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Revision 1.5 by root, Sat Aug 1 07:44:02 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.62 by root, Thu Aug 27 07:12:48 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 NODE # returns this node identifier
10 $NODE # contains this node identifier 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
11 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
12 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
13 26
14 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
15 29
16 # examples: 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port;
17 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
18 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
19 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
20 34
21 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
22 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
23 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46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated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.
24 51
25=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
26 53
27This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
28 55
29Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
30on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts.
31 58
59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
60manual page.
61
62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
64stay tuned!
65
32=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
33 67
34=over 4 68=over 4
35 69
36=item port 70=item port
37 71
38A 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).
39you 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
40messages they match, messages will not be queued. 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
41 76
42=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
43 78
44A 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
45by 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.
46 83
47=item node 84=item node
48 85
49A 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,
50port. 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
51among other things. 88ports.
52 89
53Initially, nodes are either private (single-process only) or hidden 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
54(connected to a master node only). Only when they epxlicitly "become 91public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
55public" can you send them messages from unrelated other nodes. 92from any other node).
56 93
57=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>
58 95
59A 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
60private 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
61node (for public nodes). 98node (for public nodes).
62 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
63=back 109=back
64 110
65=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 111=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
66 112
67=over 4 113=over 4
68 114
69=cut 115=cut
70 116
71package AnyEvent::MP; 117package AnyEvent::MP;
72 118
73use AnyEvent::MP::Util ();
74use AnyEvent::MP::Node; 119use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
75use AnyEvent::MP::Transport;
76 120
77use utf8;
78use common::sense; 121use common::sense;
79 122
80use Carp (); 123use Carp ();
81 124
82use AE (); 125use AE ();
83 126
84use base "Exporter"; 127use base "Exporter";
85 128
86our $VERSION = '0.0'; 129our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
87our @EXPORT = qw(NODE $NODE $PORT snd rcv _any_);
88 130
89our $DEFAULT_SECRET; 131our @EXPORT = qw(
90our $DEFAULT_PORT = "4040"; 132 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
133 resolve_node initialise_node
134 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
135 port
136);
91 137
92our $CONNECT_INTERVAL = 5; # new connect every 5s, at least 138our $SELF;
93our $CONNECT_TIMEOUT = 30; # includes handshake
94 139
95sub default_secret { 140sub _self_die() {
96 unless (defined $DEFAULT_SECRET) { 141 my $msg = $@;
97 if (open my $fh, "<$ENV{HOME}/.aemp-secret") { 142 $msg =~ s/\n+$// unless ref $msg;
98 sysread $fh, $DEFAULT_SECRET, -s $fh; 143 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
99 } else {
100 $DEFAULT_SECRET = AnyEvent::MP::Util::nonce 32;
101 }
102 }
103
104 $DEFAULT_SECRET
105} 144}
106 145
107=item NODE / $NODE 146=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
108 147
109The C<NODE ()> function and the C<$NODE> variable contain the noderef of 148The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
110the local node. The value is initialised by a call to C<become_public> or 149noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
111C<become_slave>, after which all local port identifiers become invalid. 150C<initialise_node>.
112 151
113=cut 152=item $noderef = node_of $port
114 153
115our $UNIQ = sprintf "%x.%x", $$, time; # per-process/node unique cookie 154Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
116our $PUBLIC = 0;
117our $NODE;
118our $PORT;
119 155
120our %NODE; # node id to transport mapping, or "undef", for local node 156=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
121our %PORT; # local ports
122our %LISTENER; # local transports
123 157
124sub NODE() { $NODE } 158=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
125 159
126{ 160Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
127 use POSIX (); 161itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
128 my $nodename = (POSIX::uname)[1]; 162it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
129 $NODE = "$$\@$nodename";
130}
131 163
132sub _ANY_() { 1 } 164This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
133sub _any_() { \&_ANY_ } 165never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
134 166
135sub add_node { 167All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
136 my ($noderef) = @_; 168either resolved or unresolved.
137 169
138 return $NODE{$noderef} 170The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
139 if exists $NODE{$noderef}; 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.
