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Revision 1.92 by root, Tue Sep 22 14:13:33 2009 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 # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's node ID
10 NODE # returns this node's node ID
11 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
12 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
21 snd $port, @msg;
22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
13 23
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
15 26
16 # examples: 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
28 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
18 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
19 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
20 31
21 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 32 # create a port on another node
22 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 34
35 # monitoring
36 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
37 mon $localport, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
38 mon $localport, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
39
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41
42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
24 47
25=head1 DESCRIPTION 48=head1 DESCRIPTION
26 49
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 50This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 51
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 52Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 53on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
31 54
32At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 55For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
33so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to resreve the CPAN namespace - 56manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
34stay tuned!
35 57
36=head1 CONCEPTS 58=head1 CONCEPTS
37 59
38=over 4 60=over 4
39 61
40=item port 62=item port
41 63
42A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 64Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
43you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 65messages to (with the C<snd> function).
44messages they match, messages will not be queued.
45 66
67Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
68some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
69anything was listening for them or not.
70
46=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 71=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
47 72
48A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 73A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
49by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 74separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
50 75
51=item node 76=item node
52 77
53A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 78A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
54port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 79which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
55among other things. 80ports.
56 81
57Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 82Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
58(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 83(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
59public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes. 84currently.
60 85
61=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 86=item node ID - C<[A-Z_][a-zA-Z0-9_\-.:]*>
62 87
63A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 88A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
64private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 89network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
65node (for public nodes). 90hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
91doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
92
93=item binds - C<ip:port>
94
95Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
96each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
97endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
98be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
99
100=item seed nodes
101
102When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
103about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
104network. This node is called a seed.
105
106Apart from the fact that other nodes know them as seed nodes and they have
107to have fixed listening addresses, seed nodes are perfectly normal nodes -
108any node can function as a seed node for others.
109
110In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
111maintain the network and to connect nodes that otherwise would have
112trouble connecting. They form the backbone of an AnyEvent::MP network.
113
114Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
115should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
116seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
117
118=item seeds - C<host:port>
119
120Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
121TCP port) of nodes thta should be used as seed nodes.
122
123The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running,
124and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out
125of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish
126connections to some seednodes again to join the network.
66 127
67=back 128=back
68 129
69=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 130=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
70 131
72 133
73=cut 134=cut
74 135
75package AnyEvent::MP; 136package AnyEvent::MP;
76 137
77use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 138use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
78 139
79use common::sense; 140use common::sense;
80 141
81use Carp (); 142use Carp ();
82 143
83use AE (); 144use AE ();
84 145
85use base "Exporter"; 146use base "Exporter";
86 147
87our $VERSION = '0.02'; 148our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
149
88our @EXPORT = qw( 150our @EXPORT = qw(
89 NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv _any_ 151 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
90 create_port create_port_on 152 configure
91 create_miniport 153 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub spawn cal
92 become_slave become_public 154 port
93); 155);
94 156
157our $SELF;
158
159sub _self_die() {
160 my $msg = $@;
161 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
162 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
163}
164
95=item NODE / $NODE 165=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
96 166
97The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 167The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
98the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 168ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
99C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 169a call to C<configure>.
100 170
171=item $nodeid = node_of $port
172
173Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
174
175=item configure $profile, key => value...
176
177=item configure key => value...
178
179Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
180"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
181to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
182some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
183
184This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
185never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
186
187=over 4
188
189=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
190
191The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
192L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
193named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
194missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
195
196The profile data is then gathered as follows:
197
198First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
199undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
200data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
201default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
202profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
203
204That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
205and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
206and can only be used to specify defaults.
207
208If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
209this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
210special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
211
212=item step 2, bind listener sockets
213
214The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
215aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
216to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
217outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
218binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
219
220If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
221used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
222local IP address it finds.
223
224=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
225
226As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
227L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
228connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
229
230=back
231
232Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
233This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
234
235 configure
236
237Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
238clients.
239
240 configure nodeid => "anon/";
241
242Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
243for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
244customary for aemp).
245
246 # use the aemp commandline utility
247 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
248
249 # then use it
250 configure profile => "seed";
251
252 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
253 # aemp run profile seed
254
255 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
256 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
257
258=item $SELF
259
260Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
261blocks.
