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Revision 1.54 by root, Fri Aug 14 16:15:37 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.138 by root, Thu Mar 22 00:48:29 2012 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
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 12 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14 13
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages 14 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR- 15 configure;
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19 16
20 # ports are message endpoints 17 # ports are message destinations
21 18
22 # sending messages 19 # sending messages
23 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg; 21 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
26 23
27 # creating/using ports, the simple way 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
29 26
30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port; 28 my $port = port;
32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
34 31
35 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
37 34
35 # destroy a port again
36 kil $port; # "normal" kill
37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill
38
38 # monitoring 39 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 40 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 41 mon $port, $localport # kill localport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 42 mon $port, $localport, @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 };
42 51
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS 52=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44 53
54 bin/aemp - stable.
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work 55 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated 56 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable 57 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
49 58 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
50 stay tuned.
51 59
52=head1 DESCRIPTION 60=head1 DESCRIPTION
53 61
54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 62This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
55 63
56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 64Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
57on the same or other hosts. 65on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
58 66
59For 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>
60manual page. 68manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
61
62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
64stay tuned!
65 69
66=head1 CONCEPTS 70=head1 CONCEPTS
67 71
68=over 4 72=over 4
69 73
70=item port 74=item port
71 75
72A 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).
73 78
74Ports 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
75some messages. Messages will not be queued. 80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
81anything was listening for them or not.
76 82
83Ports are represented by (printable) strings called "port IDs".
84
77=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 85=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
78 86
79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 87A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>)
80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 88as separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified
81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 89format created by AnyEvent::MP).
82reference.
83 90
84=item node 91=item node
85 92
86A 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,
87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new 94which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
88ports. 95ports.
89 96
90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 97Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 98(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
99currently, but all nodes can talk to public nodes.
92 100
93=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 101Nodes is represented by (printable) strings called "node IDs".
94 102
95A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 103=item node ID - C<[A-Za-z0-9_\-.:]*>
96private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
97node (for public nodes).
98 104
99This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 105A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
100TCP/IP, other protocols might look different). 106network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
107hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
108doesn't interpret node IDs in any way except to uniquely identify a node.
101 109
102Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 110=item binds - C<ip:port>
103addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
104 111
105Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 112Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
106resolve it. 113each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
114endpoints - binds.
115
116Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can be used, which
117specify TCP ports to listen on. So a bind is basically just a tcp socket
118in listening mode thta accepts conenctions form other nodes.
119
120=item seed nodes
121
122When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network it is in - it
123needs to connect to at least one other node that is already in the
124network. These other nodes are called "seed nodes".
125
126Seed nodes themselves are not special - they are seed nodes only because
127some other node I<uses> them as such, but any node can be used as seed
128node for other nodes, and eahc node cna use a different set of seed nodes.
129
130In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
131maintain the network - all nodes using the same seed node form are part of
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.
135
136Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
137should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
138seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
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
149=item seed IDs - C<host:port>
150
151Seed IDs are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
152TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
153
154=item global nodes
155
156An AEMP network needs a discovery service - nodes need to know how to
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).
107 170
108=back 171=back
109 172
110=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 173=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
111 174
113 176
114=cut 177=cut
115 178
116package AnyEvent::MP; 179package AnyEvent::MP;
117 180
181use AnyEvent::MP::Config ();
118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel; 182use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
183use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel qw(%NODE %PORT %PORT_DATA $UNIQ $RUNIQ $ID);
119 184
120use common::sense; 185use common::sense;
121 186
122use Carp (); 187use Carp ();
123 188
124use AE (); 189use AE ();
190use Guard ();
125 191
126use base "Exporter"; 192use base "Exporter";
127 193
128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 194our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Config::VERSION;
129 195
130our @EXPORT = qw( 196our @EXPORT = qw(
131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 197 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
132 resolve_node initialise_node 198 configure
133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 199 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal
134 port 200 port
201 db_set db_del db_reg
202 db_mon db_family db_keys db_values
135); 203);
136 204
137our $SELF; 205our $SELF;
138 206
139sub _self_die() { 207sub _self_die() {
142 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 210 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
143} 211}
144 212
145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 213=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
146 214
147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the 215The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
148noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to 216ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
149C<initialise_node>. 217a call to C<configure>.
