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Revision 1.55 by root, Fri Aug 14 23:17:17 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 $simple_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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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
74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
50messages they match, messages will not be queued. 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
51 76
52=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
53 78
54A port id is always the noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as separator, followed 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
55by a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
82reference.
56 83
57=item node 84=item node
58 85
59A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 86A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
60port. You can send messages to node ports to let them create new ports, 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
61among other things. 88ports.
62 89
63Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
64(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
65public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes.
66 92
67=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 93=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
68 94
69A noderef is a string that either uniquely identifies a given node (for 95A 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 96private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
71node (for public nodes). 97node (for public nodes).
72 98
99This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
100TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
101
102Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical
103addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses).
104
105Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to
106resolve it.
107
73=back 108=back
74 109
75=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 110=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
76 111
77=over 4 112=over 4
78 113
79=cut 114=cut
80 115
81package AnyEvent::MP; 116package AnyEvent::MP;
82 117
83use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
84 119
85use common::sense; 120use common::sense;
86 121
87use Carp (); 122use Carp ();
88 123
89use AE (); 124use AE ();
90 125
91use base "Exporter"; 126use base "Exporter";
92 127
93our $VERSION = '0.1'; 128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
129
94our @EXPORT = qw( 130our @EXPORT = qw(
95 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
96 become_slave become_public 132 resolve_node initialise_node
97 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
98 port 134 port
99); 135);
100 136
101our $SELF; 137our $SELF;
102 138
106 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 142 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
107} 143}
108 144
109=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
110 146
111The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
112the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 148noderef 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 149C<initialise_node>.
114identifiers become invalid.
115 150
116=item $noderef = node_of $portid 151=item $noderef = node_of $port
117 152
118Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 153Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
154
155=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
156
157=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
158
159Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
160itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
161it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
162
163This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
164never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
165
166All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
167either resolved or unresolved.
168
169The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
170(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
171the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
172the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
173seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
174
175There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
176
177=over 4
178
179=item public nodes
180
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
182C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
183noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
184
185After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
186connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
187optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
188network.
189
190=item slave nodes
191
192When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
193is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
194node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
195their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
196
197At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
198directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
199will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
200first node it can successfully connect to.
201
202=back
203
204This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
205nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
206server.
207
208Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
209specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
210form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
211
212 initialise_node;
213
214Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
215C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
216
217 initialise_node "slave/";
218
219Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
220form is also often used for commandline clients.
221
222 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
223
224Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
225servers to become part of the network.
226
227 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
228
229Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
230
231 initialise_node 4041;
232
233Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
234
235 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
236
237=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
238
239Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
240abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
241reference.
242
243In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
244following forms are supported:
245
246=over 4
247
248=item the empty string
249
250An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
251specified.
252
253=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
254
255These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
256further resolved.
257
258=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
259
260These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
261looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
262specified.
263
264=back
119 265
120=item $SELF 266=item $SELF
121 267
122Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 268Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
123blocks. 269blocks.
126 272
127Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 273Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
128just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 274just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
129module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 275module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
130 276
131=item snd $portid, type => @data 277=item snd $port, type => @data
132 278
133=item snd $portid, @msg 279=item snd $port, @msg
134 280
135Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 281Send 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 282a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
137stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
138 283
139While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 284While 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 285string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
141type etc.). 286type etc.).
142 287
143The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 288The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
144function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 289function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
145problems. 290problems.
148JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 293JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
149of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 294of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
150that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 295that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
151node, anything can be passed. 296node, anything can be passed.
152 297
153=item kil $portid[, @reason] 298=item $local_port = port
154 299
155Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 300Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
301no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
156 302
157If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 303=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
158ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
159 304
160Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 305Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
161C<mon>, see below). 306creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
162 307
163Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 308The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
164will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 309global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
310port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
311(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
165 312
166Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 313If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
167$message >>.
168 314
169=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 315 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, @_); 316 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 } 317 ...