262
263=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
264
265Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
266just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
267module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
268
101=item snd $portid, type => @data 269=item snd $port, type => @data
102 270
103=item snd $portid, @msg 271=item snd $port, @msg
104 272
105Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 273Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
106a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 274local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
107stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
108 275
109While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 276While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
110string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 277use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
111type etc.). 278request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
279arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
112 280
113The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 281The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
114function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 282function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
115problems. 283forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
284and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
285never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
286receiving port.
116 287
117The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 288The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
118JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 289JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
119of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 290of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
120that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 291that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
121node, anything can be passed. 292node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
293these.
122 294
123=item $local_port = create_port 295=item $local_port = port
124 296
125Create a new local port object. See the next section for allowed methods. 297Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
298no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
126 299
127=cut 300=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
128 301
129sub create_port { 302Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
130 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . ++$AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID; 303creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
131 304
132 my $self = bless { 305The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
133 id => "$NODE#$id", 306global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
134 names => [$id], 307port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
135 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 308(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
136 309
137 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 310If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
138 unshift @_, $self;
139 311
140 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[1]} }) { 312 my $port = port {
141 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 313 my @msg = @_;
142 && undef $_; 314 ...
315 kil $SELF;
316 };
317
318=cut
319
320sub rcv($@);
321
322sub _kilme {
323 die "received message on port without callback";
324}
325
326sub port(;&) {
327 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
328 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
329
330 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
331
332 $port
333}
334
335=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
336
337Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
338remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
339C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
340
341The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
342executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
343result in the port being C<kil>ed.
344
345The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
346C<tag> match.
347
348=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
349
350Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
351given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
352C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
353registered for each tag.
354
355The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
356element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
357environment as the default callback (see above).
358
359Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
360
361 my $port = rcv port,
362 msg1 => sub { ... },
363 msg2 => sub { ... },
364 ;
365
366Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
367in one go:
368
369 snd $otherport, reply =>
370 rcv port,
371 msg1 => sub { ... },
372 ...
373 ;
374
375Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
376(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
377
378 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
379 my @reply = @_;
380
381 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
382 };
383
384=cut
385
386sub rcv($@) {
387 my $port = shift;
388 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
389
390 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
391 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
392
393 while (@_) {
394 if (ref $_[0]) {
395 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
396 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
397 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
398
399 $self->[2] = shift;
400 } else {
401 my $cb = shift;
402 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
403 local $SELF = $port;
404 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
405 };
406 }
407 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
408 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
409 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
410
411 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
412 local $SELF = $port;
413
414 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
415 shift;
416 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
417 } else {
418 &{ $self->[0] };
419 }
420 };
421
422 $self
423 };
424
425 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
426 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
427
428 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
429
430 if (defined $cb) {
431 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
432 } else {
433 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
434 }
143 } 435 }
436 }
144 437
145 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[1]} }) { 438 $port
146 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 439}
147 && &{$_->[0]} 440
148 && undef $_; 441=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
442
443Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
444closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
445callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
446
447This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
448
449 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
450 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
451 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
452 snd @reply, $SELF;
453 };
454 };
455
456=cut
457
458sub psub(&) {
459 my $cb = shift;
460
461 my $port = $SELF
462 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
463
464 sub {
465 local $SELF = $port;
466
467 if (wantarray) {
468 my @res = eval { &$cb };
469 _self_die if $@;
470 @res
471 } else {
472 my $res = eval { &$cb };
473 _self_die if $@;
474 $res
149 } 475 }
476 }
477}
150 478
151 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 479=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
152 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 480
153 && &{$_->[0]} 481=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
154 && undef $_; 482
483=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
484
485=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
486
487Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
488messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
489to stop monitoring again.
490
491In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
492number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
493"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
494C<eval> if unsure.
495
496In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
497will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
498"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
499port is killed with the same reason.
500
501The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
502C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
503
504In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
505C<snd>.
506
507Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
508alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
509
510As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
511a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
512lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
513even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
514to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
515these problems do not exist.
516
517C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
518after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
519arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
520loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
521the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
522port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
523delivered again.
