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Revision 1.35 by root, Thu Aug 6 10:21:48 2009 UTC vs.
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
27
28 # linking two ports, so they both crash together
29 lnk $port1, $port2;
30 35
31 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
32 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
33 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
34 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
35 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44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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.
51
36=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
37 53
38This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
39 55
40Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
41on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
42 58
43For 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>
44manual page. 60manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
45 61
46At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
47so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
48stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
49 63
50=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
51 65
52=over 4 66=over 4
53 67
54=item port 68=item port
55 69
56A 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).
57 71
58Some 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
59messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
60will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
61 75
62=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
63 77
64A 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
65separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
66exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
67reference.
68 80
69=item node 81=item node
70 82
71A 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,
72port. 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
73create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
74 86
75Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
76master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
77 90
78=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
79 92
80A 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
81private 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
82node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
83 97
84This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
85TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
86 99
87Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
88addresses) 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.
89 104
90Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
91resolve 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.
92 119
93=back 120=back
94 121
95=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
96 123
98 125
99=cut 126=cut
100 127
101package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
102 129
103use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
104 131
105use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
106 133
107use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
108 135
109use AE (); 136use AE ();
110 137
111use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
112 139
113our $VERSION = '0.1'; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141
114our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
115 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
116 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
117 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
118 port 146 port
119); 147);
120 148
121our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
122 150
126 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
127} 155}
128 156
129=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
130 158
131The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
132the 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
133to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
134identifiers become invalid.
135 162
136=item $noderef = node_of $port 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
137 164
138Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
139 166
140=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 167=item initialise_node $profile_name
141 168
142=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
143
144Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
145itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
146it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
147 173
148This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
149never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
150 176
151All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
152 179
153There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 180The function then looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility).
154 182
155=over 4 183If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
184this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
185special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
156 186
157=item public nodes 187The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
188aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
189to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
190outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
191binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
158 192
159For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 193If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
160noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 194treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and
161which case the noderef will be guessed. 195used as binds list.
162 196
163Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 197Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
164to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 198L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
165and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network. 199connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
166 200
167=item slave nodes 201Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
168 202the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
169When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 203most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
170become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
171route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
172
173At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
174to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
175successfully connect to.
176
177=back
178
179This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
180nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
181server.
182
183Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
184 204
185 initialise_node; 205 initialise_node;
186 206
187Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 207Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
188servers to become part of the network. 208clients.
189 209
190 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
191
192Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
193
194 initialise_node 4041; 210 initialise_node "anon/";
195 211
196Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 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.
197 215
198 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 216 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
199
200Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
201
202 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
203
204=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
205
206Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
207abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
208reference.
209
210In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
211following forms are supported:
212
213=over 4
214
215=item the empty string
216
217An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
218specified.
219
220=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
221
222These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
223further resolved.
224
225=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
226
227These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
228looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
229specified.
230
231=back
232 217
233=item $SELF 218=item $SELF
234 219
235Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 220Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
236blocks. 221blocks.
237 222
238=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 223=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
239 224
240Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 225Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
241just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 226just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
242module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 227module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
243 228
244=item snd $port, type => @data 229=item snd $port, type => @data
245 230
246=item snd $port, @msg 231=item snd $port, @msg
247 232
248Send 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
249a 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.
250stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
251 235
252While 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
253string 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
254type 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.
255 240
256The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 241The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
257function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 242function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
258problems. 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.
259 247
260The 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
261JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 249JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
262of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 250of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
263that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 251that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
264node, anything can be passed. 252node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
253these.
265 254
266=item $local_port = port 255=item $local_port = port
267 256
268Create 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
269matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 258no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
270depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
271 259
272=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 260=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
273 261
274Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 262Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
275matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
276a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 263creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
277 264
278The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 265The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
279callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 266global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
280will 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.
281 269
282The 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:
283be passed to the callback.
284 271
285If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 272 my $port = port {
286 273 my @msg = @_;
287 my $port; $port = port { 274 ...
