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Revision 1.39 by root, Fri Aug 7 23:21:48 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.69 by root, Sun Aug 30 18:51:49 2009 UTC

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 13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node;
14 17
15 # ports are message endpoints 18 # ports are message endpoints
16 19
17 # sending messages 20 # sending messages
18 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg; 22 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
21 24
22 # miniports 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
24 27
25 # full ports 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
26 my $port = port; 29 my $port = port;
27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
30 32
31 # remote ports 33 # create a port on another node
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
33
34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
37 35
38 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42 40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - mostly stable
47 AnyEvent::MP::Node - mostly stable, but internal anyways
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable, but internal anyways
49
50 stay tuned.
51
43=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
44 53
45This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
46 55
47Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
48on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
49 58
50For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
51manual page. 60manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
52 61
53At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
54so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
55stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
56 63
57=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
58 65
59=over 4 66=over 4
60 67
61=item port 68=item port
62 69
63A 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).
64 71
65Some 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
66messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
67will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
68 75
69=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
70 77
71A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 78A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
72separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
73exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
74reference.
75 80
76=item node 81=item node
77 82
78A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 83A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
79port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 84which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
80create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
81 86
82Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
83master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
84 90
85=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
86 92
87A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 93A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
88private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 94network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
89node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
90 97
91This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
92TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
93 99
94Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
95addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 101each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
102endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
103be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
96 104
97Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
98resolve it. 106
107When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
108about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
109network. This node is called a seed.
110
111Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
112are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
113be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
114error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
115join the network.
116
117Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
118every public node can be a seednode.
99 119
100=back 120=back
101 121
102=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
103 123
105 125
106=cut 126=cut
107 127
108package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
109 129
110use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
111 131
112use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
113 133
114use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
115 135
116use AE (); 136use AE ();
117 137
118use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
119 139
120our $VERSION = '0.1'; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141
121our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
122 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
123 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
124 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
125 port 146 port
126); 147);
127 148
128our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
129 150
133 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
134} 155}
135 156
136=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
137 158
138The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
139the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 160ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
140to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
141identifiers become invalid.
142 162
143=item $noderef = node_of $port 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
144 164
145Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
146 166
147=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 167=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
148 168
149=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
150
151Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
152itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
153it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
154 173
155This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
156never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
157 176
158All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
159 179
160There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 180The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
161 182
162=over 4 183First, all remaining key => value pairs will be used. Then they will be
184overwritten by any values specified in the global default configuration
185(see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if
186any. That means that the values specified in the profile have highest
187priority and the values specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest
188priority.
163 189
164=item public nodes 190If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
191this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
192special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
165 193
166For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 194The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
167noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 195aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
168which case the noderef will be guessed. 196to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
197outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
198binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
169 199
170Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 200If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
171to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 201treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and
172and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network. 202used as binds list.
173 203
174=item slave nodes 204Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
205L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
206connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
175 207
176When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 208Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
177become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 209the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
178route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 210most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
179
180At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
181to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
182successfully connect to.
183
184=back
185
186This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
187nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
188server.
189
190Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
191 211
192 initialise_node; 212 initialise_node;
193 213
194Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 214Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
195servers to become part of the network. 215clients.
196 216
197 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
198
199Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
200
201 initialise_node 4041; 217 initialise_node "anon/";
202 218
203Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 219Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
220name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
221on the resulting addresses.
204 222
205 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 223 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
206
207Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
208
209 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
210
211=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
212
213Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
214abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
215reference.
216
217In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
218following forms are supported:
219
220=over 4
221
222=item the empty string
223
224An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
225specified.
226
227=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
228
229These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
230further resolved.
231
232=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
233
234These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
235looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
236specified.
237
238=back
239 224
240=item $SELF 225=item $SELF
241 226
242Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
243blocks. 228blocks.
244 229
245=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 230=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
246 231
247Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
248just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
249module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
250 235
251=item snd $port, type => @data 236=item snd $port, type => @data
252 237
253=item snd $port, @msg 238=item snd $port, @msg
254 239
255Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 240Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
256a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 241local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
257stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
258 242
259While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 243While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
260string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 244use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
261type etc.). 245request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
246arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
262 247
263The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 248The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
264function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 249function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
265problems. 250forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
251and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
252never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
253receiving port.
266 254
267The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 255The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
268JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 256JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
269of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 257of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
270that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 258that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
271node, anything can be passed. 259node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
260these.
272 261
273=item $local_port = port 262=item $local_port = port
274 263
275Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 264Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
276matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 265no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
277depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
278 266
279=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 267=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
280 268
281Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 269Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
282matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
283a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 270creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
284 271
285The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 272The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
286callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 273global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
287will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 274port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
275(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
288 276
289The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 277If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
290be passed to the callback.
291 278
292If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 279 my $port = port {
293 280 my @msg = @_;
294 my $port; $port = port { 281 ...
