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Revision 1.40 by root, Sat Aug 8 00:22:16 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.63 by root, Thu Aug 27 21:29:37 2009 UTC

9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node;
14 17
15 # ports are message endpoints 18 # ports are message endpoints
16 19
17 # sending messages 20 # sending messages
18 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
19 snd $port, @msg; 22 snd $port, @msg;
20 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
21 24
22 # miniports 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
23 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
24 27
25 # full ports 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
26 my $port = port; 29 my $port = port;
27 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
28 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
29 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
30 32
31 # remote ports 33 # create a port on another node
32 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
33
34 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
35 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
36 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
37 35
38 # monitoring 36 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42 40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
46 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
47
48 stay tuned.
49
43=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
44 51
45This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
46 53
47Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 54Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
50For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 57For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
51manual page. 58manual page.
52 59
53At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 60At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
54so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 61so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
55stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 62stay tuned!
56 63
57=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
58 65
59=over 4 66=over 4
60 67
61=item port 68=item port
62 69
63A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 70A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
64 71
65Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 72Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
66messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages will not be queued.
67will not be queued.
68 74
69=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 75=item port ID - C<noderef#portname>
70 76
71A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 77A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
72separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 78separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
73exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 79exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
74reference. 80reference.
75 81
76=item node 82=item node
77 83
78A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 84A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
79port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 85which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
80create new ports, among other things. 86ports.
81 87
82Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 88Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (can only talk to
83master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 89public nodes, but do not need an open port) or public nodes (connectable
90from any other node).
84 91
85=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 92=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
86 93
87A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 94A node ID is a string that either simply identifies the node (for
88private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 95private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given
89node (for public nodes). 96node (for public nodes).
90 97
91This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for
92TCP/IP, other protocols might look different). 99TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
105 112
106=cut 113=cut
107 114
108package AnyEvent::MP; 115package AnyEvent::MP;
109 116
110use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 117use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
111 118
112use common::sense; 119use common::sense;
113 120
114use Carp (); 121use Carp ();
115 122
116use AE (); 123use AE ();
117 124
118use base "Exporter"; 125use base "Exporter";
119 126
120our $VERSION = '0.1'; 127our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
128
121our @EXPORT = qw( 129our @EXPORT = qw(
122 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 130 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
123 resolve_node initialise_node 131 resolve_node initialise_node
124 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 132 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
125 port 133 port
126); 134);
127 135
128our $SELF; 136our $SELF;
129 137
133 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 141 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
134} 142}
135 143
136=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 144=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
137 145
138The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 146The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
139the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 147node id of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
140to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 148C<initialise_node>.
141identifiers become invalid.
142 149
143=item $noderef = node_of $port 150=item $nodeid = node_of $port
144 151
145Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 152Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a node ID.
146 153
147=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 154=item initialise_node $profile_name
148
149=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
150 155
151Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 156Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
152itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 157itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
153it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 158it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
154 159
155This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 160This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
156never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 161never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
157 162
158All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved. 163All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
164either resolved or unresolved.
165
166The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
167(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
168the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
169the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
170seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
159 171
160There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes: 172There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
161 173
162=over 4 174=over 4
163 175
164=item public nodes 176=item public nodes
165 177
166For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 178For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
167noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 179C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
168which case the noderef will be guessed. 180noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
169 181
170Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 182After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints.
171to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
172and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
173 183
174=item slave nodes 184=item slave nodes
175 185
176When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 186When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
187is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
177become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 188node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside, and cannot talk to
178route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 189each other (at least in this version of AnyEvent::MP).
179 190
180At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect 191Slave nodes work by creating connections to all public nodes, using the
181to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can 192L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> service.
182successfully connect to.
183 193
184=back 194=back
185 195
186This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave 196After initialising itself, the node will connect to all additional
187nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master 197C<$seednodes> that are specified diretcly or via a profile. Seednodes are
188server. 198optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
199network.
189 200
201All the seednodes will also be specially marked to automatically retry
202connecting to them indefinitely, so make sure that seednodes are really
203reliable and up (this might also change in the future).
204
190Example: become a public node listening on the default node. 205Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
206specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
207form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
191 208
192 initialise_node; 209 initialise_node;
210
211Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
212C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
213
214 initialise_node "slave/";
193 215
194Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 216Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
195servers to become part of the network. 217servers to become part of the network.
