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Revision 1.58 by root, Sun Aug 16 02:55:16 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 NODE # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
11 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR-
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19
20 # ports are message endpoints
21
22 # sending messages
12 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
13 26
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
15 29
16 # examples: 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
18 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
19 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
20 34
21 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
22 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
24 51
25=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
26 53
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 55
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts.
31 58
59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
60manual page.
61
32At the moment, this module family is severly brokena nd underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
33so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to 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
74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
44messages they match, messages will not be queued. 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
45 76
46=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
47 78
48A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
49by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
82reference.
50 83
51=item node 84=item node
52 85
53A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 86A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
54port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
55among other things. 88ports.
56 89
57Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
58(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
59public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
60 92
61=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 93=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
62 94
63A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 95A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
64private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 96private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
65node (for public nodes). 97node (for public nodes).
66 98
99This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
100TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
101
102Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
103addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
104
105Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
106resolve it.
107
67=back 108=back
68 109
69=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 110=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
70 111
71=over 4 112=over 4
72 113
73=cut 114=cut
74 115
75package AnyEvent::MP; 116package AnyEvent::MP;
76 117
77use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
78 119
79use common::sense; 120use common::sense;
80 121
81use Carp (); 122use Carp ();
82 123
83use AE (); 124use AE ();
84 125
85use base "Exporter"; 126use base "Exporter";
86 127
87our $VERSION = '0.02'; 128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
129
88our @EXPORT = qw( 130our @EXPORT = qw(
89 NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv mon kil _any_ 131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
90 create_port create_port_on 132 resolve_node initialise_node
133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
91 miniport 134 port
92 become_slave become_public
93); 135);
94 136
137our $SELF;
138
139sub _self_die() {
140 my $msg = $@;
141 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
142 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
143}
144
95=item NODE / $NODE 145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
96 146
97The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
98the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 148noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
99C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 149C<initialise_node>.
100 150
151=item $noderef = node_of $port
152
153Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
154
155=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
156
157=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
158
159Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
160itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
161it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
162
163This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
164never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
165
166All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
167either resolved or unresolved.
168
169The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
170(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
171the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
172the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
173seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
174
175There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
176
177=over 4
178
179=item public nodes
180
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
182C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
183noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
184
185After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
186connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
187optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
188network.
189
190=item slave nodes
191
192When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
193is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
194node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
195their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
196
197At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
198directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
199will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
200first node it can successfully connect to.
201
202Note that slave nodes cannot change their name, and consequently, their
203master, so if the master goes down, the slave node will not function well
204anymore until it can re-establish conenciton to its master. This makes
205slave nodes unsuitable for long-term nodes or fault-tolerant networks.
206
207=back
208
209This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
210nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
211server.
212
213All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
214connecting to them infinitely.
215
216Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
217specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
218form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
219
220 initialise_node;
221
222Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
223C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
224
225 initialise_node "slave/";
226
227Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
228form is also often used for commandline clients.
229
230 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
231
232Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
233servers to become part of the network.
234
235 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
236
237Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
238
239 initialise_node 4041;
240
241Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
242
243 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
244
245=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
246
247Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
248abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
249reference.
250
251In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
252following forms are supported:
253
254=over 4
255
256=item the empty string
257
258An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
259specified.
260
261=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
262
263These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
264further resolved.
265
266=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
267
268These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
269looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
270specified.
271
272=back
273
274=item $SELF
275
276Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
277blocks.
278
279=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
280
281Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
282just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
283module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
284
101=item snd $portid, type => @data 285=item snd $port, type => @data
102 286
103=item snd $portid, @msg 287=item snd $port, @msg
104 288
105Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 289Send 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 290a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
107stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
108 291
109While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 292While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
110string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 293string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
111type etc.). 294type etc.).
112 295
113The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 296The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
114function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 297function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
115problems. 298problems.
118JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 301JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
119of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 302of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
120that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 303that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
121node, anything can be passed. 304node, anything can be passed.
122 305
123=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->() 306=item $local_port = port
124 307
125=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 308Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
309no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
126 310
127=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 311=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
128 312
129Monitor the given port and call the given callback when the port is 313Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
130destroyed or connection to it's node is lost. 314creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
131 315
132#TODO 316The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
317global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
318port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
319(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
320
321If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
322
323 my $port = port {
324 my @msg = @_;
325 ...
326 kil $SELF;
327 };
133 328
134=cut 329=cut
135 330
331sub rcv($@);
332
333sub _kilme {
334 die "received message on port without callback";
335}
336
337sub port(;&) {
338 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
339 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
340
341 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
342
343 $port
344}
345
346=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
347
348Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
349remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
350C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
351
352The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
353executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
354result in the port being C<kil>ed.
355
356The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
357C<tag> match.
358
359=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
360
361Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
362given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
363C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
364registered for each tag.
