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Revision 1.102 by root, Tue Oct 6 13:37:52 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.126 by root, Sat Mar 3 19:43:41 2012 UTC

30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
31 31
32 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
34 34
35 # destroy a prot again 35 # destroy a port again
36 kil $port; # "normal" kill 36 kil $port; # "normal" kill
37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill 37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill
38 38
39 # monitoring 39 # monitoring
40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
78 78
79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just 79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of 80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
81anything was listening for them or not. 81anything was listening for them or not.
82 82
83Ports are represented by (printable) strings called "port IDs".
84
83=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname> 85=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
84 86
85A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 87A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>)
86separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 88as separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified
89format created by AnyEvent::MP).
87 90
88=item node 91=item node
89 92
90A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port, 93A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
91which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new 94which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
92ports. 95ports.
93 96
94Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private 97Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
95(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes 98(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
96currently. 99currently, but all nodes can talk to public nodes.
97 100
101Nodes is represented by (printable) strings called "node IDs".
102
98=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*> 103=item node ID - C<[A-Za-z0-9_\-.:]*>
99 104
100A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a 105A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
101network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a 106network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
102hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself 107hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
103doesn't interpret node IDs in any way. 108doesn't interpret node IDs in any way except to uniquely identify a node.
104 109
105=item binds - C<ip:port> 110=item binds - C<ip:port>
106 111
107Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to 112Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
108each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport 113each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
114endpoints - binds.
115
109endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can 116Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can be used, which
110be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on. 117specify TCP ports to listen on. So a bind is basically just a tcp socket
118in listening mode thta accepts conenctions form other nodes.
111 119
112=item seed nodes 120=item seed nodes
113 121
114When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node 122When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network it is in - it
115about the network it first has to contact some other node within the 123needs to connect to at least one other node that is already in the
116network. This node is called a seed. 124network. These other nodes are called "seed nodes".
117 125
118Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have 126Seed nodes themselves are not special - they are seed nodes only because
119to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes - 127some other node I<uses> them as such, but any node can be used as seed
120any node can function as a seed node for others. 128node for other nodes, and eahc node cna use a different set of seed nodes.
121 129
122In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to 130In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
123maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have 131maintain the network - all nodes using the same seed node form are part of
124trouble connecting. They form the backbone of an AnyEvent::MP network. 132the same network. If a network is split into multiple subnets because e.g.
133the network link between the parts goes down, then using the same seed
134nodes for all nodes ensures that eventually the subnets get merged again.
125 135
126Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node 136Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
127should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a 137should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
128seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else. 138seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
129 139
140For small networks, it's best if every node uses the same set of seed
141nodes. For large networks, it can be useful to specify "regional" seed
142nodes for most nodes in an area, and use all seed nodes as seed nodes for
143each other. What's important is that all seed nodes connections form a
144complete graph, so that the network cannot split into separate subnets
145forever.
146
147Seed nodes are represented by seed IDs.
148
130=item seeds - C<host:port> 149=item seed IDs - C<host:port>
131 150
132Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a 151Seed IDs are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
133TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes. 152TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
134 153
135The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running, 154=item global nodes
136and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out 155
137of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish 156An AEMP network needs a discovery service - nodes need to know how to
138connections to some seednodes again to join the network. 157connect to other nodes they only know by name. In addition, AEMP offers a
158distributed "group database", which maps group names to a list of strings
159- for example, to register worker ports.
160
161A network needs at least one global node to work, and allows every node to
162be a global node.
163
164Any node that loads the L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module becomes a global
165node and tries to keep connections to all other nodes. So while it can
166make sense to make every node "global" in small networks, it usually makes
167sense to only make seed nodes into global nodes in large networks (nodes
168keep connections to seed nodes and global nodes, so makign them the same
169reduces overhead).
139 170
140=back 171=back
141 172
142=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 173=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
143 174
145 176
146=cut 177=cut
147 178
148package AnyEvent::MP; 179package AnyEvent::MP;
149 180
181use AnyEvent::MP::Config ();
150use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel; 182use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
183use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel qw(%NODE %PORT %PORT_DATA $UNIQ $RUNIQ $ID);
151 184
152use common::sense; 185use common::sense;
153 186
154use Carp (); 187use Carp ();
155 188
156use AE (); 189use AE ();
190use Guard ();
157 191
158use base "Exporter"; 192use base "Exporter";
159 193
160our $VERSION = 1.21; 194our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Config::VERSION;
161 195
162our @EXPORT = qw( 196our @EXPORT = qw(
163 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 197 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
164 configure 198 configure
165 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal 199 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal
166 port 200 port
201 db_set db_del db_reg
167); 202);
168 203
169our $SELF; 204our $SELF;
170 205
171sub _self_die() { 206sub _self_die() {
194some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes. 229some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
195 230
196This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or 231This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
197never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 232never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
198 233
234The key/value pairs are basically the same ones as documented for the
235F<aemp> command line utility (sans the set/del prefix), with two additions:
236
237=over 4
238
239=item norc => $boolean (default false)
240
241If true, then the rc file (e.g. F<~/.perl-anyevent-mp>) will I<not>
242be consulted - all configuraiton options must be specified in the
243C<configure> call.
