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Revision 1.69 by root, Sun Aug 30 18:51:49 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.80 by root, Fri Sep 4 22:30:29 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; 15 configure;
17 16
18 # ports are message endpoints 17 # ports are message destinations
19 18
20 # sending messages 19 # sending messages
21 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
22 snd $port, @msg; 21 snd $port, @msg;
23 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port; 22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
24 23
25 # creating/using ports, the simple way 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
26 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 }; 25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
27 26
28 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
29 my $port = port; 28 my $port = port;
30 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
31 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
32 31
33 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
34 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
35 34
36 # monitoring 35 # monitoring
38 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
39 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
40 39
41=head1 CURRENT STATUS 40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
42 41
42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work 43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated 44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable 45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - mostly stable 46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable but incomplete, protocol not yet final.
47 AnyEvent::MP::Node - mostly stable, but internal anyways
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable, but internal anyways
49 47
50 stay tuned. 48stay tuned.
51 49
52=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
53 51
54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
55 53
57on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely. 55on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
58 56
59For 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>
60manual page and the examples under F<eg/>. 58manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
61 59
62At the moment, this module family is a bit underdocumented.
63
64=head1 CONCEPTS 60=head1 CONCEPTS
65 61
66=over 4 62=over 4
67 63
68=item port 64=item port
69 65
70A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 66Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
67messages to (with the C<snd> function).
71 68
72Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just 69Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
73some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of 70some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
74anything was listening for them or not. 71anything was listening for them or not.
75 72
139 136
140our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 137our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
141 138
142our @EXPORT = qw( 139our @EXPORT = qw(
143 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 140 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
144 initialise_node 141 configure
145 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn 142 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
146 port 143 port
147); 144);
148 145
149our $SELF; 146our $SELF;
156 153
157=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 154=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
158 155
159The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node 156The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
160ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by 157ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
161a call to C<initialise_node>. 158a call to C<configure>.
162 159
163=item $nodeid = node_of $port 160=item $nodeid = node_of $port
164 161
165Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID. 162Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
166 163
167=item initialise_node $profile_name, key => value... 164=item configure $profile, key => value...
165
166=item configure key => value...
168 167
169Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter 168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
170"distributed mode") it has to initialise itself - the minimum a node needs 169"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
171to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of 170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
172some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes. 171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
173 172
174This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 173This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
175never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
176 175
177The first argument is a profile name. If it is C<undef> or missing, then 176=over 4
178the current nodename will be used instead (i.e. F<uname -n>).
179 177
178=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
179
180The function first looks up the profile in the aemp configuration (see the 180The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
181L<aemp> commandline utility). the profile is calculated as follows: 181L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
182named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
183missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
182 184
183First, all remaining key => value pairs will be used. Then they will be 185The profile data is then gathered as follows:
184overwritten by any values specified in the global default configuration 186
185(see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of profiles selected, if 187First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
188undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
189data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
190default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
191profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
192
186any. That means that the values specified in the profile have highest 193That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
187priority and the values specified via C<initialise_node> have lowest 194and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
188priority. 195and can only be used to specify defaults.
189 196
190If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of 197If 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 198this 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. 199special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
200
201=item step 2, bind listener sockets
193 202
194The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding 203The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
195aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid 204aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
196to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the 205to 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 206outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
198binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes). 207binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
199 208
200If the profile does not specify a binds list, then the node ID will be 209If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
201treated as if it were of the form C<host:port>, which will be resolved and 210used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
202used as binds list. 211local IP address it finds.
203 212
213=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
214
204Lastly, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the 215As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
205L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 216L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
206connectivity with at least on of those seed nodes at any point in time. 217connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
207 218
208Example: become a distributed node listening on the guessed noderef, or 219=back
209the one specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the 220
221Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile.
210most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 222This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
211 223
212 initialise_node; 224 configure
213 225
214Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 226Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
215clients. 227clients.
