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Revision 1.71 by root, Wed Aug 21 08:40:28 2013 UTC vs.
Revision 1.77 by root, Sat Sep 17 02:33:54 2016 UTC

1NAME 1NAME
2 AnyEvent - the DBI of event loop programming 2 AnyEvent - the DBI of event loop programming
3 3
4 EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, 4 EV, Event, Glib, Tk, UV, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode,
5 Qt, FLTK and POE are various supported event loops/environments. 5 IO::Async, Qt, FLTK and POE are various supported event
6 loops/environments.
6 7
7SYNOPSIS 8SYNOPSIS
8 use AnyEvent; 9 use AnyEvent;
9 10
10 # if you prefer function calls, look at the AE manpage for 11 # if you prefer function calls, look at the AE manpage for
469 470
470 Example: fork a process and wait for it 471 Example: fork a process and wait for it
471 472
472 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 473 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
473 474
475 # this forks and immediately calls exit in the child. this
476 # normally has all sorts of bad consequences for your parent,
477 # so take this as an example only. always fork and exec,
478 # or call POSIX::_exit, in real code.
474 my $pid = fork or exit 5; 479 my $pid = fork or exit 5;
475 480
476 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 481 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
477 pid => $pid, 482 pid => $pid,
478 cb => sub { 483 cb => sub {
718 This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), 723 This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle),
719 there is one call to "begin", so the condvar waits for all calls to 724 there is one call to "begin", so the condvar waits for all calls to
720 "end" before sending. 725 "end" before sending.
721 726
722 The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as 727 The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as
723 the there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks 728 the there are results to be passed back, and the number of tasks
724 that are begun can potentially be zero: 729 that are begun can potentially be zero:
725 730
726 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 731 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
727 732
728 my %result; 733 my %result;
807 $bool = $cv->ready 812 $bool = $cv->ready
808 Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether "send" or 813 Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether "send" or
809 "croak" have been called. 814 "croak" have been called.
810 815
811 $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv)) 816 $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv))
812 This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and 817 This is a mutator function that returns the callback set (or "undef"
813 optionally replaces it before doing so. 818 if not) and optionally replaces it before doing so.
814 819
815 The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. 820 The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e.
816 when "send" or "croak" are called, with the only argument being the 821 when "send" or "croak" are called, with the only argument being the
817 condition variable itself. If the condition is already true, the 822 condition variable itself. If the condition is already true, the
818 callback is called immediately when it is set. Calling "recv" inside 823 callback is called immediately when it is set. Calling "recv" inside
819 the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block. 824 the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
825
826 Additionally, when the callback is invoked, it is also removed from
827 the condvar (reset to "undef"), so the condvar does not keep a
828 reference to the callback after invocation.
820 829
821SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS 830SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
822 The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage): 831 The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
823 832
824 Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found. 833 Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
839 by the main program. 848 by the main program.
840 849
841 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches. 850 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
842 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable. 851 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
843 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken. 852 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
853 AnyEvent::Impl::UV based on UV, innovated square wheels.
844 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse. 854 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
845 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations. 855 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
846 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi. 856 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
847 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async. 857 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async.
848 AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa based on Cocoa::EventLoop. 858 AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa based on Cocoa::EventLoop.
980 To understand the usefulness of this function, consider a function 990 To understand the usefulness of this function, consider a function
981 that asynchronously does something for you and returns some 991 that asynchronously does something for you and returns some
982 transaction object or guard to let you cancel the operation. For 992 transaction object or guard to let you cancel the operation. For
983 example, "AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect": 993 example, "AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect":
984 994
985 # start a conenction attempt unless one is active 995 # start a connection attempt unless one is active
986 $self->{connect_guard} ||= AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect "www.example.net", 80, sub { 996 $self->{connect_guard} ||= AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect "www.example.net", 80, sub {
987 delete $self->{connect_guard}; 997 delete $self->{connect_guard};
988 ... 998 ...
989 }; 999 };
990 1000
1024 If you want to sprinkle loads of logging calls around your code, 1034 If you want to sprinkle loads of logging calls around your code,
1025 consider creating a logger callback with the "AnyEvent::Log::logger" 1035 consider creating a logger callback with the "AnyEvent::Log::logger"
1026 function, which can reduce typing, codesize and can reduce the 1036 function, which can reduce typing, codesize and can reduce the
1027 logging overhead enourmously. 1037 logging overhead enourmously.