140 175
141 for (split /,/, $noderef) { 176There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
142 return $NODE{$noderef} = $NODE{$_}
143 if exists $NODE{$_};
144 }
145 177
146 # for indirect sends, use a different class 178=over 4
147 my $node = new AnyEvent::MP::Node::Direct $noderef;
148 179
149 $NODE{$_} = $node 180=item public nodes
150 for $noderef, split /,/, $noderef;
151 181
152 $node 182For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
153} 183C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
184noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
154 185
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";
232
233=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
234
235Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
236abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
237reference.
238
239In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
240following forms are supported:
241
242=over 4
243
244=item the empty string
245
246An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
247specified.
248
249=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
250
251These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
252further resolved.
253
254=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
255
256These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
257looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
258specified.
259
260=back
261
262=item $SELF
263
264Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
265blocks.
266
267=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
268
269Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
270just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
271module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
272
155=item snd $portid, type => @data 273=item snd $port, type => @data
156 274
157=item snd $portid, @msg 275=item snd $port, @msg
158 276
159Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either a 277Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
160local or a remote port. 278a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
161 279
162While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use 280While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
163a constant string as first element. 281string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
282type etc.).
164 283
165The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 284The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
166function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 285function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
167problems. 286problems.
168 287
170JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 289JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
171of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 290of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
172that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 291that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
173node, anything can be passed. 292node, anything can be passed.
174 293
175=cut 294=item $local_port = port
176 295
177sub snd(@) { 296Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
178 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 297no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
179 298
180 add_node $noderef 299=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
181 unless exists $NODE{$noderef};
182 300
183 $NODE{$noderef}->send (["$port", [@_]]); 301Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
184} 302creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
185 303
304The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
305global variable C<$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.
308
309If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
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
186=item rcv $portid, type => $callback->(@msg) 334=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
187 335
188=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg) 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.
189 339
190=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg) 340The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
341executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
342result in the port being C<kil>ed.
191 343
192Register a callback on the port identified by C<$portid>, which I<must> be 344The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
193a local port. 345C<tag> match.
194 346
195The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after 347=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
196which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
197registered.
198 348
199If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 349Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
200first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being 350given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
201matched. 351C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
352registered for each tag.
202 353
203Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 354The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
204exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 355element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
356environment as the default callback (see above).
205 357
206While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 358Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
207element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 359
208also the most efficient match (by far). 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, $otherport;
381 };
209 382
210=cut 383=cut
211 384
212sub rcv($@) { 385sub rcv($@) {
213 my ($port, $match, $cb) = @_; 386 my $port = shift;
214
215 my $port = $PORT{$port}
216 or do {
217 my ($noderef, $lport) = split /#/, $port; 387 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
