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1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops 3AnyEvent - the DBI of event loop programming
4 4
5EV, Event, Coro::EV, Coro::Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, Qt,
6FLTK and POE are various supported event loops/environments.
6 7
7=head1 SYNOPSIS 8=head1 SYNOPSIS
8 9
9 use AnyEvent; 10 use AnyEvent;
10 11
12 # if you prefer function calls, look at the AE manpage for
13 # an alternative API.
14
15 # file handle or descriptor readable
11 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r|w", cb => sub { 16 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r", cb => sub { ... });
17
18 # one-shot or repeating timers
19 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... });
20 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ...);
21
22 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time
23 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time.
24
25 # POSIX signal
26 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "TERM", cb => sub { ... });
27
28 # child process exit
29 my $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
30 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
12 ... 31 ...
13 }); 32 });
14 33
15 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { 34 # called when event loop idle (if applicable)
16 ... 35 my $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub { ... });
17 });
18 36
19 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged 37 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged
38 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's
20 $w->wait; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->broadcast 39 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send
21 $w->broadcast; # wake up current and all future wait's 40 # use a condvar in callback mode:
41 $w->cb (sub { $_[0]->recv });
42
43=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL
44
45This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested
46in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the
47L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage.
48
49=head1 SUPPORT
50
51An FAQ document is available as L<AnyEvent::FAQ>.
52
53There also is a mailinglist for discussing all things AnyEvent, and an IRC
54channel, too.
55
56See the AnyEvent project page at the B<Schmorpforge Ta-Sa Software
57Repository>, at L<http://anyevent.schmorp.de>, for more info.
22 58
23=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 59=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
24 60
25Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 61Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
26nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 62nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
27 63
28Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of 64Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of
29policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>. 65policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>.
30 66
31First and foremost, I<AnyEvent is not an event model> itself, it only 67First and foremost, I<AnyEvent is not an event model> itself, it only
32interfaces to whatever event model the main program happens to use in a 68interfaces to whatever event model the main program happens to use, in a
33pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike, 69pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike,
34the statement "there can only be one" is a bitter reality: In general, 70the statement "there can only be one" is a bitter reality: In general,
35only one event loop can be active at the same time in a process. AnyEvent 71only one event loop can be active at the same time in a process. AnyEvent
36helps hiding the differences between those event loops. 72cannot change this, but it can hide the differences between those event
73loops.
37 74
38The goal of AnyEvent is to offer module authors the ability to do event 75The goal of AnyEvent is to offer module authors the ability to do event
39programming (waiting for I/O or timer events) without subscribing to a 76programming (waiting for I/O or timer events) without subscribing to a
40religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your 77religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your
41module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event 78module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event
42model you use. 79model you use.
43 80
44For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is 81For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is
45actually doing all I/O I<synchronously>...), using them in your module is 82actually doing all I/O I<synchronously>...), using them in your module is
46like joining a cult: After you joined, you are dependent on them and you 83like joining a cult: After you join, you are dependent on them and you
47cannot use anything else, as it is simply incompatible to everything that 84cannot use anything else, as they are simply incompatible to everything
48isn't itself. What's worse, all the potential users of your module are 85that isn't them. What's worse, all the potential users of your
49I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use. 86module are I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use.
50 87
51AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works 88AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works
52fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together 89fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together
53with the rest: POE + IO::Async? no go. Tk + Event? no go. Again: if 90with the rest: POE + EV? No go. Tk + Event? No go. Again: if your module
54your module uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it, 91uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it, too. But if
55too. But if your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all 92your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all event models it
56event models it supports (including stuff like POE and IO::Async, as long 93supports (including stuff like IO::Async, as long as those use one of the
57as those use one of the supported event loops. It is trivial to add new 94supported event loops. It is easy to add new event loops to AnyEvent, too,
58event loops to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof). 95so it is future-proof).
59 96
60In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event 97In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event
61model>, AnyEvent also is free of bloat and policy: with POE or similar 98model>, AnyEvent also is free of bloat and policy: with POE or similar
62modules, you get an enourmous amount of code and strict rules you have to 99modules, you get an enormous amount of code and strict rules you have to
63follow. AnyEvent, on the other hand, is lean and up to the point, by only 100follow. AnyEvent, on the other hand, is lean and to the point, by only
64offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as 101offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as
65technically possible. 102technically possible.
66 103
104Of course, AnyEvent comes with a big (and fully optional!) toolbox
105of useful functionality, such as an asynchronous DNS resolver, 100%
106non-blocking connects (even with TLS/SSL, IPv6 and on broken platforms
107such as Windows) and lots of real-world knowledge and workarounds for
108platform bugs and differences.
109
67Of course, if you want lots of policy (this can arguably be somewhat 110Now, if you I<do want> lots of policy (this can arguably be somewhat
68useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event 111useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event
69model, you should I<not> use this module. 112model, you should I<not> use this module.
70 113
71
72=head1 DESCRIPTION 114=head1 DESCRIPTION
73 115
74L<AnyEvent> provides an identical interface to multiple event loops. This 116L<AnyEvent> provides a uniform interface to various event loops. This
75allows module authors to utilise an event loop without forcing module 117allows module authors to use event loop functionality without forcing
76users to use the same event loop (as only a single event loop can coexist 118module users to use a specific event loop implementation (since more
77peacefully at any one time). 119than one event loop cannot coexist peacefully).
78 120
79The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event> 121The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event>
80module. 122module.
81 123
82During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries 124During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries
83to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the 125to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the
84following modules is already loaded: L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, L<EV>, 126following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, L<AnyEvent::Loop>,
85L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, 127L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. The first one
86L<POE>. The first one found is used. If none are found, the module tries 128found is used. If none are detected, the module tries to load the first
87to load these modules (excluding Tk, Event::Lib, Qt and POE as the pure perl 129four modules in the order given; but note that if L<EV> is not
88adaptor should always succeed) in the order given. The first one that can 130available, the pure-perl L<AnyEvent::Loop> should always work, so
89be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be 131the other two are not normally tried.
90found, AnyEvent will fall back to a pure-perl event loop, which is not
91very efficient, but should work everywhere.
