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Revision 1.114 by root, Thu Apr 22 16:06:19 2010 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent::MP - multi-processing/message-passing framework 3AnyEvent::MP - erlang-style multi-processing/message-passing framework
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's node ID
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's node ID
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 11
12 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
13
14 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
15 configure;
16
17 # ports are message destinations
18
19 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
21 snd $port, @msg;
22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 23
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
16 26
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 28 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 31
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 32 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 34
35 # destroy a prot again
36 kil $port; # "normal" kill
37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill
38
39 # monitoring
40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
41 mon $localport, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
42 mon $localport, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
43
44 # temporarily execute code in port context
45 peval $port, sub { die "kill the port!" };
46
47 # execute callbacks in $SELF port context
48 my $timer = AE::timer 1, 0, psub {
49 die "kill the port, delayed";
50 };
51
52=head1 CURRENT STATUS
53
54 bin/aemp - stable.
55 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
56 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
57 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
58 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
27 59
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 60=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 61
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 62This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 63
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 64Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 65on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
34 66
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 67For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 68manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
37
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
41 69
42=head1 CONCEPTS 70=head1 CONCEPTS
43 71
44=over 4 72=over 4
45 73
46=item port 74=item port
47 75
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 76Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
77messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 78
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 81anything was listening for them or not.
53 82
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 83=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
55 84
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 85A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 86separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference.
60 87
61=item node 88=item node
62 89
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 90A 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 91which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 92ports.
66 93
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 94Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 95(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
96currently.
69 97
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 98=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*>
71 99
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 100A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 101network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 102hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
103doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 104
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 105=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 106
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 107Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 108each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
109endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
110be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 111
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 112=item seed nodes
83resolve it. 113
114When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
115about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
116network. This node is called a seed.
117
118Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have
119to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes -
120any node can function as a seed node for others.
121
122In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
123maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have
124trouble connecting. They form the backbone of an AnyEvent::MP network.
125
126Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
127should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
128seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
129
130=item seeds - C<host:port>
131
132Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
133TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
134
135The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running,
136and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out
137of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish
138connections to some seednodes again to join the network.
84 139
85=back 140=back
86 141
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 142=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 143
90 145
91=cut 146=cut
92 147
93package AnyEvent::MP; 148package AnyEvent::MP;
94 149
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 150use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 151
97use common::sense; 152use common::sense;
98 153
99use Carp (); 154use Carp ();
100 155
101use AE (); 156use AE ();
102 157
103use base "Exporter"; 158use base "Exporter";
104 159
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 160our $VERSION = 1.28;
161
106our @EXPORT = qw( 162our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 163 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 164 configure
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 165 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal
110 port 166 port
111); 167);
112 168
113our $SELF; 169our $SELF;
114 170
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 174 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 175}
120 176
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 177=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 178
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 179The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 180ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 181a call to C<configure>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 182
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 183=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 184
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 185Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
131 186
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 187=item configure $profile, key => value...
133 188
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 189=item configure key => value...
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
136reference.
137 190
138In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the 191Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
139following forms are supported: 192"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
193to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
194some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
195
196The key/value pairs are basically the same ones as documented for the
197F<aemp> command line utility (sans the set/del prefix).
198
199This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
200never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
140 201
141=over 4 202=over 4
142 203
143=item the empty string 204=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
144 205
145An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was 206The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
146specified. 207L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
208named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
209missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
147 210
148=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>) 211The profile data is then gathered as follows:
149 212
150These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be 213First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
151further resolved. 214undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
215data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
216default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
217profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
152 218
153=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>) 219That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
220and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
221and can only be used to specify defaults.
154 222
155These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally 223If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
156looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was 224this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
157specified. 225special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
226
227=item step 2, bind listener sockets
228
229The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
230aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
231to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
232outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
233binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
234
235If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
236used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
237local IP address it finds.
238
239=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
240
241As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
242L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
243connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
158 244
159=back 245=back
246
247Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
248This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
249
250 configure
251
252Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
253clients.
254
255 configure nodeid => "anon/";
256
257Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
258for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
259customary for aemp).
260
261 # use the aemp commandline utility
262 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
263
264 # then use it
265 configure profile => "seed";
266
267 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
268 # aemp run profile seed
269
270 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
271 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
160 272
161=item $SELF 273=item $SELF
162 274
163Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 275Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
164blocks. 276blocks.
165 277
166=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 278=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
167 279
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 280Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 281just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 282module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 283
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 284=item snd $port, type => @data
173 285
174=item snd $portid, @msg 286=item snd $port, @msg
175 287
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 288Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 289local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 290
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 291While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 292use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
182type etc.). 293request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
294arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
183 295
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 296The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 297function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
186problems. 298forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
299and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
300never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
301receiving port.
