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Revision 1.62 by root, Thu Aug 27 07:12:48 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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). 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 73
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
52will not be queued.
53 76
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 78
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 82reference.
60 83
61=item node 84=item node
62 85
63A 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,
64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 88ports.
66 89
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 91public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
92from any other node).
69 93
70=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>
71 95
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 96A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
73private and slave 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
90 114
91=cut 115=cut
92 116
93package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
94 118
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 120
97use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
98 122
99use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
100 124
101use AE (); 125use AE ();
102 126
103use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
104 128
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
130
106our @EXPORT = qw( 131our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 133 resolve_node initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 134 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 135 port
111); 136);
112 137
113our $SELF; 138our $SELF;
114 139
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 144}
120 145
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 147
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
124the 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
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 150C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 151
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 152=item $noderef = node_of $port
129 153
130Extracts 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.
187
188=item slave nodes
189
190When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
191is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
192node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside, and cannot talk to
193each other (at least in this version of AnyEvent::MP).
194
195Slave nodes work by creating connections to all public nodes, using the
196L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> service.
197
198=back
199
200After initialising itself, the node will connect to all additional
201C<$seednodes> that are specified diretcly or via a profile. Seednodes are
202optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
203network.
204
205All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
206connecting to them indefinitely, so make sure that seednodes are really
207reliable and up (this might also change in the future).
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 public node, and try to contact some well-known master
221servers to become part of the network.
222
223 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
224
225Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
226
227 initialise_node 4041;
228
229Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
230
231 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
131 232
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 233=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
133 234
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 235Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 236abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
167 268
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 269Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 270just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 271module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 272
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 273=item snd $port, type => @data
173 274
174=item snd $portid, @msg 275=item snd $port, @msg
175 276
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 277Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 278a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 279
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 280While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 281string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
182type etc.). 282type etc.).
183 283
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 284The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 285function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
186problems. 286problems.
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 289JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 290of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 291that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 292node, anything can be passed.
193 293
194=item kil $portid[, @reason] 294=item $local_port = port
195 295
196Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 296Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
297no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
197 298
198If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 299=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
199ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
200 300
201Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 301Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
202C<mon>, see below). 302creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
203 303
204Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 304The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
205will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 305global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
306port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
307(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
206 308
207Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 309If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
208$message >>.
209 310
311 my $port = port {
312 my @msg = @_;
313 ...
314 kil $SELF;
315 };
316
317=cut
318
319sub rcv($@);
320
321sub _kilme {
322 die "received message on port without callback";
323}
324
325sub port(;&) {
326 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
327 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
328
329 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
330
331 $port
332}
333
334=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
335
336Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
337remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
338C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
339
340The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
341executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
342result in the port being C<kil>ed.
343
344The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
345C<tag> match.
346
347=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
348
349Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
350given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
351C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
352registered for each tag.
353
354The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
355element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
356environment as the default callback (see above).
357
358Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
359
360 my $port = rcv port,
361 msg1 => sub { ... },
362 msg2 => sub { ... },
363 ;
364
365Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
366in one go:
367
368 snd $otherport, reply =>
369 rcv port,
370 msg1 => sub { ... },
371 ...
372 ;
373
374Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
375(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
376
377 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
378 my @reply = @_;
379
380 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
381 };
382
383=cut
384
385sub rcv($@) {
386 my $port = shift;
387 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
388
389 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
390 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
391
392 while (@_) {
393 if (ref $_[0]) {
394 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
395 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
396 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
397
398 $self->[2] = shift;
399 } else {
400 my $cb = shift;
401 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
402 local $SELF = $port;
403 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
404 };
405 }
406 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
407 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
408 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
409
410 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
411 local $SELF = $port;
412
413 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
414 shift;
415 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
416 } else {
417 &{ $self->[0] };
418 }
419 };
420
421 $self
422 };
423
424 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
425 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
426
427 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
428
429 if (defined $cb) {
430 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
431 } else {
432 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
433 }
434 }
435 }
436
437 $port
438}
439
440=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
441
442Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
443closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
444callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
445
446This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
447
448 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
449 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
450 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
451 snd @reply, $SELF;
452 };
453 };
454
455=cut
456
457sub psub(&) {
458 my $cb = shift;
459
460 my $port = $SELF
461 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
462
463 sub {
464 local $SELF = $port;
465
466 if (wantarray) {
467 my @res = eval { &$cb };
468 _self_die if $@;
469 @res
470 } else {
471 my $res = eval { &$cb };
472 _self_die if $@;
473 $res
474 }
475 }
476}
477
210=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 478=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
211 479
212=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 480=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
213 481
482=item $guard = mon $port
483
214=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
215 485
216Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 486Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
487messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
488to stop monitoring again.
