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Revision 1.48 by root, Thu Aug 13 02:59:42 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.77 by elmex, Thu Sep 3 07:57:30 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's node ID
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's node ID
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 11
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 12 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14 13
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages 14 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR- 15 configure;
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19 16
20 # ports are message endpoints 17 # ports are message destinations
21 18
22 # sending messages 19 # sending messages
23 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg; 21 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
26 23
27 # creating/using miniports 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $miniport = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
29 26
30 # creating/using full ports 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
31 my $port = port; 28 my $port = port;
32 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->(@msg);
33 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
34 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
35
36 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module)
37 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ...
38 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
39 31
40 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
41 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
42 34
43 # monitoring 35 # monitoring
45 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
46 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
47 39
48=head1 CURRENT STATUS 40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
49 41
42 bin/aemp - stable.
50 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work 43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
51 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated 44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
52 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
53 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable 45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API, protocol not yet final.
54 47
55 stay tuned. 48 stay tuned.
56 49
57=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
58 51
59This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
60 53
61Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 54Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
62on the same or other hosts. 55on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
63 56
64For 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>
65manual page. 58manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
66
67At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
68so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
69stay tuned!
70 59
71=head1 CONCEPTS 60=head1 CONCEPTS
72 61
73=over 4 62=over 4
74 63
75=item port 64=item port
76 65
77A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 66A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
78 67
79Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 68Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
80messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 69some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
81will not be queued. 70anything was listening for them or not.
82 71
83=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 72=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
84 73
85A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 74A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
86separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 75separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
87exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
88reference.
89 76
90=item node 77=item node
91 78
92A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 79A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
93port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 80which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
94create new ports, among other things. 81ports.
95 82
96Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 83Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
97master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 84(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
85currently.
98 86
99=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 87=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
100 88
101A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 89A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
102private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 90network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
103node (for public nodes). 91hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
92doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
104 93
105This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 94=item binds - C<ip:port>
106TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
107 95
108Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 96Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
109addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 97each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
98endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
99be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
110 100
111Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 101=item seeds - C<host:port>
112resolve it. 102
103When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
104about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
105network. This node is called a seed.
106
107Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
108are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
109be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
110error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
111join the network.
112
113Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
114every public node can be a seednode.
113 115
114=back 116=back
115 117
116=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 118=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
117 119
132use base "Exporter"; 134use base "Exporter";
133 135
134our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 136our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
135 137
136our @EXPORT = qw( 138our @EXPORT = qw(
137 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 139 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
138 resolve_node initialise_node 140 configure
139 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn 141 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
140 port 142 port
141); 143);
142 144
143our $SELF; 145our $SELF;
144 146
148 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 150 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
149} 151}
150 152
151=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 153=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
152 154
153The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 155The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
154the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 156ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
155to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 157a call to C<configure>.
156identifiers become invalid.
157 158
158=item $noderef = node_of $port 159=item $nodeid = node_of $port
159 160
160Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 161Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
161 162
162=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 163=item configure key => value...
163 164
164=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
165
166Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 165Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
167itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 166"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
168it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 167to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
168some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
169 169
170This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 170This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
171never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 171never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
172 172
173All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
174
175There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
176
177=over 4 173=over 4
178 174
179=item public nodes 175=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
180 176
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 177The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
182noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 178L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
183which case the noderef will be guessed. 179named C<profile> parameter. If it is missing, then the nodename (F<uname
180-n>) will be used as profile name.
184 181
185Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 182The profile data is then gathered as follows:
186to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
187and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
188 183
189=item slave nodes 184First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
185undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
186data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
187default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
188profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
190 189
191When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 190That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
192become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 191and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
193route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 192and can only be used to specify defaults.
194 193
195At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect 194If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
196to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can 195this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
197successfully connect to. 196special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
197
198=item step 2, bind listener sockets
199
200The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
201aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
202to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
203outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
204binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
205
206If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
207used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
208local IP address it finds.
209
210=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
211
212As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
213L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
214connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
198 215
199=back 216=back
200 217
201This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave 218Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile.
202nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master 219This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
203server.
204 220
205Example: become a public node listening on the default node. 221 configure
206 222
207 initialise_node; 223Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
224clients.
208 225
209Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 226 configure nodeid => "anon/";
210servers to become part of the network.
211 227
212 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2"; 228Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
229for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
230customary for aemp).