150 218
151=item $noderef = node_of $port 219=item $nodeid = node_of $port
152 220
153Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef. 221Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
154 222
155=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 223=item configure $profile, key => value...
156 224
157=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master... 225=item configure key => value...
158 226
159Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 227Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
160itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 228"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
161it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 229to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
230some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
162 231
163This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 232This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
164never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 233never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
165 234
166All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be 235The key/value pairs are basically the same ones as documented for the
167either resolved or unresolved. 236F<aemp> command line utility (sans the set/del prefix), with these additions:
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:
176 237
177=over 4 238=over 4
178 239
179=item public nodes 240=item norc => $boolean (default false)
180 241
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to 242If true, then the rc file (e.g. F<~/.perl-anyevent-mp>) will I<not>
182C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a 243be consulted - all configuraiton options must be specified in the
183noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved). 244C<configure> call.
184 245
185After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to 246=item force => $boolean (default false)
186connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
187optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
188network.
189 247
190=item slave nodes 248IF true, then the values specified in the C<configure> will take
249precedence over any values configured via the rc file. The default is for
250the rc file to override any options specified in the program.
191 251
192When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file) 252=item secure => $pass->(@msg)
193is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
194node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
195their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
196 253
197At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it 254In addition to specifying a boolean, you can specify a code reference that
198directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node 255is called for every code execution attempt - the execution request is
199will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the 256granted iff the callback returns a true value.
200first node it can successfully connect to. 257
258Most of the time the callback should look only at
259C<$AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::SRCNODE> to make a decision, and not at the
260actual message (which can be about anything, and is mostly provided for
261diagnostic purposes).
262
263See F<semp setsecure> for more info.
201 264
202=back 265=back
203 266
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 4 267=over 4
247 268
248=item the empty string 269=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
249 270
250An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was 271The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
251specified. 272L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
273named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
274missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
252 275
253=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>) 276The profile data is then gathered as follows:
254 277
255These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be 278First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
256further resolved. 279undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
280data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
281default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
282profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
257 283
258=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>) 284That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
285and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
286and can only be used to specify defaults.
259 287
260These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally 288If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
261looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was 289this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID, with
262specified. 290a unique randoms tring (C</%u>) appended.
291
292The node ID can contain some C<%> sequences that are expanded: C<%n>
293is expanded to the local nodename, C<%u> is replaced by a random
294strign to make the node unique. For example, the F<aemp> commandline
295utility uses C<aemp/%n/%u> as nodename, which might expand to
296C<aemp/cerebro/ZQDGSIkRhEZQDGSIkRhE>.
297
298=item step 2, bind listener sockets
299
300The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
301aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
302to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
303outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
304binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
305
306If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
307used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
308local IP address it finds.
309
310=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
311
312As the last step, the seed ID list from the profile is passed to the
313L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
314connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
263 315
264=back 316=back
317
318Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
319This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
320
321 configure
322
323Example: become a semi-anonymous node. This form is often used for
324commandline clients.
325
326 configure nodeid => "myscript/%n/%u";
327
328Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which is suitable
329for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
330customary for aemp).
331
332 # use the aemp commandline utility
333 # aemp profile seed binds '*:4040'
334
335 # then use it
336 configure profile => "seed";
337
338 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
339 # aemp run profile seed
340
341 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
342 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
265 343
266=item $SELF 344=item $SELF
267 345
268Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 346Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
269blocks. 347blocks.
270 348
271=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 349=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
272 350
273Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 351Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
274just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 352just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
275module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 353module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
276 354
277=item snd $port, type => @data 355=item snd $port, type => @data
278 356
279=item snd $port, @msg 357=item snd $port, @msg
280 358
281Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 359Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
282a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID. 360local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
283 361
284While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 362While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
285string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request 363use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
286type etc.). 364request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
365arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
287 366
288The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 367The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
289function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 368function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
290problems. 369forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
370and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
371never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
372receiving port.
291 373
292The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 374The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
293JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 375JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
294of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 376of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
295that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 377that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
296node, anything can be passed. 378node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
379these.