217 489
490C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
491that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
492will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
493message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
494(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
495port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
496delivered again.
497
498Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
499and will not trigger again.
500
218In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 501In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
219of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 502number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
220"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 503"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
221C<eval> if unsure. 504C<eval> if unsure.
222 505
223In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 506In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
224a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 507will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
225under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 508"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
509port is killed with the same reason.
226 510
511The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
512C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
513
227In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 514In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
515C<snd>.
516
517As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
518a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
519lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
520even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
521to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
522these problems do not exist.
228 523
229Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 524Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
230 525
231 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 526 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
232 527
233Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 528Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
234 529
235 mon $port, $self; 530 mon $port;
236 531
237Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 532Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
238 533
239 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 534 mon $port, $self => "restart";
240 535
241=cut 536=cut
242 537
243sub mon { 538sub mon {
244 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 539 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
245 540
246 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 541 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
247 542
248 my $cb = shift; 543 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
249 544
250 unless (ref $cb) { 545 unless (ref $cb) {
251 if (@_) { 546 if (@_) {
252 # send a kill info message 547 # send a kill info message
253 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 548 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
284=cut 579=cut
285 580
286sub mon_guard { 581sub mon_guard {
287 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 582 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
288 583
584 #TODO: mon-less form?
585
289 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 586 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
290} 587}
291 588
292=item lnk $port1, $port2 589=item kil $port[, @reason]
293 590
294Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 591Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
295 592
296 mon $port1, $port2; 593If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
297 mon $port2, $port1; 594ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
298 595
299It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 596Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
300killed as well. 597C<mon>, see below).
301 598
302=item $local_port = port 599Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
600will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
303 601
304Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 602Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
305matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 603$message >>.
306depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
307 604
308=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
309
310Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
311pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
312
313The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
314callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
315will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
316
317The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
318be passed to the callback.
319
320If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
321
322 my $port; $port = port {
323 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
324 };
325
326=cut 605=cut
327 606
328sub port(;&) { 607=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
329 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
330 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
331 608
332 if (@_) { 609Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
333 my $cb = shift; 610case it's the node where that port resides).
334 $PORT{$id} = sub { 611
335 local $SELF = $port; 612The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
336 eval { 613permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
337 &$cb 614
338 and kil $id; 615After the port has been created, the init function is
616called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
617(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
618program, use C<::name>.
619
620If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
621the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
622C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
623exists or it runs out of package names.
624
625The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
626object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
627
628A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
629in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
630ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
631
632Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
633
634 # this node, executed from within a port context:
635 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
636 mon $server;
637
638 # init function on C<$othernode>
639 sub connect {
640 my ($srcport) = @_;
641
642 mon $srcport;
643
644 rcv $SELF, sub {
339 }; 645 ...
340 _self_die if $@;
341 };
342 } else {
343 my $self = bless {
344 id => "$NODE#$id",
345 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
346
347 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
348 $PORT{$id} = sub {
349 local $SELF = $port;
350
351 eval {
352 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
353 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
354 && undef $_;
355 }
356
357 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
358 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
359 && &{$_->[0]}
360 && undef $_;
361 }
362
363 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
364 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
365 && &{$_->[0]}
366 && undef $_;
367 }
368 };
369 _self_die if $@;
370 }; 646 };
371 } 647 }
372 648
373 $port
374}
375
376=item reg $portid, $name
377
378Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
379exists it is replaced.
380
381A port can only be registered under one well known name.
382
383A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
384
385=cut 649=cut
386 650
387sub reg(@) { 651sub _spawn {
388 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
389
390 $REG{$name} = $portid;
391}
392
393=item rcv $portid, $callback->(@msg)
394
395Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (or newly created port
396object, see C<port>). Full ports are configured with the following calls:
397
398=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
399
400=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
401
402=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
403
404Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
405
406The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
407which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
408registered.
409
410The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
411executing the callback.
412
413Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
414C<kil>ed.
415
416If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
417first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
418matched.
419
420Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
421exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
422
423While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
424element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
425also the most efficient match (by far).
