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Revision 1.29 by root, Tue Aug 4 23:16:57 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.51 by root, Fri Aug 14 14:07:44 2009 UTC

8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 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
13 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 26
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $somple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, type matching
18 31 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 34
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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.
27 51
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 53
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 55
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 60manual page.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so 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 -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
41 65
42=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
43 67
44=over 4 68=over 4
45 69
53 77
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 78=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 79
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 80A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 81separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to it's node 82exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 83reference.
60 84
61=item node 85=item node
62 86
63A 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
90 114
91=cut 115=cut
92 116
93package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
94 118
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 120
97use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
98 122
99use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
100 124
101use AE (); 125use AE ();
102 126
103use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
104 128
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
106our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
108 resolve_node 133 resolve_node initialise_node
109 become_slave become_public
110 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
111 port 135 port
112); 136);
113 137
114our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
115 139
124The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains
125the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 149the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call
126to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port
127identifiers become invalid. 151identifiers become invalid.
128 152
129=item $noderef = node_of $portid 153=item $noderef = node_of $port
130 154
131Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 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, $master...
160
161Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
162itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
163it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
164
165This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
166never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
167
168All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
169either resolved or unresolved.
170
171The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
172(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
173the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
174the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
175seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
176
177There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
178
179=over 4
180
181=item public nodes
182
183For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
184C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
185noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
186
187After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
188connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
189optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
190network.
191
192=item slave nodes
193
194When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
195is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
196node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
197their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
198
199At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
200directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
201will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
202first node it can successfully connect to.
203
204=back
205
206This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
207nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
208server.
209
210Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
211specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
212form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
213
214 initialise_node;
215
216Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
217C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
218
219 initialise_node "slave/";
220
221Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
222form is also often used for commandline clients.
223
224 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
225
226Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
227servers to become part of the network.
228
229 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
230
231Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
232
233 initialise_node 4041;
234
235Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
236
237 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
132 238
133=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 239=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
134 240
135Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 241Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
136abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 242abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
168 274
169Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 275Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
170just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 276just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
171module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 277module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
172 278
173=item snd $portid, type => @data 279=item snd $port, type => @data
174 280
175=item snd $portid, @msg 281=item snd $port, @msg
176 282
177Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 283Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
178a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 284a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat
179stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :). 285stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
180 286
190JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 296JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
191of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 297of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
192that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 298that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
193node, anything can be passed. 299node, anything can be passed.
194 300
195=item kil $portid[, @reason] 301=item $local_port = port
196 302
197Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 303Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
304no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198 305
199If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 306=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
200ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
201 307
202Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 308Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203C<mon>, see below). 309creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 310
205Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 311The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 312global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
313port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
314(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
207 315
208Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 316If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
209$message >>.
210 317
211=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 318 my $port = port {
212
213=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
214
215=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
216
217Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
218
219In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
220of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
221"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
222C<eval> if unsure.
223
224In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
225a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
226under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
227
228In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
229
230Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
231
232 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
233
234Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
235
236 mon $port, $self;
237
238Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
239
240 mon $port, $self => "restart";
241
242=cut
243
244sub mon {
245 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
246
247 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
248
249 #TODO: ports must not be references
250 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
251 if (@_) {
252 # send a kill info message
253 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 319 my @msg = @_;
254 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
255 } else {
256 # simply kill other port
257 my $port = $cb;
258 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
259 } 320 ...
321 kil $SELF;
260 } 322 };
261 323
262 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 324=cut
263 325
264 defined wantarray 326sub rcv($@);
265 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 327
328sub _kilme {
329 die "received message on port without callback";
266} 330}
267
268=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
269
270Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
271is killed, the references will be freed.
272
273Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
274
275This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
276want to free them when the port gets killed:
277
278 $port->rcv (start => sub {
279 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
280 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
281 });
282 });
283
284=cut
285
286sub mon_guard {
287 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
288
289 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
290}
291
292=item lnk $port1, $port2
293
294Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
295
296 mon $port1, $port2;
297 mon $port2, $port1;
298
299It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
300killed as well.
301
302=item $local_port = port
303
304Create a new local port object that supports message matching.
305
306=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
307
308Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
309pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
310
311The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
312callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
313will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
314
315The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
316be passed to the callback.