92 132
93Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading 133Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading
94an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make 134an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make
95that model the default. For example: 135that model the default. For example:
96 136
98 use AnyEvent; 138 use AnyEvent;
99 139
100 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk 140 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk
101 141
102The I<likely> means that, if any module loads another event model and 142The I<likely> means that, if any module loads another event model and
103starts using it, all bets are off. Maybe you should tell their authors to 143starts using it, all bets are off - this case should be very rare though,
104use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly... 144as very few modules hardcode event loops without announcing this very
145loudly.
105 146
106The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called 147The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called C<AnyEvent::Loop>. Like
107C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it 148other event modules you can load it explicitly and enjoy the high
108explicitly. 149availability of that event loop :)
109 150
110=head1 WATCHERS 151=head1 WATCHERS
111 152
112AnyEvent has the central concept of a I<watcher>, which is an object that 153AnyEvent has the central concept of a I<watcher>, which is an object that
113stores relevant data for each kind of event you are waiting for, such as 154stores relevant data for each kind of event you are waiting for, such as
114the callback to call, the filehandle to watch, etc. 155the callback to call, the file handle to watch, etc.
115 156
116These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After 157These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After
117creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the 158creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the
118callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model 159callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model
119is in control). 160is in control).
120 161
162Note that B<callbacks must not permanently change global variables>
163potentially in use by the event loop (such as C<$_> or C<$[>) and that B<<
164callbacks must not C<die> >>. The former is good programming practice in
165Perl and the latter stems from the fact that exception handling differs
166widely between event loops.
167
121To disable the watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the 168To disable a watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the
122variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references 169variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references
123to it). 170to it).
124 171
125All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class. 172All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class.
126 173
127Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for 174Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for
128example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways. 175example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways.
129 176
130An any way to achieve that is this pattern: 177One way to achieve that is this pattern:
131 178
132 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub { 179 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub {
133 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it 180 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it
134 undef $w; 181 undef $w;
135 }); 182 });
136 183
137Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl, 184Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl,
138my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are 185my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are
139declared. 186declared.
140 187
141=head2 I/O WATCHERS 188=head2 I/O WATCHERS
142 189
190 $w = AnyEvent->io (
191 fh => <filehandle_or_fileno>,
192 poll => <"r" or "w">,
193 cb => <callback>,
194 );
195
143You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 196You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
144with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 197with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
145 198
146C<fh> the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 199C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
200for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
201handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
202non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
203most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
204or block devices.
205
147for events. C<poll> must be a string that is either C<r> or C<w>, 206C<poll> must be a string that is either C<r> or C<w>, which creates a
148which creates a watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, 207watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, respectively.
208
149respectively. C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle 209C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle becomes ready.
150becomes ready.
151 210
152Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 211Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
153presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 212presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
154callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks. 213callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks.
155 214
156The I/O watcher might use the underlying file descriptor or a copy of it. 215The I/O watcher might use the underlying file descriptor or a copy of it.
157You must not close a file handle as long as any watcher is active on the 216You must not close a file handle as long as any watcher is active on the
158underlying file descriptor. 217underlying file descriptor.
159 218
160Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should 219Some event loops issue spurious readiness notifications, so you should
161always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file 220always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file
162handles. 221handles.
163 222
164Example:
165
166 # wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the watcher 223Example: wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the
224watcher.
225
167 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub { 226 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
168 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); 227 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>);
169 warn "read: $input\n"; 228 warn "read: $input\n";
170 undef $w; 229 undef $w;
171 }); 230 });
172 231
173=head2 TIME WATCHERS 232=head2 TIME WATCHERS
174 233
234 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => <seconds>, cb => <callback>);
235
236 $w = AnyEvent->timer (
237 after => <fractional_seconds>,
238 interval => <fractional_seconds>,
239 cb => <callback>,
240 );
241
175You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >> 242You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >>
176method with the following mandatory arguments: 243method with the following mandatory arguments:
177 244
178C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are 245C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are
179supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke 246supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke
181 248
182Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 249Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
183presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 250presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
184callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks. 251callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks.
185 252
186The timer callback will be invoked at most once: if you want a repeating 253The callback will normally be invoked only once. If you specify another
187timer you have to create a new watcher (this is a limitation by both Tk 254parameter, C<interval>, as a strictly positive number (> 0), then the
188and Glib). 255callback will be invoked regularly at that interval (in fractional
256seconds) after the first invocation. If C<interval> is specified with a
257false value, then it is treated as if it were not specified at all.
189 258
190Example: 259The callback will be rescheduled before invoking the callback, but no
260attempt is made to avoid timer drift in most backends, so the interval is
261only approximate.
191 262
192 # fire an event after 7.7 seconds 263Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds.
264
193 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub { 265 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub {
194 warn "timeout\n"; 266 warn "timeout\n";
195 }); 267 });
196 268
197 # to cancel the timer: 269 # to cancel the timer:
198 undef $w; 270 undef $w;
199 271
200Example 2:
201
202 # fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second 272Example 2: fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second.
203 my $w;
204 273
205 my $cb = sub {
206 # cancel the old timer while creating a new one
207 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => $cb); 274 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, interval => 1, cb => sub {
275 warn "timeout\n";
208 }; 276 };
209
210 # start the "loop" by creating the first watcher
211 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, cb => $cb);
212 277
213=head3 TIMING ISSUES 278=head3 TIMING ISSUES
214 279
215There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire 280There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire
216in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12 281in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12
218 283
219While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they 284While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they
220use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock 285use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock
221"jumps", for example, when ntp decides to set your clock backwards from 286"jumps", for example, when ntp decides to set your clock backwards from
222the wrong date of 2014-01-01 to 2008-01-01, a watcher that is supposed to 287the wrong date of 2014-01-01 to 2008-01-01, a watcher that is supposed to
223fire "after" a second might actually take six years to finally fire. 288fire "after a second" might actually take six years to finally fire.
224 289
225AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious 290AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious
226about these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based 291of these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based
227on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time) 292on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time)
228timers. 293timers.
229 294
230AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the 295AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the
231AnyEvent API. 296AnyEvent API.