213 231
214Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>. 232 # use the aemp commandline utility
233 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
215 234
216 initialise_node 4041; 235 # then use it
236 configure profile => "seed";
217 237
218Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 238 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
239 # aemp run profile seed
219 240
220 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 241 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
221 242 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
222Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
223
224 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
225
226=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
227
228Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
229abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
230reference.
231
232In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
233following forms are supported:
234
235=over 4
236
237=item the empty string
238
239An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
240specified.
241
242=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
243
244These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
245further resolved.
246
247=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
248
249These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
250looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
251specified.
252
253=back
254 243
255=item $SELF 244=item $SELF
256 245
257Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 246Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
258blocks. 247blocks.
259 248
260=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 249=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
261 250
262Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 251Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
263just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 252just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
264module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 253module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
265 254
266=item snd $port, type => @data 255=item snd $port, type => @data
267 256
268=item snd $port, @msg 257=item snd $port, @msg
269 258
270Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 259Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
271a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 260local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
272stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
273 261
274While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 262While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
275string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 263use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
276type etc.). 264request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
265arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
277 266
278The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 267The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
279function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 268function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
280problems. 269forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
270and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
271never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
272receiving port.
281 273
282The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 274The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
283JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 275JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
284of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 276of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
285that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 277that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
286node, anything can be passed. 278node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
279these.
287 280
288=item $local_port = port 281=item $local_port = port
289 282
290Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 283Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
291matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 284no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
292depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
293 285
294=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 286=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
295 287
296Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 288Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
297matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
298a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 289creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
299 290
300The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 291The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
301callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 292global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
302will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 293port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
294(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
303 295
304The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 296If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
305be passed to the callback.
306 297
307If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 298 my $port = port {
308 299 my @msg = @_;
309 my $port; $port = port { 300 ...
310 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 301 kil $SELF;
311 }; 302 };
312 303
313=cut 304=cut
314 305
315sub rcv($@); 306sub rcv($@);
307
308sub _kilme {
309 die "received message on port without callback";
310}
316 311
317sub port(;&) { 312sub port(;&) {
318 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 313 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
319 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 314 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
320 315
321 if (@_) { 316 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
322 rcv $port, shift;
323 } else {
324 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
325 }
326 317
327 $port 318 $port
328} 319}
329 320
330=item reg $port, $name
331
332=item reg $name
333
334Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
335C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
336
337A port can only be registered under one well known name.
338
339A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
340
341=cut
342
343sub reg(@) {
344 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
345
346 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
347}
348
349=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 321=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
350 322
351Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 323Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
352one if required). 324remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
353 325C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
354=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
355
356=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
357
358=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
359
360Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
361port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
362
363The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
364which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
365registered.
366 326
367The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 327The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
368executing the callback. 328executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
329result in the port being C<kil>ed.
369 330
370Runtime errors during callback execution will result in the port being 331The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
371C<kil>ed. 332C<tag> match.
372 333
373If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 334=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
374first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
375matched.
376 335
377Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 336Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
378exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 337given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
338C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
339registered for each tag.
379 340
380While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 341The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
381element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 342element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
382also the most efficient match (by far). 343environment as the default callback (see above).
383 344
384Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 345Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
385 346
386 my $port = rcv port, 347 my $port = rcv port,
387 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 348 msg1 => sub { ... },
388 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 349 msg2 => sub { ... },
389 ; 350 ;
390 351
391Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 352Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
392in one go: 353in one go:
393 354
394 snd $otherport, reply => 355 snd $otherport, reply =>
395 rcv port, 356 rcv port,
396 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 357 msg1 => sub { ... },
397 ... 358 ...
