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Revision 1.52 by root, Fri Aug 14 15:13:20 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; # -OR-
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19
20 # ports are message endpoints
21
22 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 26
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $somple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 31 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 34
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
27 51
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 53
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 55
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 60manual page.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
41 65
42=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
43 67
44=over 4 68=over 4
45 69
46=item port 70=item port
47 71
48A port is something you can send messages to with the C<snd> function, and 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49you can register C<rcv> handlers with. All C<rcv> handlers will receive 73
50messages they match, messages will not be queued. 74Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific
75messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages
76will not be queued.
51 77
52=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 78=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
53 79
54A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 80A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
55by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 81separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
82exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
83reference.
56 84
57=item node 85=item node
58 86
59A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 87A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node
60port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 88port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to
61among other things. 89create new ports, among other things.
62 90
63Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 91Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
64(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 92master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
65public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
66 93
67=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 94=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
68 95
69A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 96A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
70private and hidden nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 97private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
71node (for public nodes). 98node (for public nodes).
72 99
100This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
101TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
102
103Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
104addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
105
106Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
107resolve it.
108
73=back 109=back
74 110
75=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 111=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
76 112
77=over 4 113=over 4
78 114
79=cut 115=cut
80 116
81package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
82 118
83use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
84 120
85use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
86 122
87use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
88 124
89use AE (); 125use AE ();
90 126
91use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
92 128
93our $VERSION = '0.02'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
94our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
95 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
96 become_slave become_public 133 resolve_node initialise_node
97 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
98 port 135 port
99); 136);
100 137
101our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
102 139
106 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
107} 144}
108 145
109=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
110 147
111The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
112the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 149noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
113to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150C<initialise_node>.
114identifiers become invalid.
115 151
116=item $noderef = node_of $portid 152=item $noderef = node_of $port
117 153
118Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 154Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
155
156=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
157
158=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
159
160Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
161itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
162it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
163
164This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
165never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
166
167All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
168either resolved or unresolved.
169
170The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
171(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
172the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
173the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
174seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
175
176There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
177
178=over 4
179
180=item public nodes
181
182For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
183C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
184noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
185
186After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
187connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
188optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
189network.
190
191=item slave nodes
192
193When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
194is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
195node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
196their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
197
198At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
199directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
200will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
201first node it can successfully connect to.
202
203=back
204
205This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
206nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
207server.
208
209Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
210specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
211form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
212
213 initialise_node;
214
215Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
216C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
217
218 initialise_node "slave/";
219
220Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
221form is also often used for commandline clients.
222
223 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
224
225Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
226servers to become part of the network.
227
228 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
229
230Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
231
232 initialise_node 4041;
233
234Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
235
236 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
237
238=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
239
240Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
241abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
242reference.
243
244In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
245following forms are supported:
246
247=over 4
248
249=item the empty string
250
251An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
252specified.
253
254=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
255
256These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
257further resolved.
258
259=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
260
261These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
262looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
263specified.
264
265=back
119 266
120=item $SELF 267=item $SELF
121 268
122Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 269Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
123blocks. 270blocks.
126 273
127Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 274Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
128just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 275just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
129module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 276module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
130 277
131=item snd $portid, type => @data 278=item snd $port, type => @data
132 279
133=item snd $portid, @msg 280=item snd $port, @msg
134 281
135Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 282Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
136a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 283a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
137stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
138 284
139While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 285While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
140string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 286string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
141type etc.). 287type etc.).
142 288
143The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 289The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
144function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 290function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
145problems. 291problems.
148JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 294JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
149of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 295of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
150that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 296that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
151node, anything can be passed. 297node, anything can be passed.
152 298
153=item kil $portid[, @reason] 299=item $local_port = port
154 300
155Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 301Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
302no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
156 303
157If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 304=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
158ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
159 305
160Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 306Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
161C<mon>, see below). 307creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
162 308
163Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 309The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
164will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 310global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
311port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
312(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
165 313
166Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 314If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
167$message >>.
168 315
169=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 316 my $port = port {
170
171=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport
172
173=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg
174
175Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed.
176
177In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number
178of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
179"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
180C<eval> if unsure.
181
182In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff
183a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while
184under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason.
185
186In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>.
187
188Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
189
190 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
191
192Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
193
194 mon $port, $self;
195
196Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed.
197
198 mon $port, $self => "restart";
199
200=cut
201
202sub mon {
203 my ($noderef, $port, $cb) = ((split /#/, shift, 2), shift);
204
205 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
206
207 #TODO: ports must not be references
208 if (!ref $cb or "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $cb) {
209 if (@_) {
210 # send a kill info message
211 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 317 my @msg = @_;
212 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
213 } else {
214 # simply kill other port
215 my $port = $cb;
216 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
217 } 318 ...