232 297
298AnyEvent has two additional methods that return the "current time":
299
300=over 4
301
302=item AnyEvent->time
303
304This returns the "current wallclock time" as a fractional number of
305seconds since the Epoch (the same thing as C<time> or C<Time::HiRes::time>
306return, and the result is guaranteed to be compatible with those).
307
308It progresses independently of any event loop processing, i.e. each call
309will check the system clock, which usually gets updated frequently.
310
311=item AnyEvent->now
312
313This also returns the "current wallclock time", but unlike C<time>, above,
314this value might change only once per event loop iteration, depending on
315the event loop (most return the same time as C<time>, above). This is the
316time that AnyEvent's timers get scheduled against.
317
318I<In almost all cases (in all cases if you don't care), this is the
319function to call when you want to know the current time.>
320
321This function is also often faster then C<< AnyEvent->time >>, and
322thus the preferred method if you want some timestamp (for example,
323L<AnyEvent::Handle> uses this to update its activity timeouts).
324
325The rest of this section is only of relevance if you try to be very exact
326with your timing; you can skip it without a bad conscience.
327
328For a practical example of when these times differ, consider L<Event::Lib>
329and L<EV> and the following set-up:
330
331The event loop is running and has just invoked one of your callbacks at
332time=500 (assume no other callbacks delay processing). In your callback,
333you wait a second by executing C<sleep 1> (blocking the process for a
334second) and then (at time=501) you create a relative timer that fires
335after three seconds.
336
337With L<Event::Lib>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> will
338both return C<501>, because that is the current time, and the timer will
339be scheduled to fire at time=504 (C<501> + C<3>).
340
341With L<EV>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> returns C<501> (as that is the current
342time), but C<< AnyEvent->now >> returns C<500>, as that is the time the
343last event processing phase started. With L<EV>, your timer gets scheduled
344to run at time=503 (C<500> + C<3>).
345
346In one sense, L<Event::Lib> is more exact, as it uses the current time
347regardless of any delays introduced by event processing. However, most
348callbacks do not expect large delays in processing, so this causes a
349higher drift (and a lot more system calls to get the current time).
350
351In another sense, L<EV> is more exact, as your timer will be scheduled at
352the same time, regardless of how long event processing actually took.
353
354In either case, if you care (and in most cases, you don't), then you
355can get whatever behaviour you want with any event loop, by taking the
356difference between C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> into
357account.
358
359=item AnyEvent->now_update
360
361Some event loops (such as L<EV> or L<AnyEvent::Loop>) cache the current
362time for each loop iteration (see the discussion of L<< AnyEvent->now >>,
363above).
364
365When a callback runs for a long time (or when the process sleeps), then
366this "current" time will differ substantially from the real time, which
367might affect timers and time-outs.
368
369When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the
370event loop's idea of "current time".
371
372A typical example would be a script in a web server (e.g. C<mod_perl>) -
373when mod_perl executes the script, then the event loop will have the wrong
374idea about the "current time" (being potentially far in the past, when the
375script ran the last time). In that case you should arrange a call to C<<
376AnyEvent->now_update >> each time the web server process wakes up again
377(e.g. at the start of your script, or in a handler).
378
379Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled.
380
381=back
382
233=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 383=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
234 384
385 $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => <uppercase_signal_name>, cb => <callback>);
386
235You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal 387You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal
236I<name> without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl callback to 388I<name> in uppercase and without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl
237be invoked whenever a signal occurs. 389callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs.
238 390
239Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 391Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
240presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 392presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
241callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks. 393callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks.
242 394
243Multiple signal occurances can be clumped together into one callback 395Multiple signal occurrences can be clumped together into one callback
244invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. synchronous means 396invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
245that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process, 397that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process,
246but it is guarenteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 398but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
247 399
248The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal 400The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal
249between multiple watchers. 401between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
402interrupt your program at bad times.
250 403
251This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 404This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
252directly will likely not work correctly. 405so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
406correctly.
253 407
254Example: exit on SIGINT 408Example: exit on SIGINT
255 409
256 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 410 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
257 411
412=head3 Restart Behaviour
413
414While restart behaviour is up to the event loop implementation, most will
415not restart syscalls (that includes L<Async::Interrupt> and AnyEvent's
416pure perl implementation).
417
418=head3 Safe/Unsafe Signals
419
420Perl signals can be either "safe" (synchronous to opcode handling) or
421"unsafe" (asynchronous) - the former might get delayed indefinitely, the
422latter might corrupt your memory.
423
424AnyEvent signal handlers are, in addition, synchronous to the event loop,
425i.e. they will not interrupt your running perl program but will only be
426called as part of the normal event handling (just like timer, I/O etc.
427callbacks, too).
428
429=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
430
431Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
432callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot
433do race-free signal handling in perl, requiring C libraries for
434this. AnyEvent will try to do its best, which means in some cases,
435signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might be delayed is
436specified in C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY> (default: 10 seconds). This
437variable can be changed only before the first signal watcher is created,
438and should be left alone otherwise. This variable determines how often
439AnyEvent polls for signals (in case a wake-up was missed). Higher values
440will cause fewer spurious wake-ups, which is better for power and CPU
441saving.
442
443All these problems can be avoided by installing the optional
444L<Async::Interrupt> module, which works with most event loops. It will not
445work with inherently broken event loops such as L<Event> or L<Event::Lib>
446(and not with L<POE> currently, as POE does its own workaround with
447one-second latency). For those, you just have to suffer the delays.
448
258=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 449=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
259 450
451 $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => <process id>, cb => <callback>);
452
260You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status. 453You can also watch for a child process exit and catch its exit status.
261 454
262The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (if set to C<0>, it 455The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (on some backends,
263watches for any child process exit). The watcher will trigger as often 456using C<0> watches for any child process exit, on others this will
264as status change for the child are received. This works by installing a 457croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
265signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>. The callback will be called with the pid 458finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
266and exit status (as returned by waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, 459(stopped/continued).
267you I<can> rely on child watcher callback arguments. 460
461The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by
462waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher
463callback arguments.