524
525Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
526used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
527relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
528non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions).
529
530This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
531stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
532to ensure some maximum latency.
533
534Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
535
536 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
537
538Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
539
540 mon $port;
541
542Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
543
544 mon $port, $self => "restart";
545
546=cut
547
548sub mon {
549 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
550
551 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
552
553 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
554
555 unless (ref $cb) {
556 if (@_) {
557 # send a kill info message
558 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
559 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
560 } else {
561 # simply kill other port
562 my $port = $cb;
563 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
155 } 564 }
565 }
566
567 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
568
569 $cb += 0;
570
571 defined wantarray
572 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
573}
574
575=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
576
577Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
578is killed, the references will be freed.
579
580Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
581
582This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
583want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
584
585 $port->rcv (start => sub {
586 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
587 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
588 });
589 });
590
591=cut
592
593sub mon_guard {
594 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
595
596 #TODO: mon-less form?
597
598 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
599}
600
601=item kil $port[, @reason]
602
603Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
604
605If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
606monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
607"normally").
608
609Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
610C<mon>, see above).
611
612Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
613will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
614
615Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
616$message >>.
617
618=cut
619
620=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
621
622Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
623case it's the node where that port resides).
624
625The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
626possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
627
628After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
629node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
630fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
631specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
632
633If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
634the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
635C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
636exists or it runs out of package names.
637
638The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
639object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. It I<must>
640call one of the C<rcv> functions to set callbacks on C<$SELF>, otherwise
641the port might not get created.
642
643A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
644port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
645local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
646when there is a problem.
647
648C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
649caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
650called for the local node).
651
652Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
653
654 # this node, executed from within a port context:
655 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
656 mon $server;
657
658 # init function on C<$othernode>
659 sub connect {
660 my ($srcport) = @_;
661
662 mon $srcport;
663
664 rcv $SELF, sub {
665 ...
666 };
667 }
668
669=cut
670
671sub _spawn {
672 my $port = shift;
673 my $init = shift;
674
675 # rcv will create the actual port
676 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
677 eval {
678 &{ load_func $init }
156 }; 679 };
157 680 _self_die if $@;
158 $self
159} 681}
160 682
161=item $portid = create_miniport { } 683sub spawn(@) {
684 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
162 685
163Creates a "mini port", that is, a port without much #TODO 686 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
164 687
165=cut 688 $_[0] =~ /::/
689 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
166 690
167sub create_miniport(&) { 691 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
168 my $cb = shift;
169 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . ++$AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID;
170 692
171 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 693 "$nodeid#$id"
172# unshift @_, "$NODE#$id"; 694}
173 &$cb 695
174 and delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id}; 696=item after $timeout, @msg
697
698=item after $timeout, $callback
699
700Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
701specified number of seconds.
702
703This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
704AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
705so it may go away in the future.
706
707=cut
708
709sub after($@) {
710 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
711
712 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
713 undef $t;
714 ref $action[0]
715 ? $action[0]()
716 : snd @action;
175 }; 717 };
176
177 "$NODE#$id"
178} 718}
179 719
180package AnyEvent::MP::Port; 720=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
721
722A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
723given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
724
725The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
726the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
727
728A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
729
730If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
731then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
732elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
733
734If no time-out is given, then the local port will monitor the remote port
735instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
736
737Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
738might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
739this is indeed useful for something.
740
741=cut
742
743sub cal(@) {
744 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
745 my $cb = pop;
746
747 my $port = port {
748 undef $timeout;
749 kil $SELF;
750 &$cb;
751 };
752
753 if (defined $timeout) {
754 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
755 undef $timeout;
756 kil $port;
757 $cb->();
758 };
759 } else {
760 mon $_[0], sub {
761 kil $port;
762 $cb->();
763 };
764 }
765
766 push @_, $port;
767 &snd;
768
769 $port
770}
181 771
182=back 772=back
183 773
184=head1 METHODS FOR PORT OBJECTS 774=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
775
776AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
777== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
778programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
779sample:
780
781 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
782 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
783 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
784 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
785
786Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
185 787
186=over 4 788=over 4
187 789
188=item "$port" 790=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
189 791
190A port object stringifies to its port ID, so can be used directly for 792Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
191C<snd> operations. 793way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
794configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
192 795
193=cut 796=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
797uses "local ports are like remote ports".