1028 1038
1039 AnyEvent::fh_block $filehandle
1040 AnyEvent::fh_unblock $filehandle
1041 Sets blocking or non-blocking behaviour for the given filehandle.
1042
1029WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 1043WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
1030 As a module author, you should "use AnyEvent" and call AnyEvent methods 1044 As a module author, you should "use AnyEvent" and call AnyEvent methods
1031 freely, but you should not load a specific event module or rely on it. 1045 freely, but you should not load a specific event module or rely on it.
1032 1046
1033 Be careful when you create watchers in the module body - AnyEvent will 1047 Be careful when you create watchers in the module body - AnyEvent will
1120 AnyEvent::AIO (part of the AnyEvent distribution) 1134 AnyEvent::AIO (part of the AnyEvent distribution)
1121 Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in 1135 Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in
1122 the toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently 1136 the toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently
1123 fuses IO::AIO and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to 1137 fuses IO::AIO and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to
1124 event-based file I/O, and much more. 1138 event-based file I/O, and much more.
1139
1140 AnyEvent::Fork, AnyEvent::Fork::RPC, AnyEvent::Fork::Pool,
1141 AnyEvent::Fork::Remote
1142 These let you safely fork new subprocesses, either locally or
1143 remotely (e.g.v ia ssh), using some RPC protocol or not, without the
1144 limitations normally imposed by fork (AnyEvent works fine for
1145 example). Dynamically-resized worker pools are obviously included as
1146 well.
1147
1148 And they are quite tiny and fast as well - "abusing" AnyEvent::Fork
1149 just to exec external programs can easily beat using "fork" and
1150 "exec" (or even "system") in most programs.
1125 1151
1126 AnyEvent::Filesys::Notify 1152 AnyEvent::Filesys::Notify
1127 AnyEvent is good for non-blocking stuff, but it can't detect file or 1153 AnyEvent is good for non-blocking stuff, but it can't detect file or
1128 path changes (e.g. "watch this directory for new files", "watch this 1154 path changes (e.g. "watch this directory for new files", "watch this
1129 file for changes"). The AnyEvent::Filesys::Notify module promises to 1155 file for changes"). The AnyEvent::Filesys::Notify module promises to
1131 and some weird, without doubt broken, stuff on OS X to monitor 1157 and some weird, without doubt broken, stuff on OS X to monitor
1132 files. It can fall back to blocking scans at regular intervals 1158 files. It can fall back to blocking scans at regular intervals
1133 transparently on other platforms, so it's about as portable as it 1159 transparently on other platforms, so it's about as portable as it
1134 gets. 1160 gets.
1135 1161
1136 (I haven't used it myself, but I haven't heard anybody complaining 1162 (I haven't used it myself, but it seems the biggest problem with it
1137 about it yet). 1163 is it quite bad performance).
1138 1164
1139 AnyEvent::DBI 1165 AnyEvent::DBI
1140 Executes DBI requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you, 1166 Executes DBI requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you,
1141 notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished. 1167 notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished.
1142
1143 AnyEvent::HTTPD
1144 A simple embedded webserver.
1145 1168
1146 AnyEvent::FastPing 1169 AnyEvent::FastPing
1147 The fastest ping in the west. 1170 The fastest ping in the west.
1148 1171
1149 Coro 1172 Coro
1345 mentioned will be used, and preference will be given to protocols 1368 mentioned will be used, and preference will be given to protocols
1346 mentioned earlier in the list. 1369 mentioned earlier in the list.
1347 1370
1348 This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks 1371 This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
1349 against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is 1372 against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is
1350 likely small, as the program has to handle conenction and other 1373 likely small, as the program has to handle connection and other
1351 failures anyways. 1374 failures anyways.
1352 1375
1353 Examples: "PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6" - prefer IPv4 over 1376 Examples: "PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6" - prefer IPv4 over
1354 IPv6, but support both and try to use both. 1377 IPv6, but support both and try to use both.
1355 "PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4" - only support IPv4, never try to 1378 "PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4" - only support IPv4, never try to
1589 my $txn = shift; 1612 my $txn = shift;
1590 my $data = $txn->result; 1613 my $data = $txn->result;
1591 ... 1614 ...