464
465This watcher type works by installing a signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>,
466and since it cannot be shared, nothing else should use SIGCHLD or reap
467random child processes (waiting for specific child processes, e.g. inside
468C<system>, is just fine).
268 469
269There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them 470There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them
270I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could 471I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could
271have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 472have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
272 473
273Not all event models handle this correctly (POE doesn't), but even for 474Not all event models handle this correctly (neither POE nor IO::Async do,
475see their AnyEvent::Impl manpages for details), but even for event models
274event models that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be 476that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be loaded before
275loaded before the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). 477the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). AnyEvent's
478pure perl event loop handles all cases correctly regardless of when you
479start the watcher.
276 480
277This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first thing in an 481This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
278AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one watcher before you 482thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
279C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call C<AnyEvent::detect>). 483watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
484C<AnyEvent::detect>).
485
486As most event loops do not support waiting for child events, they will be
487emulated by AnyEvent in most cases, in which case the latency and race
488problems mentioned in the description of signal watchers apply.
280 489
281Example: fork a process and wait for it 490Example: fork a process and wait for it
282 491
283 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 492 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
284 493
285 AnyEvent::detect; # force event module to be initialised
286
287 my $pid = fork or exit 5; 494 my $pid = fork or exit 5;
288 495
289 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 496 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
290 pid => $pid, 497 pid => $pid,
291 cb => sub { 498 cb => sub {
292 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 499 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
293 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status"; 500 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status";
294 $done->broadcast; 501 $done->send;
295 }, 502 },
296 ); 503 );
297 504
298 # do something else, then wait for process exit 505 # do something else, then wait for process exit
299 $done->wait; 506 $done->recv;
507
508=head2 IDLE WATCHERS
509
510 $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => <callback>);
511
512This will repeatedly invoke the callback after the process becomes idle,
513until either the watcher is destroyed or new events have been detected.
514
515Idle watchers are useful when there is a need to do something, but it
516is not so important (or wise) to do it instantly. The callback will be
517invoked only when there is "nothing better to do", which is usually
518defined as "all outstanding events have been handled and no new events
519have been detected". That means that idle watchers ideally get invoked
520when the event loop has just polled for new events but none have been
521detected. Instead of blocking to wait for more events, the idle watchers
522will be invoked.
523
524Unfortunately, most event loops do not really support idle watchers (only
525EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent
526will simply call the callback "from time to time".
527
528Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the
529program is otherwise idle:
530
531 my @lines; # read data
532 my $idle_w;
533 my $io_w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
534 push @lines, scalar <STDIN>;
535
536 # start an idle watcher, if not already done
537 $idle_w ||= AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub {
538 # handle only one line, when there are lines left
539 if (my $line = shift @lines) {
540 print "handled when idle: $line";
541 } else {
542 # otherwise disable the idle watcher again
543 undef $idle_w;
544 }
545 });
546 });
300 547
301=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 548=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
302 549
550 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
551
552 $cv->send (<list>);
553 my @res = $cv->recv;
554
555If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them
556require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
557will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
558
559AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
560loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
561
562The tool to do that is called a "condition variable", so called because
563they represent a condition that must become true.
564
565Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
566
303Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar >> 567Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
304method without any arguments. 568>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
569C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
570becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
571the results).
305 572
306A condition variable waits for a condition - precisely that the C<< 573After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
307->broadcast >> method has been called. 574by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it
575were a callback, read about the caveats in the description for the C<<
576->send >> method).
308 577
309They are very useful to signal that a condition has been fulfilled, for 578Since condition variables are the most complex part of the AnyEvent API, here are
579some different mental models of what they are - pick the ones you can connect to:
580
581=over 4
582
583=item * Condition variables are like callbacks - you can call them (and pass them instead
584of callbacks). Unlike callbacks however, you can also wait for them to be called.
585
586=item * Condition variables are signals - one side can emit or send them,
587the other side can wait for them, or install a handler that is called when
588the signal fires.
589
590=item * Condition variables are like "Merge Points" - points in your program
591where you merge multiple independent results/control flows into one.
592
593=item * Condition variables represent a transaction - functions that start
594some kind of transaction can return them, leaving the caller the choice
595between waiting in a blocking fashion, or setting a callback.
596
597=item * Condition variables represent future values, or promises to deliver
598some result, long before the result is available.
599
600=back
601
602Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
310example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 603for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
311then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 604then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
312availability of results. 605availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
606called or can synchronously C<< ->recv >> for the results.
313 607
314You can also use condition variables to block your main program until 608You can also use them to simulate traditional event loops - for example,
315an event occurs - for example, you could C<< ->wait >> in your main 609you can block your main program until an event occurs - for example, you
316program until the user clicks the Quit button in your app, which would C<< 610could C<< ->recv >> in your main program until the user clicks the Quit
317->broadcast >> the "quit" event. 611button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event.
318 612
319Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have 613Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have
320two pirces of code that call C<< ->wait >> in a round-robbin fashion, you 614two pieces of code that call C<< ->recv >> in a round-robin fashion, you
321lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but 615lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but
322you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks, 616you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks,
323as this asks for trouble. 617as this asks for trouble.
324 618
325This object has two methods: 619Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys
620used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing
621easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of
622AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call
623its C<new> method in your own C<new> method.
624
625There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which
626eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits
627for the send to occur.
628
629Example: wait for a timer.
630
631 # condition: "wait till the timer is fired"
632 my $timer_fired = AnyEvent->condvar;
633
634 # create the timer - we could wait for, say
635 # a handle becomign ready, or even an
636 # AnyEvent::HTTP request to finish, but
637 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
638 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
639 after => 1,
640 cb => sub { $timer_fired->send },
641 );
642
643 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
644 # calls ->send
645 $timer_fired->recv;
646
647Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that condition
648variables are also callable directly.
649
650 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
651 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done);
652 $done->recv;
653
654Example: Imagine an API that returns a condvar and doesn't support
655callbacks. This is how you make a synchronous call, for example from
656the main program:
657
658 use AnyEvent::CouchDB;
659
660 ...
661
662 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv;
663
664And this is how you would just set a callback to be called whenever the
665results are available:
666
667 $couchdb->info->cb (sub {
668 my @info = $_[0]->recv;
669 });
670
671=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS
672
673These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the
674code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also
675the producer side which creates the condvar in most cases, but it isn't
676uncommon for the consumer to create it as well.