365
366The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
367element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
368environment as the default callback (see above).
369
370Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
371
372 my $port = rcv port,
373 msg1 => sub { ... },
374 msg2 => sub { ... },
375 ;
376
377Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
378in one go:
379
380 snd $otherport, reply =>
381 rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ... },
383 ...
384 ;
385
386Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
387(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
388
389 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
390 my @reply = @_;
391
392 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
393 };
394
395=cut
396
397sub rcv($@) {
398 my $port = shift;
399 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
400
401 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
402 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
403
404 while (@_) {
405 if (ref $_[0]) {
406 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
407 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
408 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
409
410 $self->[2] = shift;
411 } else {
412 my $cb = shift;
413 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
414 local $SELF = $port;
415 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
416 };
417 }
418 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
419 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
420 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
421
422 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
423 local $SELF = $port;
424
425 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
426 shift;
427 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
428 } else {
429 &{ $self->[0] };
430 }
431 };
432
433 $self
434 };
435
436 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
437 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
438
439 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
440
441 if (defined $cb) {
442 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
443 } else {
444 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
445 }
446 }
447 }
448
449 $port
450}
451
452=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
453
454Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
455closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
456callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
457
458This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
459
460 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
461 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
462 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
463 snd @reply, $SELF;
464 };
465 };
466
467=cut
468
469sub psub(&) {
470 my $cb = shift;
471
472 my $port = $SELF
473 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
474
475 sub {
476 local $SELF = $port;
477
478 if (wantarray) {
479 my @res = eval { &$cb };
480 _self_die if $@;
481 @res
482 } else {
483 my $res = eval { &$cb };
484 _self_die if $@;
485 $res
486 }
487 }
488}
489
490=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
491
492=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
493
494=item $guard = mon $port
495
496=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
497
498Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
499messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
500to stop monitoring again.
501
502C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
503that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
504will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
505message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
506(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
507port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
508delivered again.
509
510Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
511and will not trigger again.
512
513In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
514number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
515"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
516C<eval> if unsure.
517
518In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
519will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
520"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
521port is killed with the same reason.
522
523The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
524C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
525
526In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
527C<snd>.
528
529As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
530a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
531lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
532even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
533to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
534these problems do not exist.
535
536Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
537
538 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
539
540Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
541
542 mon $port;
543
544Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
545
546 mon $port, $self => "restart";
547
548=cut
549
136sub mon { 550sub mon {
137 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift); 551 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
138 552
139 my $node = AnyEvent::MP::Base::add_node $noderef; 553 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
140 554
141 #TODO: ports must not be references 555 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) { 556
557 unless (ref $cb) {
143 if (@_) { 558 if (@_) {
144 # send a kill info message 559 # send a kill info message
145 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 560 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
146 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 561 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
147 } else { 562 } else {
148 # simply kill other port 563 # simply kill other port
149 my $port = $cb; 564 my $port = $cb;
150 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ }; 565 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
151 } 566 }
152 } 567 }
153 568
154 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 569 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
155 570
176=cut 591=cut
177 592
178sub mon_guard { 593sub mon_guard {
179 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 594 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
180 595
596 #TODO: mon-less form?
597
181 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 598 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
182} 599}
183 600
184=item $local_port = create_port 601=item kil $port[, @reason]
185 602
186Create a new local port object. See the next section for allowed methods. 603Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
604
605If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
606ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
607
608Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
609C<mon>, see below).
610
611Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
612will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
613
614Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
615$message >>.
187 616
188=cut 617=cut
189 618
190sub create_port { 619=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
191 my $id = "$AnyEvent::MP::Base::UNIQ." . $AnyEvent::MP::Base::ID++;
192 620
193 my $self = bless { 621Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
194 id => "$NODE#$id", 622case it's the node where that port resides).
195 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
196 623
197 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::PORT{$id} = sub { 624The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
198 unshift @_, $self; 625permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
199 626
200 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[1]} }) { 627After the port has been created, the init function is
201 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 628called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
202 && undef $_; 629(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
630program, use C<::name>.
631
632If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
633the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
634C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
635exists or it runs out of package names.
636
637The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
638object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
639
640A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
641in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
642ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
643
644Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
645
646 # this node, executed from within a port context:
647 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
648 mon $server;
649
650 # init function on C<$othernode>
651 sub connect {
652 my ($srcport) = @_;
653
654 mon $srcport;
655
656 rcv $SELF, sub {
657 ...
203 } 658 };
659 }
204 660
205 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[1]} }) { 661=cut
206 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
207 && &{$_->[0]}
208 && undef $_;
209 }
210 662
211 for (@{ $self->{any} }) { 663sub _spawn {
212 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1] 664 my $port = shift;
213 && &{$_->[0]} 665 my $init = shift;
214 && undef $_; 666
215 } 667 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
668 eval {
669 &{ load_func $init }
216 }; 670 };
217 671 _self_die if $@;
218 $self
219} 672}
220 673
221=item $portid = miniport { my @msg = @_; $finished } 674sub spawn(@) {
675 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
222 676
223Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 677 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
224pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
225 678
226The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 679 $_[0] =~ /::/
227callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 680 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
228will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
229 681
230The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 682 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
231be passed to the callback.