1592 }); 1615 });
1593 1616
1594 EV::loop; 1617 EV::run;
1595 1618
1596 3b. The module user could use AnyEvent, too: 1619 3b. The module user could use AnyEvent, too:
1597 1620
1598 use AnyEvent; 1621 use AnyEvent;
1599 1622
2035 usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the 2058 usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the
2036 library is loaded). 2059 library is loaded).
2037 2060
2038 If you have to fork, you must either do so *before* creating your first 2061 If you have to fork, you must either do so *before* creating your first
2039 watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do 2062 watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2040 something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent. 2063 something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent (see below).
2041 2064
2042 The problem of doing event processing in the parent *and* the child is 2065 The problem of doing event processing in the parent *and* the child is
2043 much more complicated: even for backends that *are* fork-aware or 2066 much more complicated: even for backends that *are* fork-aware or
2044 fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all 2067 fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all
2045 watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both 2068 watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both
2046 parent and child, which is almost never what you want. USing "exec" to 2069 parent and child, which is almost never what you want. Using "exec" to
2047 start worker children from some kind of manage rprocess is usually 2070 start worker children from some kind of manage prrocess is usually
2048 preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of 2071 preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of
2049 having to have another binary. 2072 having to have another binary.
2073
2074 In addition to logical problems with fork, there are also implementation
2075 problems. For example, on POSIX systems, you cannot fork at all in Perl
2076 code if a thread (I am talking of pthreads here) was ever created in the
2077 process, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. In general, using fork
2078 from Perl is difficult, and attempting to use fork without an exec to
2079 implement some kind of parallel processing is almost certainly doomed.
2080
2081 To safely fork and exec, you should use a module such as Proc::FastSpawn
2082 that let's you safely fork and exec new processes.
2083
2084 If you want to do multiprocessing using processes, you can look at the
2085 AnyEvent::Fork module (and some related modules such as
2086 AnyEvent::Fork::RPC, AnyEvent::Fork::Pool and AnyEvent::Fork::Remote).
2087 This module allows you to safely create subprocesses without any
2088 limitations - you can use X11 toolkits or AnyEvent in the children
2089 created by AnyEvent::Fork safely and without any special precautions.
2050 2090
2051SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2091SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
2052 AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2092 AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
2053 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}. While this cannot (to my knowledge) be used 2093 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}. While this cannot (to my knowledge) be used
2054 to execute arbitrary code or directly gain access, it can easily be used 2094 to execute arbitrary code or directly gain access, it can easily be used
2089 2129
2090 Development/Debugging: AnyEvent::Strict (stricter checking), 2130 Development/Debugging: AnyEvent::Strict (stricter checking),
2091 AnyEvent::Debug (interactive shell, watcher tracing). 2131 AnyEvent::Debug (interactive shell, watcher tracing).
2092 2132
2093 Supported event modules: AnyEvent::Loop, EV, EV::Glib, Glib::EV, Event, 2133 Supported event modules: AnyEvent::Loop, EV, EV::Glib, Glib::EV, Event,
2094 Glib::Event, Glib, Tk, Event::Lib, Qt, POE, FLTK. 2134 Glib::Event, Glib, Tk, Event::Lib, Qt, POE, FLTK, Cocoa::EventLoop, UV.
2095 2135
2096 Implementations: AnyEvent::Impl::EV, AnyEvent::Impl::Event, 2136 Implementations: AnyEvent::Impl::EV, AnyEvent::Impl::Event,
2097 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib, AnyEvent::Impl::Tk, AnyEvent::Impl::Perl, 2137 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib, AnyEvent::Impl::Tk, AnyEvent::Impl::Perl,
2098 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib, AnyEvent::Impl::Qt, AnyEvent::Impl::POE, 2138 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib, AnyEvent::Impl::Qt, AnyEvent::Impl::POE,
2099 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync, Anyevent::Impl::Irssi, AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK. 2139 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync, AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi, AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK,
2140 AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa, AnyEvent::Impl::UV.
2100 2141
2101 Non-blocking handles, pipes, stream sockets, TCP clients and servers: 2142 Non-blocking handles, pipes, stream sockets, TCP clients and servers:
2102 AnyEvent::Handle, AnyEvent::Socket, AnyEvent::TLS. 2143 AnyEvent::Handle, AnyEvent::Socket, AnyEvent::TLS.
2103 2144
2104 Asynchronous File I/O: AnyEvent::IO. 2145 Asynchronous File I/O: AnyEvent::IO.

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