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Revision 1.32 by root, Wed Aug 5 19:58:46 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.69 by root, Sun Aug 30 18:51:49 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;
17
18 # ports are message endpoints
19
20 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 21 snd $port, type => data...;
22 snd $port, @msg;
23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 24
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 25 # creating/using ports, the simple way
26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 27
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 29 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 32
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 33 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 35
36 # monitoring
37 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
40
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - mostly stable
47 AnyEvent::MP::Node - mostly stable, but internal anyways
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable, but internal anyways
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
32Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 56Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
33on the same or other hosts. 57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
34 58
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 and the examples under F<eg/>.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
41 63
42=head1 CONCEPTS 64=head1 CONCEPTS
43 65
44=over 4 66=over 4
45 67
46=item port 68=item port
47 69
48A 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).
49 71
50Some 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
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
52will not be queued. 74anything was listening for them or not.
53 75
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 76=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
55 77
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 78A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 79separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference.
60 80
61=item node 81=item node
62 82
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 83A 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 84which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 85ports.
66 86
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 87Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 88(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
89currently.
69 90
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 91=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
71 92
72A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 93A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
73private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 94network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
74node (for public nodes). 95hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
96doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
75 97
76This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 98=item binds - C<ip:port>
77TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
78 99
79Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 100Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
80addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 101each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
102endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
103be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
81 104
82Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 105=item seeds - C<host:port>
83resolve it. 106
107When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
108about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
109network. This node is called a seed.
110
111Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
112are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
113be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
114error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
115join the network.
116
117Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
118every public node can be a seednode.
84 119
85=back 120=back
86 121
87=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 122=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
88 123
90 125
91=cut 126=cut
92 127
93package AnyEvent::MP; 128package AnyEvent::MP;
94 129
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 130use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 131
97use common::sense; 132use common::sense;
98 133
99use Carp (); 134use Carp ();
100 135
101use AE (); 136use AE ();
102 137
103use base "Exporter"; 138use base "Exporter";
104 139
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141
106our @EXPORT = qw( 142our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
108 resolve_node initialise_node 144 initialise_node
109 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
110 port 146 port
111); 147);
112 148
113our $SELF; 149our $SELF;
114 150
118 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 154 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
119} 155}
120 156
121=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
122 158
123The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
124the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 160ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
125to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 161a call to C<initialise_node>.
126identifiers become invalid.
127 162
128=item $noderef = node_of $portid 163=item $nodeid = node_of $port
129 164
130Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
131 166
132=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 167=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value...
133 168
134Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
135abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs
136reference. 171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
137 173
138In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the 174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
139following forms are supported: 175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
140 176
141=over 4 177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
142 179
143=item the empty string 180The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows:
144 182
145An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was 183First, all remaining key => value pairs will be used. Then they will be
146specified. 184overwritten by any values specified in the global default configuration
185(see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if
186any. That means that the values specified in the profile have highest
187priority and the values specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest
188priority.
147 189
148=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>) 190If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
191this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
192special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
149 193
150These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be 194The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
151further resolved. 195aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
196to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
197outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
198binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
152 199
153=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>) 200If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be
201treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and
202used as binds list.
154 203
155These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally 204Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
156looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was 205L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
157specified. 206connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time.
158 207
159=back 208Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or
209the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the
210most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
211
212 initialise_node;
213
214Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
215clients.
216
217 initialise_node "anon/";
218
219Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given
220name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind
221on the resulting addresses.
222
223 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
160 224
161=item $SELF 225=item $SELF
162 226
163Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
164blocks. 228blocks.
165 229
166=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 230=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
167 231
168Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 232Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
169just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 233just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
170module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 234module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
171 235
172=item snd $portid, type => @data 236=item snd $port, type => @data
173 237
174=item snd $portid, @msg 238=item snd $port, @msg
175 239
176Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 240Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
177a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 241local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
178stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
179 242
180While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 243While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
181string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 244use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
182type etc.). 245request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
246arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
183 247
184The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 248The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
185function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 249function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
186problems. 250forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
251and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
252never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
253receiving port.