288 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 275 kil $SELF;
289 }; 276 };
290 277
291=cut 278=cut
292 279
293sub rcv($@); 280sub rcv($@);
281
282sub _kilme {
283 die "received message on port without callback";
284}
294 285
295sub port(;&) { 286sub port(;&) {
296 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 287 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
297 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 288 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
298 289
299 if (@_) { 290 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
300 rcv $port, shift;
301 } else {
302 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
303 }
304 291
305 $port 292 $port
306} 293}
307 294
308=item reg $port, $name
309
310Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
311exists it is replaced.
312
313A port can only be registered under one well known name.
314
315A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
316
317=cut
318
319sub reg(@) {
320 my ($port, $name) = @_;
321
322 $REG{$name} = $port;
323}
324
325=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 295=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
326 296
327Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 297Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
328one if required). 298remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
329 299C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
330=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
331
332=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
333
334=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
335
336Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
337port (after converting it to one if required).
338
339The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
340which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
341registered.
342 300
343The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 301The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
344executing the callback. 302executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
303result in the port being C<kil>ed.
345 304
346Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 305The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
347C<kil>ed. 306C<tag> match.
348 307
349If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 308=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
350first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
351matched.
352 309
353Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 310Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
354exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 311given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
312C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
313registered for each tag.
355 314
356While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 315The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
357element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 316element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
358also the most efficient match (by far). 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, $otherport;
342 };
359 343
360=cut 344=cut
361 345
362sub rcv($@) { 346sub rcv($@) {
363 my $port = shift; 347 my $port = shift;
364 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 348 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
365 349
366 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 350 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
367 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 351 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
368 352
369 if (@_ == 1) { 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 {
370 my $cb = shift; 361 my $cb = shift;
371 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
372 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 362 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
373 local $SELF = $port; 363 local $SELF = $port;
374 eval { 364 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
375 &$cb 365 };
376 and kil $port;
377 }; 366 }
378 _self_die if $@; 367 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
379 };
380 } else {
381 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 368 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
382 my $self = bless { 369 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
383 id => $port,
384 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
385 370
386 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 371 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
387 local $SELF = $port; 372 local $SELF = $port;
388 373
389 eval {
390 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 374 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
391 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 375 shift;
392 && undef $_; 376 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
393 } 377 } else {
394
395 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
396 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
397 && &{$_->[0]} 378 &{ $self->[0] };
398 && undef $_;
399 }
400
401 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
402 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
403 && &{$_->[0]}
404 && undef $_;
405 } 379 }
406 }; 380 };
407 _self_die if $@; 381
382 $self
408 }; 383 };
409 384
410 $self
411 };
412
413 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 385 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
414 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
415 387
416 while (@_) {
417 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 388 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
418 389
419 if (!ref $match) { 390 if (defined $cb) {
420 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 391 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
421 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
422 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
423 @match
424 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
425 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
426 } else { 392 } else {
427 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 393 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
428 } 394 }
429 } 395 }
430 } 396 }
431 397
432 $port 398 $port
468 $res 434 $res
469 } 435 }
470 } 436 }
471} 437}
472 438
473=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 439=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
474 440
475=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport 441=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
476 442
477=item $guard = mon $port, $otherport, @msg 443=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
478 444
445=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
446
479Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 447Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
448messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
449to stop monitoring again.
480 450
451C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
452after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
453arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
454loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
455the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
456port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
457delivered again.
458
459Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
460monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
461
481In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 462In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
482of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 463number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
483"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 464"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
484C<eval> if unsure. 465C<eval> if unsure.
485 466
486In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 467In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
487a @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
488under 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.
489 471
472The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
473C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
474
490In 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.
491 484
492Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 485Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
493 486
494 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 487 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
495 488
496Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 489Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
497 490
498 mon $port, $self; 491 mon $port;
499 492
500Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 493Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
501 494
502 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 495 mon $port, $self => "restart";
503 496
504=cut 497=cut
505 498
506sub mon { 499sub mon {
507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 500 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
508 501
509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 502 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
510 503
511 my $cb = shift; 504 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
512 505
513 unless (ref $cb) { 506 unless (ref $cb) {
514 if (@_) { 507 if (@_) {
515 # send a kill info message 508 # send a kill info message
516 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 509 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
534is killed, the references will be freed. 527is killed, the references will be freed.