196 218
197 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2"; 219 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
200 222
201 initialise_node 4041; 223 initialise_node 4041;
202 224
203Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 225Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
204 226
205 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 227 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
206
207Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
208
209 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
210 228
211=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 229=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
212 230
213Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 231Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
214abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 232abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
251=item snd $port, type => @data 269=item snd $port, type => @data
252 270
253=item snd $port, @msg 271=item snd $port, @msg
254 272
255Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 273Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
256a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 274a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
257stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
258 275
259While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 276While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
260string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 277string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
261type etc.). 278type etc.).
262 279
263The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 280The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
264function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 281function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
265problems. 282problems.
270that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 287that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
271node, anything can be passed. 288node, anything can be passed.
272 289
273=item $local_port = port 290=item $local_port = port
274 291
275Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 292Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
276matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 293no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
277depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
278 294
279=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 295=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
280 296
281Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 297Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
282matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
283a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 298creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
284 299
285The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 300The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
286callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 301global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
287will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 302port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
303(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
288 304
289The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 305If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
290be passed to the callback.
291 306
292If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 307 my $port = port {
293 308 my @msg = @_;
294 my $port; $port = port { 309 ...
295 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 310 kil $SELF;
296 }; 311 };
297 312
298=cut 313=cut
299 314
300sub rcv($@); 315sub rcv($@);
316
317sub _kilme {
318 die "received message on port without callback";
319}
301 320
302sub port(;&) { 321sub port(;&) {
303 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 322 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
304 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 323 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
305 324
306 if (@_) { 325 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
307 rcv $port, shift;
308 } else {
309 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
310 }
311 326
312 $port 327 $port
313} 328}
314 329
315=item reg $port, $name
316
317=item reg $name
318
319Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
320C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
321
322A port can only be registered under one well known name.
323
324A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
325
326=cut
327
328sub reg(@) {
329 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
330
331 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
332}
333
334=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 330=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
335 331
336Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 332Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
337one if required). 333remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
338 334C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
339=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
340
341=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
342
343=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
344
345Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
346port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
347
348The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
349which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
350registered.
351 335
352The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 336The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
353executing the callback. 337executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
338result in the port being C<kil>ed.
354 339
355Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 340The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
356C<kil>ed. 341C<tag> match.
357 342
358If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 343=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
359first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
360matched.
361 344
362Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 345Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
363exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 346given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
347C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
348registered for each tag.
364 349
365While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 350The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
366element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 351element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
367also the most efficient match (by far). 352environment as the default callback (see above).
368 353
369Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 354Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
370 355
371 my $port = rcv port, 356 my $port = rcv port,
372 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 357 msg1 => sub { ... },
373 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 358 msg2 => sub { ... },
374 ; 359 ;
375 360
376Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 361Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
377in one go: 362in one go:
378 363
379 snd $otherport, reply => 364 snd $otherport, reply =>
380 rcv port, 365 rcv port,
381 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 366 msg1 => sub { ... },
382 ... 367 ...
383 ; 368 ;
369
370Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
371(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
372
373 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
374 my @reply = @_;
375
376 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
377 };
384 378
385=cut 379=cut
386 380
387sub rcv($@) { 381sub rcv($@) {
388 my $port = shift; 382 my $port = shift;
389 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 383 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
390 384
391 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 385 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
393 387
394 if (@_ == 1) { 388 while (@_) {
389 if (ref $_[0]) {
390 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
391 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
392 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
393
394 $self->[2] = shift;
395 } else {
395 my $cb = shift; 396 my $cb = shift;
396 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
397 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 397 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
398 local $SELF = $port; 398 local $SELF = $port;
399 eval { 399 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
400 &$cb 400 };
401 and kil $port;
402 }; 401 }
403 _self_die if $@; 402 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
404 };
405 } else {
406 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 403 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
407 my $self = bless { 404 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
408 id => $port,
409 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
410 405
411 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 406 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
412 local $SELF = $port; 407 local $SELF = $port;
413 408
414 eval {
415 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 409 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
416 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 410 shift;
417 && undef $_; 411 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
418 } 412 } else {
419
420 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
421 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
422 && &{$_->[0]} 413 &{ $self->[0] };
423 && undef $_;
424 }
425
426 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
427 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
428 && &{$_->[0]}
429 && undef $_;
430 } 414 }
431 }; 415 };
432 _self_die if $@; 416
417 $self
433 }; 418 };
434 419
435 $self
436 };
437
438 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 420 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
439 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 421 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
440 422
441 while (@_) {
442 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 423 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
443 424
444 if (!ref $match) { 425 if (defined $cb) {
445 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 426 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
446 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
447 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
448 @match
449 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
450 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
451 } else { 427 } else {
452 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 428 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
453 } 429 }
454 } 430 }
455 } 431 }
456 432
457 $port 433 $port
501 477
502=item $guard = mon $port 478=item $guard = mon $port
503 479
504=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 480=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
505 481
506Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and 482Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
507optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again. 483messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
484to stop monitoring again.