187 254
188The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 255The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
189JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 256JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
190of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 257of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
191that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 258that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
192node, anything can be passed. 259node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
260these.
193 261
194=item $local_port = port 262=item $local_port = port
195 263
196Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 264Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
197matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 265no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
199 266
200=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 267=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
201 268
202Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any 269Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID. 270creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 271
205The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 272The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 273global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
207will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 274port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
275(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
208 276
209The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 277If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
210be passed to the callback.
211 278
212If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 279 my $port = port {
213 280 my @msg = @_;
214 my $port; $port = port { 281 ...
215 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 282 kil $SELF;
216 }; 283 };
217 284
218=cut 285=cut
286
287sub rcv($@);
288
289sub _kilme {
290 die "received message on port without callback";
291}
219 292
220sub port(;&) { 293sub port(;&) {
221 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 294 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
222 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 295 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
223 296
297 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
298
299 $port
300}
301
302=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
303
304Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
305remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
306C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
307
308The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
309executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
310result in the port being C<kil>ed.
311
312The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
313C<tag> match.
314
315=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
316
317Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
318given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
319C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
320registered for each tag.
321
322The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
323element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
324environment as the default callback (see above).
325
326Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
327
328 my $port = rcv port,
329 msg1 => sub { ... },
330 msg2 => sub { ... },
331 ;
332
333Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
334in one go:
335
336 snd $otherport, reply =>
337 rcv port,
338 msg1 => sub { ... },
339 ...
340 ;
341
342Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
343(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
344
345 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
346 my @reply = @_;
347
348 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
349 };
350
351=cut
352
353sub rcv($@) {
354 my $port = shift;
355 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
356
357 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""}
358 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
359
224 if (@_) { 360 while (@_) {
361 if (ref $_[0]) {
362 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
363 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
364 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
365
366 $self->[2] = shift;
367 } else {
225 my $cb = shift; 368 my $cb = shift;
226 $PORT{$id} = sub { 369 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
227 local $SELF = $port; 370 local $SELF = $port;
228 eval { 371 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
229 &$cb 372 };
230 and kil $id; 373 }
374 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
375 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
376 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
377
378 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
379 local $SELF = $port;
380
381 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
382 shift;
383 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
384 } else {
385 &{ $self->[0] };
386 }
387 };
388
389 $self
231 }; 390 };
232 _self_die if $@; 391
233 };
234 } else {
235 my $self = bless {
236 id => "$NODE#$id",
237 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 392 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
393 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
238 394
239 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self; 395 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
240 $PORT{$id} = sub {
241 local $SELF = $port;
242 396
397 if (defined $cb) {
398 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
243 eval { 399 } else {
244 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 400 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
245 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
246 && undef $_;
247 }
248
249 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
250 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
251 && &{$_->[0]}
252 && undef $_;
253 }
254
255 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
256 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
257 && &{$_->[0]}
258 && undef $_;
259 }
260 }; 401 }
261 _self_die if $@;
262 };
263 }
264
265 $port
266}
267
268=item reg $portid, $name
269
270Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already
271exists it is replaced.
272
273A port can only be registered under one well known name.
274
275A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
276
277=cut
278
279sub reg(@) {
280 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
281
282 $REG{$name} = $portid;
283}
284
285=item rcv $portid, $callback->(@msg)
286
287Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (or newly created port
288object, see C<port>). Full ports are configured with the following calls:
289
290=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
291
292=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
293
294=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
295
296Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
297port (or newly created port).
298
299The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
300which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
301registered.
302
303The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
304executing the callback.
305
306Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
307C<kil>ed.
308
309If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
310first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
311matched.
312
313Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
314exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
315
316While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
317element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
318also the most efficient match (by far).