535 528
536Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 529Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
537 530
538This 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
539want to free them when the port gets killed: 532want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
540 533
541 $port->rcv (start => sub { 534 $port->rcv (start => sub {
542 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 535 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
543 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 536 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
544 }); 537 });
545 }); 538 });
546 539
547=cut 540=cut
548 541
549sub mon_guard { 542sub mon_guard {
550 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 543 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
551 544
545 #TODO: mon-less form?
546
552 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 547 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
553} 548}
554 549
555=item lnk $port1, $port2
556
557Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
558
559 mon $port1, $port2;
560 mon $port2, $port1;
561
562It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
563killed as well.
564
565=item kil $port[, @reason] 550=item kil $port[, @reason]
566 551
567Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 552Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
568 553
569If 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
570ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 555monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
556"normally").
571 557
572Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 558Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
573C<mon>, see below). 559C<mon>, see above).
574 560
575Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 561Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
576will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 562will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
577 563
578Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 564Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
579$message >>. 565$message >>.
580 566
581=back
582
583=head1 NODE MESSAGES
584
585Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
586arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
587message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
588the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
589
590While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
591
592=over 4
593
594=cut 567=cut
595 568
596=item lookup => $name, @reply 569=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
597 570
598Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 571Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
572case it's the node where that port resides).
599 573
600=item devnull => ... 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.
601 576
602Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 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>.
603 581
604=item relay => $port, @msg 582If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
583the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
584C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
585exists or it runs out of package names.
605 586
606Simply forwards the message to the given port. 587The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
588object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
607 589
608=item eval => $string[ @reply] 590A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
591port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
592local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
593when there is a problem.
609 594
610Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the 595Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
611form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
612 596
613Example: crash another node. 597 # this node, executed from within a port context:
598 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
599 mon $server;
614 600
615 snd $othernode, eval => "exit"; 601 # init function on C<$othernode>
602 sub connect {
603 my ($srcport) = @_;
616 604
617=item time => @reply 605 mon $srcport;
618 606
619Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>. 607 rcv $SELF, sub {
608 ...
609 };
610 }
620 611
621Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a 612=cut
622C<timereply> message.
623 613
624 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 614sub _spawn {
625 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 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}
626 661
627=back 662=back
628 663
629=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 664=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
630 665
640 675
641Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 676Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
642 677
643=over 4 678=over 4
644 679
645=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 680=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
646 681
647Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 682Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
648same 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
649convenience functionality. 684configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
650 685
651This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 686=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
652cost 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.
653 700
654=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 701=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
655 702
656Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 703Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
657needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 704needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
658purpose. 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.
659 708
660(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).
661 710
662=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 711=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
663 712
664Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 713Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
665sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 714so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
666background. 715connection establishment is handled in the background.
667 716
668=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 717=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
669 718
670Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 719Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
671without 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,
672and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 721and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
673 722
674AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 723AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
675holes in the message sequence. 724is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
676 725monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
677=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 726sequence.
678alive.
679
680In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
681linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
682still alive - and can receive messages.
683
684In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
685eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
686and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
687 727
688=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.
689 729
690In 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
691ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 731known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
692messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 732destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
693 733
694AEMP 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
695around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 735around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
696 736
697=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 737=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
698authentication and can use TLS. 738authentication and can use TLS.
699 739
700AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 740AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
701securely authenticate nodes. 741securely authenticate nodes.
702 742
703=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
704communications. 744communications.
705 745
706The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 746The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
707language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 747language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
708language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 748language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
749used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
709 750
710It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 751It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
711with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 752with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
712protocol simple. 753protocol simple.
713 754
714=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 755=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
715 756
716In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 757In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
717or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 758or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
718difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 759difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
719Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 760Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
720on a per-process basis. 761on a per-process basis.
721 762
722=item * Erlang has different semantics for monitoring and linking, AEMP has the same. 763=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
723 764
724Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 765Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
725as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, the 766same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
726semantics of monitoring and linking are identical, linking is simply 767
727two-way monitoring with automatic kill. 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).
728 776
729=back 777=back
730 778
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
731=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.
732 822
733L<AnyEvent>. 823L<AnyEvent>.
734 824
735=head1 AUTHOR 825=head1 AUTHOR
736 826

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