426
427=cut
428
429sub rcv($@) {
430 my $portid = shift; 652 my $port = shift;
431 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2; 653 my $init = shift;
432 654
433 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 655 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
434 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 656 eval {
435 657 &{ load_func $init }
436 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
437 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
438
439 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
440 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
441
442 while (@_) {
443 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
444
445 if (!ref $match) {
446 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$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 {
453 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
454 }
455 }
456
457 $portid
458}
459
460=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
461
462Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
463closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
464callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
465
466This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
467
468 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
469 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
470 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
471 snd @reply, $SELF;
472 };
473 }; 658 };
474
475=cut
476
477sub psub(&) {
478 my $cb = shift;
479
480 my $port = $SELF
481 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
482
483 sub {
484 local $SELF = $port;
485
486 if (wantarray) {
487 my @res = eval { &$cb };
488 _self_die if $@; 659 _self_die if $@;
489 @res 660}
490 } else { 661
491 my $res = eval { &$cb }; 662sub spawn(@) {
492 _self_die if $@; 663 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
493 $res 664
494 } 665 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
666
667 $_[0] =~ /::/
668 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
669
670 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
671
672 "$noderef#$id"
673}
674
675=item after $timeout, @msg
676
677=item after $timeout, $callback
678
679Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
680specified number of seconds.
681
682This is simply a utility function that come sin handy at times.
683
684=cut
685
686sub after($@) {
687 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
688
689 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
690 undef $t;
691 ref $action[0]
692 ? $action[0]()
693 : snd @action;
495 } 694 };
496} 695}
497 696
498=back 697=back
499 698
500=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
501
502=over 4
503
504=item become_public $noderef
505
506Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
507
508The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
509(if missing then the empty string is used).
510
511It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
512tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
513which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
514
515=cut
516
517=back
518
519=head1 NODE MESSAGES
520
521Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
522arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
523message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
524the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
525
526While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
527
528=over 4
529
530=cut
531
532=item lookup => $name, @reply
533
534Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
535
536=item devnull => ...
537
538Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
539
540=item relay => $port, @msg
541
542Simply forwards the message to the given port.
543
544=item eval => $string[ @reply]
545
546Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
547form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
548
549Example: crash another node.
550
551 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
552
553=item time => @reply
554
555Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
556
557Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
558C<timereply> message.
559
560 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
561 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
562
563=back
564
565=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 699=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
566 700
567AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 701AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
568== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 702== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
569programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 703programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
570sample: 704sample:
571 705
572 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 706 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
573 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 707 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
574 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 708 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
575 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 709 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
576 710
577Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 711Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
578 712
579=over 4 713=over 4
580 714
585convenience functionality. 719convenience functionality.
586 720
587This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 721This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
588cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 722cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
589 723
724=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
725uses "local ports are like remote ports".
726
727The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
728only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
729when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
730port.
731
732Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
733they are not.
734
735AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
736ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
737occur.
738
590=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 739=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
591 740
592Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 741Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
593needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 742needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
594purpose. 743useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
744AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
745filter messages without dequeing them.
595 746
596(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 747(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
597 748
598=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 749=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
599 750
600Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 751Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
601sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 752so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
602background. 753connection establishment is handled in the background.
603 754
604=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 755=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
605 756
606Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 757Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
607without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 758without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
608and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 759and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
609 760
610AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 761AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
611holes in the message sequence. 762holes in the message sequence.
612 763
613=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 764=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
614alive. 765alive.
615 766
616In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 767In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
617linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 768linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
618still alive - and can receive messages. 769still alive - and can receive messages.
619 770
620In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 771In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
621eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 772eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
622and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 773and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
623 774
624=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 775=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
625 776
626In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 777In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
627ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 778known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
628messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 779destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
629 780
630AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 781AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
631around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 782around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
632 783
633=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 784=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
637securely authenticate nodes. 788securely authenticate nodes.
638 789
639=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 790=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
640communications. 791communications.
641 792
642The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 793The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
643language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 794language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
644language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 795language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
645 796
646It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 797It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
647with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 798with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
648protocol simple. 799protocol simple.
649 800
801=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
802
803In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
804or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
805difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
806Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
807on a per-process basis.
808
809=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
810
811Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
812as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
813
814In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
815that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
816on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
817the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
818more reliable.
819
820This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
821(hard to do in Erlang).
822
823=back
824
825=head1 RATIONALE
826
827=over 4
828
829=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
830
831We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
832thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
833the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
834overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
835
836Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
837procedures to be "valid".
838
839And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
840can't become much cheaper.
841
842=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
843
844In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
845format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
846default.
847
848The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
849faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
850experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
851than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
852easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
853always have to re-think your design.
854
855Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
856objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
857
650=back 858=back
651 859
652=head1 SEE ALSO 860=head1 SEE ALSO
653 861
654L<AnyEvent>. 862L<AnyEvent>.

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