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Revision 1.21 by root, Tue Aug 4 14:10:51 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.46 by root, Thu Aug 13 01:46:10 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 NODE # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
11 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # ports are message endpoints
16
17 # sending messages
12 snd $port, type => data...; 18 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
13 21
22 # miniports
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
24
25 # full ports
26 my $port = port;
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
15
16 # examples:
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
18 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
19 snd $port2, ping => $port1; 30
31 # remote ports
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
20 33
21 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
22 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
23 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
24 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
51
25=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
26 53
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 55
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts.
31 58
59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
60manual page.
61
32At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
33so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
34stay tuned! 64stay tuned!
35 65
36=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
37 67
38=over 4 68=over 4
39 69
40=item port 70=item port
41 71
42A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
43you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 73
44messages they match, messages will not be queued. 74Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
75messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
76will not be queued.
45 77
46=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 78=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
47 79
48A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 80A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
49by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 81separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
82exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
83reference.
50 84
51=item node 85=item node
52 86
53A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 87A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
54port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 88port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
55among other things. 89create new ports, among other things.
56 90
57Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 91Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
58(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 92master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
59public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
60 93
61=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 94=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
62 95
63A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 96A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
64private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 97private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
65node (for public nodes). 98node (for public nodes).
66 99
100This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
101TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
102
103Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
104addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
105
106Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
107resolve it.
108
67=back 109=back
68 110
69=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 111=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
70 112
71=over 4 113=over 4
72 114
73=cut 115=cut
74 116
75package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
76 118
77use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
78 120
79use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
80 122
81use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
82 124
83use AE (); 125use AE ();
84 126
85use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
86 128
87our $VERSION = '0.02'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
88our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
89 NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv mon kil _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
90 create_port create_port_on 133 resolve_node initialise_node
134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
91 miniport 135 port
92 become_slave become_public
93); 136);
94 137
138our $SELF;
139
140sub _self_die() {
141 my $msg = $@;
142 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
144}
145
95=item NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
96 147
97The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
98the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 149the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
99C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 150to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
151identifiers become invalid.
100 152
153=item $noderef = node_of $port
154
155Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef.
156
157=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
158
159=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
160
161Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
162itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
163it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
164
165This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
166never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
167
168All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
169
170There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
171
172=over 4
173
174=item public nodes
175
176For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved)
177noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in
178which case the noderef will be guessed.
179
180Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect
181to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
182and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
183
184=item slave nodes
185
186When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will
187become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
188route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
189
190At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
191to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
192successfully connect to.
193
194=back
195
196This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
197nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
198server.
199
200Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
201
202 initialise_node;
203
204Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
205servers to become part of the network.
206
207 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
208
209Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
210
211 initialise_node 4041;
212
213Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
214
215 initialise_node "locahost:4044";
216
217Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
218
219 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
220
221=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
222
223Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
224abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
225reference.
226
227In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
228following forms are supported:
229
230=over 4
231
232=item the empty string
233
234An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
235specified.
236
237=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
238
239These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
240further resolved.
241
242=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
243
244These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
245looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
246specified.
247
248=back
249
250=item $SELF
251
252Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
253blocks.
254
255=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
256
257Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
258just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
259module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
260
101=item snd $portid, type => @data 261=item snd $port, type => @data
102 262
103=item snd $portid, @msg 263=item snd $port, @msg
104 264
105Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 265Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
106a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 266a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
107stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 267stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
108 268
118JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 278JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
119of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 279of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
120that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 280that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
121node, anything can be passed. 281node, anything can be passed.
122 282
283=item $local_port = port
284
285Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern
286matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"),
287depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
288
289=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
290
291Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern
292matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
293a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
294
295The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
296callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
297will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
298
299The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
300be passed to the callback.
301
302If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
303
304 my $port; $port = port {
305 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
306 };
307
308=cut
309
310sub rcv($@);
311
312sub port(;&) {
313 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
314 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
315
316 if (@_) {
317 rcv $port, shift;
318 } else {
319 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
320 }
321
322 $port
323}
324
325=item reg $port, $name
326
327=item reg $name
328
329Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
330C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
331
332A port can only be registered under one well known name.
333
334A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
335
336=cut
337
338sub reg(@) {
339 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
340
341 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
342}
343
344=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg)
345
346Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to
347one if required).
348
349=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
350
351=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
352
353=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
354
355Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
356port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
357
358The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
359which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
360registered.
361
362The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
363executing the callback.
364
365Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being
366C<kil>ed.
367
368If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
369first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
370matched.
371
372Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
373exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
374
375While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
376element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
377also the most efficient match (by far).
378
379Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
380
381 my $port = rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
383 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 },
384 ;
385
386Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
387in one go:
388
389 snd $otherport, reply =>
390 rcv port,
391 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 },
392 ...
