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Revision 1.51 by root, Fri Aug 14 14:07:44 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; # -OR-
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19
20 # ports are message endpoints
21
22 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 26
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $somple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, type matching
18 31 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 34
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
27 51
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 53
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 55
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts.
34 58
59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
60manual page.
61
35At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
36so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
37stay tuned! 64stay tuned!
38 65
39=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
40 67
41=over 4 68=over 4
42 69
43=item port 70=item port
44 71
45A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
46you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 73
47messages they match, messages will not be queued. 74Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
75messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
76will not be queued.
48 77
49=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 78=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
50 79
51A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 80A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
52by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 81separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
82exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
83reference.
53 84
54=item node 85=item node
55 86
56A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 87A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
57port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 88port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
58among other things. 89create new ports, among other things.
59 90
60Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 91Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
61(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 92master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
62public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
63 93
64=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 94=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
65 95
66A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 96A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
67private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 97private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
68node (for public nodes). 98node (for public nodes).
69 99
100This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
101TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
102
103Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
104addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
105
106Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
107resolve it.
108
70=back 109=back
71 110
72=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 111=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
73 112
74=over 4 113=over 4
75 114
76=cut 115=cut
77 116
78package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
79 118
80use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
81 120
82use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
83 122
84use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
85 124
86use AE (); 125use AE ();
87 126
88use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
89 128
90our $VERSION = '0.02'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
91our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
92 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
93 become_slave become_public 133 resolve_node initialise_node
94 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
95 port 135 port
96); 136);
97 137
98our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
99 139
108The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
109the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 149the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
110to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
111identifiers become invalid. 151identifiers become invalid.
112 152
113=item $noderef = node_of $portid 153=item $noderef = node_of $port
114 154
115Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 155Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
156
157=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
158
159=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
160
161Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
162itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
163it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
164
165This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
166never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
167
168All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
169either resolved or unresolved.
170
171The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
172(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
173the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
174the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
175seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
176
177There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
178
179=over 4
180
181=item public nodes
182
183For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
184C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
185noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
186
187After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
188connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
189optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
190network.
191
192=item slave nodes
193
194When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
195is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
196node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
197their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
198
199At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
200directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
201will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
202first node it can successfully connect to.
203
204=back
205
206This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
207nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
208server.
209
210Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
211specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
212form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
213
214 initialise_node;
215
216Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
217C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
218
219 initialise_node "slave/";
220
221Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
222form is also often used for commandline clients.
223
224 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
225
226Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
227servers to become part of the network.
228
229 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
230
231Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
232
233 initialise_node 4041;
234
235Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
236
237 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
238
239=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
240
241Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
242abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
243reference.
244
245In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
246following forms are supported:
247
248=over 4
249
250=item the empty string
251
252An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
253specified.
254
255=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
256
257These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
258further resolved.
259
260=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
261
262These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
263looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
264specified.
265
266=back
116 267
117=item $SELF 268=item $SELF
118 269
119Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 270Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
120blocks. 271blocks.
123 274
124Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 275Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
125just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 276just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
126module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 277module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
127 278
128=item snd $portid, type => @data 279=item snd $port, type => @data
129 280
130=item snd $portid, @msg 281=item snd $port, @msg
131 282
132Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 283Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
133a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 284a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
134stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 285stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
135 286
145JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 296JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
146of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 297of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
147that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 298that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
148node, anything can be passed. 299node, anything can be passed.
149 300
150=item kil $portid[, @reason] 301=item $local_port = port
151 302
152Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 303Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
304no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
153 305
154If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 306=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
155ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
156 307
157Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 308Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
158C<mon>, see below). 309creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
159 310
160Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 311The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
161will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 312global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
313port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
314(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
162 315
163Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 316If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
164$message >>.
165 317
166=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 318 my $port = port {
167
168=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
169
170=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
171
172Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
173
174In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
175of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
176"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
177C<eval> if unsure.
178
179In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
180a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
181under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
182
183In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
184
185Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
186
187 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
188
189Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
190
191 mon $port, $self;
192
193Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
194
195 mon $port, $self => "restart";
196
197=cut
198
199sub mon {
200 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
201
202 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
203
204 #TODO: ports must not be references
205 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
206 if (@_) {
207 # send a kill info message
208 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 319 my @msg = @_;
209 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
210 } else {
211 # simply kill other port
212 my $port = $cb;
213 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
214 } 320 ...
