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Revision 1.11 by root, Sun Aug 2 18:08:38 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.54 by root, Fri Aug 14 16:15:37 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 NODE # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
11 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
12 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
13 26
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
15 29
16 # examples: 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
18 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
19 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
20 34
21 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
22 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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.
24 51
25=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
26 53
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 55
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts.
31 58
59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
60manual page.
61
32At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
33so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to resreve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
34stay tuned! 64stay tuned!
35 65
36=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
37 67
38=over 4 68=over 4
39 69
40=item port 70=item port
41 71
42A 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).
43you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 73
74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
44messages they match, messages will not be queued. 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
45 76
46=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
47 78
48A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
49by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
82reference.
50 83
51=item node 84=item node
52 85
53A 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,
54port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
55among other things. 88ports.
56 89
57Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
58(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
59public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
60 92
61=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>
62 94
63A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 95A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
64private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 96private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
65node (for public nodes). 97node (for public nodes).
66 98
99This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
100TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
101
102Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
103addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
104
105Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
106resolve it.
107
67=back 108=back
68 109
69=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 110=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
70 111
71=over 4 112=over 4
72 113
73=cut 114=cut
74 115
75package AnyEvent::MP; 116package AnyEvent::MP;
76 117
77use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
78 119
79use common::sense; 120use common::sense;
80 121
81use Carp (); 122use Carp ();
82 123
83use AE (); 124use AE ();
84 125
85use base "Exporter"; 126use base "Exporter";
86 127
87our $VERSION = '0.02'; 128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
129
88our @EXPORT = qw( 130our @EXPORT = qw(
89 NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv _any_ 131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
90 create_port create_port_on 132 resolve_node initialise_node
91 create_miniport 133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
92 become_slave become_public 134 port
93); 135);
94 136
137our $SELF;
138
139sub _self_die() {
140 my $msg = $@;
141 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
142 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
143}
144
95=item NODE / $NODE 145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
96 146
97The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
98the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 148noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
99C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 149C<initialise_node>.
100 150
151=item $noderef = node_of $port
152
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
202=back
203
204This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
205nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
206server.
207
208Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
209specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
210form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
211
212 initialise_node;
213
214Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
215C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
216
217 initialise_node "slave/";
218
219Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
220form is also often used for commandline clients.
221
222 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
223
224Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
225servers to become part of the network.
226
227 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
228
229Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
230
231 initialise_node 4041;
232
233Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
234
235 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
236
237=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
238
239Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
240abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
241reference.
242
243In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
244following forms are supported:
245
246=over 4
247
248=item the empty string
249
250An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
251specified.
252
253=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
254
255These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
256further resolved.
257
258=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
259
260These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
261looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
262specified.
263
264=back
265
266=item $SELF
267
268Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
269blocks.
270
271=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
272
273Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
274just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
275module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
276
101=item snd $portid, type => @data 277=item snd $port, type => @data
102 278
103=item snd $portid, @msg 279=item snd $port, @msg
104 280
105Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 281Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
106a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 282a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
107stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
108 283
109While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 284While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
110string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 285string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
111type etc.). 286type etc.).
112 287
113The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 288The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
114function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 289function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
115problems. 290problems.
118JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 293JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
119of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 294of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
120that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 295that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
121node, anything can be passed. 296node, anything can be passed.
122 297
123=item $local_port = create_port 298=item $local_port = port
124 299
125Create a new local port object. See the next section for allowed methods. 300Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
301no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
126 302
127=cut 303=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
128 304
129sub create_port { 305Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
130 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . ++$AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID; 306creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
131 307
132 my $self = bless { 308The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
133 id => "$NODE#$id", 309global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
134 names => [$id], 310port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
135 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 311(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
136 312
137 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 313If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
138 unshift @_, $self;
139 314
140 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[1]} }) { 315 my $port = port {
141 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 316 my @msg = @_;
142 && undef $_; 317 ...
318 kil $SELF;
319 };
320
321=cut
322
323sub rcv($@);
324
325sub _kilme {
326 die "received message on port without callback";
327}
328
329sub port(;&) {
330 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
331 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
332
333 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
334
335 $port
336}
337
338=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
339
340Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
341remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
342C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
343
344The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
345executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
346result in the port being C<kil>ed.
347
348The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
349C<tag> match.
350
351=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
352
353Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
354given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
355C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
356registered for each tag.
357
358The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
359element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
360environment as the default callback (see above).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ... },
366 msg2 => sub { ... },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ... },
375 ...