218 "AnyEvent::MP::Node::Self" eq ref $NODE{$noderef} 388
389 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
219 or Carp::croak "$port: can only rcv on local ports"; 390 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
220 391
221 $PORT{$lport} 392 while (@_) {
222 or Carp::croak "$port: port does not exist"; 393 if (ref $_[0]) {
223 394 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
224 $PORT{$port} = $PORT{$lport} # also return 395 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
225 }; 396 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
226 397
227 if (!ref $match) { 398 $self->[2] = shift;
228 push @{ $port->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
229 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
230 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
231 @match
232 ? push @{ $port->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
233 : push @{ $port->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
234 } else { 399 } else {
235 push @{ $port->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 400 my $cb = shift;
236 } 401 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
237} 402 local $SELF = $port;
238 403 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
239sub _inject {
240 my ($port, $msg) = @{+shift};
241
242 $port = $PORT{$port}
243 or return;
244
245 @_ = @$msg;
246
247 for (@{ $port->{rc0}{$msg->[0]} }) {
248 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
249 && undef $_;
250 }
251
252 for (@{ $port->{rcv}{$msg->[0]} }) {
253 $_ && [@_[1..$#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
254 && &{$_->[0]}
255 && undef $_;
256 }
257
258 for (@{ $port->{any} }) {
259 $_ && [@_[0..$#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
260 && &{$_->[0]}
261 && undef $_;
262 }
263}
264
265sub normalise_noderef($) {
266 my ($noderef) = @_;
267
268 my $cv = AE::cv;
269 my @res;
270
271 $cv->begin (sub {
272 my %seen;
273 my @refs;
274 for (sort { $a->[0] <=> $b->[0] } @res) {
275 push @refs, $_->[1] unless $seen{$_->[1]}++
276 }
277 shift->send (join ",", @refs);
278 });
279
280 $noderef = $DEFAULT_PORT unless length $noderef;
281
282 my $idx;
283 for my $t (split /,/, $noderef) {
284 my $pri = ++$idx;
285
286 #TODO: this should be outside normalise_noderef and in become_public
287 if ($t =~ /^\d*$/) {
288 my $nodename = (POSIX::uname)[1];
289
290 $cv->begin;
291 AnyEvent::Socket::resolve_sockaddr $nodename, $t || "aemp=$DEFAULT_PORT", "tcp", 0, undef, sub {
292 for (@_) {
293 my ($service, $host) = AnyEvent::Socket::unpack_sockaddr $_->[3];
294 push @res, [
295 $pri += 1e-5,
296 AnyEvent::Socket::format_hostport AnyEvent::Socket::format_address $host, $service
297 ];
298 } 404 };
299 $cv->end; 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
300 }; 422 };
301 423
302# my (undef, undef, undef, undef, @ipv4) = gethostbyname $nodename; 424 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
303# 425 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
304# for (@ipv4) { 426
305# push @res, [ 427 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
306# $pri, 428
307# AnyEvent::Socket::format_hostport AnyEvent::Socket::format_address $_, $t || $DEFAULT_PORT, 429 if (defined $cb) {
308# ]; 430 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
309# }
310 } else { 431 } else {
311 my ($host, $port) = AnyEvent::Socket::parse_hostport $t, "aemp=$DEFAULT_PORT" 432 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
312 or Carp::croak "$t: unparsable transport descriptor";
313
314 $cv->begin;
315 AnyEvent::Socket::resolve_sockaddr $host, $port, "tcp", 0, undef, sub {
316 for (@_) {
317 my ($service, $host) = AnyEvent::Socket::unpack_sockaddr $_->[3];
318 push @res, [
319 $pri += 1e-5,
320 AnyEvent::Socket::format_hostport AnyEvent::Socket::format_address $host, $service
321 ];
322 }
323 $cv->end;
324 } 433 }
325 } 434 }
326 } 435 }
327 436
328 $cv->end; 437 $port
329
330 $cv
331} 438}
332 439
333sub become_public { 440=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
334 return if $PUBLIC;
335 441
336 my $noderef = join ",", ref $_[0] ? @{+shift} : shift; 442Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
337 my @args = @_; 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.
338 445
339 $NODE = (normalise_noderef $noderef)->recv; 446This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
340 447
341 for my $t (split /,/, $NODE) { 448 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
342 $NODE{$t} = $NODE{""}; 449 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
343 450 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
344 my ($host, $port) = AnyEvent::Socket::parse_hostport $t; 451 snd @reply, $SELF;
345
346 $LISTENER{$t} = AnyEvent::MP::Transport::mp_server $host, $port,
347 @args,
348 on_error => sub {
349 die "on_error<@_>\n";#d#
350 },
351 on_connect => sub {
352 my ($tp) = @_;
353
354 $NODE{$tp->{remote_id}} = $_[0];
355 },
356 sub {
357 my ($tp) = @_;
358
359 $NODE{"$tp->{peerhost}:$tp->{peerport}"} = $tp;
360 },
361 ; 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 }
362 } 475 }
476}
363 477
364 $PUBLIC = 1; 478=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
479
480=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
481
482=item $guard = mon $port
483
484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
485
486Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
487messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
488to stop monitoring again.
489
490C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
491that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
492will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
493message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
494(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
495port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
496delivered again.
497
498Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
499and will not trigger again.