319 kil $SELF;
218 } 320 };
219 321
220 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 322=cut
221 323
222 defined wantarray 324sub rcv($@);
223 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 325
326sub _kilme {
327 die "received message on port without callback";
224} 328}
225
226=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
227
228Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
229is killed, the references will be freed.
230
231Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
232
233This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
234want to free them when the port gets killed:
235
236 $port->rcv (start => sub {
237 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
238 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
239 });
240 });
241
242=cut
243
244sub mon_guard {
245 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
246
247 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
248}
249
250=item lnk $port1, $port2
251
252Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
253
254 mon $port1, $port2;
255 mon $port2, $port1;
256
257It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
258killed as well.
259
260=item $local_port = port
261
262Create a new local port object that supports message matching.
263
264=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
265
266Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
267pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
268
269The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
270callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
271will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
272
273The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
274be passed to the callback.
275
276If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
277
278 my $port; $port = miniport {
279 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
280 };
281
282=cut
283 329
284sub port(;&) { 330sub port(;&) {
285 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 331 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
286 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 332 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
287 333
288 if (@_) { 334 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
289 my $cb = shift;
290 $PORT{$id} = sub {
291 local $SELF = $port;
292 eval {
293 &$cb
294 and kil $id;
295 };
296 _self_die if $@;
297 };
298 } else {
299 my $self = bless {
300 id => "$NODE#$id",
301 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
302
303 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
304 $PORT{$id} = sub {
305 local $SELF = $port;
306
307 eval {
308 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
309 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
310 && undef $_;
311 }
312
313 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
314 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
315 && &{$_->[0]}
316 && undef $_;
317 }
318
319 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
320 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
321 && &{$_->[0]}
322 && undef $_;
323 }
324 };
325 _self_die if $@;
326 };
327 }
328 335
329 $port 336 $port
330} 337}
331 338
332=item reg $portid, $name 339=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
333 340
334Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 341Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
335exists it is replaced. 342remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
343C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
336 344
337A port can only be registered under one well known name.
338
339A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
340
341=cut
342
343sub reg(@) {
344 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
345
346 $REG{$name} = $portid;
347}
348
349=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
350
351=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
352
353=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
354
355Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
356
357The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
358which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
359registered.
360
361The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while 345The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
362executing the callback. 346executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
347result in the port being C<kil>ed.
363 348
364Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 349The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
365C<kil>ed. 350C<tag> match.
366 351
367If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 352=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
368first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
369matched.
370 353
371Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 354Register callbacks to be called on messages starting with the given tag on
372exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 355the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when C<$callback>
356is C<$undef>).
373 357
374While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 358The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
375element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 359element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
376also the most efficient match (by far). 360environment as the default callback (see above).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ... },
366 msg2 => sub { ... },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ... },
375 ...
376 ;
377 377
378=cut 378=cut
379 379
380sub rcv($@) { 380sub rcv($@) {
381 my $port = shift;
381 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 382 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
382 383
383 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 384 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
384 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 385 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
385
386 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
387 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
388
389 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
390 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
391 386
392 while (@_) { 387 while (@_) {
393 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
394
395 if (!ref $match) { 388 if (ref $_[0]) {
396 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 389 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
397 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 390 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
398 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 391 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
399 @match 392
400 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 393 $self->[2] = shift;
401 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
402 } else { 394 } else {
403 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 395 my $cb = shift;
396 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
397 local $SELF = $port;
398 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
399 };
400 }
401 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
402 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
403 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
404
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port;
407
408 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
409 shift;
410 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
411 } else {
412 &{ $self->[0] };
413 }
414 };
415
416 $self
417 };
418
419 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
420 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
421
422 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
423
424 if (defined $cb) {
425 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
426 } else {
427 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
428 }
404 } 429 }
405 } 430 }
431
432 $port
406} 433}
407 434
408=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 435=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
409 436
410Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 437Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
441 $res 468 $res
442 } 469 }
443 } 470 }
444} 471}
445 472
446=back 473=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
447 474
448=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 475=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
449 476
450=over 4 477=item $guard = mon $port
451 478
452=item become_public endpoint... 479=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
453 480
454Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 481Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
482messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
483to stop monitoring again.
455 484
456If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 485C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
457AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 486that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
458local nodename resolves to. 487will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
488message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
489(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
490port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
491delivered again.
459 492
460Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 493In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
461endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 494number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
462local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 495"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
463will become the node reference. 496C<eval> if unsure.
