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Revision 1.37 by root, Fri Aug 7 16:47:23 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
27 35
28 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
29 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
30 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
31 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
32 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44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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
33=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
34 53
35This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
36 55
37Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
38on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
39 58
40For 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>
41manual page. 60manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
42 61
43At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
44so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
45stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
46 63
47=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
48 65
49=over 4 66=over 4
50 67
51=item port 68=item port
52 69
53A 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).
54 71
55Some 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
56messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
57will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
58 75
59=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
60 77
61A 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
62separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
63exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
64reference.
65 80
66=item node 81=item node
67 82
68A 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,
69port. 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
70create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
71 86
72Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
73master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
74 90
75=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
76 92
77A 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
78private 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
79node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
80 97
81This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
82TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
83 99
84Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
85addresses) 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.
86 104
87Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
88resolve 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.
89 119
90=back 120=back
91 121
92=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
93 123
95 125
96=cut 126=cut
97 127
98package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
99 129
100use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
101 131
102use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
103 133
104use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
105 135
106use AE (); 136use AE ();
107 137
108use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
109 139
110our $VERSION = '0.1'; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141
111our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
112 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
113 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
114 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
115 port 146 port
116); 147);
117 148
118our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
119 150
123 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
124} 155}
125 156
126=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
127 158
128The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
129the 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
130to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
131identifiers become invalid.
132 162
133=item $noderef = node_of $port 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
134 164
135Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
136 166
137=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 167=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
138 168
139=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
140
141Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
142itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
143it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
144 173
145This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
146never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
147 176
148All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
149 179
150There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 180The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
151 182
152=over 4 183First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conviniently
184undocumented at the moment) will be used. Then they will be overwritten by
185any values specified in the global default configuration (see the F<aemp>
186utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if any. That means that
187the values specified in the profile have highest priority and the values
188specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest priority.
153 189
154=item public nodes 190If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
191this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
192special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
155 193
156For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 194The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
157noderef, 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
158which 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).
159 199
160Afterwards, 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
161to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 201used.
162and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
163 202
164=item slave nodes 203Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
204L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
205connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
165 206
166When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 207Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
167become 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
168route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 209most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
169
170At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
171to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
172successfully connect to.
173
174=back
175
176This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
177nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
178server.
179
180Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
181 210
182 initialise_node; 211 initialise_node;
183 212
184Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 213Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
185servers to become part of the network. 214clients.
186 215
187 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
188
189Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
190
191 initialise_node 4041; 216 initialise_node "anon/";
192 217
193Example: 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.
194 221
195 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 222 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
196
197Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
198
199 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
200
201=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
202
203Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
204abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
205reference.
206
207In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
208following forms are supported:
209
210=over 4
211
212=item the empty string
213
214An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
215specified.
216
217=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
218
219These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
220further resolved.
221
222=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
223
224These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
225looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
226specified.
227
228=back
229 223
230=item $SELF 224=item $SELF
231 225
232Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 226Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
233blocks. 227blocks.
234 228
235=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 229=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
236 230
237Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 231Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
238just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 232just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
239module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 233module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
240 234
241=item snd $port, type => @data 235=item snd $port, type => @data
242 236
243=item snd $port, @msg 237=item snd $port, @msg
244 238
245Send 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
246a 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.
247stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
248 241
249While 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
250string 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
251type 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.
252 246
253The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 247The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
254function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 248function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
255problems. 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.
256 253
257The 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
258JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 255JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
259of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 256of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
260that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 257that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
261node, anything can be passed. 258node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
259these.
262 260
263=item $local_port = port 261=item $local_port = port
264 262
265Create 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
266matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 264no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
267depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
268 265
269=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 266=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
270 267
271Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 268Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
272matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
273a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 269creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
274 270
275The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 271The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
276callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 272global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
277will 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.
278 275
279The 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:
280be passed to the callback.
281 277
282If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 278 my $port = port {
283 279 my @msg = @_;
284 my $port; $port = port { 280 ...