398 ; 359 ;
399 360
361Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
362(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
363
364 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
365 my @reply = @_;
366
367 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
368 };
369
400=cut 370=cut
401 371
402sub rcv($@) { 372sub rcv($@) {
403 my $port = shift; 373 my $port = shift;
404 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 374 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
405 375
406 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 376 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
407 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 377 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
408 378
409 if (@_ == 1) { 379 while (@_) {
380 if (ref $_[0]) {
381 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
382 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
383 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
384
385 $self->[2] = shift;
386 } else {
410 my $cb = shift; 387 my $cb = shift;
411 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
412 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 388 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
413 local $SELF = $port; 389 local $SELF = $port;
414 eval { 390 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
415 &$cb 391 };
416 and kil $port;
417 }; 392 }
418 _self_die if $@; 393 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
419 };
420 } else {
421 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 394 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
422 my $self = bless { 395 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
423 id => $port,
424 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
425 396
426 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 397 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
427 local $SELF = $port; 398 local $SELF = $port;
428 399
429 eval {
430 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 400 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
431 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 401 shift;
432 && undef $_; 402 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
433 } 403 } else {
434
435 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
436 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
437 && &{$_->[0]} 404 &{ $self->[0] };
438 && undef $_;
439 }
440
441 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
442 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
443 && &{$_->[0]}
444 && undef $_;
445 } 405 }
446 }; 406 };
447 _self_die if $@; 407
408 $self
448 }; 409 };
449 410
450 $self
451 };
452
453 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 411 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
454 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 412 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
455 413
456 while (@_) {
457 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 414 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
458 415
459 if (!ref $match) { 416 if (defined $cb) {
460 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 417 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
461 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
462 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
463 @match
464 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
465 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
466 } else { 418 } else {
467 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 419 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
468 } 420 }
469 } 421 }
470 } 422 }
471 423
472 $port 424 $port
508 $res 460 $res
509 } 461 }
510 } 462 }
511} 463}
512 464
513=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 465=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
514 466
515=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 467=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
516 468
517=item $guard = mon $port 469=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
518 470
519=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 471=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
520 472
521Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 473Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
522messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used 474messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
523to stop monitoring again. 475to stop monitoring again.
524 476
525C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 477C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
526that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port 478after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
527will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible 479arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
528message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" 480loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
529(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 481the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
530port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 482port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
531delivered again. 483delivered again.
484
485Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a
486monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
532 487
533In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 488In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
534number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 489number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
535"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 490"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
536C<eval> if unsure. 491C<eval> if unsure.
537 492
538In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>) 493In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
539will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on 494will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
540"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 495"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
541port is killed with the same reason. 496port is killed with the same reason.
542 497
543The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 498The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
544C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>. 499C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
547C<snd>. 502C<snd>.
548 503
549As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from 504As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
550a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get 505a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
551lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that 506lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
552even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection 507even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
553to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally 508to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
554these problems do not exist. 509these problems do not exist.
555 510
556Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 511Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
557 512
566 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 521 mon $port, $self => "restart";
567 522
568=cut 523=cut
569 524
570sub mon { 525sub mon {
571 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 526 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
572 527
573 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 528 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
574 529
575 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 530 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
576 531
577 unless (ref $cb) { 532 unless (ref $cb) {
578 if (@_) { 533 if (@_) {
598is killed, the references will be freed. 553is killed, the references will be freed.
599 554
600Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 555Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
601 556
602This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 557This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
603want to free them when the port gets killed: 558want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
604 559
605 $port->rcv (start => sub { 560 $port->rcv (start => sub {
606 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 561 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
607 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 562 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
608 }); 563 });
609 }); 564 });
610 565
611=cut 566=cut
620 575
621=item kil $port[, @reason] 576=item kil $port[, @reason]
622 577
623Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 578Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
624 579
625If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 580If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
626ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 581monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
582"normally").
627 583
628Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 584Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
629C<mon>, see below). 585C<mon>, see above).
630 586
631Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 587Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
632will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 588will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
633 589
634Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 590Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
639=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata] 595=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
640 596
641Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which 597Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
642case it's the node where that port resides). 598case it's the node where that port resides).
643 599
644The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is 600The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
645permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port. 601possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
646 602
647After the port has been created, the init function is 603After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
648called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name 604node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
649(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main 605fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
650program, use C<::name>. 606specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
651 607
652If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require> 608If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
653the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g. 609the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
654C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function 610C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
655exists or it runs out of package names. 611exists or it runs out of package names.
656 612
657The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context 613The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
658object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments. 614object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
659 615
660A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and 616A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
661in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring 617port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
662ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. 618local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
619when there is a problem.
663 620
664Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 621Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
665 622
666 # this node, executed from within a port context: 623 # this node, executed from within a port context:
667 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 624 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
690 }; 647 };
691 _self_die if $@; 648 _self_die if $@;
692} 649}
693 650
694sub spawn(@) { 651sub spawn(@) {
695 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; 652 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
696 653
697 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 654 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
698 655
699 $_[0] =~ /::/ 656 $_[0] =~ /::/
700 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 657 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
701 658
702 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) 659 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
703 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
704 660
705 "$noderef#$id" 661 "$nodeid#$id"
706} 662}
707 663
708=back 664=item after $timeout, @msg
709 665
710=head1 NODE MESSAGES 666=item after $timeout, $callback
711 667
712Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take 668Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
713arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply 669specified number of seconds.