376 ;
377
378Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
379(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
380
381 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
382 my @reply = @_;
383
384 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
385 };
386
387=cut
388
389sub rcv($@) {
390 my $port = shift;
391 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
392
393 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
394 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
395
396 while (@_) {
397 if (ref $_[0]) {
398 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
399 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
400 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
401
402 $self->[2] = shift;
403 } else {
404 my $cb = shift;
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port;
407 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 };
409 }
410 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
411 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
412 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
413
414 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
415 local $SELF = $port;
416
417 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
418 shift;
419 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
420 } else {
421 &{ $self->[0] };
422 }
423 };
424
425 $self
426 };
427
428 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
429 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430
431 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
432
433 if (defined $cb) {
434 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
435 } else {
436 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
437 }
143 } 438 }
439 }
144 440
145 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[1]} }) { 441 $port
146 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 442}
147 && &{$_->[0]} 443
148 && undef $_; 444=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
445
446Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
447closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
448callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
449
450This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
451
452 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
453 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
454 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
455 snd @reply, $SELF;
456 };
457 };
458
459=cut
460
461sub psub(&) {
462 my $cb = shift;
463
464 my $port = $SELF
465 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
466
467 sub {
468 local $SELF = $port;
469
470 if (wantarray) {
471 my @res = eval { &$cb };
472 _self_die if $@;
473 @res
474 } else {
475 my $res = eval { &$cb };
476 _self_die if $@;
477 $res
149 } 478 }
150
151 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
152 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
153 && &{$_->[0]}
154 && undef $_;
155 }
156 };
157
158 $self
159}
160
161=item $portid = create_miniport { }
162
163Creates a "mini port", that is, a port without much #TODO
164
165=cut
166
167sub create_miniport(&) {
168 my $cb = shift;
169 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . ++$AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID;
170
171 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub {
172 &$cb
173 and delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id};
174 };
175
176 "$NODE#$id"
177}
178
179package AnyEvent::MP::Port;
180
181=back
182
183=head1 METHODS FOR PORT OBJECTS
184
185=over 4
186
187=item "$port"
188
189A port object stringifies to its port ID, so can be used directly for
190C<snd> operations.
191
192=cut
193
194use overload
195 '""' => sub { $_[0]{id} },
196 fallback => 1;
197
198=item $port->rcv (type => $callback->($port, @msg))
199
200=item $port->rcv ($smartmatch => $callback->($port, @msg))
201
202=item $port->rcv ([$smartmatch...] => $callback->($port, @msg))
203
204Register a callback on the given port.
205
206The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
207which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
208registered.
209
210If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
211first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
212matched.
213
214Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
215exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
216
217While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
218element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
219also the most efficient match (by far).
220
221=cut
222
223sub rcv($@) {
224 my ($self, $match, $cb) = @_;
225
226 if (!ref $match) {
227 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
228 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
229 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
230 @match
231 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
232 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
233 } else {
234 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
235 } 479 }
236} 480}
237 481
238=item $port->register ($name) 482=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
239 483
240Registers the given port under the well known name C<$name>. If the name 484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
241already exists it is replaced.
242 485
243A port can only be registered under one well known name. 486=item $guard = mon $port
244 487
245=cut 488=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
246 489
247sub register { 490Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
248 my ($self, $name) = @_; 491messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
492to stop monitoring again.
249 493
250 $self->{wkname} = $name; 494C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
251 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{$name} = "$self"; 495that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
496will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
497message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
498(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
499port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
500delivered again.
501
502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
504"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
505C<eval> if unsure.
506
507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
508will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
510port is killed with the same reason.
511
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514
515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>.
517
518As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
519a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
520lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
521even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
522to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
523these problems do not exist.
524
525Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
526
527 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
528
529Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
530
531 mon $port;
532
533Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
534
535 mon $port, $self => "restart";
536
537=cut
538
539sub mon {
540 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
541
542 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
543
544 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
545
546 unless (ref $cb) {
547 if (@_) {
548 # send a kill info message
549 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
550 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
551 } else {
552 # simply kill other port
553 my $port = $cb;
554 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
555 }
556 }
557
558 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
559
560 defined wantarray
561 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
252} 562}
253 563
254=item $port->destroy 564=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
255 565
256Explicitly destroy/remove/nuke/vaporise the port. 566Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
567is killed, the references will be freed.
257 568
258Ports are normally kept alive by there mere existance alone, and need to 569Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
259be destroyed explicitly.