297 380
298=item $local_port = port 381=item $local_port = port
299 382
300Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has 383Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
301no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages. 384no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
320 403
321=cut 404=cut
322 405
323sub rcv($@); 406sub rcv($@);
324 407
325sub _kilme { 408my $KILME = sub {
326 die "received message on port without callback"; 409 (my $tag = substr $_[0], 0, 30) =~ s/([\x20-\x7e])/./g;
327} 410 kil $SELF, unhandled_message => "no callback found for message '$tag'";
411};
328 412
329sub port(;&) { 413sub port(;&) {
330 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 414 my $id = $UNIQ . ++$ID;
331 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 415 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
332 416
333 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme; 417 rcv $port, shift || $KILME;
334 418
335 $port 419 $port
336} 420}
337 421
338=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg) 422=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
343 427
344The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 428The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
345executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will 429executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
346result in the port being C<kil>ed. 430result in the port being C<kil>ed.
347 431
348The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific 432The default callback receives all messages not matched by a more specific
349C<tag> match. 433C<tag> match.
350 434
351=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ... 435=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
352 436
353Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the 437Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
374 msg1 => sub { ... }, 458 msg1 => sub { ... },
375 ... 459 ...
376 ; 460 ;
377 461
378Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port 462Example: 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. 463(e.g. for an rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
380 464
381 rcv $port, $otherport => sub { 465 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
382 my @reply = @_; 466 my @reply = @_;
383 467
384 rcv $SELF, $otherport; 468 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
386 470
387=cut 471=cut
388 472
389sub rcv($@) { 473sub rcv($@) {
390 my $port = shift; 474 my $port = shift;
391 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 475 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
392 476
393 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 477 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
394 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 478 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
395 479
396 while (@_) { 480 while (@_) {
397 if (ref $_[0]) { 481 if (ref $_[0]) {
398 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) { 482 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
399 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 483 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
400 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 484 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
401 485
402 $self->[2] = shift; 486 $self->[0] = shift;
403 } else { 487 } else {
404 my $cb = shift; 488 my $cb = shift;
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 489 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port; 490 local $SELF = $port;
407 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@; 491 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 }; 492 };
409 } 493 }
410 } elsif (defined $_[0]) { 494 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
411 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 495 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
412 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 496 my $self = bless [$PORT{$portid} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
413 497
414 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 498 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
415 local $SELF = $port; 499 local $SELF = $port;
416 500
417 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) { 501 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
439 } 523 }
440 524
441 $port 525 $port
442} 526}
443 527
528=item peval $port, $coderef[, @args]
529
530Evaluates the given C<$codref> within the contetx of C<$port>, that is,
531when the code throews an exception the C<$port> will be killed.
532
533Any remaining args will be passed to the callback. Any return values will
534be returned to the caller.
535
536This is useful when you temporarily want to execute code in the context of
537a port.
538
539Example: create a port and run some initialisation code in it's context.
540
541 my $port = port { ... };
542
543 peval $port, sub {
544 init
545 or die "unable to init";
546 };
547
548=cut
549
550sub peval($$) {
551 local $SELF = shift;
552 my $cb = shift;
553
554 if (wantarray) {
555 my @res = eval { &$cb };
556 _self_die if $@;
557 @res
558 } else {
559 my $res = eval { &$cb };
560 _self_die if $@;
561 $res
562 }
563}
564
444=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 565=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
445 566
446Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 567Remembers 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> 568closure 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. 569callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
570
571The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub {
572BLOCK }, @_ } >>.
449 573
450This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks: 574This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
451 575
452 rcv delayed_reply => sub { 576 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
453 my ($delay, @reply) = @_; 577 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
477 $res 601 $res
478 } 602 }
479 } 603 }
480} 604}
481 605
482=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 606=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
483 607
484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 608=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
485 609
486=item $guard = mon $port 610=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
487 611
488=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 612=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
489 613
490Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 614Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
491messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 615messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
492to stop monitoring again. 616to stop monitoring again.
493
494C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
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.
501 617
502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 618In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 619number 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 620"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
505C<eval> if unsure. 621C<eval> if unsure.