326 677
327=over 4 678=over 4
328 679
680=item $cv->send (...)
681
682Flag the condition as ready - a running C<< ->recv >> and all further
683calls to C<recv> will (eventually) return after this method has been
684called. If nobody is waiting the send will be remembered.
685
686If a callback has been set on the condition variable, it is called
687immediately from within send.
688
689Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
690future C<< ->recv >> calls.
691
692Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as if
693they were a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling
694C<send>.
695
696=item $cv->croak ($error)
697
698Similar to send, but causes all calls to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
699C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
700
701This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
702user/consumer. Doing it this way instead of calling C<croak> directly
703delays the error detection, but has the overwhelming advantage that it
704diagnoses the error at the place where the result is expected, and not
705deep in some event callback with no connection to the actual code causing
706the problem.
707
708=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
709
329=item $cv->wait 710=item $cv->end
330 711
331Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->broadcast >> method has been 712These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
332called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers normally. 713one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
714to use a condition variable for the whole process.
333 715
716Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to
717C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
718>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed, passing the
719condvar as first argument. That callback is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send
720>>, but that is not required. If no group callback was set, C<send> will
721be called without any arguments.
722
723You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
724sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
725condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
726
727Let's start with a simple example: you have two I/O watchers (for example,
728STDOUT and STDERR for a program), and you want to wait for both streams to
729close before activating a condvar:
730
731 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
732
733 $cv->begin; # first watcher
734 my $w1 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh1, cb => sub {
735 defined sysread $fh1, my $buf, 4096
736 or $cv->end;
737 });
738
739 $cv->begin; # second watcher
740 my $w2 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh2, cb => sub {
741 defined sysread $fh2, my $buf, 4096
742 or $cv->end;
743 });
744
745 $cv->recv;
746
747This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), there is
748one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
749sending.
750
751The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
752there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
753begun can potentially be zero:
754
755 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
756
757 my %result;
758 $cv->begin (sub { shift->send (\%result) });
759
760 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) {
761 $cv->begin;
762 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub {
763 $result{$host} = ...;
764 $cv->end;
765 };
766 }
767
768 $cv->end;
769
770This code fragment supposedly pings a number of hosts and calls
771C<send> after results for all then have have been gathered - in any
772order. To achieve this, the code issues a call to C<begin> when it starts
773each ping request and calls C<end> when it has received some result for
774it. Since C<begin> and C<end> only maintain a counter, the order in which
775results arrive is not relevant.
776
777There is an additional bracketing call to C<begin> and C<end> outside the
778loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
779to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
780C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
781doesn't execute once).
782
783This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
784potentially zero) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
785the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
786subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
787call C<end>.
788
789=back
790
791=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
792
793These methods should only be used by the consuming side, i.e. the
794code awaits the condition.
795
796=over 4
797
798=item $cv->recv
799
800Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak
801>> methods have been called on C<$cv>, while servicing other watchers
802normally.
803
334You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls will return 804You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but
335immediately. 805will return immediately.
806
807If an error condition has been set by calling C<< ->croak >>, then this
808function will call C<croak>.
809
810In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
811in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
812
813Note that doing a blocking wait in a callback is not supported by any
814event loop, that is, recursive invocation of a blocking C<< ->recv
815>> is not allowed, and the C<recv> call will C<croak> if such a
816condition is detected. This condition can be slightly loosened by using
817L<Coro::AnyEvent>, which allows you to do a blocking C<< ->recv >> from
818any thread that doesn't run the event loop itself.
336 819
337Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 820Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case
338(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are 821(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are
339using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the 822using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>. Instead, let the
340caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling 823caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
341condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 824condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
342callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 825callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
343while still suppporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 826while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
344 827
345Another reason I<never> to C<< ->wait >> in a module is that you cannot 828You can ensure that C<< ->recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
346sensibly have two C<< ->wait >>'s in parallel, as that would require 829only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
347multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent> 830time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
348can supply (the coroutine-aware backends L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV> and 831waits otherwise.
349L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent> explicitly support concurrent C<< ->wait >>'s
350from different coroutines, however).
351 832
352=item $cv->broadcast 833=item $bool = $cv->ready
353 834
354Flag the condition as ready - a running C<< ->wait >> and all further 835Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or
355calls to C<wait> will (eventually) return after this method has been 836C<croak> have been called.
356called. If nobody is waiting the broadcast will be remembered.. 837
838=item $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv))
839
840This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
841replaces it before doing so.
842
843The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when
844C<send> or C<croak> are called, with the only argument being the
845condition variable itself. If the condition is already true, the
846callback is called immediately when it is set. Calling C<recv> inside
847the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
357 848
358=back 849=back
359 850
360Example: 851=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
361 852
362 # wait till the result is ready 853The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
363 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar;
364 854
365 # do something such as adding a timer 855=over 4
366 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->broadcast
367 # when the "result" is ready.
368 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
369 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
370 after => 1,
371 cb => sub { $result_ready->broadcast },
372 );
373 856
374 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the watcher 857=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
375 # calls broadcast 858
376 $result_ready->wait; 859EV is the preferred backend when no other event loop seems to be in
860use. If EV is not installed, then AnyEvent will fall back to its own
861pure-perl implementation, which is available everywhere as it comes with
862AnyEvent itself.
863
864 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (interface to libev, best choice).
865 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl AnyEvent::Loop, fast and portable.
866
867=item Backends that are transparently being picked up when they are used.
868
869These will be used if they are already loaded when the first watcher
870is created, in which case it is assumed that the application is using
871them. This means that AnyEvent will automatically pick the right backend
872when the main program loads an event module before anything starts to
873create watchers. Nothing special needs to be done by the main program.
874
875 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
876 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
877 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
878 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
879 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
880 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
881 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async.
882 AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa based on Cocoa::EventLoop.
883 AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK2 based on FLTK (fltk 2 binding).
884
885=item Backends with special needs.