714message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
715the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
716 670
717While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change. 671This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
672AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
673so it may go away in the future.
718 674
719=over 4
720
721=cut 675=cut
722 676
723=item lookup => $name, @reply 677sub after($@) {
678 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
724 679
725Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 680 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
726 681 undef $t;
727=item devnull => ... 682 ref $action[0]
728 683 ? $action[0]()
729Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 684 : snd @action;
730 685 };
731=item relay => $port, @msg 686}
732
733Simply forwards the message to the given port.
734
735=item eval => $string[ @reply]
736
737Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the
738form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent.
739
740Example: crash another node.
741
742 snd $othernode, eval => "exit";
743
744=item time => @reply
745
746Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>.
747
748Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a
749C<timereply> message.
750
751 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2;
752 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time>
753 687
754=back 688=back
755 689
756=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 690=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
757 691
767 701
768Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 702Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
769 703
770=over 4 704=over 4
771 705
772=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 706=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
773 707
774Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 708Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
775same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 709way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
776convenience functionality. 710configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
777 711
778This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 712=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
779cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 713uses "local ports are like remote ports".
714
715The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
716only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
717when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
718port.
719
720Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
721they are not.
722
723AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
724ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
725occur.
780 726
781=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 727=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
782 728
783Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 729Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
784needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 730needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
785purpose. 731useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
732AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
733filter messages without dequeuing them.
786 734
787(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 735(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
788 736
789=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 737=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
790 738
791Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 739Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
792sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 740so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
793background. 741connection establishment is handled in the background.
794 742
795=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 743=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
796 744
797Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 745Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
798without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 746without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
799and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 747and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
800 748
801AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 749AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
802holes in the message sequence. 750is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
803 751monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
804=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 752sequence.
805alive.
806
807In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
808linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
809still alive - and can receive messages.
810
811In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
812eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
813and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
814 753
815=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 754=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
816 755
817In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 756In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
818ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 757known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
819messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 758destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
820 759
821AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 760AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
822around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 761around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
823 762
824=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 763=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
825authentication and can use TLS. 764authentication and can use TLS.
826 765
827AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 766AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
828securely authenticate nodes. 767securely authenticate nodes.
829 768
830=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 769=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
831communications. 770communications.
832 771
833The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 772The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
834language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 773language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
835language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 774language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
775used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
836 776
837It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 777It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
838with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 778with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
839protocol simple. 779protocol simple.
840 780
841=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 781=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
842 782
843In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 783In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
846Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 786Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
847on a per-process basis. 787on a per-process basis.
848 788
849=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 789=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
850 790
851Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 791Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
852as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 792same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
853 793
854In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 794In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
855that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 795that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
856on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 796on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
857the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 797remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
858more reliable. 798reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
859 799
860This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 800This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
861(hard to do in Erlang). 801(hard to do in Erlang).
862 802
863=back 803=back
864 804
865=head1 RATIONALE 805=head1 RATIONALE
866 806
867=over 4 807=over 4
868 808
869=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects? 809=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
870 810
871We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods 811We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
872thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over 812that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
873the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of 813the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
874overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object. 814overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
875 815
876Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 816Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
877procedures to be "valid". 817procedures to be "valid".
878 818
879And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it 819And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
880can't become much cheaper. 820global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
881 821
882=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable? 822=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
883 823
884In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 824In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
885format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by 825format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
886default. 826default (although all nodes will accept it).
887 827
888The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times 828The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
889faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of 829faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
890experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems 830experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
891than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel 831than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
892easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you 832easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
893always have to re-think your design. 833always have to re-think your design.
894 834
895Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than 835Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
896objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient. 836objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
897 837
898=back 838=back
899 839
900=head1 SEE ALSO 840=head1 SEE ALSO
901 841
842L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
843
844L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
845
846L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
847your applications.
848
902L<AnyEvent>. 849L<AnyEvent>.
903 850
904=head1 AUTHOR 851=head1 AUTHOR
905 852
906 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 853 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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