187 302
188The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 303The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 304JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 305of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 306that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 307node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
308these.
193 309
194=item $local_port = port 310=item $local_port = port
195 311
196Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 312Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
197matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 313no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
199 314
200=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 315=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
201 316
202Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 317Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 318creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 319
205The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 320The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 321global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
207will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 322port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
323(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
208 324
209The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 325If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
210be passed to the callback.
211 326
212If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 327 my $port = port {
213 328 my @msg = @_;
214 my $port; $port = port { 329 ...
215 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 330 kil $SELF;
216 }; 331 };
217 332
218=cut 333=cut
334
335sub rcv($@);
336
337sub _kilme {
338 die "received message on port without callback";
339}
219 340
220sub port(;&) { 341sub port(;&) {
221 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 342 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
222 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 343 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
223 344
345 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
346
347 $port
348}
349
350=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
351
352Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
353remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
354C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
355
356The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
357executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
358result in the port being C<kil>ed.
359
360The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
361C<tag> match.
362
363=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
364
365Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
366given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
367C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
368registered for each tag.
369
370The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
371element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
372environment as the default callback (see above).
373
374Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
375
376 my $port = rcv port,
377 msg1 => sub { ... },
378 msg2 => sub { ... },
379 ;
380
381Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
382in one go:
383
384 snd $otherport, reply =>
385 rcv port,
386 msg1 => sub { ... },
387 ...
388 ;
389
390Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
391(e.g. for an rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
392
393 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
394 my @reply = @_;
395
396 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
397 };
398
399=cut
400
401sub rcv($@) {
402 my $port = shift;
403 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
404
405 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
406 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
407
224 if (@_) { 408 while (@_) {
409 if (ref $_[0]) {
410 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
411 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
412 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
413
414 $self->[0] = shift;
415 } else {
225 my $cb = shift; 416 my $cb = shift;
226 $PORT{$id} = sub { 417 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
227 local $SELF = $port; 418 local $SELF = $port;
228 eval { 419 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
229 &$cb 420 };
230 and kil $id; 421 }
422 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
423 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
424 my $self = bless [$PORT{$portid} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
425
426 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
427 local $SELF = $port;
428
429 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
430 shift;
431 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
432 } else {
433 &{ $self->[0] };
434 }
435 };
436
437 $self
231 }; 438 };
232 _self_die if $@; 439
233 };
234 } else {
235 my $self = bless {
236 id => "$NODE#$id",
237 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 440 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
441 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
238 442
239 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self; 443 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
240 $PORT{$id} = sub {
241 local $SELF = $port;
242 444
445 if (defined $cb) {
446 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
243 eval { 447 } else {
244 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 448 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
245 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
246 && undef $_;
247 }
248
249 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
250 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
251 && &{$_->[0]}
252 && undef $_;
253 }
254
255 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
256 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
257 && &{$_->[0]}
258 && undef $_;
259 }
260 }; 449 }
261 _self_die if $@;
262 };
263 }
264
265 $port
266}
267
268=item reg $portid, $name
269
270Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
271exists it is replaced.
272
273A port can only be registered under one well known name.
274
275A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
276
277=cut
278
279sub reg(@) {
280 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
281
282 $REG{$name} = $portid;
283}
284
285=item rcv $portid, $callback->(@msg)
286
287Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (or newly created port
288object, see C<port>). Full ports are configured with the following calls:
289
290=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
291
292=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
293
294=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
295
296Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
297port (or newly created port).
298
299The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
300which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
301registered.
302
303The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
304executing the callback.
305
306Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
307C<kil>ed.
308
309If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
310first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
311matched.
312
313Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
314exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
315
316While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
317element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
318also the most efficient match (by far).
319
320=cut
321
322sub rcv($@) {
323 my $portid = shift;
324 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2;
325
326 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
327 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
328
329 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
330 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
331
332 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
333 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
334
335 while (@_) {
336 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
337
338 if (!ref $match) {
339 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
340 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
341 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
342 @match
343 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
344 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
345 } else {
346 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
347 } 450 }
348 } 451 }
349 452
350 $portid 453 $port
454}
455
456=item peval $port, $coderef[, @args]
457
458Evaluates the given C<$codref> within the contetx of C<$port>, that is,
459when the code throews an exception the C<$port> will be killed.
460
461Any remaining args will be passed to the callback. Any return values will
462be returned to the caller.
463
464This is useful when you temporarily want to execute code in the context of
465a port.
466
467Example: create a port and run some initialisation code in it's context.