393 ;
394
395=cut
396
397sub rcv($@) {
398 my $port = shift;
399 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
400
401 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
402 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
403
404 if (@_ == 1) {
405 my $cb = shift;
406 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
407 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
408 local $SELF = $port;
409 eval {
410 &$cb
411 and kil $port;
412 };
413 _self_die if $@;
414 };
415 } else {
416 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
417 my $self = bless {
418 id => $port,
419 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
420
421 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
422 local $SELF = $port;
423
424 eval {
425 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
426 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
427 && undef $_;
428 }
429
430 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
431 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
432 && &{$_->[0]}
433 && undef $_;
434 }
435
436 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
437 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
438 && &{$_->[0]}
439 && undef $_;
440 }
441 };
442 _self_die if $@;
443 };
444
445 $self
446 };
447
448 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
449 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
450
451 while (@_) {
452 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
453
454 if (!ref $match) {
455 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
456 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
457 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
458 @match
459 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
460 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
461 } else {
462 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
463 }
464 }
465 }
466
467 $port
468}
469
470=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
471
472Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
473closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
474callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
475
476This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
477
478 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
479 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
480 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
481 snd @reply, $SELF;
482 };
483 };
484
485=cut
486
487sub psub(&) {
488 my $cb = shift;
489
490 my $port = $SELF
491 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
492
493 sub {
494 local $SELF = $port;
495
496 if (wantarray) {
497 my @res = eval { &$cb };
498 _self_die if $@;
499 @res
500 } else {
501 my $res = eval { &$cb };
502 _self_die if $@;
503 $res
504 }
505 }
506}
507
123=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->() 508=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
124 509
125=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 510=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
126 511
512=item $guard = mon $port
513
127=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 514=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
128 515
129Monitor the given port and call the given callback when the port is 516Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
130destroyed or connection to it's node is lost. 517messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
518to stop monitoring again.
131 519
132#TODO 520C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
521that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
522will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
523message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
524(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
525port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
526delivered again.
527
528In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
529number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
530"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
531C<eval> if unsure.
532
533In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
534will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
535"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
536port is killed with the same reason.
537
538The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
539C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
540
541In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
542C<snd>.
543
544As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
545a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
546lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
547even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
548to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
549these problems do not exist.
550
551Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
552
553 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
554
555Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
556
557 mon $port;
558
559Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
560
561 mon $port, $self => "restart";
133 562
134=cut 563=cut
135 564
136sub mon { 565sub mon {
137 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift); 566 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
138 567
139 my $node = AnyEvent::MP::Base::add_node $noderef; 568 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
140 569
141 #TODO: ports must not be references 570 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
142 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) { 571
572 unless (ref $cb) {
143 if (@_) { 573 if (@_) {
144 # send a kill info message 574 # send a kill info message
145 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 575 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
146 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 576 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
147 } else { 577 } else {
148 # simply kill other port 578 # simply kill other port
149 my $port = $cb; 579 my $port = $cb;
150 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ }; 580 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
151 } 581 }
152 } 582 }
153 583
154 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 584 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
155 585
176=cut 606=cut
177 607
178sub mon_guard { 608sub mon_guard {
179 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 609 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
180 610
611 #TODO: mon-less form?
612
181 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 613 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
182} 614}
183 615
184=item $local_port = create_port 616=item kil $port[, @reason]
185 617
186Create a new local port object. See the next section for allowed methods. 618Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
187 619
188=cut 620If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
621ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
189 622
190sub create_port { 623Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
191 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . $AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID++; 624C<mon>, see below).
192 625
193 my $self = bless { 626Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
194 id => "$NODE#$id", 627will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
195 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
196 628
197 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 629Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
198 unshift @_, $self; 630$message >>.
199 631
200 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[1]} }) { 632=cut
201 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 633
202 && undef $_; 634=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
635
636Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
637case it's the node where that port resides).
638
639The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
640permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
641
642After the port has been created, the init function is
643called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
644(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
645program, use C<::name>.
646
647If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
648the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
649C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
650exists or it runs out of package names.
651
652The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
653object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
654
655A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
656in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
657ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
658
659Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
660
661 # this node, executed from within a port context:
662 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
663 mon $server;
664
665 # init function on C<$othernode>
666 sub connect {
667 my ($srcport) = @_;
668
669 mon $srcport;
670
671 rcv $SELF, sub {
672 ...
