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Revision 1.32 by root, Wed Aug 5 19:58:46 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.62 by root, Thu Aug 27 07:12:48 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 $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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
46=item port 70=item port
47 71
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 73
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
52will not be queued.
53 76
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 78
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 82reference.
60 83
61=item node 84=item node
62 85
63A 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,
64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 88ports.
66 89
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 91public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
92from any other node).
69 93
70=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>
71 95
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 96A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
73private and slave 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
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 after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 133 resolve_node initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 135 port
111); 136);
112 137
113our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
114 139
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 144}
120 145
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 147
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 149noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 151
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 152=item $noderef = node_of $port
129 153
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 154Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
155
156=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
157
158=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
159
160Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
161itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
162it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
163
164This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
165never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
166
167All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
168either resolved or unresolved.
169
170The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
171(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
172the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
173the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
174seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
175
176There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
177
178=over 4
179
180=item public nodes
181
182For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
183C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
184noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
185
186After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints.
187
188=item slave nodes
189
190When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
191is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
192node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside, and cannot talk to
193each other (at least in this version of AnyEvent::MP).
194
195Slave nodes work by creating connections to all public nodes, using the
196L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> service.
197
198=back
199
200After initialising itself, the node will connect to all additional
201C<$seednodes> that are specified diretcly or via a profile. Seednodes are
202optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
203network.
204
205All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
206connecting to them indefinitely, so make sure that seednodes are really
207reliable and up (this might also change in the future).
208
209Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
210specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
211form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
212
213 initialise_node;
214
215Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
216C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
217
218 initialise_node "slave/";
219
220Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
221servers to become part of the network.
222
223 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
224
225Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
226
227 initialise_node 4041;
228
229Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
230
231 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
131 232
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 233=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
133 234
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 235Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 236abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
167 268
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 269Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 270just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 271module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 272
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 273=item snd $port, type => @data
173 274
174=item snd $portid, @msg 275=item snd $port, @msg
175 276
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 277Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 278a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 279
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 280While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 281string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
182type etc.). 282type etc.).
183 283
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 284The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 285function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
186problems. 286problems.
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 291that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 292node, anything can be passed.
193 293
194=item $local_port = port 294=item $local_port = port
195 295
196Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 296Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
197matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 297no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
199 298
200=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 299=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
201 300
202Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 301Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 302creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 303
205The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 304The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 305global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
207will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 306port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
307(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
208 308
209The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 309If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
210be passed to the callback.
211 310
212If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 311 my $port = port {
213 312 my @msg = @_;
214 my $port; $port = port { 313 ...
215 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 314 kil $SELF;
216 }; 315 };
217 316
218=cut 317=cut
318
319sub rcv($@);
320
321sub _kilme {
322 die "received message on port without callback";
323}
219 324
220sub port(;&) { 325sub port(;&) {
221 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 326 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
222 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 327 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
223 328
329 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
330
331 $port
332}
333
334=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
335
336Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
337remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
338C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
339
340The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
341executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
342result in the port being C<kil>ed.
343
344The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
345C<tag> match.
346
347=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
348
349Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
350given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
351C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
352registered for each tag.
353
354The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
355element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
356environment as the default callback (see above).
357
358Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
359
360 my $port = rcv port,
361 msg1 => sub { ... },
362 msg2 => sub { ... },
363 ;
364
365Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
366in one go:
367
368 snd $otherport, reply =>
369 rcv port,
370 msg1 => sub { ... },
371 ...
372 ;
373
374Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
375(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
376
377 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
378 my @reply = @_;
379
380 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
381 };
382
383=cut
384
385sub rcv($@) {
386 my $port = shift;
387 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
388
389 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
390 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
391
224 if (@_) { 392 while (@_) {
393 if (ref $_[0]) {
394 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
395 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
396 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
397
398 $self->[2] = shift;
399 } else {
225 my $cb = shift; 400 my $cb = shift;
226 $PORT{$id} = sub { 401 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
227 local $SELF = $port; 402 local $SELF = $port;
228 eval { 403 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
229 &$cb 404 };
230 and kil $id; 405 }
406 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
407 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
408 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
409
410 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
411 local $SELF = $port;
412
413 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
414 shift;
415 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
416 } else {
417 &{ $self->[0] };
418 }
419 };
420
421 $self
231 }; 422 };
232 _self_die if $@; 423
233 };
234 } else {
235 my $self = bless {
236 id => "$NODE#$id",
237 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 424 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
425 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
238 426
239 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self; 427 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
240 $PORT{$id} = sub {
241 local $SELF = $port;
242 428
429 if (defined $cb) {
430 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
243 eval { 431 } else {
244 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 432 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
245 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
246 && undef $_;
247 }
248
249 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
250 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
251 && &{$_->[0]}
252 && undef $_;
253 }
254
255 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
256 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
257 && &{$_->[0]}
258 && undef $_;
259 }
260 }; 433 }
261 _self_die if $@;
262 };
263 }
264
265 $port
266}
267
268=item reg $portid, $name
269
270Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
271exists it is replaced.