506 622
507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>) 623In 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 624will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 625"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
510port is killed with the same reason. 626port is killed with the same reason.
511 627
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 628The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>. 629C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514 630
515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be 631In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>. 632C<snd>.
633
634Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
635alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
517 636
518As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from 637As 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 638a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
520lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that 639lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
521even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection 640even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
522to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally 641to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
523these problems do not exist. 642these problems do not exist.
524 643
644C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
645after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
646arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
647loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
648the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
649port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
650delivered again.
651
652Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
653used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
654relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
655non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle connections).
656
657This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
658stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
659to ensure some maximum latency.
660
525Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 661Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
526 662
527 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 663 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
528 664
529Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 665Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
535 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 671 mon $port, $self => "restart";
536 672
537=cut 673=cut
538 674
539sub mon { 675sub mon {
540 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 676 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
541 677
542 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 678 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
543 679
544 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 680 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
545 681
546 unless (ref $cb) { 682 unless (ref $cb) {
547 if (@_) { 683 if (@_) {
556 } 692 }
557 693
558 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 694 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
559 695
560 defined wantarray 696 defined wantarray
561 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 697 and ($cb += 0, Guard::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) })
562} 698}
563 699
564=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 700=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
565 701
566Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port 702Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
567is killed, the references will be freed. 703is killed, the references will be freed.
568 704
569Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 705Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
570 706
571This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 707This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
572want to free them when the port gets killed: 708want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
573 709
574 $port->rcv (start => sub { 710 $port->rcv (start => sub {
575 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 711 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
576 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 712 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
577 }); 713 });
578 }); 714 });
579 715
580=cut 716=cut
589 725
590=item kil $port[, @reason] 726=item kil $port[, @reason]
591 727
592Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 728Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
593 729
594If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 730If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" -
595ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 731monitor callback will be invoked, but the kil will not cause linked ports
732(C<mon $mport, $lport> form) to get killed.
596 733
597Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 734If a C<@reason> is specified, then linked ports (C<mon $mport, $lport>
598C<mon>, see below). 735form) get killed with the same reason.
599 736
600Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 737Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
601will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 738will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
602 739
603Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 740Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
604$message >>. 741$message >>.
605 742
606=cut 743Common idioms:
744
745 # silently remove yourself, do not kill linked ports
746 kil $SELF;
747
748 # report a failure in some detail
749 kil $SELF, failure_mode_1 => "it failed with too high temperature";
750
751 # do not waste much time with killing, just die when something goes wrong
752 open my $fh, "<file"
753 or die "file: $!";
607 754
608=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 755=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
609 756
610Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 757Creates 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). 758case it's the node where that port resides).
612 759
613The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 760The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
614permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 761possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
615 762
616After the port has been created, the init function is 763After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
617called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 764node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
618(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main 765fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
619program, use C<::name>. 766specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
620 767
621If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 768If 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. 769the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
623C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 770C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
624exists or it runs out of package names. 771exists or it runs out of package names.
625 772
626The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 773The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
627object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 774object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. It I<must>
775call one of the C<rcv> functions to set callbacks on C<$SELF>, otherwise
776the port might not get created.
628 777
629A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 778A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
630in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 779port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
631ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 780local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
781when there is a problem.
782
783C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
784caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
785called for the local node).
632 786
633Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 787Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
634 788
635 # this node, executed from within a port context: 789 # this node, executed from within a port context:
636 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 790 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
651 805
652sub _spawn { 806sub _spawn {
653 my $port = shift; 807 my $port = shift;
654 my $init = shift; 808 my $init = shift;
655 809
810 # rcv will create the actual port
656 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port"; 811 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
657 eval { 812 eval {
658 &{ load_func $init } 813 &{ load_func $init }
659 }; 814 };
660 _self_die if $@; 815 _self_die if $@;
661} 816}
662 817
663sub spawn(@) { 818sub spawn(@) {
664 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; 819 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
665 820
666 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 821 my $id = $RUNIQ . ++$ID;
667 822
668 $_[0] =~ /::/ 823 $_[0] =~ /::/
669 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 824 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
670 825
671 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 826 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
672 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
673 827
674 "$noderef#$id" 828 "$nodeid#$id"
675} 829}
676 830
831
832=item after $timeout, @msg
833
834=item after $timeout, $callback
835
836Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
837specified number of seconds.
