ViewVC Help
View File | Revision Log | Show Annotations | Download File
/cvs/AnyEvent-MP/MP.pm
(Generate patch)

Comparing AnyEvent-MP/MP.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.43 by root, Sun Aug 9 16:08:16 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.67 by root, Fri Aug 28 22:21:53 2009 UTC

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 13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node;
14 17
15 # ports are message endpoints 18 # ports are message endpoints
16 19
17 # sending messages 20 # sending messages
18 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg; 22 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
21 24
22 # miniports 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
24 27
25 # full ports 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
26 my $port = port; 29 my $port = port;
27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
30 32
31 # remote ports 33 # create a port on another node
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
33
34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
37 35
38 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42 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44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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
43=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
44 53
45This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
46 55
47Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
48on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
49 58
50For 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>
51manual page. 60manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
52 61
53At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
54so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
55stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
56 63
57=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
58 65
59=over 4 66=over 4
60 67
61=item port 68=item port
62 69
63A 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).
64 71
65Some 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
66messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
67will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
68 75
69=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
70 77
71A 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
72separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
73exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
74reference.
75 80
76=item node 81=item node
77 82
78A 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,
79port. 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
80create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
81 86
82Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
83master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
84 90
85=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
86 92
87A 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
88private 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
89node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
90 97
91This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
92TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
93 99
94Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
95addresses) 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.
96 104
97Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
98resolve 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.
99 119
100=back 120=back
101 121
102=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
103 123
105 125
106=cut 126=cut
107 127
108package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
109 129
110use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
111 131
112use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
113 133
114use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
115 135
116use AE (); 136use AE ();
117 137
118use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
119 139
120our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Base::VERSION; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
121 141
122our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
123 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
124 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
125 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
126 port 146 port
127); 147);
128 148
129our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
130 150
134 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
135} 155}
136 156
137=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
138 158
139The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
140the 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
141to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
142identifiers become invalid.
143 162
144=item $noderef = node_of $port 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
145 164
146Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
147 166
148=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 167=item initialise_node $profile_name
149 168
150=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
151
152Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
153itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
154it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
155 173
156This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
157never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
158 176
159All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
160 179
161There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 180The function then looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility).
162 182
163=over 4 183If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
184this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
185special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
164 186
165=item public nodes 187The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
188aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
189to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
190outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
191binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
166 192
167For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 193If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
168noderef, 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
169which case the noderef will be guessed. 195used as binds list.
170 196
171Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 197Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
172to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional 198L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
173and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network. 199connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
174 200
175=item slave nodes 201Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
176 202the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
177When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 203most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
178become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will
179route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
180
181At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect
182to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can
183successfully connect to.
184
185=back
186
187This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
188nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
189server.
190
191Example: become a public node listening on the default node.
192 204
193 initialise_node; 205 initialise_node;
194 206
195Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 207Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
196servers to become part of the network. 208clients.
197 209
198 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
199
200Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
201
202 initialise_node 4041; 210 initialise_node "anon/";
203 211
204Example: 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.
205 215
206 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 216 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
207
208Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
209
210 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
211
212=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
213
214Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
215abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
216reference.
217
218In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
219following forms are supported:
220
221=over 4
222
223=item the empty string
224
225An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
226specified.
227
228=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
229
230These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
231further resolved.
232
233=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
234
235These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
236looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
237specified.
238
239=back
240 217
241=item $SELF 218=item $SELF
242 219
243Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 220Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
244blocks. 221blocks.
245 222
246=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 223=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
247 224
248Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 225Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
249just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 226just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
250module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 227module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
251 228
252=item snd $port, type => @data 229=item snd $port, type => @data
253 230
254=item snd $port, @msg 231=item snd $port, @msg
255 232
256Send 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
257a 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.
258stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
259 235
260While 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
261string 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
262type 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.
263 240
264The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 241The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
265function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 242function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
266problems. 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.
267 247
268The 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
269JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 249JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
270of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 250of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
271that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 251that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
272node, anything can be passed. 252node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
253these.
273 254
274=item $local_port = port 255=item $local_port = port
275 256
276Create 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
277matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 258no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
278depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
279 259
280=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 260=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
281 261
282Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 262Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
283matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
284a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 263creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
285 264
286The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 265The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
287callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 266global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
288will 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.
289 269
290The 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:
291be passed to the callback.
