… | |
… | |
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 | # ports are message endpoints |
|
|
16 | |
|
|
17 | # sending messages |
13 | snd $port, type => data...; |
18 | snd $port, type => data...; |
|
|
19 | snd $port, @msg; |
|
|
20 | snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; |
14 | |
21 | |
15 | $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks |
22 | # miniports |
|
|
23 | my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; |
16 | |
24 | |
|
|
25 | # full ports |
|
|
26 | my $port = port; |
17 | rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); |
27 | rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg); |
18 | |
|
|
19 | # examples: |
|
|
20 | rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; |
28 | rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; |
21 | rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; |
29 | rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; |
22 | snd $port2, ping => $port1; |
30 | |
|
|
31 | # remote ports |
|
|
32 | my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; |
23 | |
33 | |
24 | # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) |
34 | # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) |
25 | rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... |
35 | rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... |
26 | rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 |
36 | rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 |
27 | |
37 | |
|
|
38 | # monitoring |
|
|
39 | mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death |
|
|
40 | mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death |
|
|
41 | mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death |
|
|
42 | |
|
|
43 | =head1 CURRENT STATUS |
|
|
44 | |
|
|
45 | AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work |
|
|
46 | AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated |
|
|
47 | AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP |
|
|
48 | AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable |
|
|
49 | |
|
|
50 | stay tuned. |
|
|
51 | |
28 | =head1 DESCRIPTION |
52 | =head1 DESCRIPTION |
29 | |
53 | |
30 | This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. |
54 | This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. |
31 | |
55 | |
32 | Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running |
56 | Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running |
… | |
… | |
35 | For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> |
59 | For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> |
36 | manual page. |
60 | manual page. |
37 | |
61 | |
38 | At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, |
62 | At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, |
39 | so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - |
63 | so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - |
40 | stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. |
64 | stay tuned! |
41 | |
65 | |
42 | =head1 CONCEPTS |
66 | =head1 CONCEPTS |
43 | |
67 | |
44 | =over 4 |
68 | =over 4 |
45 | |
69 | |
… | |
… | |
90 | |
114 | |
91 | =cut |
115 | =cut |
92 | |
116 | |
93 | package AnyEvent::MP; |
117 | package AnyEvent::MP; |
94 | |
118 | |
95 | use AnyEvent::MP::Base; |
119 | use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel; |
96 | |
120 | |
97 | use common::sense; |
121 | use common::sense; |
98 | |
122 | |
99 | use Carp (); |
123 | use Carp (); |
100 | |
124 | |
101 | use AE (); |
125 | use AE (); |
102 | |
126 | |
103 | use base "Exporter"; |
127 | use base "Exporter"; |
104 | |
128 | |
105 | our $VERSION = '0.1'; |
129 | our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; |
|
|
130 | |
106 | our @EXPORT = qw( |
131 | our @EXPORT = qw( |
107 | NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ |
132 | NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ |
108 | resolve_node initialise_node |
133 | resolve_node initialise_node |
109 | snd rcv mon kil reg psub |
134 | snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn |
110 | port |
135 | port |
111 | ); |
136 | ); |
112 | |
137 | |
113 | our $SELF; |
138 | our $SELF; |
114 | |
139 | |
… | |
… | |
297 | $port |
322 | $port |
298 | } |
323 | } |
299 | |
324 | |
300 | =item reg $port, $name |
325 | =item reg $port, $name |
301 | |
326 | |
302 | Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already |
327 | =item reg $name |
303 | exists it is replaced. |
328 | |
|
|
329 | Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name |
|
|
330 | C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced. |
304 | |
331 | |
305 | A port can only be registered under one well known name. |
332 | A port can only be registered under one well known name. |
306 | |
333 | |
307 | A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. |
334 | A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. |
308 | |
335 | |
309 | =cut |
336 | =cut |
310 | |
337 | |
311 | sub reg(@) { |
338 | sub reg(@) { |
312 | my ($port, $name) = @_; |
339 | my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; |
313 | |
340 | |
314 | $REG{$name} = $port; |
341 | $REG{$_[0]} = $port; |
315 | } |
342 | } |
316 | |
343 | |
317 | =item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) |
344 | =item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) |
318 | |
345 | |
319 | Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to |
346 | Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to |
… | |
… | |
324 | =item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ... |
351 | =item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ... |
325 | |
352 | |
326 | =item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ... |
353 | =item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ... |
327 | |
354 | |
328 | Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full |
355 | Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full |
329 | port (after converting it to one if required). |
356 | port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port. |
330 | |
357 | |
331 | The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after |
358 | The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after |
332 | which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay |
359 | which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay |
333 | registered. |
360 | registered. |
334 | |
361 | |