285 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 281 kil $SELF;
286 }; 282 };
287 283
288=cut 284=cut
289 285
290sub rcv($@); 286sub rcv($@);
287
288sub _kilme {
289 die "received message on port without callback";
290}
291 291
292sub port(;&) { 292sub port(;&) {
293 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 293 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
294 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 294 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
295 295
296 if (@_) { 296 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
297 rcv $port, shift;
298 } else {
299 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
300 }
301 297
302 $port 298 $port
303} 299}
304 300
305=item reg $port, $name
306
307=item reg $name
308
309Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
310C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
311
312A port can only be registered under one well known name.
313
314A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
315
316=cut
317
318sub reg(@) {
319 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
320
321 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
322}
323
324=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 301=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
325 302
326Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 303Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
327one if required). 304remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
328 305C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
329=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
330
331=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
332
333=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
334
335Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
336port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
337
338The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
339which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
340registered.
341 306
342The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 307The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
343executing the callback. 308executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
309result in the port being C<kil>ed.
344 310
345Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 311The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
346C<kil>ed. 312C<tag> match.
347 313
348If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 314=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
349first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
350matched.
351 315
352Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 316Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
353exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 317given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
318C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
319registered for each tag.
354 320
355While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 321The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
356element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 322element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
357also the most efficient match (by far). 323environment as the default callback (see above).
358 324
359Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 325Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
360 326
361 my $port = rcv port, 327 my $port = rcv port,
362 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 328 msg1 => sub { ... },
363 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 329 msg2 => sub { ... },
364 ; 330 ;
365 331
366Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 332Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
367in one go: 333in one go:
368 334
369 snd $otherport, reply => 335 snd $otherport, reply =>
370 rcv port, 336 rcv port,
371 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 337 msg1 => sub { ... },
372 ... 338 ...
373 ; 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, $otherport;
348 };
374 349
375=cut 350=cut
376 351
377sub rcv($@) { 352sub rcv($@) {
378 my $port = shift; 353 my $port = shift;
379 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 354 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
380 355
381 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 356 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
382 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 357 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
383 358
384 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 {
385 my $cb = shift; 367 my $cb = shift;
386 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
387 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 368 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
388 local $SELF = $port; 369 local $SELF = $port;
389 eval { 370 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
390 &$cb 371 };
391 and kil $port;
392 }; 372 }
393 _self_die if $@; 373 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
394 };
395 } else {
396 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 374 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
397 my $self = bless { 375 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
398 id => $port,
399 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
400 376
401 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 377 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
402 local $SELF = $port; 378 local $SELF = $port;
403 379
404 eval {
405 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 380 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
406 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 381 shift;
407 && undef $_; 382 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 } 383 } else {
409
410 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
411 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
412 && &{$_->[0]} 384 &{ $self->[0] };
413 && undef $_;
414 }
415
416 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
417 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
418 && &{$_->[0]}
419 && undef $_;
420 } 385 }
421 }; 386 };
422 _self_die if $@; 387
388 $self
423 }; 389 };
424 390
425 $self
426 };
427
428 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 391 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
429 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430 393
431 while (@_) {
432 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 394 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
433 395
434 if (!ref $match) { 396 if (defined $cb) {
435 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 397 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
436 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
437 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
438 @match
439 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
440 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
441 } else { 398 } else {
442 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 399 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
443 } 400 }
444 } 401 }
445 } 402 }
446 403
447 $port 404 $port
483 $res 440 $res
484 } 441 }
485 } 442 }
486} 443}
487 444
488=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 445=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
489 446
490=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 447=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
491 448
492=item $guard = mon $port 449=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
493 450
494=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 451=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
495 452
496Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and 453Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
497optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again. 454messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
455to stop monitoring again.
456
457C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
458after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
459arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
460loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
461the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
462port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
463delivered again.
464
465Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
466monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
498 467
499In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 468In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
500number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 469number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
501"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 470"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
502C<eval> if unsure. 471C<eval> if unsure.
503 472
504In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport) 473In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
505will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on 474will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
506"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 475"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
507port is killed with the same reason. 476port is killed with the same reason.
