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Revision 1.34 by root, Wed Aug 5 23:50:46 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.70 by root, Sun Aug 30 19:49:47 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44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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 $port 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 initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 167=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
133 168
134=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
135
136Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
137itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
138it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
139 173
140This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
141never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
142 176
143All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
144 179
145There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 180The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
146 182
147=over 4 183First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conviniently
184undocumented at the moment) will be used. Then they will be overwritten by
185any values specified in the global default configuration (see the F<aemp>
186utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if any. That means that
187the values specified in the profile have highest priority and the values
188specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest priority.
148 189
149=item public nodes 190If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
191this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
192special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
150 193
151For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 194The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
152noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 195aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
153which case the noderef will be guessed. 196to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
197outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
198binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
154 199
155Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 200If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
156to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 201used.
157and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
158 202
159=item slave nodes 203Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
204L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
205connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
160 206
161When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 207Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
162become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 208the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
163route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 209most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
164
165At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
166to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
167successfully connect to.
168
169=back
170
171This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
172nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
173server.
174
175Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
176 210
177 initialise_node; 211 initialise_node;
178 212
179Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 213Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
180servers to become part of the network. 214clients.
181 215
182 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
183
184Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
185
186 initialise_node 4041; 216 initialise_node "anon/";
187 217
188Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 218Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
219name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
220on the resulting addresses.
189 221
190 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 222 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
191
192Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
193
194 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
195
196=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
197
198Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
199abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
200reference.
201
202In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
203following forms are supported:
204
205=over 4
206
207=item the empty string
208
209An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
210specified.
211
212=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
213
214These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
215further resolved.
216
217=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
218
219These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
220looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
221specified.
222
223=back
224 223
225=item $SELF 224=item $SELF
226 225
227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 226Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
228blocks. 227blocks.
229 228
230=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 229=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
231 230
232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 231Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 232just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 233module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
235 234
236=item snd $port, type => @data 235=item snd $port, type => @data
237 236
238=item snd $port, @msg 237=item snd $port, @msg
239 238
240Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 239Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
241a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 240local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
242stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
243 241
244While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 242While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
245string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 243use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
246type etc.). 244request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
245arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
247 246
248The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 247The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
249function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 248function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
250problems. 249forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
250and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
251never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
252receiving port.
251 253
252The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 254The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
253JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 255JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
254of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 256of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
255that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 257that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
256node, anything can be passed. 258node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
259these.
257 260
258=item $local_port = port 261=item $local_port = port
259 262
260Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 263Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
261matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 264no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
262depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
263 265
264=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 266=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
265 267
266Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 268Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
267matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
268a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 269creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
269 270
270The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 271The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
271callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 272global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
272will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 273port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
274(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
273 275
274The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 276If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
275be passed to the callback.
276 277
277If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 278 my $port = port {
278 279 my @msg = @_;
279 my $port; $port = port { 280 ...
280 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 281 kil $SELF;
281 }; 282 };
282 283
283=cut 284=cut
284 285
285sub rcv($@); 286sub rcv($@);
287
288sub _kilme {
289 die "received message on port without callback";
290}
286 291
287sub port(;&) { 292sub port(;&) {
288 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 293 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
289 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 294 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
290 295
291 if (@_) { 296 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
292 rcv $port, shift;
293 } else {
294 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
295 }
296 297
297 $port 298 $port
298} 299}
299 300
300=item reg $port, $name
301
302Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
303exists it is replaced.
304
305A port can only be registered under one well known name.
306
307A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
308
309=cut
310
311sub reg(@) {
312 my ($port, $name) = @_;
313
314 $REG{$name} = $port;
315}
316
317=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 301=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
318 302
319Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 303Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
320one if required). 304remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
321 305C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
322=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
323
324=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
325
326=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
327
328Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
329port (after converting it to one if required).
330
331The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
332which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
333registered.
334 306
335The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 307The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
336executing the callback. 308executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
309result in the port being C<kil>ed.
337 310
338Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 311The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
339C<kil>ed. 312C<tag> match.
340 313
341If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 314=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
342first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
343matched.
344 315
345Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 316Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
346exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 317given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
318C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
319registered for each tag.
347 320
348While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 321The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
349element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 322element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
350also the most efficient match (by far). 323environment as the default callback (see above).
324
325Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
326
327 my $port = rcv port,
328 msg1 => sub { ... },
329 msg2 => sub { ... },
330 ;
331
332Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
333in one go:
334
335 snd $otherport, reply =>
336 rcv port,
337 msg1 => sub { ... },
338 ...