886
887Qt requires the Qt::Application to be instantiated first, but will
888otherwise be picked up automatically. As long as the main program
889instantiates the application before any AnyEvent watchers are created,
890everything should just work.
891
892 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt.
893
894=item Event loops that are indirectly supported via other backends.
895
896Some event loops can be supported via other modules:
897
898There is no direct support for WxWidgets (L<Wx>) or L<Prima>.
899
900B<WxWidgets> has no support for watching file handles. However, you can
901use WxWidgets through the POE adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply
902polls 20 times per second, which was considered to be too horrible to even
903consider for AnyEvent.
904
905B<Prima> is not supported as nobody seems to be using it, but it has a POE
906backend, so it can be supported through POE.
907
908AnyEvent knows about both L<Prima> and L<Wx>, however, and will try to
909load L<POE> when detecting them, in the hope that POE will pick them up,
910in which case everything will be automatic.
911
912=back
377 913
378=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 914=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
379 915
916These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
917write AnyEvent extension modules.
918
380=over 4 919=over 4
381 920
382=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 921=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
383 922
384Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 923Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
924backend has been autodetected.
925
385contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 926Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
386Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 927name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
387C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 928of the C<AnyEvent::Impl::xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
388AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 929case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
389 930will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
390The known classes so far are:
391
392 AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV based on Coro::EV, best choice.
393 AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent based on Coro::Event, second best choice.
394 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
395 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
396 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
397 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, inefficient but portable.
398 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
399 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
400 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
401 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
402
403There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
404watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
405POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
406second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
407AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
408it's adaptor.
409
410AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
411autodetecting them.
412 931
413=item AnyEvent::detect 932=item AnyEvent::detect
414 933
415Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 934Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
416if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 935if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
417have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 936have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
418runtime. 937runtime, and not e.g. during initialisation of your module.
938
939The effect of calling this function is as if a watcher had been created
940(specifically, actions that happen "when the first watcher is created"
941happen when calling detetc as well).
942
943If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
944created, use C<post_detect>.
945
946=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
947
948Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
949autodetected (or immediately if that has already happened).
950
951The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
952(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
953created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
954other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
955L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
956
957The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
958event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
959and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
960avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
961
962If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
963that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
964C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
965a case where this is useful.
966
967Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
968C<$WATCHER>, but do so only do so after the event loop is initialised.
969
970 our WATCHER;
971
972 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
973 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
974 };
975
976 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
977 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
978 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
979 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
980
981 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
982
983=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
984
985If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
986before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will be called directly
987after the event loop has been chosen.
988
989You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
990if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
991array will be ignored.
992
993Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
994it, as it takes care of these details.
995
996This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
997when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
998not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
999into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
1000
1001Example: To load Coro::AnyEvent whenever Coro and AnyEvent are used
1002together, you could put this into Coro (this is the actual code used by
1003Coro to accomplish this):
1004
1005 if (defined $AnyEvent::MODEL) {
1006 # AnyEvent already initialised, so load Coro::AnyEvent
1007 require Coro::AnyEvent;
1008 } else {
1009 # AnyEvent not yet initialised, so make sure to load Coro::AnyEvent
1010 # as soon as it is
1011 push @AnyEvent::post_detect, sub { require Coro::AnyEvent };
1012 }
1013
1014=item AnyEvent::postpone { BLOCK }
1015
1016Arranges for the block to be executed as soon as possible, but not before
1017the call itself returns. In practise, the block will be executed just
1018before the event loop polls for new events, or shortly afterwards.
1019
1020This function never returns anything (to make the C<return postpone { ...
1021}> idiom more useful.
1022
1023To understand the usefulness of this function, consider a function that
1024asynchronously does something for you and returns some transaction
1025object or guard to let you cancel the operation. For example,
1026C<AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect>:
1027
1028 # start a conenction attempt unless one is active
1029 $self->{connect_guard} ||= AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect "www.example.net", 80, sub {
1030 delete $self->{connect_guard};
1031 ...
1032 };
1033
1034Imagine that this function could instantly call the callback, for
1035example, because it detects an obvious error such as a negative port
1036number. Invoking the callback before the function returns causes problems
1037however: the callback will be called and will try to delete the guard
1038object. But since the function hasn't returned yet, there is nothing to
1039delete. When the function eventually returns it will assign the guard
1040object to C<< $self->{connect_guard} >>, where it will likely never be
1041deleted, so the program thinks it is still trying to connect.
1042
1043This is where C<AnyEvent::postpone> should be used. Instead of calling the
1044callback directly on error:
1045
1046 $cb->(undef), return # signal error to callback, BAD!
1047 if $some_error_condition;
1048
1049It should use C<postpone>:
1050
1051 AnyEvent::postpone { $cb->(undef) }, return # signal error to callback, later
1052 if $some_error_condition;
1053
1054=item AnyEvent::log $level, $msg[, @args]
1055
1056Log the given C<$msg> at the given C<$level>.
1057
1058If L<AnyEvent::Log> is not loaded then this function makes a simple test
1059to see whether the message will be logged. If the test succeeds it will
1060load AnyEvent::Log and call C<AnyEvent::Log::log> - consequently, look at
1061the L<AnyEvent::Log> documentation for details.
1062
1063If the test fails it will simply return.
1064
1065If you want to sprinkle loads of logging calls around your code, consider
1066creating a logger callback with the C<AnyEvent::Log::logger> function,
1067which can reduce typing, codesize and can reduce the logging overhead
1068enourmously.
419 1069
420=back 1070=back
421 1071
422=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 1072=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
423 1073
427Be careful when you create watchers in the module body - AnyEvent will 1077Be careful when you create watchers in the module body - AnyEvent will
428decide which event module to use as soon as the first method is called, so 1078decide which event module to use as soon as the first method is called, so
429by calling AnyEvent in your module body you force the user of your module 1079by calling AnyEvent in your module body you force the user of your module
430to load the event module first. 1080to load the event module first.
431 1081
432Never call C<< ->wait >> on a condition variable unless you I<know> that 1082Never call C<< ->recv >> on a condition variable unless you I<know> that
433the C<< ->broadcast >> method has been called on it already. This is 1083the C<< ->send >> method has been called on it already. This is
434because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using 1084because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using
435events is to stay interactive. 1085events is to stay interactive.
