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Revision 1.57 by root, Sat Aug 15 04:34:34 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 $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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
35For 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>
36manual page. 60manual page.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so 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 -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
41 65
42=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
43 67
44=over 4 68=over 4
45 69
46=item port 70=item port
47 71
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 73
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
52will not be queued.
53 76
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 78
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 79A 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 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 82reference.
60 83
61=item node 84=item node
62 85
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 86A 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 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 88ports.
66 89
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
69 92
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 93=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
90 113
91=cut 114=cut
92 115
93package AnyEvent::MP; 116package AnyEvent::MP;
94 117
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 119
97use common::sense; 120use common::sense;
98 121
99use Carp (); 122use Carp ();
100 123
101use AE (); 124use AE ();
102 125
103use base "Exporter"; 126use base "Exporter";
104 127
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
129
106our @EXPORT = qw( 130our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
108 resolve_node 132 resolve_node initialise_node
109 become_slave become_public
110 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
111 port 134 port
112); 135);
113 136
114our $SELF; 137our $SELF;
115 138
119 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 142 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
120} 143}
121 144
122=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
123 146
124The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
125the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 148noderef 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 149C<initialise_node>.
127identifiers become invalid.
128 150
129=item $noderef = node_of $portid 151=item $noderef = node_of $port
130 152
131Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 153Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
154
155=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
156
157=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
158
159Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
160itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
161it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
162
163This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
164never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
165
166All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
167either resolved or unresolved.
168
169The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
170(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
171the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
172the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
173seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
174
175There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
176
177=over 4
178
179=item public nodes
180
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
182C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
183noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
184
185After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
186connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
187optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
188network.
189
190=item slave nodes
191
192When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
193is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
194node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
195their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
196
197At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
198directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
199will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
200first node it can successfully connect to.
201
202Note that slave nodes cannot change their name, and consequently, their
203master, so if the master goes down, the slave node will not function well
204anymore until it can re-establish conenciton to its master. This makes
205slave nodes unsuitable for long-term nodes or fault-tolerant networks.
206
207=back
208
209This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
210nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
211server.
212
213All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
214connecting to them infinitely.
215
216Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
217specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
218form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
219
220 initialise_node;
221
222Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
223C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
224
225 initialise_node "slave/";
226
227Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
228form is also often used for commandline clients.
229
230 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
231
232Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
233servers to become part of the network.
234
235 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
236
237Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
238
239 initialise_node 4041;
240
241Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
242
243 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
132 244
133=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 245=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
134 246
135Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 247Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
136abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 248abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
168 280
169Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 281Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
170just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 282just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
171module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 283module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
172 284
173=item snd $portid, type => @data 285=item snd $port, type => @data
174 286
175=item snd $portid, @msg 287=item snd $port, @msg
176 288
177Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 289Send 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 290a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
179stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
180 291
181While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 292While 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 293string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
183type etc.). 294type etc.).
184 295
185The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 296The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
186function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 297function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
187problems. 298problems.
190JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 301JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
191of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 302of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
192that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 303that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
193node, anything can be passed. 304node, anything can be passed.
194 305
195=item kil $portid[, @reason] 306=item $local_port = port
196 307
197Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 308Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
309no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198 310
199If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 311=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
200ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
201 312
202Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 313Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203C<mon>, see below). 314creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 315
205Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 316The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 317global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
318port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
319(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
207 320
208Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 321If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
209$message >>.
210 322
323 my $port = port {
324 my @msg = @_;
325 ...
326 kil $SELF;
327 };
328
329=cut
330
331sub rcv($@);
332
333sub _kilme {
334 die "received message on port without callback";
335}
336
337sub port(;&) {
338 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
339 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
340
341 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
342
343 $port
344}
345
346=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
347
348Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
349remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
350C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
351
352The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
353executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
354result in the port being C<kil>ed.
355
356The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
357C<tag> match.
