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Revision 1.68 by root, Fri Aug 28 23:06:33 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;
17
18 # ports are message endpoints
19
20 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
22 snd $port, @msg;
23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 24
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 27
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 29 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 32
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 33 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 35
36 # monitoring
37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - mostly stable
47 AnyEvent::MP::Node - mostly stable, but internal anyways
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable, but internal anyways
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
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
34 58
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 and the examples under F<eg/>.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
41 63
42=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
43 65
44=over 4 66=over 4
45 67
46=item port 68=item port
47 69
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 70A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 71
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 72Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
53 75
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
55 77
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 78A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference.
60 80
61=item node 81=item node
62 82
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 83A 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 84which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
66 86
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
69 90
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
71 92
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 93A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 94network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 97
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 99
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 101each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
102endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
103be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 104
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
83resolve it. 106
107When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
108about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
109network. This node is called a seed.
110
111Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
112are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
113be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
114error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
115join the network.
116
117Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
118every public node can be a seednode.
84 119
85=back 120=back
86 121
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 123
90 125
91=cut 126=cut
92 127
93package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
94 129
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 131
97use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
98 133
99use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
100 135
101use AE (); 136use AE ();
102 137
103use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
104 139
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141
106our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 146 port
111); 147);
112 148
113our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
114 150
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 155}
120 156
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 158
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 160ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 162
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 164
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
131 166
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 167=item initialise_node $profile_name
133 168
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
136reference. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
137 173
138In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
139following forms are supported: 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
140 176
141=over 4 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
142 179
143=item the empty string 180The function then looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility).
144 182
145An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was 183If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
146specified. 184this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
185special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
147 186
148=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>) 187The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
188aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
189to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
190outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
191binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
149 192
150These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be 193If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
151further resolved. 194treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and
195used as binds list.
152 196
153=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>) 197Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
198L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
199connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
154 200
155These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally 201Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
156looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was 202the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
157specified. 203most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
158 204
159=back 205 initialise_node;
206
207Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
208clients.
209
210 initialise_node "anon/";
211
212Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
213name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
214on the resulting addresses.
215
216 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
160 217
161=item $SELF 218=item $SELF
162 219
163Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 220Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
164blocks. 221blocks.
165 222
166=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 223=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
167 224
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 225Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 226just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 227module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 228
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 229=item snd $port, type => @data
173 230
174=item snd $portid, @msg 231=item snd $port, @msg
175 232
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 233Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 234local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 235
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 236While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 237use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
182type etc.). 238request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
239arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
183 240
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 241The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 242function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
186problems. 243forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
244and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
245never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
246receiving port.
187 247
188The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 248The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 249JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 250of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 251that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 252node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
253these.
193 254
194=item $local_port = port 255=item $local_port = port
195 256
196Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 257Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
197matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 258no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
199 259
200=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 260=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
201 261
202Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 262Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 263creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 264
205The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 265The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 266global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
207will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 267port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
268(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
208 269
209The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 270If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
210be passed to the callback.
211 271
212If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 272 my $port = port {
213 273 my @msg = @_;
214 my $port; $port = port { 274 ...
215 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 275 kil $SELF;
216 }; 276 };
217 277
218=cut 278=cut
279
280sub rcv($@);
281
282sub _kilme {
283 die "received message on port without callback";
284}
219 285
220sub port(;&) { 286sub port(;&) {
221 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 287 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
222 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 288 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
223 289
290 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
291
292 $port
293}
294
295=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
296
297Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
298remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
299C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
300
301The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
302executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
303result in the port being C<kil>ed.
304
305The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
306C<tag> match.
307
308=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
309
310Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
311given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
312C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
313registered for each tag.
314
315The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
316element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
317environment as the default callback (see above).
318
319Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
320
321 my $port = rcv port,
322 msg1 => sub { ... },
323 msg2 => sub { ... },
324 ;
325
326Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
327in one go:
328
329 snd $otherport, reply =>
330 rcv port,
331 msg1 => sub { ... },
332 ...