295 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 282 kil $SELF;
296 }; 283 };
297 284
298=cut 285=cut
299 286
300sub rcv($@); 287sub rcv($@);
288
289sub _kilme {
290 die "received message on port without callback";
291}
301 292
302sub port(;&) { 293sub port(;&) {
303 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 294 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
304 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 295 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
305 296
306 if (@_) { 297 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
307 rcv $port, shift;
308 } else {
309 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
310 }
311 298
312 $port 299 $port
313} 300}
314 301
315=item reg $port, $name
316
317=item reg $name
318
319Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
320C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
321
322A port can only be registered under one well known name.
323
324A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
325
326=cut
327
328sub reg(@) {
329 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
330
331 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
332}
333
334=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 302=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
335 303
336Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 304Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
337one if required). 305remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
338 306C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
339=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
340
341=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
342
343=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
344
345Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
346port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
347
348The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
349which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
350registered.
351 307
352The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 308The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
353executing the callback. 309executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
310result in the port being C<kil>ed.
354 311
355Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 312The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
356C<kil>ed. 313C<tag> match.
357 314
358If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 315=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
359first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
360matched.
361 316
362Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 317Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
363exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 318given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
319C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
320registered for each tag.
364 321
365While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 322The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
366element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 323element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
367also the most efficient match (by far). 324environment as the default callback (see above).
368 325
369Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 326Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
370 327
371 my $port = rcv port, 328 my $port = rcv port,
372 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 329 msg1 => sub { ... },
373 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 330 msg2 => sub { ... },
374 ; 331 ;
375 332
376Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 333Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
377in one go: 334in one go:
378 335
379 snd $otherport, reply => 336 snd $otherport, reply =>
380 rcv port, 337 rcv port,
381 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 338 msg1 => sub { ... },
382 ... 339 ...
383 ; 340 ;
341
342Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
343(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
344
345 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
346 my @reply = @_;
347
348 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
349 };
384 350
385=cut 351=cut
386 352
387sub rcv($@) { 353sub rcv($@) {
388 my $port = shift; 354 my $port = shift;
389 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 355 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
390 356
391 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 357 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 358 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
393 359
394 if (@_ == 1) { 360 while (@_) {
361 if (ref $_[0]) {
362 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
363 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
364 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
365
366 $self->[2] = shift;
367 } else {
395 my $cb = shift; 368 my $cb = shift;
396 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
397 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 369 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
398 local $SELF = $port; 370 local $SELF = $port;
399 eval { 371 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
400 &$cb 372 };
401 and kil $port;
402 }; 373 }
403 _self_die if $@; 374 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
404 };
405 } else {
406 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 375 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
407 my $self = bless { 376 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
408 id => $port,
409 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
410 377
411 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 378 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
412 local $SELF = $port; 379 local $SELF = $port;
413 380
414 eval {
415 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 381 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
416 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 382 shift;
417 && undef $_; 383 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
418 } 384 } else {
419
420 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
421 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
422 && &{$_->[0]} 385 &{ $self->[0] };
423 && undef $_;
424 }
425
426 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
427 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
428 && &{$_->[0]}
429 && undef $_;
430 } 386 }
431 }; 387 };
432 _self_die if $@; 388
389 $self
433 }; 390 };
434 391
435 $self
436 };
437
438 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 392 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
439 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
440 394
441 while (@_) {
442 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 395 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
443 396
444 if (!ref $match) { 397 if (defined $cb) {
445 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 398 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
446 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
447 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
448 @match
449 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
450 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
451 } else { 399 } else {
452 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 400 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
453 } 401 }
454 } 402 }
455 } 403 }
456 404
457 $port 405 $port
493 $res 441 $res
494 } 442 }
495 } 443 }
496} 444}
497 445
498=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 446=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
499 447
500=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 448=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
501 449
502=item $guard = mon $port 450=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
503 451
504=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 452=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
505 453
506Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and 454Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
507optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again. 455messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
456to stop monitoring again.
457
458C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
459after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
460arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
461loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
462the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
463port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
464delivered again.
465
466Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
467monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
508 468
509In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 469In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
510number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 470number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
511"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 471"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
512C<eval> if unsure. 472C<eval> if unsure.
513 473
514In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport) 474In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
515will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on 475will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
516"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 476"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
517port is killed with the same reason. 477port is killed with the same reason.
518 478
519The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 479The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
546sub mon { 506sub mon {
547 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
548 508
549 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
550 510
551 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 511 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
552 512
553 unless (ref $cb) { 513 unless (ref $cb) {
554 if (@_) { 514 if (@_) {
555 # send a kill info message 515 # send a kill info message
556 my (@msg) = @_; 516 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
557 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 517 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
558 } else { 518 } else {
559 # simply kill other port 519 # simply kill other port
560 my $port = $cb; 520 my $port = $cb;
561 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ }; 521 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
574is killed, the references will be freed. 534is killed, the references will be freed.