292 271
293If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 272 my $port = port {
294 273 my @msg = @_;
295 my $port; $port = port { 274 ...
296 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 275 kil $SELF;
297 }; 276 };
298 277
299=cut 278=cut
300 279
301sub rcv($@); 280sub rcv($@);
281
282sub _kilme {
283 die "received message on port without callback";
284}
302 285
303sub port(;&) { 286sub port(;&) {
304 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 287 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
305 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 288 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
306 289
307 if (@_) { 290 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
308 rcv $port, shift;
309 } else {
310 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
311 }
312 291
313 $port 292 $port
314} 293}
315 294
316=item reg $port, $name
317
318=item reg $name
319
320Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
321C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
322
323A port can only be registered under one well known name.
324
325A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
326
327=cut
328
329sub reg(@) {
330 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
331
332 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
333}
334
335=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 295=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
336 296
337Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 297Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
338one if required). 298remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
339 299C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
340=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
341
342=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
343
344=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
345
346Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
347port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
348
349The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
350which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
351registered.
352 300
353The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 301The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
354executing the callback. 302executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
303result in the port being C<kil>ed.
355 304
356Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 305The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
357C<kil>ed. 306C<tag> match.
358 307
359If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 308=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
360first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
361matched.
362 309
363Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 310Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
364exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 311given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
312C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
313registered for each tag.
365 314
366While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 315The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
367element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 316element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
368also the most efficient match (by far). 317environment as the default callback (see above).
369 318
370Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 319Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
371 320
372 my $port = rcv port, 321 my $port = rcv port,
373 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 322 msg1 => sub { ... },
374 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 323 msg2 => sub { ... },
375 ; 324 ;
376 325
377Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 326Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
378in one go: 327in one go:
379 328
380 snd $otherport, reply => 329 snd $otherport, reply =>
381 rcv port, 330 rcv port,
382 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 331 msg1 => sub { ... },
383 ... 332 ...
384 ; 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, $otherport;
342 };
385 343
386=cut 344=cut
387 345
388sub rcv($@) { 346sub rcv($@) {
389 my $port = shift; 347 my $port = shift;
390 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 348 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
391 349
392 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 350 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 351 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
394 352
395 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 {
396 my $cb = shift; 361 my $cb = shift;
397 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
398 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 362 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
399 local $SELF = $port; 363 local $SELF = $port;
400 eval { 364 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
401 &$cb 365 };
402 and kil $port;
403 }; 366 }
404 _self_die if $@; 367 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
405 };
406 } else {
407 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 368 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
408 my $self = bless { 369 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
409 id => $port,
410 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
411 370
412 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 371 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
413 local $SELF = $port; 372 local $SELF = $port;
414 373
415 eval {
416 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 374 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
417 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 375 shift;
418 && undef $_; 376 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
419 } 377 } else {
420
421 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
422 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
423 && &{$_->[0]} 378 &{ $self->[0] };
424 && undef $_;
425 }
426
427 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
428 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
429 && &{$_->[0]}
430 && undef $_;
431 } 379 }
432 }; 380 };
433 _self_die if $@; 381
382 $self
434 }; 383 };
435 384
436 $self
437 };
438
439 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 385 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
440 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
441 387
442 while (@_) {
443 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 388 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
444 389
445 if (!ref $match) { 390 if (defined $cb) {
446 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 391 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
447 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
448 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
449 @match
450 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
451 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
452 } else { 392 } else {
453 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 393 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
454 } 394 }
455 } 395 }
456 } 396 }
457 397
458 $port 398 $port
494 $res 434 $res
495 } 435 }
496 } 436 }
497} 437}
498 438
499=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 439=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
500 440
501=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 441=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
502 442
503=item $guard = mon $port 443=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
504 444
505=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 445=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
506 446
507Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 447Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
508messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 448messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
509to stop monitoring again. 449to stop monitoring again.
510 450
511C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 451C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
512that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port 452after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
513will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible 453arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
514message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" 454loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
515(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 455the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
516port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 456port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
517delivered again. 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.
518 461
519In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 462In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
520number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 463number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
521"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
522C<eval> if unsure. 465C<eval> if unsure.
584is killed, the references will be freed. 527is killed, the references will be freed.
