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Revision 1.86 by root, Wed Sep 9 01:47:01 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.99 by root, Fri Oct 2 14:12:16 2009 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent::MP - multi-processing/message-passing framework 3AnyEvent::MP - erlang-style multi-processing/message-passing framework
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
31 31
32 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
34 34
35 # monitoring 35 # monitoring
36 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 36 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 37 mon $localport, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 38 mon $localport, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
39 39
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS 40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41 41
42 bin/aemp - stable. 42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work. 43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts. 44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable. 45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable but incomplete, protocol not yet final. 46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
47
48stay tuned.
49 47
50=head1 DESCRIPTION 48=head1 DESCRIPTION
51 49
52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 50This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
53 51
118seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else. 116seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
119 117
120=item seeds - C<host:port> 118=item seeds - C<host:port>
121 119
122Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a 120Seeds are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
123TCP port) of nodes thta should be used as seed nodes. 121TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
124 122
125The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running, 123The nodes listening on those endpoints are expected to be long-running,
126and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out 124and at least one of those should always be available. When nodes run out
127of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish 125of connections (e.g. due to a network error), they try to re-establish
128connections to some seednodes again to join the network. 126connections to some seednodes again to join the network.
145 143
146use AE (); 144use AE ();
147 145
148use base "Exporter"; 146use base "Exporter";
149 147
150our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 148our $VERSION = 1.2;
151 149
152our @EXPORT = qw( 150our @EXPORT = qw(
153 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 151 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
154 configure 152 configure
155 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn 153 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub spawn cal
156 port 154 port
157); 155);
158 156
159our $SELF; 157our $SELF;
160 158
229L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 227L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
230connectivity with at least one node at any point in time. 228connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
231 229
232=back 230=back
233 231
234Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile. 232Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
235This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 233This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
236 234
237 configure 235 configure
238 236
239Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 237Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
525delivered again. 523delivered again.
526 524
527Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport 525Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
528used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP 526used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
529relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a 527relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
530non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions). 528non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle connections).
531 529
532This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up 530This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
533stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need 531stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
534to ensure some maximum latency. 532to ensure some maximum latency.
535 533
567 } 565 }
568 566
569 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 567 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
570 568
571 defined wantarray 569 defined wantarray
572 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 570 and ($cb += 0, AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) })
573} 571}
574 572
575=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 573=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
576 574
577Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port 575Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
715 ? $action[0]() 713 ? $action[0]()
716 : snd @action; 714 : snd @action;
717 }; 715 };
718} 716}
719 717
718=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
719
720A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
721given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
722
723The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
724the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
725
726A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
727
728If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
729then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
730elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
731
732If no time-out is given (or it is C<undef>), then the local port will
733monitor the remote port instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
734
735Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
736might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
737this is indeed useful for something.
738
739=cut
740
741sub cal(@) {
742 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
743 my $cb = pop;
744
745 my $port = port {
746 undef $timeout;
747 kil $SELF;
748 &$cb;
749 };
750
751 if (defined $timeout) {
752 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
753 undef $timeout;
754 kil $port;
755 $cb->();
756 };
757 } else {
758 mon $_[0], sub {
759 kil $port;
760 $cb->();
761 };
762 }
763
764 push @_, $port;
765 &snd;
766
767 $port
768}
769
720=back 770=back
721 771
722=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 772=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
723 773
724AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node 774AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
725== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 775== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
726programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 776programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
727sample: 777sample:
728 778
729 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 779 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
730 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 780 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
731 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 781 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
732 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 782 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
733 783
734Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 784Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
735 785
736=over 4 786=over 4
737 787
738=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP. 788=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
739 789
740Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same 790Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
741way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by 791way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
742configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself. 792configuration or DNS), and possibly the addresses of some seed nodes, but
793will otherwise discover other nodes (and their IDs) itself.
743 794
744=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP 795=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
745uses "local ports are like remote ports". 796uses "local ports are like remote ports".
746 797
747The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors 798The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
772so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, 823so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
773connection establishment is handled in the background. 824connection establishment is handled in the background.
774 825
775=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. 826=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
776 827
777Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 828Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
778without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 829lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
779and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 830b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
780 831
781AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message 832AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
782is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until 833is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
783monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message 834monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
784sequence. 835sequence.

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