468
469 my $port = port { ... };
470
471 peval $port, sub {
472 init
473 or die "unable to init";
474 };
475
476=cut
477
478sub peval($$) {
479 local $SELF = shift;
480 my $cb = shift;
481
482 if (wantarray) {
483 my @res = eval { &$cb };
484 _self_die if $@;
485 @res
486 } else {
487 my $res = eval { &$cb };
488 _self_die if $@;
489 $res
490 }
351} 491}
352 492
353=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 493=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
354 494
355Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 495Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
356closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv> 496closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
357callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed. 497callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
498
499The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub {
500BLOCK }, @_ } >>.
358 501
359This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks: 502This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
360 503
361 rcv delayed_reply => sub { 504 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
362 my ($delay, @reply) = @_; 505 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
386 $res 529 $res
387 } 530 }
388 } 531 }
389} 532}
390 533
391=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 534=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
392 535
393=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 536=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
394 537
395=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 538=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
396 539
540=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
541
397Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 542Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
543messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
544to stop monitoring again.
398 545
399In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 546In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
400of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 547number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
401"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 548"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
402C<eval> if unsure. 549C<eval> if unsure.
403 550
404In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 551In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
405a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 552will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
406under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 553"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
554port is killed with the same reason.
407 555
556The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
557C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
558
408In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 559In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
560C<snd>.
561
562Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
563alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
564
565As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
566a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
567lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
568even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
569to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
570these problems do not exist.
571
572C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
573after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
574arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
575loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
576the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
577port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
578delivered again.
579
580Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
581used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
582relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
583non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle connections).
584
585This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
586stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
587to ensure some maximum latency.
409 588
410Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 589Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
411 590
412 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 591 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
413 592
414Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 593Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
415 594
416 mon $port, $self; 595 mon $port;
417 596
418Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 597Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
419 598
420 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 599 mon $port, $self => "restart";
421 600
422=cut 601=cut
423 602
424sub mon { 603sub mon {
425 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 604 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
426 605
427 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 606 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
428 607
429 my $cb = shift; 608 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
430 609
431 unless (ref $cb) { 610 unless (ref $cb) {
432 if (@_) { 611 if (@_) {
433 # send a kill info message 612 # send a kill info message
434 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 613 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
441 } 620 }
442 621
443 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 622 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
444 623
445 defined wantarray 624 defined wantarray
446 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 625 and ($cb += 0, AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) })
447} 626}
448 627
449=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 628=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
450 629
451Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port 630Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
452is killed, the references will be freed. 631is killed, the references will be freed.
453 632
454Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 633Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
455 634
456This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 635This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
457want to free them when the port gets killed: 636want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
458 637
459 $port->rcv (start => sub { 638 $port->rcv (start => sub {
460 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 639 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
461 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 640 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
462 }); 641 });
463 }); 642 });
464 643
465=cut 644=cut
466 645
467sub mon_guard { 646sub mon_guard {
468 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 647 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
469 648
649 #TODO: mon-less form?
650
470 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 651 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
471} 652}
472 653
473=item lnk $port1, $port2
474
475Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
476
477 mon $port1, $port2;
478 mon $port2, $port1;
479
480It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
481killed as well.
482
483=item kil $portid[, @reason] 654=item kil $port[, @reason]
484 655
485Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 656Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
486 657
487If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 658If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" -
488ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 659monitor callback will be invoked, but the kil will not cause linked ports
660(C<mon $mport, $lport> form) to get killed.
489 661
490Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 662If a C<@reason> is specified, then linked ports (C<mon $mport, $lport>
491C<mon>, see below). 663form) get killed with the same reason.
492 664
493Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 665Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
494will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 666will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
495 667
496Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 668Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
497$message >>. 669$message >>.
498 670
671=cut
672
673=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
674
675Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
676case it's the node where that port resides).
677
678The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
679possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
680
681After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
682node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
683fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
684specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
685
686If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
687the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
688C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
689exists or it runs out of package names.
690
691The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
692object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. It I<must>
693call one of the C<rcv> functions to set callbacks on C<$SELF>, otherwise
694the port might not get created.
695
696A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
697port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
698local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
699when there is a problem.
700
701C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
702caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
703called for the local node).
704
705Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
706
707 # this node, executed from within a port context:
708 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
709 mon $server;
710
711 # init function on C<$othernode>
712 sub connect {
713 my ($srcport) = @_;
714
715 mon $srcport;
716
717 rcv $SELF, sub {
718 ...
719 };
720 }
721
722=cut
723
724sub _spawn {
725 my $port = shift;
726 my $init = shift;
727
728 # rcv will create the actual port
729 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
730 eval {
731 &{ load_func $init }
732 };
733 _self_die if $@;
734}
735
736sub spawn(@) {
737 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
738
739 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
740
741 $_[0] =~ /::/
742 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
743
744 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
745
746 "$nodeid#$id"
747}
748
749=item after $timeout, @msg
750
751=item after $timeout, $callback
752
753Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
754specified number of seconds.