319
320=cut
321
322sub rcv($@) {
323 my $portid = shift;
324 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, $port, 2;
325
326 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
327 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
328
329 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
330 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
331
332 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
333 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
334
335 while (@_) {
336 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
337
338 if (!ref $match) {
339 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
340 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
341 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
342 @match
343 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
344 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
345 } else {
346 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
347 } 402 }
348 } 403 }
349 404
350 $portid 405 $port
351} 406}
352 407
353=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 408=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
354 409
355Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 410Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
386 $res 441 $res
387 } 442 }
388 } 443 }
389} 444}
390 445
391=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 446=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
392 447
393=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 448=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
394 449
395=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 450=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
396 451
452=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
453
397Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 454Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
455messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
456to stop monitoring again.
398 457
458C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
459after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
460arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
461loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
462the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
463port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
464delivered again.
465
466Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
467monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
468
399In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 469In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
400of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 470number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
401"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 471"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
402C<eval> if unsure. 472C<eval> if unsure.
403 473
404In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 474In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
405a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 475will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
406under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 476"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
477port is killed with the same reason.
407 478
479The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
480C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
481
408In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 482In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
483C<snd>.
484
485As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
486a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
487lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
488even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
489to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
490these problems do not exist.
409 491
410Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 492Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
411 493
412 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 494 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
413 495
414Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 496Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
415 497
416 mon $port, $self; 498 mon $port;
417 499
418Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 500Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
419 501
420 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 502 mon $port, $self => "restart";
421 503
422=cut 504=cut
423 505
424sub mon { 506sub mon {
425 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
426 508
427 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
428 510
429 my $cb = shift; 511 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
430 512
431 unless (ref $cb) { 513 unless (ref $cb) {
432 if (@_) { 514 if (@_) {
433 # send a kill info message 515 # send a kill info message
434 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 516 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
452is killed, the references will be freed. 534is killed, the references will be freed.
453 535
454Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 536Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
455 537
456This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 538This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
457want to free them when the port gets killed: 539want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
458 540
459 $port->rcv (start => sub { 541 $port->rcv (start => sub {
460 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 542 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
461 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 543 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
462 }); 544 });
463 }); 545 });
464 546
465=cut 547=cut
466 548
467sub mon_guard { 549sub mon_guard {
468 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 550 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
469 551
552 #TODO: mon-less form?
553
470 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 554 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
471} 555}
472 556
473=item lnk $port1, $port2
474
475Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for:
476
477 mon $port1, $port2;
478 mon $port2, $port1;
479
480It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets
481killed as well.
482
483=item kil $portid[, @reason] 557=item kil $port[, @reason]
484 558
485Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 559Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
486 560
487If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 561If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
488ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 562monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
563"normally").
489 564
490Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 565Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
491C<mon>, see below). 566C<mon>, see above).
492 567
493Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 568Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
494will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 569will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
495 570
496Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 571Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
497$message >>. 572$message >>.
498 573
574=cut
575
576=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
577
578Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
579case it's the node where that port resides).
580
581The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
582possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
583
584After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
585node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
586fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
587specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
588
589If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
590the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
591C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
592exists or it runs out of package names.
593
594The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
595object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
596
597A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
598port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
599local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
600when there is a problem.
601
602Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
603
604 # this node, executed from within a port context:
605 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
606 mon $server;
607
608 # init function on C<$othernode>
609 sub connect {
610 my ($srcport) = @_;
611
612 mon $srcport;
613
614 rcv $SELF, sub {
615 ...
616 };
617 }
618
619=cut
620
621sub _spawn {
622 my $port = shift;
623 my $init = shift;
624
625 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
626 eval {
627 &{ load_func $init }
628 };
629 _self_die if $@;
630}
631
632sub spawn(@) {
633 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
634
635 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
636
637 $_[0] =~ /::/
638 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
639
640 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
641
642 "$noderef#$id"
643}
644
645=item after $timeout, @msg
646
647=item after $timeout, $callback
648
649Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
650specified number of seconds.
