393
394=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
395
396=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
397
398Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
399
400The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
401which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
402registered.
403
404The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
405executing the callback.
406
407Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
408C<kil>ed.
409
410If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
411first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
412matched.
413
414Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
415exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
416
417While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
418element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
419also the most efficient match (by far).
420
421=cut
422
423sub rcv($@) {
424 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
425
426 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
427 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
428
429 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
430 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
431
432 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
433 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
434
435 while (@_) {
436 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
437
438 if (!ref $match) {
439 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
440 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
441 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
442 @match
443 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
444 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
445 } else {
446 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
447 }
448 }
449}
450
451=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
452
453Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
454closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
455callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
456
457This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
458
459 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
460 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
461 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
462 snd @reply, $SELF;
463 };
464 }; 654 };
465
466=cut
467
468sub psub(&) {
469 my $cb = shift;
470
471 my $port = $SELF
472 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
473
474 sub {
475 local $SELF = $port;
476
477 if (wantarray) {
478 my @res = eval { &$cb };
479 _self_die if $@; 655 _self_die if $@;
480 @res 656}
481 } else { 657
482 my $res = eval { &$cb }; 658sub spawn(@) {
483 _self_die if $@; 659 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
484 $res 660
485 } 661 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
662
663 $_[0] =~ /::/
664 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
665
666 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
667
668 "$noderef#$id"
669}
670
671=item after $timeout, @msg
672
673=item after $timeout, $callback
674
675Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
676specified number of seconds.
677
678This is simply a utility function that come sin handy at times.
679
680=cut
681
682sub after($@) {
683 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
684
685 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
686 undef $t;
687 ref $action[0]
688 ? $action[0]()
689 : snd @action;
486 } 690 };
487} 691}
488 692
489=back 693=back
490 694
491=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
492
493=over 4
494
495=item become_public $noderef
496
497Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
498
499The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
500(if missing then the empty string is used).
501
502It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
503tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
504which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
505
506=cut
507
508=back
509
510=head1 NODE MESSAGES
511
512Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
513arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
514message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
515the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
516
517While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
518
519=over 4
520
521=cut
522
523=item lookup => $name, @reply
524
525Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
526
527=item devnull => ...
528
529Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
530
531=item relay => $port, @msg
532
533Simply forwards the message to the given port.
534
535=item eval => $string[ @reply]
536
537Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
538form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
539
540Example: crash another node.
541
542 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
543
544=item time => @reply
545
546Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
547
548Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
549C<timereply> message.
550
551 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
552 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
553
554=back
555
556=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 695=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
557 696
558AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 697AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
559== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 698== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
560programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 699programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
561sample: 700sample:
562 701
563 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 702 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
564 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 703 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
565 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 704 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
566 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 705 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
567 706
568Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 707Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
569 708
570=over 4 709=over 4
571 710
576convenience functionality. 715convenience functionality.
577 716
578This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 717This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
579cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 718cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
580 719
720=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
721uses "local ports are like remote ports".
722
723The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
724only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
725when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
726port.
727
728Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
729they are not.
730
731AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
732ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
733occur.
734
581=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 735=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
582 736
583Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 737Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
584needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 738needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
585purpose. 739useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
740AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
741filter messages without dequeing them.
586 742
587(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 743(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
588 744
589=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 745=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
590 746
591Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 747Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
592sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 748so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
593background. 749connection establishment is handled in the background.
594 750
595=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 751=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
596 752
597Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 753Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
598without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 754without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
599and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 755and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
600 756
601AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 757AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
602holes in the message sequence. 758holes in the message sequence.
603 759
604=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 760=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
605alive. 761alive.
606 762
607In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 763In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
608linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 764linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
609still alive - and can receive messages. 765still alive - and can receive messages.
610 766
611In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 767In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
612eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 768eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
613and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 769and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
614 770
615=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 771=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
616 772
617In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 773In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
618ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 774known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
619messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 775destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
620 776
621AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 777AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
622around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 778around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
623 779
624=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 780=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
628securely authenticate nodes. 784securely authenticate nodes.
629 785
630=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 786=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
631communications. 787communications.
632 788
633The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 789The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
634language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 790language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
635language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 791language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
636 792
637It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 793It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
638with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 794with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
639protocol simple. 795protocol simple.
640 796
797=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
798
799In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
800or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
801difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
802Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
803on a per-process basis.
804
805=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
806
807Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
808as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
809
810In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
811that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
812on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
813the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
814more reliable.
815
816This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
817(hard to do in Erlang).
818
819=back
820
821=head1 RATIONALE
822
823=over 4
824
825=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
826
827We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
828thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
829the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
830overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
831
832Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
833procedures to be "valid".
834
835And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
836can't become much cheaper.
837
838=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
839
840In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
841format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
842default.
843
844The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
845faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
846experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
847than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
848easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
849always have to re-think your design.
850
851Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
852objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
853
641=back 854=back
642 855
643=head1 SEE ALSO 856=head1 SEE ALSO
644 857
645L<AnyEvent>. 858L<AnyEvent>.

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