194 798
195use overload 799The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
196 '""' => sub { $_[0]{id} }, 800only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
197 fallback => 1; 801when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
802port.
198 803
199=item $port->rcv (type => $callback->($port, @msg)) 804Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
805they are not.
200 806
201=item $port->rcv ($smartmatch => $callback->($port, @msg)) 807AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
808ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
809occur.
202 810
203=item $port->rcv ([$smartmatch...] => $callback->($port, @msg)) 811=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
204 812
205Register a callback on the given port. 813Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
814needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
815useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
816AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
817filter messages without dequeuing them.
206 818
207The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after 819(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
208which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
209registered.
210 820
211If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 821=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
212first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
213matched.
214 822
215Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 823Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
216exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 824so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
825connection establishment is handled in the background.
217 826
218While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 827=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
219element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
220also the most efficient match (by far).
221 828
222=cut 829Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
830without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
831and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
223 832
224sub rcv($@) { 833AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
225 my ($self, $match, $cb) = @_; 834is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
835monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
836sequence.
226 837
227 if (!ref $match) { 838=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
228 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
229 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
230 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
231 @match
232 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
233 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
234 } else {
235 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
236 }
237}
238 839
239=item $port->register ($name) 840In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
841known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
842destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
240 843
241Registers the given port under the well known name C<$name>. If the name 844AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
242already exists it is replaced. 845around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
243 846
244A port can only be registered under one well known name. 847=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
848authentication and can use TLS.
245 849
246=cut 850AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
851securely authenticate nodes.
247 852
248sub register { 853=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
249 my ($self, $name) = @_; 854communications.
250 855
251 $self->{wkname} = $name; 856The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
252 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{$name} = "$self"; 857language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
253} 858language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
859used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
254 860
255=item $port->destroy 861It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
862with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
863protocol simple.
256 864
257Explicitly destroy/remove/nuke/vaporise the port. 865=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
258 866
259Ports are normally kept alive by there mere existance alone, and need to 867In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
260be destroyed explicitly. 868or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
869difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
870Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
871on a per-process basis.
261 872
262=cut 873=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
263 874
264sub destroy { 875Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
265 my ($self) = @_; 876same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
266 877
267 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{ $self->{wkname} }; 878In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
879that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
880on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
881remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
882reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
268 883
269 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$_} 884This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
270 for @{ $self->{names} }; 885(hard to do in Erlang).
271}
272 886
273=back 887=back
274 888
275=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 889=head1 RATIONALE
276 890
277=over 4 891=over 4
278 892
279=item mon $noderef, $callback->($noderef, $status, $) 893=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
280 894
281Monitors the given noderef. 895We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
896that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
897the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
898overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
282 899
283=item become_public endpoint... 900Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
901procedures to be "valid".
284 902
285Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 903And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
904global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
286 905
287If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 906=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
288AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the
289local nodename resolves to.
290 907
291Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 908In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
292endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 909format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
293local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 910default (although all nodes will accept it).
294will become the node reference.
295 911
296=cut 912The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
913faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
914experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
915than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
916easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
917always have to re-think your design.
918
919Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
920objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
297 921
298=back 922=back
299 923
300=head1 NODE MESSAGES
301
302Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
303arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
304message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
305the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
306
307=over 4
308
309=cut
310
311=item wkp => $name, @reply
312
313Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
314
315=item devnull => ...
316
317Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
318
319=item relay => $port, @msg
320
321Simply forwards the message to the given port.
322
323=item eval => $string[ @reply]
324
325Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
326form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
327
328Example: crash another node.
329
330 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
331
332=item time => @reply
333
334Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
335
336Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
337C<timereply> message.
338
339 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
340 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
341
342=back
343
344=head1 SEE ALSO 924=head1 SEE ALSO
925
926L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
927
928L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
929
930L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
931your applications.
932
933L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
934all nodes.
345 935
346L<AnyEvent>. 936L<AnyEvent>.
347 937
348=head1 AUTHOR 938=head1 AUTHOR
349 939

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