755
756This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
757AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
758so it may go away in the future.
759
760=cut
761
762sub after($@) {
763 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
764
765 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
766 undef $t;
767 ref $action[0]
768 ? $action[0]()
769 : snd @action;
770 };
771}
772
773=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
774
775A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
776given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
777
778The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
779the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
780
781A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
782
783If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
784then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
785elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
786
787If no time-out is given (or it is C<undef>), then the local port will
788monitor the remote port instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
789
790Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
791might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
792this is indeed useful for something.
793
794=cut
795
796sub cal(@) {
797 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
798 my $cb = pop;
799
800 my $port = port {
801 undef $timeout;
802 kil $SELF;
803 &$cb;
804 };
805
806 if (defined $timeout) {
807 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
808 undef $timeout;
809 kil $port;
810 $cb->();
811 };
812 } else {
813 mon $_[0], sub {
814 kil $port;
815 $cb->();
816 };
817 }
818
819 push @_, $port;
820 &snd;
821
822 $port
823}
824
499=back 825=back
500 826
501=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
502
503=over 4
504
505=item become_public $noderef
506
507Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
508
509The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
510(if missing then the empty string is used).
511
512It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
513tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
514which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
515
516=cut
517
518=back
519
520=head1 NODE MESSAGES
521
522Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
523arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
524message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
525the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
526
527While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
528
529=over 4
530
531=cut
532
533=item lookup => $name, @reply
534
535Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
536
537=item devnull => ...
538
539Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
540
541=item relay => $port, @msg
542
543Simply forwards the message to the given port.
544
545=item eval => $string[ @reply]
546
547Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
548form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
549
550Example: crash another node.
551
552 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
553
554=item time => @reply
555
556Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
557
558Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
559C<timereply> message.
560
561 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
562 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
563
564=back
565
566=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 827=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
567 828
568AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 829AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
569== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 830== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
570programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 831programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
571sample: 832sample:
572 833
573 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 834 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
574 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 835 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
575 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 836 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
577 838
578Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 839Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
579 840
580=over 4 841=over 4
581 842
582=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 843=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
583 844
584Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 845Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
585same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 846way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
586convenience functionality. 847configuration or DNS), and possibly the addresses of some seed nodes, but
848will otherwise discover other nodes (and their IDs) itself.
587 849
588This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 850=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
589cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 851uses "local ports are like remote ports".
852
853The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
854only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
855when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
856port.
857
858Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
859they are not.
860
861AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
862ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
863occur.
590 864
591=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 865=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
592 866
593Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 867Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
594needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 868needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
595purpose. 869useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
870AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
871filter messages without dequeuing them.
596 872
597(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 873(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
598 874
599=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 875=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
600 876
601Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 877Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
602sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 878so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
603background. 879connection establishment is handled in the background.
604 880
605=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 881=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
606 882
607Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 883Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
608without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 884lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
609and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 885b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
610 886
611AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 887AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
612holes in the message sequence. 888is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
613 889monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
614=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 890sequence.
615alive.
616
617In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
618linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
619still alive - and can receive messages.
620
621In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
622eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
623and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
624 891
625=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 892=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
626 893
627In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 894In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
628ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 895known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
629messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 896destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
630 897
631AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 898AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
632around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 899around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
633 900
634=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 901=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
635authentication and can use TLS. 902authentication and can use TLS.
636 903
637AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 904AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
638securely authenticate nodes. 905securely authenticate nodes.
639 906
640=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 907=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
641communications. 908communications.
642 909
643The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 910The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
644language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 911language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
645language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 912language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
913used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
646 914
647It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 915It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
648with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 916with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
649protocol simple. 917protocol simple.
650 918
919=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
920
921In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
922or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
923difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
924Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
925on a per-process basis.
926
927=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
928
929Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
930same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
931
932In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
933that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
934on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
935remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
936reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
937
938This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
939(hard to do in Erlang).
940
651=back 941=back
652 942
943=head1 RATIONALE
944
945=over 4
946
947=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
948
949We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
950that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
951the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
952overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
953
954Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
955procedures to be "valid".
956
957And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single
958closure stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
959
960=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
961
962In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
963format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
964default (although all nodes will accept it).
965
966The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
967faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
968experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
969than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
970easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
971always have to re-think your design.
972
973Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
974objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
975
976=back
977
653=head1 SEE ALSO 978=head1 SEE ALSO
979
980L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
981
982L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
983
984L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintenance and port groups, to find
985your applications.
986
987L<AnyEvent::MP::DataConn> - establish data connections between nodes.
988
989L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
990all nodes.
654 991
655L<AnyEvent>. 992L<AnyEvent>.
656 993
657=head1 AUTHOR 994=head1 AUTHOR
658 995

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