318 kil $SELF;
218 } 319 };
219 320
220 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 321=cut
221 322
222 defined wantarray 323sub rcv($@);
223 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 324
325sub _kilme {
326 die "received message on port without callback";
224} 327}
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
283 328
284sub port(;&) { 329sub port(;&) {
285 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 330 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
286 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 331 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
287 332
288 if (@_) { 333 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 }
328 334
329 $port 335 $port
330} 336}
331 337
332=item reg $portid, $name 338=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
333 339
334Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 340Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
335exists it is replaced. 341remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
342C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
336 343
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<$portid> while 344The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
362executing the callback. 345executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
346result in the port being C<kil>ed.
363 347
364Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 348The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
365C<kil>ed. 349C<tag> match.
366 350
367If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 351=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
368first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
369matched.
370 352
371Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 353Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
372exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 354given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
355C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
356registered for each tag.
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
378Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
379(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
380
381 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
382 my @reply = @_;
383
384 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
385 };
377 386
378=cut 387=cut
379 388
380sub rcv($@) { 389sub rcv($@) {
390 my $port = shift;
381 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 391 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
382 392
383 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 393 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
384 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 394 or Carp::croak "$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#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
391 395
392 while (@_) { 396 while (@_) {
393 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
394
395 if (!ref $match) { 397 if (ref $_[0]) {
396 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 398 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
397 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) { 399 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
398 my ($type, @match) = @$match; 400 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
399 @match 401
400 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match] 402 $self->[2] = shift;
401 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
402 } else { 403 } else {
403 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 404 my $cb = shift;
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port;
407 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 };
409 }
410 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
411 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
412 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
413
414 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
415 local $SELF = $port;
416
417 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
418 shift;
419 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
420 } else {
421 &{ $self->[0] };
422 }
423 };
424
425 $self
426 };
427
428 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
429 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430
431 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
432
433 if (defined $cb) {
434 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
435 } else {
436 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
437 }
404 } 438 }
405 } 439 }
440
441 $port
406} 442}
407 443
408=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 444=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
409 445
410Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 446Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
441 $res 477 $res
442 } 478 }
443 } 479 }
444} 480}
445 481
446=back 482=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
447 483
448=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
449 485
450=over 4 486=item $guard = mon $port
451 487
452=item become_public endpoint... 488=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
453 489
454Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes. 490Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
491messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
492to stop monitoring again.
455 493
456If no arguments are given, or the first argument is C<undef>, then 494C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
457AnyEvent::MP tries to bind on port C<4040> on all IP addresses that the 495that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
458local nodename resolves to. 496will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
497message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
498(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
499port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
500delivered again.
459 501
460Otherwise the first argument must be an array-reference with transport 502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
461endpoints ("ip:port", "hostname:port") or port numbers (in which case the 503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
462local nodename is used as hostname). The endpoints are all resolved and 504"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
463will become the node reference. 505C<eval> if unsure.
464 506
507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
508will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
510port is killed with the same reason.
511
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514
515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>.
517
518As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
519a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
520lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
521even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
522to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
523these problems do not exist.
524
525Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
526
527 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
528
529Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
530
531 mon $port;
532
533Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
534
535 mon $port, $self => "restart";
536
465=cut 537=cut
538
539sub mon {
540 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
541
542 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
543
544 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
545
546 unless (ref $cb) {
547 if (@_) {
548 # send a kill info message
549 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
550 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
551 } else {
552 # simply kill other port
553 my $port = $cb;
554 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
555 }
556 }
557
558 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
559
560 defined wantarray
561 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
562}
563
564=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
565
566Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
567is killed, the references will be freed.
568
569Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
570
571This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
572want to free them when the port gets killed:
573
574 $port->rcv (start => sub {
575 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
576 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
577 });
578 });
579
580=cut
581
582sub mon_guard {
583 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
584
585 #TODO: mon-less form?
586
587 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
588}
589
590=item kil $port[, @reason]
591
592Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
593
594If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
595ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
596
597Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
598C<mon>, see below).
599
600Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
601will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
602
603Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
604$message >>.