317
318If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
319
320 my $port; $port = miniport {
321 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
322 };
323
324=cut
325 331
326sub port(;&) { 332sub port(;&) {
327 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 333 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
328 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 334 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
329 335
330 if (@_) { 336 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
331 my $cb = shift;
332 $PORT{$id} = sub {
333 local $SELF = $port;
334 eval {
335 &$cb
336 and kil $id;
337 };
338 _self_die if $@;
339 };
340 } else {
341 my $self = bless {
342 id => "$NODE#$id",
343 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
344
345 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
346 $PORT{$id} = sub {
347 local $SELF = $port;
348
349 eval {
350 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
351 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
352 && undef $_;
353 }
354
355 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
356 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
357 && &{$_->[0]}
358 && undef $_;
359 }
360
361 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
362 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
363 && &{$_->[0]}
364 && undef $_;
365 }
366 };
367 _self_die if $@;
368 };
369 }
370 337
371 $port 338 $port
372} 339}
373 340
374=item reg $portid, $name 341=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
375 342
376Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 343Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
377exists it is replaced. 344remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
345C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
378 346
379A port can only be registered under one well known name.
380
381A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
382
383=cut
384
385sub reg(@) {
386 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
387
388 $REG{$name} = $portid;
389}
390
391=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
392
393=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
394
395=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
396
397Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
398
399The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
400which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
401registered.
402
403The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while 347The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
404executing the callback. 348executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
349result in the port being C<kil>ed.
405 350
406Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 351The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
407C<kil>ed. 352C<tag> match.
408 353
409If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 354=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
410first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
411matched.
412 355
413Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 356Register callbacks to be called on messages starting with the given tag on
414exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 357the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when C<$callback>
358is C<$undef>).
415 359
416While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 360The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
417element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 361element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
418also the most efficient match (by far). 362environment as the default callback (see above).
363
364Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
365
366 my $port = rcv port,
367 msg1 => sub { ... },
368 msg2 => sub { ... },
369 ;
370
371Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
372in one go:
373
374 snd $otherport, reply =>
375 rcv port,
376 msg1 => sub { ... },
377 ...
378 ;
419 379
420=cut 380=cut
421 381
422sub rcv($@) { 382sub rcv($@) {
383 my $port = shift;
423 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 384 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
424 385
425 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 386 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
426 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 387 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
427
428 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
429 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430
431 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
432 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
433 388
434 while (@_) { 389 while (@_) {
435 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
436
437 if (!ref $match) { 390 if (ref $_[0]) {
438 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 391 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
439 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 392 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
440 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
441 @match 394
442 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 395 $self->[2] = shift;
443 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
444 } else { 396 } else {
445 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 397 my $cb = shift;
398 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
399 local $SELF = $port;
400 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
401 };
402 }
403 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
404 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
405 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
406
407 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
408 local $SELF = $port;
409
410 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
411 shift;
412 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
413 } else {
414 &{ $self->[0] };
415 }
416 };
417
418 $self
419 };
420
421 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
422 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
423
424 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
425
426 if (defined $cb) {
427 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
428 } else {
429 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
430 }
446 } 431 }
447 } 432 }
433
434 $port
448} 435}
449 436
450=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 437=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
451 438
452Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 439Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
483 $res 470 $res
484 } 471 }
485 } 472 }
486} 473}
487 474
488=back 475=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
489 476
490=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 477=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
491 478
492=over 4 479=item $guard = mon $port
493 480
494=item become_public $noderef 481=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
495 482
496Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 483Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
484messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
485to stop monitoring again.
497 486
498The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node 487C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
499(if missing then the empty string is used). 488that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
489will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
490message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
491(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
492port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
493delivered again.
500 494
501It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node 495In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
502tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in 496number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
503which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses. 497"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
498C<eval> if unsure.
504 499
500In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
501will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
502"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
503port is killed with the same reason.
504
505The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
506C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
507
508In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
509C<snd>.
510
511As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
512a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
513lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
514even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
515to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
516these problems do not exist.
517
518Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
519
520 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
521
522Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
523
524 mon $port;
525
526Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
527
528 mon $port, $self => "restart";
529
505=cut 530=cut
531
532sub mon {
533 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
534
535 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
536
537 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
538
539 unless (ref $cb) {
540 if (@_) {
541 # send a kill info message
542 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
543 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
544 } else {
545 # simply kill other port
546 my $port = $cb;
547 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
548 }
549 }
550
551 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
552
553 defined wantarray
554 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
555}
556
557=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
558
559Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
560is killed, the references will be freed.