272
273A port can only be registered under one well known name.
274
275A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
276
277=cut
278
279sub reg(@) {
280 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
281
282 $REG{$name} = $portid;
283}
284
285=item rcv $portid, $callback->(@msg)
286
287Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (or newly created port
288object, see C<port>). Full ports are configured with the following calls:
289
290=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
291
292=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
293
294=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
295
296Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
297port (or newly created port).
298
299The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
300which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
301registered.
302
303The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
304executing the callback.
305
306Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
307C<kil>ed.
308
309If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
310first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
311matched.
312
313Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
314exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
315
316While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
317element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
318also the most efficient match (by far).
319
320=cut
321
322sub rcv($@) {
323 my $portid = shift;
324 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2;
325
326 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
327 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
328
329 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
330 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
331
332 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
333 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
334
335 while (@_) {
336 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
337
338 if (!ref $match) {
339 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
340 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
341 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
342 @match
343 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
344 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
345 } else {
346 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
347 } 434 }
348 } 435 }
349 436
350 $portid 437 $port
351} 438}
352 439
353=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 440=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
354 441
355Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 442Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
386 $res 473 $res
387 } 474 }
388 } 475 }
389} 476}
390 477
391=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 478=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
392 479
393=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 480=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
394 481
482=item $guard = mon $port
483
395=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
396 485
397Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 486Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
487messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
488to stop monitoring again.
398 489
490C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
491that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
492will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
493message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
494(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
495port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
496delivered again.
497
498Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
499and will not trigger again.
500
399In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 501In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
400of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 502number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
401"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 503"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
402C<eval> if unsure. 504C<eval> if unsure.
403 505
404In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 506In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
405a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 507will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
406under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 508"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
509port is killed with the same reason.
407 510
511The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
512C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
513
408In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 514In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
515C<snd>.
516
517As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
518a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
519lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
520even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
521to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
522these problems do not exist.
409 523
410Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 524Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
411 525
412 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 526 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
413 527
414Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 528Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
415 529
416 mon $port, $self; 530 mon $port;
417 531
418Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 532Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
419 533
420 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 534 mon $port, $self => "restart";
421 535
422=cut 536=cut
423 537
424sub mon { 538sub mon {
425 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 539 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
426 540
427 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 541 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
428 542
429 my $cb = shift; 543 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
430 544
431 unless (ref $cb) { 545 unless (ref $cb) {
432 if (@_) { 546 if (@_) {
433 # send a kill info message 547 # send a kill info message
434 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 548 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
465=cut 579=cut
466 580
467sub mon_guard { 581sub mon_guard {
468 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 582 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
469 583
584 #TODO: mon-less form?
585
470 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 586 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
471} 587}
472 588
473=item lnk $port1, $port2
474
475Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
476
477 mon $port1, $port2;
478 mon $port2, $port1;
479
480It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
481killed as well.
482
483=item kil $portid[, @reason] 589=item kil $port[, @reason]
484 590
485Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 591Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
486 592
487If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 593If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
488ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 594ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
494will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 600will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
495 601
496Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 602Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
497$message >>. 603$message >>.
498 604
605=cut
606
607=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
608
609Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
610case it's the node where that port resides).
611
612The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
613permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
614
615After the port has been created, the init function is
616called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
617(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
618program, use C<::name>.
619
620If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
621the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
622C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
623exists or it runs out of package names.