485
486C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
487that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
488will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
489message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
490(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
491port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
492delivered again.
493
494Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once released, they are removed
495and will not trigger again.
508 496
509In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 497In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
510number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 498number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
511"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 499"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
512C<eval> if unsure. 500C<eval> if unsure.
513 501
514In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport) 502In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
515will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on 503will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
516"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 504"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
517port is killed with the same reason. 505port is killed with the same reason.
518 506
519The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 507The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
546sub mon { 534sub mon {
547 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 535 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
548 536
549 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 537 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
550 538
551 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 539 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
552 540
553 unless (ref $cb) { 541 unless (ref $cb) {
554 if (@_) { 542 if (@_) {
555 # send a kill info message 543 # send a kill info message
556 my (@msg) = @_; 544 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
557 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 545 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
558 } else { 546 } else {
559 # simply kill other port 547 # simply kill other port
560 my $port = $cb; 548 my $port = $cb;
561 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ }; 549 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
673 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 661 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
674 662
675 $_[0] =~ /::/ 663 $_[0] =~ /::/
676 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 664 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
677 665
678 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 666 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
679 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
680 667
681 "$noderef#$id" 668 "$noderef#$id"
682} 669}
683 670
684=back 671=item after $timeout, @msg
685 672
686=head1 NODE MESSAGES 673=item after $timeout, $callback
687 674
688Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 675Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
689arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 676specified number of seconds.
690message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
691the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
692 677
693While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 678This is simply a utility function that come sin handy at times.
694 679
695=over 4
696
697=cut 680=cut
698 681
699=item lookup => $name, @reply 682sub after($@) {
683 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
700 684
701Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 685 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
702 686 undef $t;
703=item devnull => ... 687 ref $action[0]
704 688 ? $action[0]()
705Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 689 : snd @action;
706 690 };
707=item relay => $port, @msg 691}
708
709Simply forwards the message to the given port.
710
711=item eval => $string[ @reply]
712
713Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
714form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
715
716Example: crash another node.
717
718 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
719
720=item time => @reply
721
722Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
723
724Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
725C<timereply> message.
726
727 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
728 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
729 692
730=back 693=back
731 694
732=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 695=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
733 696
752convenience functionality. 715convenience functionality.
753 716
754This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 717This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
755cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 718cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
756 719
720=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
721uses "local ports are like remote ports".
722
723The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
724only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
725when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
726port.
727
728Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
729they are not.
730
731AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
732ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
733occur.
734
757=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 735=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
758 736
759Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 737Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
760needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 738needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
761purpose. 739useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
740AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
741filter messages without dequeing them.
762 742
763(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 743(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
764 744
765=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 745=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
766 746
767Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 747Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
768sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 748so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
769background. 749connection establishment is handled in the background.
770 750
771=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 751=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
772 752
773Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 753Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
774without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 754without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
775and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 755and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
776 756
788eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 768eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
789and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 769and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
790 770
791=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 771=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
792 772
793In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 773In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
794ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 774known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
795messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 775destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
796 776
797AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 777AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
798around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 778around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
799 779
800=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 780=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
836This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 816This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
837(hard to do in Erlang). 817(hard to do in Erlang).
838 818
839=back 819=back
840 820
821=head1 RATIONALE
822
823=over 4
824
825=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
826
827We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
828thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
829the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
830overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
831
832Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
833procedures to be "valid".
834
835And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
836can't become much cheaper.
837
838=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
839
840In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
841format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
842default.
843
844The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
845faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
846experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
847than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
848easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
849always have to re-think your design.
850
851Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
852objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
853
854=back
855
841=head1 SEE ALSO 856=head1 SEE ALSO
842 857
843L<AnyEvent>. 858L<AnyEvent>.
844 859
845=head1 AUTHOR 860=head1 AUTHOR

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