321 kil $SELF;
215 } 322 };
216 323
217 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 324=cut
218 325
219 defined wantarray 326sub rcv($@);
220 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 327
328sub _kilme {
329 die "received message on port without callback";
221} 330}
222
223=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
224
225Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
226is killed, the references will be freed.
227
228Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
229
230This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
231want to free them when the port gets killed:
232
233 $port->rcv (start => sub {
234 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
235 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
236 });
237 });
238
239=cut
240
241sub mon_guard {
242 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
243
244 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
245}
246
247=item $local_port = port
248
249Create a new local port object that supports message matching.
250
251=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
252
253Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
254pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
255
256The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
257callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
258will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
259
260The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
261be passed to the callback.
262
263If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
264
265 my $port; $port = miniport {
266 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
267 };
268
269=cut
270 331
271sub port(;&) { 332sub port(;&) {
272 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 333 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
273 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 334 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
274 335
275 if (@_) { 336 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
276 my $cb = shift;
277 $PORT{$id} = sub {
278 local $SELF = $port;
279 eval {
280 &$cb
281 and kil $id;
282 };
283 _self_die if $@;
284 };
285 } else {
286 my $self = bless {
287 id => "$NODE#$id",
288 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
289
290 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
291 $PORT{$id} = sub {
292 local $SELF = $port;
293
294 eval {
295 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
296 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
297 && undef $_;
298 }
299
300 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
301 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
302 && &{$_->[0]}
303 && undef $_;
304 }
305
306 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
307 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
308 && &{$_->[0]}
309 && undef $_;
310 }
311 };
312 _self_die if $@;
313 };
314 }
315 337
316 $port 338 $port
317} 339}
318 340
319=item reg $portid, $name 341=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
320 342
321Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 343Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
322exists it is replaced. 344remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
345C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
323 346
324A port can only be registered under one well known name.
325
326A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
327
328=cut
329
330sub reg(@) {
331 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
332
333 $REG{$name} = $portid;
334}
335
336=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
337
338=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
339
340=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
341
342Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
343
344The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
345which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
346registered.
347
348The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while 347The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
349executing the callback. 348executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
349result in the port being C<kil>ed.
350 350
351Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 351The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
352C<kil>ed. 352C<tag> match.
353 353
354If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 354=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
355first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
356matched.
357 355
358Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 356Register callbacks to be called on messages starting with the given tag on
359exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 357the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when C<$callback>
358is C<$undef>).
360 359
361While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 360The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
362element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 361element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
363also the most efficient match (by far). 362environment as the default callback (see above).
363
364Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
365
366 my $port = rcv port,
367 msg1 => sub { ... },
368 msg2 => sub { ... },
369 ;
370
371Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
372in one go:
373
374 snd $otherport, reply =>
375 rcv port,
376 msg1 => sub { ... },
377 ...
378 ;
364 379
365=cut 380=cut
366 381
367sub rcv($@) { 382sub rcv($@) {
383 my $port = shift;
368 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 384 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
369 385
370 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 386 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
371 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 387 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
372
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
374 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
375
376 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
377 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
378 388
379 while (@_) { 389 while (@_) {
380 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
381
382 if (!ref $match) { 390 if (ref $_[0]) {
383 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 391 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
384 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 392 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
385 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
386 @match 394
387 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 395 $self->[2] = shift;
388 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
389 } else { 396 } else {
390 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 397 my $cb = shift;
398 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
399 local $SELF = $port;
400 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
401 };
402 }
403 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
404 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
405 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
406
407 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
408 local $SELF = $port;
409
410 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
411 shift;
412 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
413 } else {
414 &{ $self->[0] };
415 }
416 };
417
418 $self
419 };
420
421 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
422 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
423
424 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
425
426 if (defined $cb) {
427 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
428 } else {
429 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
430 }
391 } 431 }
392 } 432 }
433
434 $port
393} 435}
394 436
395=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 437=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
396 438
397Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 439Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
428 $res 470 $res
429 } 471 }
430 } 472 }
431} 473}
432 474
433=back 475=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
434 476
435=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 477=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
436 478
437=over 4 479=item $guard = mon $port
438 480
439=item become_public endpoint... 481=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
440 482
441Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 483Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
484messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
485to stop monitoring again.