500
501In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
502number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
503"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
504C<eval> if unsure.
505
506In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
507will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
508"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
509port is killed with the same reason.
510
511The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
512C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
513
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.
523
524Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
525
526 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
527
528Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
529
530 mon $port;
531
532Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
533
534 mon $port, $self => "restart";
535
536=cut
537
538sub mon {
539 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
540
541 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
542
543 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
544
545 unless (ref $cb) {
546 if (@_) {
547 # send a kill info message
548 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
549 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
550 } else {
551 # simply kill other port
552 my $port = $cb;
553 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
554 }
555 }
556
557 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
558
559 defined wantarray
560 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) }
561}
562
563=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
564
565Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
566is killed, the references will be freed.
567
568Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
569
570This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
571want to free them when the port gets killed:
572
573 $port->rcv (start => sub {
574 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub {
575 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
576 });
577 });
578
579=cut
580
581sub mon_guard {
582 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
583
584 #TODO: mon-less form?
585
586 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
587}
588
589=item kil $port[, @reason]
590
591Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
592
593If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
594ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
595
596Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
597C<mon>, see below).
598
599Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
600will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
601
602Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
603$message >>.
604
605=cut
606
607=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
608
609Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
610case it's the node where that port resides).
611
612The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
613permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
614
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 {
645 ...
646 };
647 }
648
649=cut
650
651sub _spawn {
652 my $port = shift;
653 my $init = shift;
654
655 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
656 eval {
657 &{ load_func $init }
658 };
659 _self_die if $@;
660}
661
662sub spawn(@) {
663 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
664
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 ? $action[0]()
693 : snd @action;
694 };
365} 695}
366 696
367=back 697=back
368 698
369=head1 NODE MESSAGES 699=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
370 700
371Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 701AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
372arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 702== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
373message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and 703programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
374the remaining arguments are simply the message data. 704sample:
705
706 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
707 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
708 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
709 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
710
711Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
375 712
376=over 4 713=over 4
377 714
378=cut 715=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
379 716
380############################################################################# 717Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the
381# self node code 718same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with
719convenience functionality.
382 720
383sub _new_port($) { 721This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
384 my ($name) = @_; 722cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
385 723
386 my ($noderef, $portname) = split /#/, $name; 724=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
725uses "local ports are like remote ports".
387 726
388 $PORT{$name} = 727The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
389 $PORT{$portname} = { 728only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
390 names => [$name, $portname], 729when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
391 }; 730port.
392}
393 731
394$NODE{""} = new AnyEvent::MP::Node::Self noderef => $NODE; 732Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
395_new_port ""; 733they are not.
396 734
397=item relay => $port, @msg 735AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
736ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
737occur.
398 738
399Simply forwards the message to the given port. 739=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
400 740
401=cut 741Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
742needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
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.
402 746
403rcv "", relay => \&snd; 747(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
404 748
405=item eval => $string[ @reply] 749=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
406 750
407Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the 751Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
408form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent. 752so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
753connection establishment is handled in the background.
409 754
410Example: crash another node. 755=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
411 756
412 snd $othernode, eval => "exit"; 757Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
758without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
759and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
413 760
414=cut 761AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
762holes in the message sequence.
415 763
416rcv "", eval => sub { 764=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
417 my (undef, $string, @reply) = @_; 765alive.
418 my @res = eval $string;
419 snd @reply, "$@", @res if @reply;
420};
421 766
422=item time => @reply 767In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
768linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
769still alive - and can receive messages.
423 770
424Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>. 771In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
772eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
773and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
425 774
426Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a 775=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
427C<timereply> message.
428 776
429 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 777In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
430 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 778known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
779destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
431 780
432=cut 781AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
782around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
433 783
434rcv "", time => sub { shift; snd @_, AE::time }; 784=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
785authentication and can use TLS.
786
787AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and
788securely authenticate nodes.
789
790=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
791communications.
792
793The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
794language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
795language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
796
797It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
798with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
799protocol simple.
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.
435 857
436=back 858=back
437 859
438=head1 SEE ALSO 860=head1 SEE ALSO
439 861

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