358
359=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
360
361Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
362given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
363C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
364registered for each tag.
365
366The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
367element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
368environment as the default callback (see above).
369
370Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
371
372 my $port = rcv port,
373 msg1 => sub { ... },
374 msg2 => sub { ... },
375 ;
376
377Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
378in one go:
379
380 snd $otherport, reply =>
381 rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ... },
383 ...
384 ;
385
386Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
387(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
388
389 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
390 my @reply = @_;
391
392 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
393 };
394
395=cut
396
397sub rcv($@) {
398 my $port = shift;
399 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
400
401 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
402 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
403
404 while (@_) {
405 if (ref $_[0]) {
406 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
407 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
408 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
409
410 $self->[2] = shift;
411 } else {
412 my $cb = shift;
413 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
414 local $SELF = $port;
415 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
416 };
417 }
418 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
419 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
420 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
421
422 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
423 local $SELF = $port;
424
425 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
426 shift;
427 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
428 } else {
429 &{ $self->[0] };
430 }
431 };
432
433 $self
434 };
435
436 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
437 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
438
439 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
440
441 if (defined $cb) {
442 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
443 } else {
444 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
445 }
446 }
447 }
448
449 $port
450}
451
452=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
453
454Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
455closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
456callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
457
458This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
459
460 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
461 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
462 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
463 snd @reply, $SELF;
464 };
465 };
466
467=cut
468
469sub psub(&) {
470 my $cb = shift;
471
472 my $port = $SELF
473 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
474
475 sub {
476 local $SELF = $port;
477
478 if (wantarray) {
479 my @res = eval { &$cb };
480 _self_die if $@;
481 @res
482 } else {
483 my $res = eval { &$cb };
484 _self_die if $@;
485 $res
486 }
487 }
488}
489
211=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 490=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
212 491
213=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 492=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
214 493
494=item $guard = mon $port
495
215=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 496=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
216 497
217Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 498Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
499messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
500to stop monitoring again.
218 501
502C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
503that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
504will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
505message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
506(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
507port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
508delivered again.
509
219In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 510In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
220of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 511number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
221"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 512"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
222C<eval> if unsure. 513C<eval> if unsure.
223 514
224In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 515In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
225a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 516will 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. 517"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
518port is killed with the same reason.
227 519
520The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
521C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
522
228In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 523In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
524C<snd>.
525
526As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
527a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
528lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
529even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
530to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
531these problems do not exist.
229 532
230Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 533Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
231 534
232 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 535 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
233 536
234Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 537Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
235 538
236 mon $port, $self; 539 mon $port;
237 540
238Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 541Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
239 542
240 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 543 mon $port, $self => "restart";
241 544
242=cut 545=cut
243 546
244sub mon { 547sub mon {
245 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 548 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
246 549
247 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 550 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
248 551
249 my $cb = shift; 552 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
250 553
251 unless (ref $cb) { 554 unless (ref $cb) {
252 if (@_) { 555 if (@_) {
253 # send a kill info message 556 # send a kill info message
254 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 557 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
285=cut 588=cut
286 589
287sub mon_guard { 590sub mon_guard {
288 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 591 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
289 592
593 #TODO: mon-less form?
594
290 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 595 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
291} 596}
292 597
293=item lnk $port1, $port2 598=item kil $port[, @reason]
294 599
295Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 600Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
296 601
297 mon $port1, $port2; 602If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
298 mon $port2, $port1; 603ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
299 604
300It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 605Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
301killed as well. 606C<mon>, see below).
302 607
303=item $local_port = port 608Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
609will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
304 610
305Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 611Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
306 612$message >>.
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 };
324 613
325=cut 614=cut
326 615
327sub port(;&) { 616=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
328 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
329 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
330 617
331 if (@_) { 618Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
332 my $cb = shift; 619case it's the node where that port resides).
333 $PORT{$id} = sub { 620
334 local $SELF = $port; 621The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
335 eval { 622permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
336 &$cb 623
337 and kil $id; 624After the port has been created, the init function is
625called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
626(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
627program, use C<::name>.