575 535
576Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 536Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
577 537
578This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 538This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
579want to free them when the port gets killed: 539want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
580 540
581 $port->rcv (start => sub { 541 $port->rcv (start => sub {
582 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 542 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
583 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 543 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
584 }); 544 });
585 }); 545 });
586 546
587=cut 547=cut
596 556
597=item kil $port[, @reason] 557=item kil $port[, @reason]
598 558
599Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
600 560
601If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
602ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 562monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
563"normally").
603 564
604Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 565Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
605C<mon>, see below). 566C<mon>, see above).
606 567
607Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 568Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
608will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 569will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
609 570
610Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 571Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
615=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 576=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
616 577
617Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 578Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
618case it's the node where that port resides). 579case it's the node where that port resides).
619 580
620The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 581The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
621permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 582possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
622 583
623After the port has been created, the init function is 584After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
624called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 585node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
625(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). 586fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
587specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
626 588
627If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 589If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
628the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 590the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
629C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 591C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
630exists or it runs out of package names. 592exists or it runs out of package names.
631 593
632The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 594The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
633object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 595object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
634 596
635A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 597A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
636in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 598port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
637ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 599local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
600when there is a problem.
638 601
639Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 602Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
640 603
641 # this node, executed from within a port context: 604 # this node, executed from within a port context:
642 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 605 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
672 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 635 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
673 636
674 $_[0] =~ /::/ 637 $_[0] =~ /::/
675 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 638 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
676 639
677 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 640 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
678 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
679 641
680 "$noderef#$id" 642 "$noderef#$id"
681} 643}
682 644
683=back 645=item after $timeout, @msg
684 646
685=head1 NODE MESSAGES 647=item after $timeout, $callback
686 648
687Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 649Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
688arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 650specified number of seconds.
689message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
690the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
691 651
692While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 652This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
653AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
654so it may go away in the future.
693 655
694=over 4
695
696=cut 656=cut
697 657
698=item lookup => $name, @reply 658sub after($@) {
659 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
699 660
700Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 661 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
701 662 undef $t;
702=item devnull => ... 663 ref $action[0]
703 664 ? $action[0]()
704Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 665 : snd @action;
705 666 };
706=item relay => $port, @msg 667}
707
708Simply forwards the message to the given port.
709
710=item eval => $string[ @reply]
711
712Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
713form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
714
715Example: crash another node.
716
717 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
718
719=item time => @reply
720
721Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
722
723Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
724C<timereply> message.
725
726 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
727 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
728 668
729=back 669=back
730 670
731=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 671=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
732 672
742 682
743Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 683Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
744 684
745=over 4 685=over 4
746 686
747=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 687=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
748 688
749Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 689Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
750same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 690way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
751convenience functionality. 691configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
752 692
753This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 693=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
754cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 694uses "local ports are like remote ports".
695
696The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
697only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
698when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
699port.
700
701Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
702they are not.
703
704AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
705ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
706occur.
755 707
756=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 708=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
757 709
758Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 710Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
759needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 711needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
760purpose. 712useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
713AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
714filter messages without dequeing them.
761 715
762(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 716(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
763 717
764=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 718=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
765 719
766Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 720Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
767sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 721so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
768background. 722connection establishment is handled in the background.
769 723
770=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 724=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
771 725
772Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 726Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
773without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 727without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
774and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 728and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
775 729
776AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 730AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
777holes in the message sequence. 731is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
778 732monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
779=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 733sequence.
780alive.
781
782In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
783linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
784still alive - and can receive messages.
785
786In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
787eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
788and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
789 734
790=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 735=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
791 736
792In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 737In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
793ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 738known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
794messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 739destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
795 740
796AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 741AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
797around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 742around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
798 743
799=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 744=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
800authentication and can use TLS. 745authentication and can use TLS.
801 746
802AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 747AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
803securely authenticate nodes. 748securely authenticate nodes.
804 749
805=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 750=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
806communications. 751communications.
807 752
808The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 753The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
809language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 754language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
810language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 755language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
756used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
811 757
812It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 758It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
813with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 759with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
814protocol simple. 760protocol simple.
815 761
816=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 762=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
817 763
818In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 764In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
821Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 767Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
822on a per-process basis. 768on a per-process basis.
823 769
824=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 770=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
825 771
826Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 772Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
827as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 773same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
828 774
829In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 775In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
830that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 776that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
831on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 777on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
832the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 778remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
833more reliable. 779reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
834 780
835This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 781This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
836(hard to do in Erlang). 782(hard to do in Erlang).
837 783
838=back 784=back
839 785
786=head1 RATIONALE
787
788=over 4
789
790=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
791
792We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
793that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
794the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
795overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
796
797Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
798procedures to be "valid".
799
800And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
801global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
802
803=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
804
805In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
806format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
807default (although all nodes will accept it).
808
809The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
810faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
811experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
812than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
813easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
814always have to re-think your design.
815
816Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
817objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
818
819=back
820
840=head1 SEE ALSO 821=head1 SEE ALSO
822
823L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
824
825L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
826
827L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
828your applications.
841 829
842L<AnyEvent>. 830L<AnyEvent>.
843 831
844=head1 AUTHOR 832=head1 AUTHOR
845 833

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