339 ;
340
341Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
342(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
343
344 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
345 my @reply = @_;
346
347 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
348 };
351 349
352=cut 350=cut
353 351
354sub rcv($@) { 352sub rcv($@) {
355 my $port = shift; 353 my $port = shift;
356 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 354 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
357 355
358 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 356 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
359 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 357 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
360 358
361 if (@_ == 1) { 359 while (@_) {
360 if (ref $_[0]) {
361 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
362 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
363 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
364
365 $self->[2] = shift;
366 } else {
362 my $cb = shift; 367 my $cb = shift;
363 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
364 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 368 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
365 local $SELF = $port; 369 local $SELF = $port;
366 eval { 370 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
367 &$cb 371 };
368 and kil $port;
369 }; 372 }
370 _self_die if $@; 373 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
371 };
372 } else {
373 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 374 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
374 my $self = bless { 375 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
375 id => $port,
376 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
377 376
378 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 377 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
379 local $SELF = $port; 378 local $SELF = $port;
380 379
381 eval {
382 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 380 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
383 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 381 shift;
384 && undef $_; 382 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
385 } 383 } else {
386
387 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
388 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
389 && &{$_->[0]} 384 &{ $self->[0] };
390 && undef $_;
391 }
392
393 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
394 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
395 && &{$_->[0]}
396 && undef $_;
397 } 385 }
398 }; 386 };
399 _self_die if $@; 387
388 $self
400 }; 389 };
401 390
402 $self
403 };
404
405 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 391 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
406 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
407 393
408 while (@_) {
409 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 394 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
410 395
411 if (!ref $match) { 396 if (defined $cb) {
412 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 397 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
413 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
414 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
415 @match
416 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
417 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
418 } else { 398 } else {
419 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 399 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
420 } 400 }
421 } 401 }
422 } 402 }
423 403
424 $port 404 $port
460 $res 440 $res
461 } 441 }
462 } 442 }
463} 443}
464 444
465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 445=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
466 446
467=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport 447=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
468 448
469=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg 449=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
470 450
451=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
452
471Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 453Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
454messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
455to stop monitoring again.
472 456
457C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
458after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
459arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
460loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
461the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
462port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
463delivered again.
464
465Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
466monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
467
473In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 468In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
474of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 469number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
475"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 470"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
476C<eval> if unsure. 471C<eval> if unsure.
477 472
478In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 473In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
479a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 474will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
480under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 475"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
476port is killed with the same reason.
481 477
478The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
479C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
480
482In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 481In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
482C<snd>.
483
484As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
485a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
486lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
487even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
488to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
489these problems do not exist.
483 490
484Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 491Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
485 492
486 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 493 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
487 494
488Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 495Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
489 496
490 mon $port, $self; 497 mon $port;
491 498
492Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 499Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
493 500
494 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 501 mon $port, $self => "restart";
495 502
496=cut 503=cut
497 504
498sub mon { 505sub mon {
499 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 506 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
500 507
501 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 508 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
502 509
503 my $cb = shift; 510 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
504 511
505 unless (ref $cb) { 512 unless (ref $cb) {
506 if (@_) { 513 if (@_) {
507 # send a kill info message 514 # send a kill info message
508 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 515 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
526is killed, the references will be freed. 533is killed, the references will be freed.
527 534
528Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 535Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
529 536
530This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 537This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
531want to free them when the port gets killed: 538want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
532 539
533 $port->rcv (start => sub { 540 $port->rcv (start => sub {
534 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 541 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
535 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 542 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
536 }); 543 });
537 }); 544 });
538 545
539=cut 546=cut
540 547
541sub mon_guard { 548sub mon_guard {
542 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 549 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
543 550
551 #TODO: mon-less form?
552
544 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 553 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
545} 554}
546 555
547=item lnk $port1, $port2
548
549Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
550
551 mon $port1, $port2;
552 mon $port2, $port1;
553
554It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
555killed as well.
556
557=item kil $port[, @reason] 556=item kil $port[, @reason]
558 557
559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 558Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
560 559
561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 560If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
562ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 561monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
562"normally").
563 563
564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
565C<mon>, see below). 565C<mon>, see above).
566 566
567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
569 569
570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
571$message >>. 571$message >>.
572 572
573=cut
574
575=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
576
577Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
578case it's the node where that port resides).