442 486
443If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 487C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
444AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 488that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
445local nodename resolves to. 489will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
490message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
491(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
492port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
493delivered again.
446 494
447Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 495In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
448endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 496number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
449local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 497"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
450will become the node reference. 498C<eval> if unsure.
451 499
500In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
501will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
502"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
503port is killed with the same reason.
504
505The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
506C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
507
508In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
509C<snd>.
510
511As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
512a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
513lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
514even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
515to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
516these problems do not exist.
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, $self => "restart";
529
452=cut 530=cut
531
532sub mon {
533 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
534
535 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
536
537 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
538
539 unless (ref $cb) {
540 if (@_) {
541 # send a kill info message
542 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
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 kil $port[, @reason]
584
585Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
586
587If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
588ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
589
590Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
591C<mon>, see below).
592
593Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
594will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
595
596Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
597$message >>.
598
599=cut
600
601=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
602
603Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
604case it's the node where that port resides).
605
606The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
607permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
608
609After the port has been created, the init function is
610called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
611(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
612program, use C<::name>.
613
614If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
615the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
616C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
617exists or it runs out of package names.
618
619The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
620object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
621
622A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
623in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
624ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
625
626Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
627
628 # this node, executed from within a port context:
629 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
630 mon $server;
631
632 # init function on C<$othernode>
633 sub connect {
634 my ($srcport) = @_;
635
636 mon $srcport;
637
638 rcv $SELF, sub {
639 ...
640 };
641 }
642
643=cut
644
645sub _spawn {
646 my $port = shift;
647 my $init = shift;
648
649 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
650 eval {
651 &{ load_func $init }
652 };
653 _self_die if $@;
654}
655
656sub spawn(@) {
657 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
658
659 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
660
661 $_[0] =~ /::/
662 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
663
664 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
665 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
666
667 "$noderef#$id"
668}
453 669
454=back 670=back
455 671
456=head1 NODE MESSAGES 672=head1 NODE MESSAGES
457 673
458Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 674Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
459arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 675arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
460message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 676message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
461the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 677the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
462 678
679While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
680
463=over 4 681=over 4
464 682
465=cut 683=cut
466 684
467=item lookup => $name, @reply 685=item lookup => $name, @reply
495 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 713 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
496 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 714 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
497 715
498=back 716=back
499 717
718=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
719
720AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
721== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
722programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
723sample:
724
725 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
726 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
727 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
728 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
729
730Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
731
732=over 4
733
734=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
735
736Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
737same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
738convenience functionality.
739
740This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
741cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
742
743=item Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
744uses "local ports are like remote ports".
745
746The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
747only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
748when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
749port.
750
751Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
752they are not.
753
754AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
755ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
756occur.
757
758=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
759
760Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
761needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
762useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
763AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
764filter messages without dequeing them.
765
766(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
767
768=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
769
770Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
771so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
772connection establishment is handled in the background.
773
774=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
775
776Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
777without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
778and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
779
780AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
781holes in the message sequence.
782
783=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
784alive.
785
786In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
787linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
788still alive - and can receive messages.
789
790In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
791eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
792and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
793
794=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
795
796In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
797known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
798destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
799
800AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
801around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
802
803=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
804authentication and can use TLS.
805
806AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
807securely authenticate nodes.
808
809=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
810communications.
811
812The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
813language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
814language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
815
816It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
817with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
818protocol simple.
819
820=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
821
822In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
823or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
824difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
825Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
826on a per-process basis.
827
828=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
829
830Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
831as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
832
833In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
834that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
835on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
836the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
837more reliable.
838
839This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
840(hard to do in Erlang).
841
842=back
843
844=head1 RATIONALE
845
846=over 4
847
848=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
849
850We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
851thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
852the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
853overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
854
855Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
856procedures to be "valid".
857
858And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
859can't become much cheaper.
860
861=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
862
863In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
864format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
865default.
866
867The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
868faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
869experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
870than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
871easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
872always have to re-think your design.
873
874Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
875objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
876
877=back
878
500=head1 SEE ALSO 879=head1 SEE ALSO
501 880
502L<AnyEvent>. 881L<AnyEvent>.
503 882
504=head1 AUTHOR 883=head1 AUTHOR

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