838
839This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
840AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
841so it may go away in the future.
842
843=cut
844
845sub after($@) {
846 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
847
848 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
849 undef $t;
850 ref $action[0]
851 ? $action[0]()
852 : snd @action;
853 };
854}
855
856#=item $cb2 = timeout $seconds, $cb[, @args]
857
858=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
859
860A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
861given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
862
863The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
864the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
865
866A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
867
868If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
869then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
870elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
871
872If no time-out is given (or it is C<undef>), then the local port will
873monitor the remote port instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
874
875Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
876might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
877this is indeed useful for something.
878
879=cut
880
881sub cal(@) {
882 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
883 my $cb = pop;
884
885 my $port = port {
886 undef $timeout;
887 kil $SELF;
888 &$cb;
889 };
890
891 if (defined $timeout) {
892 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
893 undef $timeout;
894 kil $port;
895 $cb->();
896 };
897 } else {
898 mon $_[0], sub {
899 kil $port;
900 $cb->();
901 };
902 }
903
904 push @_, $port;
905 &snd;
906
907 $port
908}
909
677=back 910=back
678 911
679=head1 NODE MESSAGES 912=head1 DISTRIBUTED DATABASE
680 913
681Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 914AnyEvent::MP comes with a simple distributed database. The database will
682arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 915be mirrored asynchronously on all global nodes. Other nodes bind to one
683message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 916of the global nodes for their needs. Every node has a "local database"
684the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 917which contains all the values that are set locally. All local databases
918are merged together to form the global database, which can be queried.
685 919
686While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 920The database structure is that of a two-level hash - the database hash
921contains hashes which contain values, similarly to a perl hash of hashes,
922i.e.:
687 923
924 $DATABASE{$family}{$subkey} = $value
925
926The top level hash key is called "family", and the second-level hash key
927is called "subkey" or simply "key".
928
929The family must be alphanumeric, i.e. start with a letter and consist
930of letters, digits, underscores and colons (C<[A-Za-z][A-Za-z0-9_:]*>,
931pretty much like Perl module names.
932
933As the family namespace is global, it is recommended to prefix family names
934with the name of the application or module using it.
935
936The subkeys must be non-empty strings, with no further restrictions.
937
938The values should preferably be strings, but other perl scalars should
939work as well (such as C<undef>, arrays and hashes).
940
941Every database entry is owned by one node - adding the same family/subkey
942combination on multiple nodes will not cause discomfort for AnyEvent::MP,
943but the result might be nondeterministic, i.e. the key might have
944different values on different nodes.
945
946Different subkeys in the same family can be owned by different nodes
947without problems, and in fact, this is the common method to create worker
948pools. For example, a worker port for image scaling might do this:
949
950 db_set my_image_scalers => $port;
951
952And clients looking for an image scaler will want to get the
953C<my_image_scalers> keys from time to time:
954
955 db_keys my_image_scalers => sub {
956 @ports = @{ $_[0] };
957 };
958
959Or better yet, they want to monitor the database family, so they always
960have a reasonable up-to-date copy:
961
962 db_mon my_image_scalers => sub {
963 @ports = keys %{ $_[0] };
964 };
965
966In general, you can set or delete single subkeys, but query and monitor
967whole families only.
968
969If you feel the need to monitor or query a single subkey, try giving it
970it's own family.
971
688=over 4 972=over
973
974=item $guard = db_set $family => $subkey [=> $value]
975
976Sets (or replaces) a key to the database - if C<$value> is omitted,
977C<undef> is used instead.
978
979When called in non-void context, C<db_set> returns a guard that
980automatically calls C<db_del> when it is destroyed.
981
982=item db_del $family => $subkey...
983
984Deletes one or more subkeys from the database family.
985
986=item $guard = db_reg $family => $port => $value
987
988=item $guard = db_reg $family => $port
989
990=item $guard = db_reg $family
991
992Registers a port in the given family and optionally returns a guard to
993remove it.
994
995This function basically does the same as:
996
997 db_set $family => $port => $value
998
999Except that the port is monitored and automatically removed from the
1000database family when it is kil'ed.