244
245=item force => $boolean (default false)
246
247IF true, then the values specified in the C<configure> will take
248precedence over any values configured via the rc file. The default is for
249the rc file to override any options specified in the program.
250
251=back
252
199=over 4 253=over 4
200 254
201=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles 255=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
202 256
203The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the 257The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
216That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority 270That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
217and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority, 271and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
218and can only be used to specify defaults. 272and can only be used to specify defaults.
219 273
220If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of 274If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
221this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The 275this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID, with
222special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID. 276a unique randoms tring (C</%u>) appended.
277
278The node ID can contain some C<%> sequences that are expanded: C<%n>
279is expanded to the local nodename, C<%u> is replaced by a random
280strign to make the node unique. For example, the F<aemp> commandline
281utility uses C<aemp/%n/%u> as nodename, which might expand to
282C<aemp/cerebro/ZQDGSIkRhEZQDGSIkRhE>.
223 283
224=item step 2, bind listener sockets 284=item step 2, bind listener sockets
225 285
226The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding 286The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
227aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid 287aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
233used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every 293used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
234local IP address it finds. 294local IP address it finds.
235 295
236=item step 3, connect to seed nodes 296=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
237 297
238As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the 298As the last step, the seed ID list from the profile is passed to the
239L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 299L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
240connectivity with at least one node at any point in time. 300connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
241 301
242=back 302=back
243 303
244Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile. 304Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
245This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 305This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
246 306
247 configure 307 configure
248 308
249Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 309Example: become a semi-anonymous node. This form is often used for
250clients. 310commandline clients.
251 311
252 configure nodeid => "anon/"; 312 configure nodeid => "myscript/%n/%u";
253 313
254Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable 314Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which is suitable
255for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040, 315for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
256customary for aemp). 316customary for aemp).
257 317
258 # use the aemp commandline utility 318 # use the aemp commandline utility
259 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040' 319 # aemp profile seed binds '*:4040'
260 320
261 # then use it 321 # then use it
262 configure profile => "seed"; 322 configure profile => "seed";
263 323
264 # or simply use aemp from the shell again: 324 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
334sub _kilme { 394sub _kilme {
335 die "received message on port without callback"; 395 die "received message on port without callback";
336} 396}
337 397
338sub port(;&) { 398sub port(;&) {
339 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 399 my $id = $UNIQ . ++$ID;
340 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 400 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
341 401
342 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme; 402 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
343 403
344 $port 404 $port
406 if (ref $_[0]) { 466 if (ref $_[0]) {
407 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) { 467 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
408 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 468 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
409 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 469 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
410 470
411 $self->[2] = shift; 471 $self->[0] = shift;
412 } else { 472 } else {
413 my $cb = shift; 473 my $cb = shift;
414 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 474 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
415 local $SELF = $port; 475 local $SELF = $port;
416 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@; 476 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
417 }; 477 };
418 } 478 }
419 } elsif (defined $_[0]) { 479 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
420 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 480 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
421 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 481 my $self = bless [$PORT{$portid} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
422 482
423 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 483 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
424 local $SELF = $port; 484 local $SELF = $port;
425 485
426 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) { 486 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
492Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 552Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
493closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv> 553closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
494callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed. 554callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
495 555
496The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub { 556The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub {
497BLOCK } } >>. 557BLOCK }, @_ } >>.
498 558
499This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks: 559This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
500 560
501 rcv delayed_reply => sub { 561 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
502 my ($delay, @reply) = @_; 562 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
617 } 677 }
618 678
619 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 679 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
620 680
621 defined wantarray 681 defined wantarray
622 and ($cb += 0, AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }) 682 and ($cb += 0, Guard::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) })
623} 683}
624 684
625=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 685=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
626 686
627Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port 687Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
650 710
651=item kil $port[, @reason] 711=item kil $port[, @reason]
652 712
653Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 713Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
654 714
655If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports 715If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" -
656monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies 716monitor callback will be invoked, but the kil will not cause linked ports
657"normally"). 717(C<mon $mport, $lport> form) to get killed.
658 718
659Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 719If a C<@reason> is specified, then linked ports (C<mon $mport, $lport>
660C<mon>, see above). 720form) get killed with the same reason.
661 721
662Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 722Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
663will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 723will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
664 724
665Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 725Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
731} 791}
732 792
733sub spawn(@) { 793sub spawn(@) {
734 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; 794 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
735 795
736 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 796 my $id = $RUNIQ . ++$ID;
737 797
738 $_[0] =~ /::/ 798 $_[0] =~ /::/
739 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 799 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
740 800
741 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_; 801 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
742 802
743 "$nodeid#$id" 803 "$nodeid#$id"
744} 804}
805
745 806
746=item after $timeout, @msg 807=item after $timeout, @msg
747 808
748=item after $timeout, $callback 809=item after $timeout, $callback
749 810
819 $port 880 $port
820} 881}
821 882
822=back 883=back
823 884
885=head1 DISTRIBUTED DATABASE
886
887AnyEvent::MP comes with a simple distributed database. The database will
888be mirrored asynchronously at all global nodes. Other nodes bind to one of
889the global nodes for their needs.