216 228
217 initialise_node "anon/"; 229 configure nodeid => "anon/";
218 230
219Example: become a distributed node. If there is no profile of the given 231Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
220name, or no binds list was specified, resolve C<localhost:4044> and bind 232for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
221on the resulting addresses. 233customary for aemp).
222 234
223 initialise_node "localhost:4044"; 235 # use the aemp commandline utility
236 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
237
238 # then use it
239 configure profile => "seed";
240
241 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
242 # aemp run profile seed
243
244 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
245 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
224 246
225=item $SELF 247=item $SELF
226 248
227Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 249Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
228blocks. 250blocks.
350 372
351=cut 373=cut
352 374
353sub rcv($@) { 375sub rcv($@) {
354 my $port = shift; 376 my $port = shift;
355 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 377 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
356 378
357 $NODE{$noderef} == $NODE{""} 379 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
358 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 380 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
359 381
360 while (@_) { 382 while (@_) {
361 if (ref $_[0]) { 383 if (ref $_[0]) {
362 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) { 384 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
453 475
454Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or 476Monitor 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 477messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
456to stop monitoring again. 478to stop monitoring again.
457 479
480In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
481number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
482"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
483C<eval> if unsure.
484
485In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
486will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
487"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
488port is killed with the same reason.
489
490The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
491C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
492
493In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
494C<snd>.
495
496Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
497alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
498
499As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
500a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
501lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
502even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
503to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
504these problems do not exist.
505
458C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures, 506C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
459after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will 507after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
460arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message 508arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
461loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after 509loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
462the first lost message no further messages will be received by the 510the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
463port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get 511port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
464delivered again. 512delivered again.
465 513
466Note that monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a 514Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
467monitoring alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again. 515used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
516relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
517non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions).
468 518
469In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 519This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
470number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 520stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
471"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 521to ensure some maximum latency.
472C<eval> if unsure.
473
474In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
475will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
476"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
477port is killed with the same reason.
478
479The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
480C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
481
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.
491 522
492Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 523Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
493 524
494 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 525 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
495 526
502 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 533 mon $port, $self => "restart";
503 534
504=cut 535=cut
505 536
506sub mon { 537sub mon {
507 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 538 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
508 539
509 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 540 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
510 541
511 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 542 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
512 543
513 unless (ref $cb) { 544 unless (ref $cb) {
514 if (@_) { 545 if (@_) {
597A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned 628A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
598port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed 629port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
599local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up 630local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
600when there is a problem. 631when there is a problem.
601 632
633C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
634caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
635called for the local node).
636
602Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>. 637Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
603 638
604 # this node, executed from within a port context: 639 # this node, executed from within a port context:
605 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; 640 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
606 mon $server; 641 mon $server;
628 }; 663 };
629 _self_die if $@; 664 _self_die if $@;
630} 665}
631 666
632sub spawn(@) { 667sub spawn(@) {
633 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2; 668 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
634 669
635 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++; 670 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
636 671
637 $_[0] =~ /::/ 672 $_[0] =~ /::/
638 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught"; 673 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
639 674
640 snd_to_func $noderef, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_; 675 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
641 676
642 "$noderef#$id" 677 "$nodeid#$id"
643} 678}
644 679
645=item after $timeout, @msg 680=item after $timeout, @msg
646 681
647=item after $timeout, $callback 682=item after $timeout, $callback
686 721
687=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP. 722=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
688 723
689Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same 724Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
690way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by 725way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
691configuraiton or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself. 726configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
692 727
693=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP 728=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
694uses "local ports are like remote ports". 729uses "local ports are like remote ports".
695 730
696The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors 731The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
709 744
710Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore 745Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
711needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no 746needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
712useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of 747useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
713AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to 748AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
714filter messages without dequeing them. 749filter messages without dequeuing them.
715 750
716(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 751(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
717 752
718=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 753=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
719 754

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