260 570
261=cut 571This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
572want to free them when the port gets killed:
262 573
263sub destroy { 574 $port->rcv (start => sub {
264 my ($self) = @_; 575 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
576 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
577 });
578 });
265 579
266 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{ $self->{wkname} }; 580=cut
267 581
268 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$_} 582sub mon_guard {
269 for @{ $self->{names} }; 583 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
584
585 #TODO: mon-less form?
586
587 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
270} 588}
271 589
272=back 590=item kil $port[, @reason]
273 591
274=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 592Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
275 593
276=over 4 594If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
595ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
277 596
278=item mon $noderef, $callback->($noderef, $status, $) 597Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
598C<mon>, see below).
279 599
280Monitors the given noderef. 600Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
601will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
281 602
282=item become_public endpoint... 603Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
604$message >>.
283 605
284Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
285
286If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then
287AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the
288local nodename resolves to.
289
290Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport
291endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the
292local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and
293will become the node reference.
294
295=cut 606=cut
607
608=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
609
610Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
611case it's the node where that port resides).
612
613The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
614permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
615
616After the port has been created, the init function is
617called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
618(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
619program, use C<::name>.
620
621If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
622the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
623C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
624exists or it runs out of package names.
625
626The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
627object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
628
629A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
630in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
631ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
632
633Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
634
635 # this node, executed from within a port context:
636 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
637 mon $server;
638
639 # init function on C<$othernode>
640 sub connect {
641 my ($srcport) = @_;
642
643 mon $srcport;
644
645 rcv $SELF, sub {
646 ...
647 };
648 }
649
650=cut
651
652sub _spawn {
653 my $port = shift;
654 my $init = shift;
655
656 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
657 eval {
658 &{ load_func $init }
659 };
660 _self_die if $@;
661}
662
663sub spawn(@) {
664 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
665
666 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
667
668 $_[0] =~ /::/
669 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
670
671 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
672 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
673
674 "$noderef#$id"
675}
296 676
297=back 677=back
298 678
299=head1 NODE MESSAGES 679=head1 NODE MESSAGES
300 680
301Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 681Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
302arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 682arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
303message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 683message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
304the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 684the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
305 685
686While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
687
306=over 4 688=over 4
307 689
308=cut 690=cut
309 691
310=item wkp => $name, @reply 692=item lookup => $name, @reply
311 693
312Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 694Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
313 695
314=item devnull => ... 696=item devnull => ...
315 697
338 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 720 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
339 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 721 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
340 722
341=back 723=back
342 724
725=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
726
727AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
728== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
729programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
730sample:
731
732 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
733 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
734 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
735 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
736
737Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
738
739=over 4
740
741=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
742
743Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
744same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
745convenience functionality.
746
747This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
748cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
749
750=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
751uses "local ports are like remote ports".
752
753The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
754only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
755when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
756port.
757
758Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
759they are not.
760
761AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
762ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
763occur.
764
765=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
766
767Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
768needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
769useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
770AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
771filter messages without dequeing them.
772
773(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
774
775=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
776
777Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
778so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
779connection establishment is handled in the background.
780
781=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
782
783Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
784without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
785and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
786
787AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
788holes in the message sequence.
789
790=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
791alive.
792
793In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
794linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
795still alive - and can receive messages.
796
797In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
798eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
799and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
800
801=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
802
803In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
804known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
805destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
806
807AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
808around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
809
810=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
811authentication and can use TLS.
812
813AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
814securely authenticate nodes.
815
816=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
817communications.
818
819The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
820language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
821language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
822
823It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
824with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
825protocol simple.
826
827=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
828
829In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
830or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
831difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
832Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
833on a per-process basis.
834
835=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
836
837Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
838as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
839
840In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
841that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
842on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
843the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
844more reliable.
845
846This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
847(hard to do in Erlang).
848
849=back
850
851=head1 RATIONALE
852
853=over 4
854
855=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
856
857We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
858thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
859the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
860overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
861
862Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
863procedures to be "valid".
864
865And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
866can't become much cheaper.
867
868=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
869
870In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
871format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
872default.
873
874The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
875faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
876experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
877than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
878easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
879always have to re-think your design.
880
881Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
882objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
883
884=back
885
343=head1 SEE ALSO 886=head1 SEE ALSO
344 887
345L<AnyEvent>. 888L<AnyEvent>.
346 889
347=head1 AUTHOR 890=head1 AUTHOR

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