335 | The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while |
362 | The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while |
336 | executing the callback. |
363 | executing the callback. |
337 | |
364 | |
338 | Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being |
365 | Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being |
339 | C<kil>ed. |
366 | C<kil>ed. |
340 | |
367 | |
341 | If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the |
368 | If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the |
342 | first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being |
369 | first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being |
343 | matched. |
370 | matched. |
… | |
… | |
346 | exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. |
373 | exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. |
347 | |
374 | |
348 | While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching |
375 | While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching |
349 | element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is |
376 | element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is |
350 | also the most efficient match (by far). |
377 | also the most efficient match (by far). |
|
|
378 | |
|
|
379 | Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. |
|
|
380 | |
|
|
381 | my $port = rcv port, |
|
|
382 | msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, |
|
|
383 | msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, |
|
|
384 | ; |
|
|
385 | |
|
|
386 | Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere |
|
|
387 | in one go: |
|
|
388 | |
|
|
389 | snd $otherport, reply => |
|
|
390 | rcv port, |
|
|
391 | msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, |
|
|
392 | ... |
|
|
393 | ; |
351 | |
394 | |
352 | =cut |
395 | =cut |
353 | |
396 | |
354 | sub rcv($@) { |
397 | sub rcv($@) { |
355 | my $port = shift; |
398 | my $port = shift; |
… | |
… | |
462 | } |
505 | } |
463 | } |
506 | } |
464 | |
507 | |
465 | =item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) |
508 | =item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) |
466 | |
509 | |
467 | =item $guard = mon $port, $otherport |
510 | =item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport |
468 | |
511 | |
|
|
512 | =item $guard = mon $port |
|
|
513 | |
469 | =item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg |
514 | =item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg |
470 | |
515 | |
471 | Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. |
516 | Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or |
|
|
517 | messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used |
|
|
518 | to stop monitoring again. |
472 | |
519 | |
|
|
520 | C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, |
|
|
521 | that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port |
|
|
522 | will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible |
|
|
523 | message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" |
|
|
524 | (after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the |
|
|
525 | port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get |
|
|
526 | delivered again. |
|
|
527 | |
473 | In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number |
528 | In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any |
474 | of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted |
529 | number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted |
475 | "normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use |
530 | "normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use |
476 | C<eval> if unsure. |
531 | C<eval> if unsure. |
477 | |
532 | |
478 | In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff |
533 | In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>) |
479 | a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while |
534 | will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on |
480 | under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. |
535 | "normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other |
|
|
536 | port is killed with the same reason. |
481 | |
537 | |
|
|
538 | The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that |
|
|
539 | C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>. |
|
|
540 | |
482 | In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. |
541 | In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be |
|
|
542 | C<snd>. |
|
|
543 | |
|
|
544 | As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from |
|
|
545 | a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get |
|
|
546 | lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that |
|
|
547 | even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection |
|
|
548 | to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally |
|
|
549 | these problems do not exist. |
483 | |
550 | |
484 | Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. |
551 | Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. |
485 | |
552 | |
486 | mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; |
553 | mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; |
487 | |
554 | |
488 | Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. |
555 | Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. |
489 | |
556 | |
490 | mon $port, $self; |
557 | mon $port; |
491 | |
558 | |
492 | Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. |
559 | Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed. |
493 | |
560 | |
494 | mon $port, $self => "restart"; |
561 | mon $port, $self => "restart"; |
495 | |
562 | |
496 | =cut |
563 | =cut |
497 | |
564 | |
498 | sub mon { |
565 | sub mon { |
499 | my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; |
566 | my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; |
500 | |
567 | |
501 | my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; |
568 | my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; |
502 | |
569 | |
503 | my $cb = shift; |
570 | my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; |
504 | |
571 | |
505 | unless (ref $cb) { |
572 | unless (ref $cb) { |
506 | if (@_) { |
573 | if (@_) { |
507 | # send a kill info message |
574 | # send a kill info message |
508 | my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); |
575 | my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); |
… | |
… | |
539 | =cut |
606 | =cut |