203 } 673 };
674 }
204 675
205 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[1]} }) { 676=cut
206 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
207 && &{$_->[0]}
208 && undef $_;
209 }
210 677
211 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 678sub _spawn {
212 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 679 my $port = shift;
213 && &{$_->[0]} 680 my $init = shift;
214 && undef $_; 681
215 } 682 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
683 eval {
684 &{ load_func $init }
216 }; 685 };
217 686 _self_die if $@;
218 $self
219} 687}
220 688
221=item $portid = miniport { my @msg = @_; $finished } 689sub spawn(@) {
690 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
222 691
223Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 692 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
224pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
225 693
226The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 694 $_[0] =~ /::/
227callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 695 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
228will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
229 696
230The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 697 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
231be passed to the callback. 698 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
232 699
233If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 700 "$noderef#$id"
234
235 my $port; $port = miniport {
236 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
237 };
238
239=cut
240
241sub miniport(&) {
242 my $cb = shift;
243 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . $AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID++;
244
245 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub {
246 &$cb
247 and kil $id;
248 };
249
250 "$NODE#$id"
251} 701}
252
253package AnyEvent::MP::Port;
254
255=back
256
257=head1 METHODS FOR PORT OBJECTS
258
259=over 4
260
261=item "$port"
262
263A port object stringifies to its port ID, so can be used directly for
264C<snd> operations.
265
266=cut
267
268use overload
269 '""' => sub { $_[0]{id} },
270 fallback => 1;
271
272sub TO_JSON { $_[0]{id} }
273
274=item $port->rcv (type => $callback->($port, @msg))
275
276=item $port->rcv ($smartmatch => $callback->($port, @msg))
277
278=item $port->rcv ([$smartmatch...] => $callback->($port, @msg))
279
280Register a callback on the given port.
281
282The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
283which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
284registered.
285
286If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
287first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
288matched.
289
290Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
291exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
292
293While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
294element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
295also the most efficient match (by far).
296
297=cut
298
299sub rcv($@) {
300 my ($self, $match, $cb) = @_;
301
302 if (!ref $match) {
303 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
304 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
305 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
306 @match
307 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
308 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
309 } else {
310 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
311 }
312}
313
314=item $port->register ($name)
315
316Registers the given port under the well known name C<$name>. If the name
317already exists it is replaced.
318
319A port can only be registered under one well known name.
320
321=cut
322
323sub register {
324 my ($self, $name) = @_;
325
326 $self->{wkname} = $name;
327 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{$name} = "$self";
328}
329
330=item $port->destroy
331
332Explicitly destroy/remove/nuke/vaporise the port.
333
334Ports are normally kept alive by their mere existance alone, and need to
335be destroyed explicitly.
336
337=cut
338
339sub destroy {
340 my ($self) = @_;
341
342 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{ $self->{wkname} };
343
344 AnyEvent::MP::Base::kil $self->{id};
345}
346
347=back
348
349=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
350
351=over 4
352
353=item mon $noderef, $callback->($noderef, $status, $)
354
355Monitors the given noderef.
356
357=item become_public endpoint...
358
359Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
360
361If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then
362AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the
363local nodename resolves to.
364
365Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport
366endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the
367local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and
368will become the node reference.
369
370=cut
371 702
372=back 703=back
373 704
374=head1 NODE MESSAGES 705=head1 NODE MESSAGES
375 706
376Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 707Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
377arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 708arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
378message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 709message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
379the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 710the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
380 711
712While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
713
381=over 4 714=over 4
382 715
383=cut 716=cut
384 717
385=item wkp => $name, @reply 718=item lookup => $name, @reply
386 719
387Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 720Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
388 721
389=item devnull => ... 722=item devnull => ...
390 723
413 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 746 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
414 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 747 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
415 748
416=back 749=back
417 750
751=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
752
753AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
754== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
755programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
756sample:
757
758 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
759 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
760 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
761 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
762
763Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
764
765=over 4
766
767=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
768
769Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
770same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
771convenience functionality.
772
773This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
774cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
775
776=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
777
778Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore
779needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful
780purpose.
781
782(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
783
784=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
785
786Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP
787sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the
788background.
789
790=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot.
791
792Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
793without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
794and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
795
796AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
797holes in the message sequence.
798
799=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
800alive.
801
802In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
803linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
804still alive - and can receive messages.
805
806In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
807eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
808and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
809
810=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
811
812In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process
813ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing
814messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
815
816AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
817around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
818
819=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
820authentication and can use TLS.
821
822AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
823securely authenticate nodes.
824
825=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
826communications.
827
828The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
829language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
830language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
831
832It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
833with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
834protocol simple.
835
836=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
837
838In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
839or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
840difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
841Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
842on a per-process basis.
843
844=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
845
846Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
847as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
848
849In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
850that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
851on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
852the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
853more reliable.
854
855This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
856(hard to do in Erlang).
857
858=back
859
860=head1 RATIONALE
861
862=over 4
863
864=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
865
866We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
867thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
868the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
869overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
870
871Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
872procedures to be "valid".
873
874=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
875
876In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
877format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
878default.
879
880The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
881faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
882experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
883than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
884easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
885always have to re-think your design.
886
887Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
888objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
889
890=back
891
418=head1 SEE ALSO 892=head1 SEE ALSO
419 893
420L<AnyEvent>. 894L<AnyEvent>.
421 895
422=head1 AUTHOR 896=head1 AUTHOR

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