605
606=cut
607
608=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
609
610Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
611case it's the node where that port resides).
612
613The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
614permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
615
616After the port has been created, the init function is
617called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
618(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
619program, use C<::name>.
620
621If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
622the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
623C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
624exists or it runs out of package names.
625
626The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
627object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
628
629A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
630in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
631ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
632
633Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
634
635 # this node, executed from within a port context:
636 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
637 mon $server;
638
639 # init function on C<$othernode>
640 sub connect {
641 my ($srcport) = @_;
642
643 mon $srcport;
644
645 rcv $SELF, sub {
646 ...
647 };
648 }
649
650=cut
651
652sub _spawn {
653 my $port = shift;
654 my $init = shift;
655
656 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
657 eval {
658 &{ load_func $init }
659 };
660 _self_die if $@;
661}
662
663sub spawn(@) {
664 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
665
666 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
667
668 $_[0] =~ /::/
669 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
670
671 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
672
673 "$noderef#$id"
674}
466 675
467=back 676=back
468 677
469=head1 NODE MESSAGES 678=head1 NODE MESSAGES
470 679
471Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 680Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
472arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 681arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
473message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 682message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
474the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 683the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
475 684
685While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
686
476=over 4 687=over 4
477 688
478=cut 689=cut
479 690
480=item lookup => $name, @reply 691=item lookup => $name, @reply
510 721
511=back 722=back
512 723
513=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 724=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
514 725
515AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang. Despite the 726AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
516similarities (erlang node == aemp node, erlang process == aemp port and so 727== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
728programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
729sample:
730
731 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
732 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
733 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
734 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
735
517on), there are also some important differences: 736Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
518 737
519=over 4 738=over 4
520 739
521=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 740=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
522 741
523Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 742Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
524same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 743same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
525convenience functionality. 744convenience functionality.
526 745
746This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
747cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
748
749=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
750uses "local ports are like remote ports".
751
752The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
753only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
754when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
755port.
756
757Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
758they are not.
759
760AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
761ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
762occur.
763
527=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 764=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
528 765
529Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 766Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
530needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 767needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
531purpose. 768useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
769AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
770filter messages without dequeing them.
532 771
533(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 772(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
534 773
535=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 774=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
536 775
537Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 776Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
538sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 777so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
539background. 778connection establishment is handled in the background.
540 779
541=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 780=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
542 781
543Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 782Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
544without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 783without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
545and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 784and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
546 785
547AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 786AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
548holes in the message sequence. 787holes in the message sequence.
549 788
550=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 789=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
551alive. 790alive.
552 791
553In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 792In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
554linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 793linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
555still alive - and can receive messages. 794still alive - and can receive messages.
556 795
557In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 796In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
558eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 797eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
559and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 798and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
560 799
561=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 800=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
562 801
563In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 802In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
564ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 803known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
565messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 804destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
566 805
567AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 806AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
568around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 807around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
569 808
570=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 809=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
571authentication and can use TLS. 810authentication and can use TLS.
572 811
573AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 812AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
574securely authenticate nodes. 813securely authenticate nodes.
575 814
815=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
816communications.
817
818The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
819language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
820language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
821
822It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
823with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
824protocol simple.
825
826=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
827
828In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
829or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
830difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
831Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
832on a per-process basis.
833
834=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
835
836Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
837as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
838
839In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
840that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
841on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
842the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
843more reliable.
844
845This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
846(hard to do in Erlang).
847
848=back
849
850=head1 RATIONALE
851
852=over 4
853
854=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
855
856We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
857thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
858the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
859overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
860
861Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
862procedures to be "valid".
863
864And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
865can't become much cheaper.
866
867=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
868
869In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
870format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
871default.
872
873The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
874faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
875experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
876than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
877easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
878always have to re-think your design.
879
880Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
881objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
882
576=back 883=back
577 884
578=head1 SEE ALSO 885=head1 SEE ALSO
579 886
580L<AnyEvent>. 887L<AnyEvent>.

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