628
629If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
630the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
631C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
632exists or it runs out of package names.
633
634The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
635object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
636
637A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
638in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
639ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
640
641Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
642
643 # this node, executed from within a port context:
644 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
645 mon $server;
646
647 # init function on C<$othernode>
648 sub connect {
649 my ($srcport) = @_;
650
651 mon $srcport;
652
653 rcv $SELF, sub {
338 }; 654 ...
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 }; 655 };
370 } 656 }
371 657
372 $port 658=cut
659
660sub _spawn {
661 my $port = shift;
662 my $init = shift;
663
664 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
665 eval {
666 &{ load_func $init }
667 };
668 _self_die if $@;
373} 669}
374 670
375=item reg $portid, $name 671sub spawn(@) {
672 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
376 673
377Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 674 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
378exists it is replaced.
379 675
380A port can only be registered under one well known name. 676 $_[0] =~ /::/
677 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
381 678
382A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. 679 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
383 680
384=cut 681 "$noderef#$id"
385
386sub reg(@) {
387 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
388
389 $REG{$name} = $portid;
390} 682}
391 683
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 };
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 $@;
480 @res
481 } else {
482 my $res = eval { &$cb };
483 _self_die if $@;
484 $res
485 }
486 }
487}
488
489=back 684=back
490 685
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 686=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
557 687
558AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 688AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
559== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 689== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
560programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 690programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
561sample: 691sample:
562 692
563 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 693 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
564 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 694 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 6 695 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
566 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 696 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
567 697
568Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 698Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
569 699
570=over 4 700=over 4
571 701
576convenience functionality. 706convenience functionality.
577 707
578This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 708This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
579cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 709cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
580 710
711=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
712uses "local ports are like remote ports".
713
714The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
715only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
716when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
717port.
718
719Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
720they are not.
721
722AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
723ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
724occur.
725
581=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 726=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
582 727
583Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 728Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
584needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 729needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
585purpose. 730useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
731AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
732filter messages without dequeing them.
586 733
587(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 734(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
588 735
589=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 736=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
590 737
591Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 738Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
592sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 739so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
593background. 740connection establishment is handled in the background.
594 741
595=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 742=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
596 743
597Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 744Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
598without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 745without 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). 746and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
600 747
601AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 748AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
602holes in the message sequence. 749holes in the message sequence.
603 750
604=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 751=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
605alive. 752alive.
606 753
607In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 754In 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 755linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
609still alive - and can receive messages. 756still alive - and can receive messages.
610 757
611In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 758In 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 759eventually 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. 760and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
614 761
615=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 762=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
616 763
617In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 764In 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 765known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
619messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 766destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
620 767
621AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 768AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
622around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 769around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
623 770
624=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 771=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
628securely authenticate nodes. 775securely authenticate nodes.
629 776
630=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 777=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
631communications. 778communications.
632 779
633The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 780The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
634language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 781language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
635language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 782language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
636 783
637It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 784It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
638with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 785with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
639protocol simple. 786protocol simple.
640 787
788=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
789
790In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
791or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
792difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
793Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
794on a per-process basis.
795
796=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
797
798Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
799as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
800
801In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
802that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
803on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
804the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
805more reliable.
806
807This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
808(hard to do in Erlang).
809
810=back
811
812=head1 RATIONALE
813
814=over 4
815
816=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
817
818We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
819thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
820the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
821overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
822
823Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
824procedures to be "valid".
825
826And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
827can't become much cheaper.
828
829=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
830
831In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
832format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
833default.
834
835The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
836faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
837experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
838than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
839easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
840always have to re-think your design.
841
842Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
843objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
844
641=back 845=back
642 846
643=head1 SEE ALSO 847=head1 SEE ALSO
644 848
645L<AnyEvent>. 849L<AnyEvent>.

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