1001
1002If C<$value> is missing, C<undef> is used. If C<$port> is missing, then
1003C<$SELF> is used.
1004
1005This function is most useful to register a port in some port group (which
1006is just another name for a database family), and have it removed when the
1007port is gone. This works best when the port is a local port.
689 1008
690=cut 1009=cut
691 1010
692=item lookup => $name, @reply 1011sub db_reg($$;$) {
1012 my $family = shift;
1013 my $port = @_ ? shift : $SELF;
693 1014
694Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 1015 my $clr = sub { db_del $family => $port };
1016 mon $port, $clr;
695 1017
696=item devnull => ... 1018 db_set $family => $port => $_[0];
697 1019
698Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 1020 defined wantarray
1021 and &Guard::guard ($clr)
1022}
699 1023
700=item relay => $port, @msg 1024=item db_family $family => $cb->(\%familyhash)
701 1025
702Simply forwards the message to the given port. 1026Queries the named database C<$family> and call the callback with the
1027family represented as a hash. You can keep and freely modify the hash.
703 1028
704=item eval => $string[ @reply] 1029=item db_keys $family => $cb->(\@keys)
705 1030
706Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the 1031Same as C<db_family>, except it only queries the family I<subkeys> and passes
707form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent. 1032them as array reference to the callback.
708 1033
709Example: crash another node. 1034=item db_values $family => $cb->(\@values)
710 1035
711 snd $othernode, eval => "exit"; 1036Same as C<db_family>, except it only queries the family I<values> and passes them
1037as array reference to the callback.
712 1038
713=item time => @reply 1039=item $guard = db_mon $family => $cb->($familyhash, \@added, \@changed, \@deleted)
714 1040
715Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>. 1041Creates a monitor on the given database family. Each time a key is set
1042or or is deleted the callback is called with a hash containing the
1043database family and three lists of added, changed and deleted subkeys,
1044respectively. If no keys have changed then the array reference might be
1045C<undef> or even missing.
716 1046
717Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a 1047If not called in void context, a guard object is returned that, when
718C<timereply> message. 1048destroyed, stops the monitor.
719 1049
720 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 1050The family hash reference and the key arrays belong to AnyEvent::MP and
721 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 1051B<must not be modified or stored> by the callback. When in doubt, make a
1052copy.
1053
1054As soon as possible after the monitoring starts, the callback will be
1055called with the intiial contents of the family, even if it is empty,
1056i.e. there will always be a timely call to the callback with the current
1057contents.
1058
1059It is possible that the callback is called with a change event even though
1060the subkey is already present and the value has not changed.
1061
1062The monitoring stops when the guard object is destroyed.
1063
1064Example: on every change to the family "mygroup", print out all keys.
1065
1066 my $guard = db_mon mygroup => sub {
1067 my ($family, $a, $c, $d) = @_;
1068 print "mygroup members: ", (join " ", keys %$family), "\n";
1069 };
1070
1071Exmaple: wait until the family "My::Module::workers" is non-empty.
1072
1073 my $guard; $guard = db_mon My::Module::workers => sub {
1074 my ($family, $a, $c, $d) = @_;
1075 return unless %$family;
1076 undef $guard;
1077 print "My::Module::workers now nonempty\n";
1078 };
1079
1080Example: print all changes to the family "AnyRvent::Fantasy::Module".
1081
1082 my $guard = db_mon AnyRvent::Fantasy::Module => sub {
1083 my ($family, $a, $c, $d) = @_;
1084
1085 print "+$_=$family->{$_}\n" for @$a;
1086 print "*$_=$family->{$_}\n" for @$c;
1087 print "-$_=$family->{$_}\n" for @$d;
1088 };
1089
1090=cut
722 1091
723=back 1092=back
724 1093
725=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 1094=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
726 1095
727AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node 1096AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
728== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 1097== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
729programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 1098programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
730sample: 1099sample:
731 1100
732 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 1101 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
733 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 1102 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 1103 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 1104 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
736 1105
737Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 1106Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
738 1107
739=over 4 1108=over 4
740 1109
741=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 1110=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
742 1111
743Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 1112Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
744same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 1113way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
745convenience functionality. 1114configuration or DNS), and possibly the addresses of some seed nodes, but
746 1115will otherwise discover other nodes (and their IDs) itself.