890
891The database consists of a two-level hash - a hash contains a hash which
892contains values.
893
894The top level hash key is called "family", and the second-level hash key
895is called "subkey" or simply "key".
896
897The family must be alphanumeric, i.e. start with a letter and consist
898of letters, digits, underscores and colons (C<[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_:]*>,
899pretty much like Perl module names.
900
901As the family namespace is global, it is recommended to prefix family names
902with the name of the application or module using it.
903
904The subkeys must be non-empty strings, with no further restrictions.
905
906The values should preferably be strings, but other perl scalars should
907work as well (such as undef, arrays and hashes).
908
909Every database entry is owned by one node - adding the same family/subkey
910combination on multiple nodes will not cause discomfort for AnyEvent::MP,
911but the result might be nondeterministic, i.e. the key might have
912different values on different nodes.
913
914Different subkeys in the same family can be owned by different nodes
915without problems, and in fact, this is the common method to create worker
916pools. For example, a worker port for image scaling might do this:
917
918 db_set my_image_scalers => $port;
919
920And clients looking for an image scaler will want to get the
921C<my_image_scalers> keys:
922
923 db_keys "my_image_scalers" => 60 => sub {
924 #d##TODO#
925
926=over
927
928=item db_set $family => $subkey [=> $value]
929
930Sets (or replaces) a key to the database - if C<$value> is omitted,
931C<undef> is used instead.
932
933=item db_del $family => $subkey
934
935Deletes a key from the database.
936
937=item $guard = db_reg $family => $subkey [=> $value]
938
939Sets the key on the database and returns a guard. When the guard is
940destroyed, the key is deleted from the database. If C<$value> is missing,
941then C<undef> is used.
942
943=cut
944
945=back
946
824=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 947=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
825 948
826AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node 949AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
827== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 950== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
828programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 951programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
859ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot 982ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
860occur. 983occur.
861 984
862=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 985=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
863 986
864Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore 987Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages out of order, and
865needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no 988therefore needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve
866useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of 989no useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities
867AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to 990of AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
868filter messages without dequeuing them. 991filter messages without dequeuing them.
869 992
870(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 993This is not a philosophical difference, but simply stems from AnyEvent::MP
994being event-based, while Erlang is process-based.
995
996You cna have a look at L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on
997top of AEMP and Coro threads.
871 998
872=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 999=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
873 1000
874Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and 1001Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process until
1002a conenction has been established and the message sent (and so does not
875so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, 1003need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends return immediately, connection
876connection establishment is handled in the background. 1004establishment is handled in the background.
877 1005
878=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. 1006=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
879 1007
880Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get 1008Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
881lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, 1009lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
882b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 1010b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
883 1011
884AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message 1012AEMP guarantees (modulo hardware errors) correct ordering, and the
885is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until 1013guarantee that after one message is lost, all following ones sent to the
886monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message 1014same port are lost as well, until monitoring raises an error, so there are
887sequence. 1015no silent "holes" in the message sequence.
1016
1017If you want your software to be very reliable, you have to cope with
1018corrupted and even out-of-order messages in both Erlang and AEMP. AEMP
1019simply tries to work better in common error cases, such as when a network
1020link goes down.
888 1021
889=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 1022=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
890 1023
891In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID 1024In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses an Erlang
892known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages 1025process ID known to other nodes for a completely different process,
893destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 1026causing messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated
1027process.
894 1028
895AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 1029AEMP does not reuse port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
896around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 1030around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
897 1031
898=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 1032=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
899authentication and can use TLS. 1033authentication and can use TLS.
900 1034
903 1037
904=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 1038=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
905communications. 1039communications.
906 1040
907The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming 1041The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
908language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 1042language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging), and binary,
909language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is 1043language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
910used, the protocol is actually completely text-based. 1044used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
911 1045
912It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 1046It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
913with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the 1047with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
914protocol simple. 1048protocol simple.
915 1049
916=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 1050=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
917 1051
918In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 1052In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages or
919or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 1053I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single Erlang processes is
920difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 1054difficult to implement.
921Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 1055
922on a per-process basis. 1056Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in Erlang, as one can choose
1057between automatic kill, exit message or callback on a per-port basis.
923 1058
924=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 1059=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
925 1060
926Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the 1061Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
927same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 1062same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
949overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere. 1084overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
950 1085
951Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 1086Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
952procedures to be "valid". 1087procedures to be "valid".
953 1088
954And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a 1089And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single
955global hash - it can't become much cheaper. 1090code reference stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
956 1091
957=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable? 1092=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
958 1093
959In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 1094In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
960format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by 1095format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
976 1111
977L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction. 1112L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
978 1113
979L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff. 1114L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
980 1115
981L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find 1116L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintenance and port groups, to find
982your applications. 1117your applications.
1118
1119L<AnyEvent::MP::DataConn> - establish data connections between nodes.
983 1120
984L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from 1121L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
985all nodes. 1122all nodes.
986 1123
987L<AnyEvent>. 1124L<AnyEvent>.

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