561
562Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
563
564This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
565want to free them when the port gets killed:
566
567 $port->rcv (start => sub {
568 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
569 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
570 });
571 });
572
573=cut
574
575sub mon_guard {
576 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
577
578 #TODO: mon-less form?
579
580 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
581}
582
583=item kil $port[, @reason]
584
585Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
586
587If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
588ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
589
590Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
591C<mon>, see below).
592
593Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
594will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
595
596Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
597$message >>.
598
599=cut
600
601=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
602
603Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
604case it's the node where that port resides).
605
606The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
607permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
608
609After the port has been created, the init function is
610called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
611(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
612program, use C<::name>.
613
614If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
615the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
616C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
617exists or it runs out of package names.
618
619The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
620object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
621
622A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
623in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
624ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
625
626Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
627
628 # this node, executed from within a port context:
629 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
630 mon $server;
631
632 # init function on C<$othernode>
633 sub connect {
634 my ($srcport) = @_;
635
636 mon $srcport;
637
638 rcv $SELF, sub {
639 ...
640 };
641 }
642
643=cut
644
645sub _spawn {
646 my $port = shift;
647 my $init = shift;
648
649 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
650 eval {
651 &{ load_func $init }
652 };
653 _self_die if $@;
654}
655
656sub spawn(@) {
657 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
658
659 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
660
661 $_[0] =~ /::/
662 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
663
664 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
665 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
666
667 "$noderef#$id"
668}
506 669
507=back 670=back
508 671
509=head1 NODE MESSAGES 672=head1 NODE MESSAGES
510 673
552 715
553=back 716=back
554 717
555=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 718=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
556 719
557AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 720AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
558== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 721== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
559programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 722programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
560sample: 723sample:
561 724
562 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 725 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
563 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 726 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
564 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 727 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
565 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 728 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
566 729
567Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 730Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
568 731
569=over 4 732=over 4
570 733
575convenience functionality. 738convenience functionality.
576 739
577This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 740This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
578cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 741cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
579 742
743=item Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
744uses "local ports are like remote ports".
745
746The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
747only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
748when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
749port.
750
751Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
752they are not.
753
754AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
755ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
756occur.
757
580=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 758=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
581 759
582Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 760Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
583needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 761needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
584purpose. 762useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
763AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
764filter messages without dequeing them.
585 765
586(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 766(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
587 767
588=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 768=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
589 769
590Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 770Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
591sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 771so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
592background. 772connection establishment is handled in the background.
593 773
594=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 774=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
595 775
596Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 776Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
597without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 777without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
598and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 778and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
599 779
600AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 780AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
601holes in the message sequence. 781holes in the message sequence.
602 782
603=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 783=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
604alive. 784alive.
605 785
606In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 786In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
607linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 787linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
608still alive - and can receive messages. 788still alive - and can receive messages.
609 789
610In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 790In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
611eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 791eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
612and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 792and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
613 793
614=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 794=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
615 795
616In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 796In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
617ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 797known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
618messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 798destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
619 799
620AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 800AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
621around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 801around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
622 802
623=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 803=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
627securely authenticate nodes. 807securely authenticate nodes.
628 808
629=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 809=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
630communications. 810communications.
631 811
632The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 812The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
633language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 813language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
634language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 814language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
635 815
636It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 816It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
637with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 817with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
638protocol simple. 818protocol simple.
639 819
820=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
821
822In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
823or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
824difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
825Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
826on a per-process basis.
827
828=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
829
830Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
831as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
832
833In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
834that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
835on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
836the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
837more reliable.
838
839This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
840(hard to do in Erlang).
841
842=back
843
844=head1 RATIONALE
845
846=over 4
847
848=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
849
850We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
851thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
852the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
853overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
854
855Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
856procedures to be "valid".
857
858And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
859can't become much cheaper.
860
861=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
862
863In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
864format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
865default.
866
867The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
868faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
869experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
870than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
871easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
872always have to re-think your design.
873
874Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
875objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
876
640=back 877=back
641 878
642=head1 SEE ALSO 879=head1 SEE ALSO
643 880
644L<AnyEvent>. 881L<AnyEvent>.

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