651
652This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
653AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
654so it may go away in the future.
655
656=cut
657
658sub after($@) {
659 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
660
661 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
662 undef $t;
663 ref $action[0]
664 ? $action[0]()
665 : snd @action;
666 };
667}
668
499=back 669=back
500 670
501=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES 671=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
672
673AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
674== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
675programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
676sample:
677
678 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
679 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
680 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
681 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
682
683Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
502 684
503=over 4 685=over 4
504 686
505=item become_public $noderef 687=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
506 688
507Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
508
509The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
510(if missing then the empty string is used).
511
512It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
513tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
514which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
515
516=cut
517
518=back
519
520=head1 NODE MESSAGES
521
522Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
523arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
524message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
525the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
526
527While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
528
529=over 4
530
531=cut
532
533=item lookup => $name, @reply
534
535Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>.
536
537=item devnull => ...
538
539Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion.
540
541=item relay => $port, @msg
542
543Simply forwards the message to the given port.
544
545=item eval => $string[ @reply]
546
547Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
548form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
549
550Example: crash another node.
551
552 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
553
554=item time => @reply
555
556Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
557
558Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
559C<timereply> message.
560
561 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
562 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
563
564=back
565
566=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
567
568AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node
569== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
570programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
571sample:
572
573 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
574 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
575 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
576 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
577
578Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
579
580=over 4
581
582=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them.
583
584Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 689Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
585same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 690way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
586convenience functionality. 691configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
587 692
588This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 693=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
589cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 694uses "local ports are like remote ports".
695
696The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
697only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
698when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
699port.
700
701Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
702they are not.
703
704AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
705ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
706occur.
590 707
591=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 708=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
592 709
593Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 710Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
594needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 711needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
595purpose. 712useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
713AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
714filter messages without dequeing them.
596 715
597(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 716(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
598 717
599=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 718=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
600 719
601Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 720Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
602sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 721so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
603background. 722connection establishment is handled in the background.
604 723
605=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 724=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
606 725
607Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 726Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
608without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 727without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
609and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 728and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
610 729
611AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 730AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
612holes in the message sequence. 731is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
613 732monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
614=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 733sequence.
615alive.
616
617In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
618linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
619still alive - and can receive messages.
620
621In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
622eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
623and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
624 734
625=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 735=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
626 736
627In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 737In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
628ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 738known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
629messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 739destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
630 740
631AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 741AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
632around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 742around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
633 743
634=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 744=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
635authentication and can use TLS. 745authentication and can use TLS.
636 746
637AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 747AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
638securely authenticate nodes. 748securely authenticate nodes.
639 749
640=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 750=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
641communications. 751communications.
642 752
643The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 753The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
644language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 754language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
645language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 755language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
756used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
646 757
647It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 758It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
648with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 759with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
649protocol simple. 760protocol simple.
650 761
762=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
763
764In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
765or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
766difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
767Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
768on a per-process basis.
769
770=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
771
772Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
773same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
774
775In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
776that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
777on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
778remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
779reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
780
781This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
782(hard to do in Erlang).
783
651=back 784=back
652 785
786=head1 RATIONALE
787
788=over 4
789
790=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
791
792We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
793that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
794the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
795overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
796
797Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
798procedures to be "valid".
799
800And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
801global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
802
803=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
804
805In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
806format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
807default (although all nodes will accept it).
808
809The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
810faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
811experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
812than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
813easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
814always have to re-think your design.
815
816Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
817objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
818
819=back
820
653=head1 SEE ALSO 821=head1 SEE ALSO
822
823L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
824
825L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
826
827L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
828your applications.
654 829
655L<AnyEvent>. 830L<AnyEvent>.
656 831
657=head1 AUTHOR 832=head1 AUTHOR
658 833

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