333 ;
334
335Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
336(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
337
338 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
339 my @reply = @_;
340
341 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
342 };
343
344=cut
345
346sub rcv($@) {
347 my $port = shift;
348 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
349
350 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
351 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
352
224 if (@_) { 353 while (@_) {
354 if (ref $_[0]) {
355 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
356 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
357 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
358
359 $self->[2] = shift;
360 } else {
225 my $cb = shift; 361 my $cb = shift;
226 $PORT{$id} = sub { 362 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
227 local $SELF = $port; 363 local $SELF = $port;
228 eval { 364 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
229 &$cb 365 };
230 and kil $id; 366 }
367 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
368 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
369 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
370
371 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
372 local $SELF = $port;
373
374 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
375 shift;
376 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
377 } else {
378 &{ $self->[0] };
379 }
380 };
381
382 $self
231 }; 383 };
232 _self_die if $@; 384
233 };
234 } else {
235 my $self = bless {
236 id => "$NODE#$id",
237 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 385 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
238 387
239 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self; 388 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
240 $PORT{$id} = sub {
241 local $SELF = $port;
242 389
390 if (defined $cb) {
391 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
243 eval { 392 } else {
244 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 393 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 }; 394 }
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 } 395 }
348 } 396 }
349 397
350 $portid 398 $port
351} 399}
352 400
353=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 401=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
354 402
355Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 403Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
386 $res 434 $res
387 } 435 }
388 } 436 }
389} 437}
390 438
391=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 439=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
392 440
393=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 441=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
394 442
395=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 443=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
396 444
445=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
446
397Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 447Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
448messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
449to stop monitoring again.
398 450
451C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
452after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
453arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
454loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
455the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
456port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
457delivered again.
458
459Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
460monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
461
399In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 462In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
400of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 463number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
401"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 464"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
402C<eval> if unsure. 465C<eval> if unsure.
403 466
404In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 467In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
405a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 468will 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. 469"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
470port is killed with the same reason.
407 471
472The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
473C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
474
408In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 475In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
476C<snd>.
477
478As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
479a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
480lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
481even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
482to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
483these problems do not exist.
409 484
410Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 485Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
411 486
412 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 487 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
413 488
414Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 489Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
415 490
416 mon $port, $self; 491 mon $port;
417 492
418Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 493Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
419 494
420 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 495 mon $port, $self => "restart";
421 496
422=cut 497=cut
423 498
424sub mon { 499sub mon {
425 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 500 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
426 501
427 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 502 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
428 503
429 my $cb = shift; 504 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
430 505
431 unless (ref $cb) { 506 unless (ref $cb) {
432 if (@_) { 507 if (@_) {
433 # send a kill info message 508 # send a kill info message
434 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 509 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
452is killed, the references will be freed. 527is killed, the references will be freed.
453 528
454Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 529Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
455 530
456This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 531This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
457want to free them when the port gets killed: 532want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
458 533
459 $port->rcv (start => sub { 534 $port->rcv (start => sub {
460 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 535 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
461 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 536 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
462 }); 537 });
463 }); 538 });
464 539
465=cut 540=cut
466 541
467sub mon_guard { 542sub mon_guard {
468 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 543 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
469 544
545 #TODO: mon-less form?
546
470 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 547 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
471} 548}
472 549
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] 550=item kil $port[, @reason]
484 551
485Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 552Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
486 553
487If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 554If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
488ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 555monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
556"normally").
489 557
490Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 558Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
491C<mon>, see below). 559C<mon>, see above).
492 560
493Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 561Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
494will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 562will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
495 563
496Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 564Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
497$message >>. 565$message >>.
498 566
567=cut
568
569=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
570
571Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
572case it's the node where that port resides).
573
574The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
575possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
576
577After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
578node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
579fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
580specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
581
582If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
583the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
584C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
585exists or it runs out of package names.
586
587The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
588object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
589
590A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
591port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
592local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
593when there is a problem.