747This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
748cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
749 1116
750=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP 1117=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
751uses "local ports are like remote ports". 1118uses "local ports are like remote ports".
752 1119
753The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors 1120The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
762ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot 1129ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
763occur. 1130occur.
764 1131
765=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 1132=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
766 1133
767Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore 1134Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages out of order, and
768needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no 1135therefore needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve
769useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of 1136no useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities
770AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to 1137of AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
771filter messages without dequeing them. 1138filter messages without dequeuing them.
772 1139
773(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 1140This is not a philosophical difference, but simply stems from AnyEvent::MP
1141being event-based, while Erlang is process-based.
1142
1143You cna have a look at L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on
1144top of AEMP and Coro threads.
774 1145
775=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 1146=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
776 1147
777Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and 1148Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process until
1149a conenction has been established and the message sent (and so does not
778so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, 1150need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends return immediately, connection
779connection establishment is handled in the background. 1151establishment is handled in the background.
780 1152
781=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. 1153=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
782 1154
783Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 1155Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
784without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 1156lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
785and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 1157b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
786 1158
787AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 1159AEMP guarantees (modulo hardware errors) correct ordering, and the
1160guarantee that after one message is lost, all following ones sent to the
1161same port are lost as well, until monitoring raises an error, so there are
788holes in the message sequence. 1162no silent "holes" in the message sequence.
789 1163
790=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 1164If you want your software to be very reliable, you have to cope with
791alive. 1165corrupted and even out-of-order messages in both Erlang and AEMP. AEMP
792 1166simply tries to work better in common error cases, such as when a network
793In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 1167link goes down.
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 1168
801=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 1169=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
802 1170
803In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID 1171In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses an Erlang
804known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages 1172process ID known to other nodes for a completely different process,
805destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 1173causing messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated
1174process.
806 1175
807AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 1176AEMP does not reuse port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
808around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 1177around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
809 1178
810=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 1179=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
811authentication and can use TLS. 1180authentication and can use TLS.
812 1181
813AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 1182AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
814securely authenticate nodes. 1183securely authenticate nodes.
815 1184
816=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 1185=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
817communications. 1186communications.
818 1187
819The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 1188The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
820language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 1189language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging), and binary,
821language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 1190language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
1191used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
822 1192
823It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 1193It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
824with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 1194with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
825protocol simple. 1195protocol simple.
826 1196
827=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 1197=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
828 1198
829In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 1199In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages or
830or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 1200I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single Erlang processes is
831difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 1201difficult to implement.
832Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 1202
833on a per-process basis. 1203Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in Erlang, as one can choose
1204between automatic kill, exit message or callback on a per-port basis.
834 1205
835=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 1206=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
836 1207
837Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 1208Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
838as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 1209same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
839 1210
840In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 1211In 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 1212that 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 1213on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
843the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 1214remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
844more reliable. 1215reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
845 1216
846This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 1217This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
847(hard to do in Erlang). 1218(hard to do in Erlang).
848 1219
849=back 1220=back
850 1221
851=head1 RATIONALE 1222=head1 RATIONALE
852 1223
853=over 4 1224=over 4
854 1225
855=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects? 1226=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
856 1227
857We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods 1228We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
858thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over 1229that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
859the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of 1230the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
860overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object. 1231overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
861 1232
862Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 1233Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
863procedures to be "valid". 1234procedures to be "valid".
864 1235
865And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it 1236And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single
866can't become much cheaper. 1237code reference stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
867 1238
868=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable? 1239=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
869 1240
870In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 1241In 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 1242format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
872default. 1243default (although all nodes will accept it).
873 1244
874The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times 1245The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
875faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of 1246faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
876experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems 1247experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
877than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel 1248than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
878easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you 1249easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
879always have to re-think your design. 1250always have to re-think your design.