464 497
498In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
499will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
500"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
501port is killed with the same reason.
502
503The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
504C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
505
506In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
507C<snd>.
508
509As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
510a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
511lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
512even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
513to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
514these problems do not exist.
515
516Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
517
518 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
519
520Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
521
522 mon $port;
523
524Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
525
526 mon $port, $self => "restart";
527
465=cut 528=cut
529
530sub mon {
531 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
532
533 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
534
535 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
536
537 unless (ref $cb) {
538 if (@_) {
539 # send a kill info message
540 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
541 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
542 } else {
543 # simply kill other port
544 my $port = $cb;
545 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
546 }
547 }
548
549 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
550
551 defined wantarray
552 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
553}
554
555=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
556
557Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
558is killed, the references will be freed.
559
560Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
561
562This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
563want to free them when the port gets killed:
564
565 $port->rcv (start => sub {
566 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
567 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
568 });
569 });
570
571=cut
572
573sub mon_guard {
574 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
575
576 #TODO: mon-less form?
577
578 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
579}
580
581=item kil $port[, @reason]
582
583Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
584
585If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
586ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
587
588Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
589C<mon>, see below).
590
591Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
592will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
593
594Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
595$message >>.
596
597=cut
598
599=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
600
601Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
602case it's the node where that port resides).
603
604The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
605permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
606
607After the port has been created, the init function is
608called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
609(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
610program, use C<::name>.
611
612If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
613the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
614C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
615exists or it runs out of package names.
616
617The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
618object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
619
620A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
621in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
622ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
623
624Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
625
626 # this node, executed from within a port context:
627 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
628 mon $server;
629
630 # init function on C<$othernode>
631 sub connect {
632 my ($srcport) = @_;
633
634 mon $srcport;
635
636 rcv $SELF, sub {
637 ...
638 };
639 }
640
641=cut
642
643sub _spawn {
644 my $port = shift;
645 my $init = shift;
646
647 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
648 eval {
649 &{ load_func $init }
650 };
651 _self_die if $@;
652}
653
654sub spawn(@) {
655 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
656
657 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
658
659 $_[0] =~ /::/
660 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
661
662 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
663 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
664
665 "$noderef#$id"
666}
466 667
467=back 668=back
468 669
469=head1 NODE MESSAGES 670=head1 NODE MESSAGES
470 671
471Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 672Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
472arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 673arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
473message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 674message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
474the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 675the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
475 676
677While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
678
476=over 4 679=over 4
477 680
478=cut 681=cut
479 682
480=item lookup => $name, @reply 683=item lookup => $name, @reply
508 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 711 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
509 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 712 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
510 713
511=back 714=back
512 715
716=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
717
718AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
719== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
720programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
721sample:
722
723 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
724 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
725 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
726 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
727
728Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
729
730=over 4
731
732=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
733
734Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
735same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
736convenience functionality.
737
738This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
739cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
740
741=item Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
742uses "local ports are like remote ports".
743
744The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
745only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
746when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
747port.
748
749Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
750they are not.
751
752AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
753ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
754occur.
755
756=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
757
758Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
759needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
760useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
761AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
762filter messages without dequeing them.
763
764(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
765
766=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
767
768Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
769so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
770connection establishment is handled in the background.
771
772=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
773
774Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
775without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
776and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
777
778AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
779holes in the message sequence.
780
781=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
782alive.
783
784In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
785linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
786still alive - and can receive messages.
787
788In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
789eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
790and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
791
792=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
793
794In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
795known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
796destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
797
798AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
799around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
800
801=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
802authentication and can use TLS.
803
804AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
805securely authenticate nodes.
806
807=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
808communications.
809
810The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
811language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
812language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
813
814It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
815with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
816protocol simple.
817
818=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
819
820In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
821or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
822difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
823Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
824on a per-process basis.
825
826=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
827
828Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
829as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
830
831In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
832that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
833on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
834the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
835more reliable.
836
837This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
838(hard to do in Erlang).
839
840=back
841
842=head1 RATIONALE
843
844=over 4
845
846=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
847
848We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
849thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
850the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
851overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
852
853Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
854procedures to be "valid".
855
856And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
857can't become much cheaper.
858
859=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
860
861In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
862format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
863default.
864
865The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
866faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
867experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
868than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
869easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
870always have to re-think your design.
871
872Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
873objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
874
875=back
876
513=head1 SEE ALSO 877=head1 SEE ALSO
514 878
515L<AnyEvent>. 879L<AnyEvent>.
516 880
517=head1 AUTHOR 881=head1 AUTHOR

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