585 528
586Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 529Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
587 530
588This 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
589want to free them when the port gets killed: 532want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
590 533
591 $port->rcv (start => sub { 534 $port->rcv (start => sub {
592 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 535 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
593 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 536 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
594 }); 537 });
595 }); 538 });
596 539
597=cut 540=cut
606 549
607=item kil $port[, @reason] 550=item kil $port[, @reason]
608 551
609Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 552Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
610 553
611If 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
612ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 555monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
556"normally").
613 557
614Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 558Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
615C<mon>, see below). 559C<mon>, see above).
616 560
617Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 561Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
618will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 562will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
619 563
620Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 564Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
625=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 569=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
626 570
627Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 571Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
628case it's the node where that port resides). 572case it's the node where that port resides).
629 573
630The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 574The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
631permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 575possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
632 576
633After the port has been created, the init function is 577After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
634called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 578node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
635(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main 579fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
636program, use C<::name>. 580specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
637 581
638If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 582If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
639the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 583the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
640C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 584C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
641exists or it runs out of package names. 585exists or it runs out of package names.
642 586
643The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 587The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
644object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 588object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
645 589
646A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 590A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
647in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 591port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
648ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 592local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
593when there is a problem.
649 594
650Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 595Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
651 596
652 # this node, executed from within a port context: 597 # this node, executed from within a port context:
653 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 598 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
683 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 628 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
684 629
685 $_[0] =~ /::/ 630 $_[0] =~ /::/
686 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 631 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
687 632
688 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 633 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
689 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
690 634
691 "$noderef#$id" 635 "$noderef#$id"
692} 636}
693 637
694=back 638=item after $timeout, @msg
695 639
696=head1 NODE MESSAGES 640=item after $timeout, $callback
697 641
698Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 642Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
699arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 643specified number of seconds.
700message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
701the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
702 644
703While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 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.
704 648
705=over 4
706
707=cut 649=cut
708 650
709=item lookup => $name, @reply 651sub after($@) {
652 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
710 653
711Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 654 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
712 655 undef $t;
713=item devnull => ... 656 ref $action[0]
714 657 ? $action[0]()
715Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 658 : snd @action;
716 659 };
717=item relay => $port, @msg 660}
718
719Simply forwards the message to the given port.
720
721=item eval => $string[ @reply]
722
723Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
724form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
725
726Example: crash another node.
727
728 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
729
730=item time => @reply
731
732Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
733
734Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
735C<timereply> message.
736
737 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
738 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
739 661
740=back 662=back
741 663
742=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 664=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
743 665
753 675
754Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 676Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
755 677
756=over 4 678=over 4
757 679
758=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 680=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
759 681
760Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 682Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
761same 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
762convenience functionality. 684configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
763 685
764This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 686=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
765cost 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.
766 700
767=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 701=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
768 702
769Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 703Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
770needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 704needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
771purpose. 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.
772 708
773(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).
774 710
775=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 711=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
776 712
777Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 713Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
778sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 714so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
779background. 715connection establishment is handled in the background.
780 716
781=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 717=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
782 718
783Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 719Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
784without 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,
785and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 721and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
786 722
787AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 723AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
788holes in the message sequence. 724is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
789 725monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
790=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 726sequence.
791alive.
792
793In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
794linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
795still alive - and can receive messages.
796
797In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
798eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
799and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
800 727
801=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.
802 729
803In 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
804ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 731known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
805messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 732destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
806 733
807AEMP 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
808around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 735around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
809 736
810=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 737=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
811authentication and can use TLS. 738authentication and can use TLS.
812 739
813AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 740AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
814securely authenticate nodes. 741securely authenticate nodes.
815 742
816=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
817communications. 744communications.
818 745
819The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 746The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
820language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 747language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
821language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 748language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
749used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
822 750
823It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 751It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
824with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 752with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
825protocol simple. 753protocol simple.
826 754
827=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 755=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
828 756
829In 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
832Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 760Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
833on a per-process basis. 761on a per-process basis.
834 762
835=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 763=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
836 764
837Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 765Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
838as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 766same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
839 767
840In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 768In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
841that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 769that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
842on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 770on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
843the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 771remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
844more reliable. 772reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
845 773
846This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 774This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
847(hard to do in Erlang). 775(hard to do in Erlang).
848 776
849=back 777=back
850 778
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
851=head1 SEE ALSO 814=head1 SEE ALSO
852 815
853L<AnyEvent>. 816L<AnyEvent>.
854 817
855=head1 AUTHOR 818=head1 AUTHOR

Diff Legend

Removed lines
+ Added lines
< Changed lines
> Changed lines