880 1251
881Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than 1252Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
882objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient. 1253objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
883 1254
884=back 1255=back
885 1256
1257=head1 PORTING FROM AnyEvent::MP VERSION 1.X
1258
1259AEMP version 2 has three major incompatible changes compared to version 1:
1260
1261=over 4
1262
1263=item AnyEvent::MP::Global no longer has group management functions.
1264
1265AnyEvent::MP now comes with a distributed database that is more
1266powerful. It's database families map closely to ports, but the API has
1267minor differences:
1268
1269 grp_reg $group, $port # old
1270 db_reg $group, $port # new
1271
1272 $list = grp_get $group # old
1273 db_keys $group, sub { my $list = shift } # new
1274
1275 grp_mon $group, $cb->(\@ports, $add, $del) # old
1276 db_mon $group, $cb->(\%ports, $add, $change, $del) # new
1277
1278C<grp_reg> is a no-brainer (just replace by C<db_reg>), but C<grp_get>
1279is no longer instant, because the local node might not have a copy of
1280the group. This can be partially remedied by using C<db_mon> to keep an
1281updated copy of the group:
1282
1283 my $local_group_copy;
1284 db_mon $group => sub { $local_group_copy = shift };
1285
1286 # no keys %$local_group_copy always returns the most up-to-date
1287 # list of ports in the group.
1288
1289C<grp_mon> can almost be replaced by C<db_mon>:
1290
1291 db_mon $group => sub {
1292 my ($ports, $add, $chg, $lde) = @_;
1293 $ports = [keys %$ports];
1294
1295 # now $ports, $add and $del are the same as
1296 # were originally passed by grp_mon.
1297 ...
1298 };
1299
1300=item Nodes not longer connect to all other nodes.
1301
1302In AEMP 1.x, every node automatically loads the L<AnyEvent::MP::Global>
1303module, which in turn would create connections to all other nodes in the
1304network (helped by the seed nodes).
1305
1306In version 2.x, global nodes still connect to all other global nodes, but
1307other nodes don't - now every node either is a global node itself, or
1308attaches itself to another global node.
1309
1310If a node isn't a global node itself, then it attaches itself to one
1311of its seed nodes. If that seed node isn't a global node yet, it will
1312automatically be upgraded to a global node.
1313
1314So in many cases, nothing needs to be changed - one just has to make sure
1315that all seed nodes are meshed together with the other seed nodes (as with
1316AEMP 1.x), and other nodes specify them as seed nodes.
1317
1318Not opening a connection to every other node is usually an advantage,
1319except when you need the lower latency of an already established
1320connection. To ensure a node establishes a connection to another node,
1321you can monitor the node port (C<mon $node, ...>), which will attempt to
1322create the connection (and notify you when the connection fails).
1323
1324=item Listener-less nodes (nodes without binds) are gone.
1325
1326And are not coming back, at least not in their old form. If no C<binds>
1327are specified for a node, AnyEvent::MP now assumes a default of C<*:*>.
1328
1329There are vague plans to implement some form of routing domains, which
1330might or might not bring back listener-less nodes, but don't count on it.
1331
1332The fact that most connections are now optional somewhat mitigates this,
1333as a node can be effectively unreachable from the outside without any
1334problems, as long as it isn't a global node and only reaches out to other
1335nodes (as opposed to being contacted from other nodes).
1336
1337=item $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::WARN has gone.
1338
1339AnyEvent has acquired a logging framework (L<AnyEvent::Log>), and AEMP now
1340uses this, and so should your programs.
1341
1342Every module now documents what kinds of messages it generates, with
1343AnyEvent::MP acting as a catch all.
1344
1345On the positive side, this means that instead of setting
1346C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MP_WARNLEVEL>, you can get away by setting C<AE_VERBOSE>,
1347much less to type.
1348
1349=back
1350
886=head1 SEE ALSO 1351=head1 SEE ALSO
1352
1353L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
1354
1355L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
1356
1357L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintenance and port groups, to find
1358your applications.
1359
1360L<AnyEvent::MP::DataConn> - establish data connections between nodes.
1361
1362L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
1363all nodes.
887 1364
888L<AnyEvent>. 1365L<AnyEvent>.
889 1366
890=head1 AUTHOR 1367=head1 AUTHOR
891 1368

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