436 1086
437It is fine, however, to call C<< ->wait >> when the user of your module 1087It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module
438requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method 1088requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method
439called C<results> that returns the results, it should call C<< ->wait >> 1089called C<results> that returns the results, it may call C<< ->recv >>
440freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. always). 1090freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. Always).
441 1091
442=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM 1092=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM
443 1093
444There will always be a single main program - the only place that should 1094There will always be a single main program - the only place that should
445dictate which event model to use. 1095dictate which event model to use.
446 1096
447If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not 1097If the program is not event-based, it need not do anything special, even
448do anything special (it does not need to be event-based) and let AnyEvent 1098when it depends on a module that uses an AnyEvent. If the program itself
449decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it. 1099uses AnyEvent, but does not care which event loop is used, all it needs
1100to do is C<use AnyEvent>. In either case, AnyEvent will choose the best
1101available loop implementation.
450 1102
451If the main program relies on a specific event model. For example, in 1103If the main program relies on a specific event model - for example, in
452Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module. You should load the 1104Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module - you should load the
453event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally 1105event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally
454speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that 1106speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that
455modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will 1107modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will
456decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it 1108decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it
457might chose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself. 1109might choose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself.
458 1110
459You can chose to use a rather inefficient pure-perl implementation by 1111You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the
460loading the C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar 1112C<AnyEvent::Loop> module, which gives you similar behaviour
461behaviour everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose is generally better. 1113everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better.
1114
1115=head2 MAINLOOP EMULATION
1116
1117Sometimes (often for short test scripts, or even standalone programs who
1118only want to use AnyEvent), you do not want to run a specific event loop.
1119
1120In that case, you can use a condition variable like this:
1121
1122 AnyEvent->condvar->recv;
1123
1124This has the effect of entering the event loop and looping forever.
1125
1126Note that usually your program has some exit condition, in which case
1127it is better to use the "traditional" approach of storing a condition
1128variable somewhere, waiting for it, and sending it when the program should
1129exit cleanly.
1130
1131
1132=head1 OTHER MODULES
1133
1134The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
1135AnyEvent as a client and can therefore be mixed easily with other
1136AnyEvent modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the
1137modules come as part of AnyEvent, the others are available via CPAN (see
1138L<http://search.cpan.org/search?m=module&q=anyevent%3A%3A*> for
1139a longer non-exhaustive list), and the list is heavily biased towards
1140modules of the AnyEvent author himself :)
1141
1142=over 4
1143
1144=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
1145
1146Contains various utility functions that replace often-used blocking
1147functions such as C<inet_aton> with event/callback-based versions.
1148
1149=item L<AnyEvent::Socket>
1150
1151Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets,
1152addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp
1153connections or tcp servers, with IPv6 and SRV record support and more.
1154
1155=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
1156
1157Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
1158supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
1159non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>).
1160
1161=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
1162
1163Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
1164
1165=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>, L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IGS>, L<AnyEvent::FCP>
1166
1167Implement event-based interfaces to the protocols of the same name (for
1168the curious, IGS is the International Go Server and FCP is the Freenet
1169Client Protocol).
1170
1171=item L<AnyEvent::Handle::UDP>
1172
1173Here be danger!
1174
1175As Pauli would put it, "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!" -
1176there are so many things wrong with AnyEvent::Handle::UDP, most notably
1177its use of a stream-based API with a protocol that isn't streamable, that
1178the only way to improve it is to delete it.
1179
1180It features data corruption (but typically only under load) and general
1181confusion. On top, the author is not only clueless about UDP but also
1182fact-resistant - some gems of his understanding: "connect doesn't work
1183with UDP", "UDP packets are not IP packets", "UDP only has datagrams, not
1184packets", "I don't need to implement proper error checking as UDP doesn't
1185support error checking" and so on - he doesn't even understand what's
1186wrong with his module when it is explained to him.
1187
1188=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
1189
1190Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you,
1191notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished.
1192
1193=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
1194
1195Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in the
1196toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
1197L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to event-based
1198file I/O, and much more.
1199
1200=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD>
1201
1202A simple embedded webserver.
1203
1204=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing>
1205
1206The fastest ping in the west.
1207
1208=item L<Coro>
1209
1210Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
1211
1212=back
462 1213
463=cut 1214=cut
464 1215
465package AnyEvent; 1216package AnyEvent;
466 1217
467no warnings; 1218# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
468use strict; 1219sub common_sense {
1220 # from common:.sense 3.4
1221 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS} ^ "\x3c\x3f\x33\x00\x0f\xf0\x0f\xc0\xf0\xfc\x33\x00";
1222 # use strict vars subs - NO UTF-8, as Util.pm doesn't like this atm. (uts46data.pl)
1223 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1224}
469 1225
1226BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1227
470use Carp; 1228use Carp ();
471 1229
472our $VERSION = '3.3'; 1230our $VERSION = '6.01';
473our $MODEL; 1231our $MODEL;
474 1232
475our $AUTOLOAD;
476our @ISA; 1233our @ISA;
477 1234
478our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
479
480our @REGISTRY; 1235our @REGISTRY;
481 1236
1237our $VERBOSE;
1238
1239BEGIN {
1240 require "AnyEvent/constants.pl";
1241
1242 eval "sub TAINT (){" . (${^TAINT}*1) . "}";
1243
1244 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
1245 if ${^TAINT};
1246
1247 $ENV{"PERL_ANYEVENT_$_"} = $ENV{"AE_$_"}
1248 for grep s/^AE_// && !exists $ENV{"PERL_ANYEVENT_$_"}, keys %ENV;
1249
1250 @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV} = ()
1251 if ${^TAINT};
1252
1253 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1254}
1255
1256our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
1257
1258our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
1259
1260{
1261 my $idx;
1262 $PROTOCOL{$_} = ++$idx
1263 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
1264 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
1265}
1266
1267our @post_detect;
1268
1269sub post_detect(&) {
1270 my ($cb) = @_;
1271
1272 push @post_detect, $cb;
1273
1274 defined wantarray
1275 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
1276 : ()
1277}
1278
1279sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
1280 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
1281}
1282
1283our $POSTPONE_W;
1284our @POSTPONE;
1285
1286sub _postpone_exec {
1287 undef $POSTPONE_W;
1288
1289 &{ shift @POSTPONE }
1290 while @POSTPONE;
1291}
1292
1293sub postpone(&) {
1294 push @POSTPONE, shift;
1295
1296 $POSTPONE_W ||= AE::timer (0, 0, \&_postpone_exec);
1297
1298 ()
1299}
1300
1301sub log($$;@) {
1302 # only load the big bloated module when we actually are about to log something
1303 if ($_[0] <= $VERBOSE) { # also catches non-numeric levels(!)