508 477
509The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 478The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
536sub mon { 505sub mon {
537 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 506 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
538 507
539 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 508 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
540 509
541 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 510 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
542 511
543 unless (ref $cb) { 512 unless (ref $cb) {
544 if (@_) { 513 if (@_) {
545 # send a kill info message 514 # send a kill info message
546 my (@msg) = @_; 515 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
547 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 516 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
548 } else { 517 } else {
549 # simply kill other port 518 # simply kill other port
550 my $port = $cb; 519 my $port = $cb;
551 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ }; 520 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
564is killed, the references will be freed. 533is killed, the references will be freed.
565 534
566Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 535Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
567 536
568This 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
569want to free them when the port gets killed: 538want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
570 539
571 $port->rcv (start => sub { 540 $port->rcv (start => sub {
572 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 541 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
573 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 542 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
574 }); 543 });
575 }); 544 });
576 545
577=cut 546=cut
586 555
587=item kil $port[, @reason] 556=item kil $port[, @reason]
588 557
589Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 558Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
590 559
591If 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
592ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 561monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
562"normally").
593 563
594Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 564Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
595C<mon>, see below). 565C<mon>, see above).
596 566
597Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 567Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
598will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 568will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
599 569
600Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 570Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
601$message >>. 571$message >>.
602 572
603=back
604
605=head1 NODE MESSAGES
606
607Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
608arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
609message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
610the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
611
612While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
613
614=over 4
615
616=cut 573=cut
617 574
618=item lookup => $name, @reply 575=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
619 576
620Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 577Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
578case it's the node where that port resides).
621 579
622=item devnull => ... 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.
623 582
624Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 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>.
625 587
626=item relay => $port, @msg 588If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
589the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
590C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
591exists or it runs out of package names.
627 592
628Simply forwards the message to the given port. 593The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
594object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
629 595
630=item eval => $string[ @reply] 596A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
597port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
598local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
599when there is a problem.
631 600
632Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the 601Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
633form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
634 602
635Example: crash another node. 603 # this node, executed from within a port context:
604 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
605 mon $server;
636 606
637 snd $othernode, eval => "exit"; 607 # init function on C<$othernode>
608 sub connect {
609 my ($srcport) = @_;
638 610
639=item time => @reply 611 mon $srcport;
640 612
641Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>. 613 rcv $SELF, sub {
614 ...
615 };
616 }
642 617
643Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a 618=cut
644C<timereply> message.
645 619
646 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 620sub _spawn {
647 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 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}
648 667
649=back 668=back
650 669
651=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 670=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
652 671
662 681
663Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 682Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
664 683
665=over 4 684=over 4
666 685
667=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 686=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
668 687
669Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 688Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
670same 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
671convenience functionality. 690configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
672 691
673This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 692=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
674cost 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.
675 706
676=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 707=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
677 708
678Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 709Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
679needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 710needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
680purpose. 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.
681 714
682(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).
683 716
684=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 717=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
685 718
686Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 719Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
687sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 720so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
688background. 721connection establishment is handled in the background.
689 722
690=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 723=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
691 724
692Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 725Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
693without 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,
694and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 727and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
695 728
696AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 729AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
697holes in the message sequence. 730is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
698 731monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
699=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 732sequence.
700alive.
701
702In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
703linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
704still alive - and can receive messages.
705
706In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
707eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
708and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
709 733
710=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.
711 735
712In 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
713ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 737known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
714messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 738destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
715 739
716AEMP 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
717around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 741around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
718 742
719=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 743=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
720authentication and can use TLS. 744authentication and can use TLS.
721 745
722AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 746AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
723securely authenticate nodes. 747securely authenticate nodes.
724 748
725=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
726communications. 750communications.
727 751
728The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 752The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
729language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 753language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
730language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 754language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
755used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
731 756
732It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 757It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
733with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 758with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
734protocol simple. 759protocol simple.
735 760
736=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 761=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
737 762
738In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 763In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
741Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 766Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
742on a per-process basis. 767on a per-process basis.
743 768
744=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 769=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
745 770
746Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 771Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
747as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 772same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
748 773
749In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 774In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
750that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 775that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
751on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 776on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
752the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 777remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
753more reliable. 778reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
754 779
755This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 780This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
756(hard to do in Erlang). 781(hard to do in Erlang).
757 782
758=back 783=back
759 784
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
760=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.
761 828
762L<AnyEvent>. 829L<AnyEvent>.
763 830
764=head1 AUTHOR 831=head1 AUTHOR
765 832

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