540 | |
607 | |
541 | sub mon_guard { |
608 | sub mon_guard { |
542 | my ($port, @refs) = @_; |
609 | my ($port, @refs) = @_; |
543 | |
610 | |
|
|
611 | #TODO: mon-less form? |
|
|
612 | |
544 | mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } |
613 | mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } |
545 | } |
614 | } |
546 | |
615 | |
547 | =item lnk $port1, $port2 |
|
|
548 | |
|
|
549 | Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: |
|
|
550 | |
|
|
551 | mon $port1, $port2; |
|
|
552 | mon $port2, $port1; |
|
|
553 | |
|
|
554 | It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets |
|
|
555 | killed as well. |
|
|
556 | |
|
|
557 | =item kil $port[, @reason] |
616 | =item kil $port[, @reason] |
558 | |
617 | |
559 | Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. |
618 | Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. |
560 | |
619 | |
561 | If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked |
620 | If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked |
… | |
… | |
567 | Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks |
626 | Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks |
568 | will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. |
627 | will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. |
569 | |
628 | |
570 | Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => |
629 | Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => |
571 | $message >>. |
630 | $message >>. |
|
|
631 | |
|
|
632 | =cut |
|
|
633 | |
|
|
634 | =item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] |
|
|
635 | |
|
|
636 | Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which |
|
|
637 | case it's the node where that port resides). |
|
|
638 | |
|
|
639 | The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is |
|
|
640 | permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. |
|
|
641 | |
|
|
642 | After the port has been created, the init function is |
|
|
643 | called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name |
|
|
644 | (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main |
|
|
645 | program, use C<::name>. |
|
|
646 | |
|
|
647 | If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> |
|
|
648 | the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. |
|
|
649 | C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function |
|
|
650 | exists or it runs out of package names. |
|
|
651 | |
|
|
652 | The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context |
|
|
653 | object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. |
|
|
654 | |
|
|
655 | A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and |
|
|
656 | in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring |
|
|
657 | ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. |
|
|
658 | |
|
|
659 | Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. |
|
|
660 | |
|
|
661 | # this node, executed from within a port context: |
|
|
662 | my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; |
|
|
663 | mon $server; |
|
|
664 | |
|
|
665 | # init function on C<$othernode> |
|
|
666 | sub connect { |
|
|
667 | my ($srcport) = @_; |
|
|
668 | |
|
|
669 | mon $srcport; |
|
|
670 | |
|
|
671 | rcv $SELF, sub { |
|
|
672 | ... |
|
|
673 | }; |
|
|
674 | } |
|
|
675 | |
|
|
676 | =cut |
|
|
677 | |
|
|
678 | sub _spawn { |
|
|
679 | my $port = shift; |
|
|
680 | my $init = shift; |
|
|
681 | |
|
|
682 | local $SELF = "$NODE#$port"; |
|
|
683 | eval { |
|
|
684 | &{ load_func $init } |
|
|
685 | }; |
|
|
686 | _self_die if $@; |
|
|
687 | } |
|
|
688 | |
|
|
689 | sub spawn(@) { |
|
|
690 | my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; |
|
|
691 | |
|
|
692 | my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; |
|
|
693 | |
|
|
694 | $_[0] =~ /::/ |
|
|
695 | or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; |
|
|
696 | |
|
|
697 | ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) |
|
|
698 | ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]); |
|
|
699 | |
|
|
700 | "$noderef#$id" |
|
|
701 | } |
572 | |
702 | |
573 | =back |
703 | =back |
574 | |
704 | |
575 | =head1 NODE MESSAGES |
705 | =head1 NODE MESSAGES |
576 | |
706 | |
… | |
… | |
618 | |
748 | |
619 | =back |
749 | =back |
620 | |
750 | |
621 | =head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang |
751 | =head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang |
622 | |
752 | |
623 | AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node |
753 | AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node |
624 | == aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and |
754 | == aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and |
625 | programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a |
755 | programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a |
626 | sample: |
756 | sample: |
627 | |
757 | |
628 | http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml |
758 | http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml |
629 | http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 |
759 | http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 |
630 | http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 |
760 | http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 |
631 | http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 |
761 | http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 |
632 | |
762 | |
633 | Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: |
763 | Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: |
634 | |
764 | |
635 | =over 4 |
765 | =over 4 |
636 | |
766 | |
… | |
… | |
647 | |
777 | |
648 | Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore |
778 | Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore |
649 | needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful |
779 | needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful |
650 | purpose. |
780 | purpose. |
651 | |
781 | |
652 | (But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). |
782 | (But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). |
653 | |
783 | |
654 | =item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. |
784 | =item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. |
655 | |
785 | |
656 | Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP |
786 | Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP |
657 | sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the |
787 | sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the |
658 | background. |
788 | background. |
659 | |
789 | |
660 | =item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. |
790 | =item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. |
661 | |
791 | |
… | |
… | |
664 | and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). |
794 | and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). |
665 | |
795 | |
666 | AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no |
796 | AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no |
667 | holes in the message sequence. |
797 | holes in the message sequence. |
668 | |
798 | |
669 | =item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be |
799 | =item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be |
670 | alive. |
800 | alive. |
671 | |
801 | |
672 | In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and |
802 | In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and |
673 | linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is |
803 | linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is |
674 | still alive - and can receive messages. |
804 | still alive - and can receive messages. |
675 | |
805 | |
676 | In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will |
806 | In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will |
677 | eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead |
807 | eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead |
678 | and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. |
808 | and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. |
679 | |
809 | |
680 | =item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. |
810 | =item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. |
681 | |
811 | |
682 | In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process |
812 | In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process |
683 | ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing |
813 | ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing |
684 | messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. |
814 | messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. |
685 | |
815 | |
686 | AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating |
816 | AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating |
687 | around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. |
817 | around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. |
… | |
… | |
693 | securely authenticate nodes. |
823 | securely authenticate nodes. |
694 | |
824 | |
695 | =item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary |
825 | =item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary |
696 | communications. |
826 | communications. |
697 | |
827 | |
698 | The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both |
828 | The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both |
699 | language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, |
829 | language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, |
700 | language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). |
830 | language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). |
701 | |
831 | |
702 | It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages |
832 | It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages |
703 | with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the |
833 | with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the |
704 | protocol simple. |
834 | protocol simple. |
705 | |
835 | |
|
|
836 | =item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. |
|
|
837 | |
|
|
838 | In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages |
|
|
839 | or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is |
|
|
840 | difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in |
|
|
841 | Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback |
|
|
842 | on a per-process basis. |
|
|
843 | |
|
|
844 | =item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. |
|
|
845 | |
|
|
846 | Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, |
|
|
847 | as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). |
|
|
848 | |
|
|
849 | In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports |
|
|
850 | that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port |
|
|
851 | on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor |
|
|
852 | the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much |
|
|
853 | more reliable. |
|
|
854 | |
|
|
855 | This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port |
|
|
856 | (hard to do in Erlang). |
|
|
857 | |
|
|
858 | =back |
|
|
859 | |
|
|
860 | =head1 RATIONALE |
|
|
861 | |
|
|
862 | =over 4 |
|
|
863 | |
|
|
864 | =item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects? |
|
|
865 | |
|
|
866 | We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods |
|
|
867 | thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over |
|
|
868 | the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of |
|
|
869 | overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object. |
|
|
870 | |
|
|
871 | Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special |
|
|
872 | procedures to be "valid". |
|
|
873 | |
|
|
874 | And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it |
|
|
875 | can't become much cheaper. |
|
|
876 | |
|
|
877 | =item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable? |
|
|
878 | |
|
|
879 | In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing |
|
|
880 | format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by |
|
|
881 | default. |
|
|
882 | |
|
|
883 | The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times |
|
|
884 | faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of |
|
|
885 | experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems |
|
|
886 | than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel |
|
|
887 | easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you |
|
|
888 | always have to re-think your design. |
|
|
889 | |
|
|
890 | Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than |
|
|
891 | objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient. |
|
|
892 | |
706 | =back |
893 | =back |
707 | |
894 | |
708 | =head1 SEE ALSO |
895 | =head1 SEE ALSO |
709 | |
896 | |
710 | L<AnyEvent>. |
897 | L<AnyEvent>. |