232 683
233If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 684 "$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#$id"
251} 685}
252 686
253package AnyEvent::MP::Port;
254
255=back 687=back
256 688
257=head1 METHODS FOR PORT OBJECTS 689=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
690
691AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
692== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
693programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
694sample:
695
696 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
697 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
698 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
699 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
700
701Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
258 702
259=over 4 703=over 4
260 704
261=item "$port" 705=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
262 706
263A port object stringifies to its port ID, so can be used directly for 707Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
264C<snd> operations. 708same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
709convenience functionality.
265 710
266=cut 711This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
712cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
267 713
268use overload 714=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
269 '""' => sub { $_[0]{id} }, 715uses "local ports are like remote ports".
270 fallback => 1;
271 716
272sub TO_JSON { $_[0]{id} } 717The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
718only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
719when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
720port.
273 721
274=item $port->rcv (type => $callback->($port, @msg)) 722Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
723they are not.
275 724
276=item $port->rcv ($smartmatch => $callback->($port, @msg)) 725AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
726ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
727occur.
277 728
278=item $port->rcv ([$smartmatch...] => $callback->($port, @msg)) 729=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
279 730
280Register a callback on the given port. 731Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
732needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
733useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
734AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
735filter messages without dequeing them.
281 736
282The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after 737(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
283which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
284registered.
285 738
286If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 739=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
287first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
288matched.
289 740
290Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 741Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
291exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 742so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
743connection establishment is handled in the background.
292 744
293While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 745=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
294element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
295also the most efficient match (by far).
296 746
297=cut 747Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
748without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
749and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
298 750
299sub rcv($@) { 751AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
300 my ($self, $match, $cb) = @_; 752holes in the message sequence.
301 753
302 if (!ref $match) { 754=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
303 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 755alive.
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}
313 756
314=item $port->register ($name) 757In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
758linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
759still alive - and can receive messages.
315 760
316Registers the given port under the well known name C<$name>. If the name 761In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
317already exists it is replaced. 762eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
763and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
318 764
319A port can only be registered under one well known name. 765=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
320 766
321=cut 767In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
768known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
769destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
322 770
323sub register { 771AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
324 my ($self, $name) = @_; 772around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
325 773
326 $self->{wkname} = $name; 774=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
327 $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{$name} = "$self"; 775authentication and can use TLS.
328}
329 776
330=item $port->destroy 777AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
778securely authenticate nodes.
331 779
332Explicitly destroy/remove/nuke/vaporise the port. 780=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
781communications.
333 782
334Ports are normally kept alive by their mere existance alone, and need to 783The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
335be destroyed explicitly. 784language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
785language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
336 786
337=cut 787It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
788with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
789protocol simple.
338 790
339sub destroy { 791=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
340 my ($self) = @_;
341 792
342 delete $AnyEvent::MP::Base::WKP{ $self->{wkname} }; 793In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
794or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
795difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
796Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
797on a per-process basis.
343 798
344 AnyEvent::MP::Base::kil $self->{id}; 799=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
345} 800
801Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
802as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
803
804In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
805that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
806on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
807the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
808more reliable.
809
810This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
811(hard to do in Erlang).
346 812
347=back 813=back
348 814
349=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 815=head1 RATIONALE
350 816
351=over 4 817=over 4
352 818
353=item mon $noderef, $callback->($noderef, $status, $) 819=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
354 820
355Monitors the given noderef. 821We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
822thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
823the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
824overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
356 825
357=item become_public endpoint... 826Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
827procedures to be "valid".
358 828
359Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 829And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
830can't become much cheaper.
360 831
361If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 832=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
362AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the
363local nodename resolves to.
364 833
365Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 834In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
366endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 835format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
367local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 836default.
368will become the node reference.
369 837
370=cut 838The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
839faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
840experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
841than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
842easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
843always have to re-think your design.
371 844
372=back 845Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
373 846objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
374=head1 NODE MESSAGES
375
376Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
377arguments 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
379the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
380
381=over 4
382
383=cut
384
385=item wkp => $name, @reply
386
387Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
388
389=item devnull => ...
390
391Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
392
393=item relay => $port, @msg
394
395Simply forwards the message to the given port.
396
397=item eval => $string[ @reply]
398
399Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
400form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
401
402Example: crash another node.
403
404 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
405
406=item time => @reply
407
408Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
409
410Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
411C<timereply> message.
412
413 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
414 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
415 847
416=back 848=back
417 849
418=head1 SEE ALSO 850=head1 SEE ALSO
419 851

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