579
580The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
581possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
582
583After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
584node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
585fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
586specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
587
588If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
589the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
590C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
591exists or it runs out of package names.
592
593The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
594object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
595
596A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
597port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
598local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
599when there is a problem.
600
601Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
602
603 # this node, executed from within a port context:
604 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
605 mon $server;
606
607 # init function on C<$othernode>
608 sub connect {
609 my ($srcport) = @_;
610
611 mon $srcport;
612
613 rcv $SELF, sub {
614 ...
615 };
616 }
617
618=cut
619
620sub _spawn {
621 my $port = shift;
622 my $init = shift;
623
624 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
625 eval {
626 &{ load_func $init }
627 };
628 _self_die if $@;
629}
630
631sub spawn(@) {
632 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
633
634 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
635
636 $_[0] =~ /::/
637 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
638
639 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
640
641 "$noderef#$id"
642}
643
644=item after $timeout, @msg
645
646=item after $timeout, $callback
647
648Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
649specified number of seconds.
650
651This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
652AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
653so it may go away in the future.
654
655=cut
656
657sub after($@) {
658 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
659
660 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
661 undef $t;
662 ref $action[0]
663 ? $action[0]()
664 : snd @action;
665 };
666}
667
573=back 668=back
574 669
575=head1 NODE MESSAGES 670=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
576 671
577Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 672AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
578arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 673== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
579message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 674programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
580the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 675sample:
581 676
582While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 677 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
678 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
679 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
680 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
681
682Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
583 683
584=over 4 684=over 4
585 685
586=cut 686=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
587 687
588=item lookup => $name, @reply
589
590Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
591
592=item devnull => ...
593
594Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
595
596=item relay => $port, @msg
597
598Simply forwards the message to the given port.
599
600=item eval => $string[ @reply]
601
602Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
603form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
604
605Example: crash another node.
606
607 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
608
609=item time => @reply
610
611Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
612
613Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
614C<timereply> message.
615
616 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
617 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
618
619=back
620
621=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
622
623AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node
624== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
625programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
626sample:
627
628 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
629 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
631 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
632
633Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
634
635=over 4
636
637=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
638
639Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 688Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
640same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 689way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
641convenience functionality. 690configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
642 691
643This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 692=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
644cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 693uses "local ports are like remote ports".
694
695The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
696only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
697when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
698port.
699
700Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
701they are not.
702
703AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
704ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
705occur.
645 706
646=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 707=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
647 708
648Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 709Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
649needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 710needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
650purpose. 711useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
712AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
713filter messages without dequeing them.
651 714
652(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 715(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
653 716
654=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 717=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
655 718
656Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 719Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
657sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 720so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
658background. 721connection establishment is handled in the background.
659 722
660=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 723=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
661 724
662Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 725Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
663without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 726without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
664and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 727and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
665 728
666AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 729AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
667holes in the message sequence. 730is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
668 731monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
669=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 732sequence.
670alive.
671
672In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
673linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
674still alive - and can receive messages.
675
676In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
677eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
678and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
679 733
680=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 734=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
681 735
682In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 736In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
683ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 737known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
684messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 738destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
685 739
686AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 740AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
687around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 741around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
688 742
689=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 743=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
690authentication and can use TLS. 744authentication and can use TLS.
691 745
692AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 746AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
693securely authenticate nodes. 747securely authenticate nodes.
694 748
695=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 749=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
696communications. 750communications.
697 751
698The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 752The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
699language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 753language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
700language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 754language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
755used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
701 756
702It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 757It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
703with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 758with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
704protocol simple. 759protocol simple.
705 760
761=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
762
763In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
764or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
765difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
766Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
767on a per-process basis.
768
769=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
770
771Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
772same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
773
774In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
775that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
776on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
777remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
778reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
779
780This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
781(hard to do in Erlang).
782
706=back 783=back
707 784
785=head1 RATIONALE
786
787=over 4
788
789=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
790
791We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
792that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
793the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
794overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
795
796Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
797procedures to be "valid".
798
799And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
800global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
801
802=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
803
804In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
805format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
806default (although all nodes will accept it).
807
808The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
809faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
810experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
811than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
812easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
813always have to re-think your design.
814
815Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
816objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
817
818=back
819
708=head1 SEE ALSO 820=head1 SEE ALSO
821
822L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
823
824L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
825
826L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
827your applications.
709 828
710L<AnyEvent>. 829L<AnyEvent>.
711 830
712=head1 AUTHOR 831=head1 AUTHOR
713 832

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