594
595Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
596
597 # this node, executed from within a port context:
598 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
599 mon $server;
600
601 # init function on C<$othernode>
602 sub connect {
603 my ($srcport) = @_;
604
605 mon $srcport;
606
607 rcv $SELF, sub {
608 ...
609 };
610 }
611
612=cut
613
614sub _spawn {
615 my $port = shift;
616 my $init = shift;
617
618 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
619 eval {
620 &{ load_func $init }
621 };
622 _self_die if $@;
623}
624
625sub spawn(@) {
626 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
627
628 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
629
630 $_[0] =~ /::/
631 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
632
633 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
634
635 "$noderef#$id"
636}
637
638=item after $timeout, @msg
639
640=item after $timeout, $callback
641
642Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
643specified number of seconds.
644
645This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
646AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
647so it may go away in the future.
648
649=cut
650
651sub after($@) {
652 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
653
654 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
655 undef $t;
656 ref $action[0]
657 ? $action[0]()
658 : snd @action;
659 };
660}
661
499=back 662=back
500 663
501=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 664=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
665
666AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
667== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
668programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
669sample:
670
671 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
672 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
673 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
674 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
675
676Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
502 677
503=over 4 678=over 4
504 679
505=item become_public $noderef 680=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
506 681
507Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
508
509The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
510(if missing then the empty string is used).
511
512It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
513tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
514which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
515
516=cut
517
518=back
519
520=head1 NODE MESSAGES
521
522Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
523arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
524message - C<$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
567
568AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node
569== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
570programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
571sample:
572
573 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
574 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
576 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
577
578Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
579
580=over 4
581
582=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
583
584Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 682Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
585same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 683way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
586convenience functionality. 684configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
587 685
588This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 686=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
589cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 687uses "local ports are like remote ports".
688
689The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
690only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
691when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
692port.
693
694Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
695they are not.
696
697AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
698ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
699occur.
590 700
591=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 701=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
592 702
593Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 703Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
594needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 704needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
595purpose. 705useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
706AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
707filter messages without dequeing them.
596 708
597(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 709(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
598 710
599=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 711=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
600 712
601Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 713Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
602sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 714so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
603background. 715connection establishment is handled in the background.
604 716
605=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 717=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
606 718
607Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 719Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
608without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 720without 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). 721and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
610 722
611AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 723AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
612holes in the message sequence. 724is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
613 725monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
614=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 726sequence.
615alive.
616
617In 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
619still alive - and can receive messages.
620
621In 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
623and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
624 727
625=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 728=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
626 729
627In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 730In 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 731known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
629messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 732destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
630 733
631AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 734AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
632around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 735around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
633 736
634=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 737=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
635authentication and can use TLS. 738authentication and can use TLS.
636 739
637AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 740AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
638securely authenticate nodes. 741securely authenticate nodes.
639 742
640=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 743=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
641communications. 744communications.
642 745
643The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 746The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
644language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 747language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
645language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 748language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
749used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
646 750
647It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 751It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
648with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 752with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
649protocol simple. 753protocol simple.
650 754
755=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
756
757In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
758or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
759difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
760Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
761on a per-process basis.
762
763=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
764
765Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
766same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
767
768In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
769that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
770on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
771remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
772reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
773
774This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
775(hard to do in Erlang).
776
651=back 777=back
652 778
779=head1 RATIONALE
780
781=over 4
782
783=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
784
785We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
786that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
787the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
788overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
789
790Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
791procedures to be "valid".
792
793And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
794global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
795
796=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
797
798In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
799format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
800default (although all nodes will accept it).
801
802The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
803faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
804experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
805than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
806easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
807always have to re-think your design.
808
809Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
810objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
811
812=back
813
653=head1 SEE ALSO 814=head1 SEE ALSO
815
816L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
817
818L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
819
820L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
821your applications.
654 822
655L<AnyEvent>. 823L<AnyEvent>.
656 824
657=head1 AUTHOR 825=head1 AUTHOR
658 826

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