624
625The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
626object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
627
628A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
629in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
630ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
631
632Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
633
634 # this node, executed from within a port context:
635 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
636 mon $server;
637
638 # init function on C<$othernode>
639 sub connect {
640 my ($srcport) = @_;
641
642 mon $srcport;
643
644 rcv $SELF, sub {
645 ...
646 };
647 }
648
649=cut
650
651sub _spawn {
652 my $port = shift;
653 my $init = shift;
654
655 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
656 eval {
657 &{ load_func $init }
658 };
659 _self_die if $@;
660}
661
662sub spawn(@) {
663 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
664
665 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
666
667 $_[0] =~ /::/
668 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
669
670 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
671
672 "$noderef#$id"
673}
674
675=item after $timeout, @msg
676
677=item after $timeout, $callback
678
679Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
680specified number of seconds.
681
682This is simply a utility function that come sin handy at times.
683
684=cut
685
686sub after($@) {
687 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
688
689 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
690 undef $t;
691 ref $action[0]
692 ? $action[0]()
693 : snd @action;
694 };
695}
696
499=back 697=back
500 698
501=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
502
503=over 4
504
505=item become_public $noderef
506
507Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
508
509The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
510(if missing then the empty string is used).
511
512It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
513tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
514which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
515
516=cut
517
518=back
519
520=head1 NODE MESSAGES
521
522Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
523arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
524message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
525the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
526
527While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
528
529=over 4
530
531=cut
532
533=item lookup => $name, @reply
534
535Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
536
537=item devnull => ...
538
539Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
540
541=item relay => $port, @msg
542
543Simply forwards the message to the given port.
544
545=item eval => $string[ @reply]
546
547Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
548form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
549
550Example: crash another node.
551
552 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
553
554=item time => @reply
555
556Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
557
558Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
559C<timereply> message.
560
561 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
562 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
563
564=back
565
566=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 699=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
567 700
568AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 701AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
569== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 702== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
570programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 703programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
571sample: 704sample:
572 705
573 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 706 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
574 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 707 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
575 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 708 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
576 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 709 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
577 710
578Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 711Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
579 712
580=over 4 713=over 4
581 714
586convenience functionality. 719convenience functionality.
587 720
588This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 721This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
589cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 722cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
590 723
724=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
725uses "local ports are like remote ports".
726
727The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
728only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
729when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
730port.
731
732Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
733they are not.
734
735AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
736ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
737occur.
738
591=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 739=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
592 740
593Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 741Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
594needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 742needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
595purpose. 743useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
744AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
745filter messages without dequeing them.
596 746
597(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 747(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
598 748
599=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 749=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
600 750
601Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 751Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
602sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 752so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
603background. 753connection establishment is handled in the background.
604 754
605=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 755=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
606 756
607Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 757Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
608without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 758without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
609and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 759and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
610 760
611AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 761AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
612holes in the message sequence. 762holes in the message sequence.
613 763
614=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 764=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
615alive. 765alive.
616 766
617In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 767In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
618linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 768linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
619still alive - and can receive messages. 769still alive - and can receive messages.
620 770
621In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 771In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
622eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 772eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
623and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 773and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
624 774
625=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 775=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
626 776
627In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 777In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
628ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 778known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
629messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 779destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
630 780
631AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 781AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
632around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 782around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
633 783
634=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 784=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
638securely authenticate nodes. 788securely authenticate nodes.
639 789
640=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 790=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
641communications. 791communications.
642 792
643The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 793The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
644language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 794language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
645language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 795language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
646 796
647It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 797It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
648with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 798with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
649protocol simple. 799protocol simple.
650 800
801=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
802
803In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
804or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
805difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
806Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
807on a per-process basis.
808
809=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
810
811Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
812as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
813
814In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
815that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
816on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
817the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
818more reliable.
819
820This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
821(hard to do in Erlang).
822
823=back
824
825=head1 RATIONALE
826
827=over 4
828
829=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
830
831We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
832thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
833the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
834overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
835
836Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
837procedures to be "valid".
838
839And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
840can't become much cheaper.
841
842=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
843
844In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
845format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
846default.
847
848The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
849faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
850experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
851than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
852easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
853always have to re-think your design.
854
855Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
856objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
857
651=back 858=back
652 859
653=head1 SEE ALSO 860=head1 SEE ALSO
654 861
655L<AnyEvent>. 862L<AnyEvent>.

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