1304 require AnyEvent::Log;
1305 # AnyEvent::Log overwrites this function
1306 goto &log;
1307 }
1308
1309 0 # not logged
1310}
1311
1312if (length $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_LOG}) {
1313 require AnyEvent::Log; # AnyEvent::Log does the thing for us
1314}
1315
482my @models = ( 1316our @models = (
483 [Coro::EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV::],
484 [Coro::Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent::],
485 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1317 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
1318 [AnyEvent::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
1319 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
1320 # as the pure perl backend should work everywhere
1321 # and is usually faster
486 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 1322 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
487 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], 1323 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1324 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1325 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
488 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], 1326 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
1327 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
1328 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
489 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1329 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
490 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1330 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
491 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1331 [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # a bitch to autodetect
492 # everything below here will not be autoprobed as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1332 [Cocoa::EventLoop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa::],
493 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy 1333 [FLTK:: => AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK2::],
494 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
495 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
496); 1334);
497 1335
498our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar broadcast wait one_event DESTROY); 1336our @isa_hook;
1337
1338sub _isa_set {
1339 my @pkg = ("AnyEvent", (map $_->[0], grep defined, @isa_hook), $MODEL);
1340
1341 @{"$pkg[$_-1]::ISA"} = $pkg[$_]
1342 for 1 .. $#pkg;
1343
1344 grep $_ && $_->[1], @isa_hook
1345 and AE::_reset ();
1346}
1347
1348# used for hooking AnyEvent::Strict and AnyEvent::Debug::Wrap into the class hierarchy
1349sub _isa_hook($$;$) {
1350 my ($i, $pkg, $reset_ae) = @_;
1351
1352 $isa_hook[$i] = $pkg ? [$pkg, $reset_ae] : undef;
1353
1354 _isa_set;
1355}
1356
1357# all autoloaded methods reserve the complete glob, not just the method slot.
1358# due to bugs in perls method cache implementation.
1359our @methods = qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar);
499 1360
500sub detect() { 1361sub detect() {
1362 return $MODEL if $MODEL; # some programs keep references to detect
1363
1364 local $!; # for good measure
1365 local $SIG{__DIE__}; # we use eval
1366
1367 # free some memory
1368 *detect = sub () { $MODEL };
1369 # undef &func doesn't correctly update the method cache. grmbl.
1370 # so we delete the whole glob. grmbl.
1371 # otoh, perl doesn't let me undef an active usb, but it lets me free
1372 # a glob with an active sub. hrm. i hope it works, but perl is
1373 # usually buggy in this department. sigh.
1374 delete @{"AnyEvent::"}{@methods};
1375 undef @methods;
1376
1377 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z0-9:]+)$/) {
1378 my $model = $1;
1379 $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$model" unless $model =~ s/::$//;
1380 if (eval "require $model") {
1381 AnyEvent::log 7 => "loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.";
1382 $MODEL = $model;
1383 } else {
1384 AnyEvent::log 5 => "unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@";
1385 }
1386 }
1387
1388 # check for already loaded models
501 unless ($MODEL) { 1389 unless ($MODEL) {
502 no strict 'refs'; 1390 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
503 1391 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
504 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) { 1392 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
505 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
506 if (eval "require $model") { 1393 if (eval "require $model") {
1394 AnyEvent::log 7 => "autodetected model '$model', using it.";
507 $MODEL = $model; 1395 $MODEL = $model;
508 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1396 last;
509 } else { 1397 }
510 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose;
511 } 1398 }
512 } 1399 }
513 1400
514 # check for already loaded models
515 unless ($MODEL) { 1401 unless ($MODEL) {
1402 # try to autoload a model
516 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1403 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
517 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1404 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1405 if (
1406 $autoload
1407 and eval "require $package"
518 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1408 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
519 if (eval "require $model") { 1409 and eval "require $model"
1410 ) {
1411 AnyEvent::log 7 => "autoloaded model '$model', using it.";
520 $MODEL = $model; 1412 $MODEL = $model;
521 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1;
522 last; 1413 last;
523 }
524 } 1414 }
525 } 1415 }
526 1416
527 unless ($MODEL) { 1417 $MODEL
528 # try to load a model 1418 or die "AnyEvent: backend autodetection failed - did you properly install AnyEvent?";
1419 }
1420 }
529 1421
530 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1422 # free memory only needed for probing
531 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1423 undef @models;
532 if (eval "require $package" 1424 undef @REGISTRY;
533 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0 1425
534 and eval "require $model") { 1426 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
535 $MODEL = $model; 1427
536 warn "AnyEvent: autoprobed model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1428 # now nuke some methods that are overridden by the backend.
1429 # SUPER usage is not allowed in these.
1430 for (qw(time signal child idle)) {
1431 undef &{"AnyEvent::Base::$_"}
1432 if defined &{"$MODEL\::$_"};
1433 }
1434
1435 _isa_set;
1436
1437 # we're officially open!
1438
1439 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}) {
1440 require AnyEvent::Strict;
1441 }
1442
1443 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_WRAP}) {
1444 require AnyEvent::Debug;
1445 AnyEvent::Debug::wrap ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_WRAP});
1446 }
1447
1448 if (length $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_SHELL}) {
1449 require AnyEvent::Socket;
1450 require AnyEvent::Debug;
1451
1452 my $shell = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_SHELL};
1453 $shell =~ s/\$\$/$$/g;
1454
1455 my ($host, $service) = AnyEvent::Socket::parse_hostport ($shell);
1456 $AnyEvent::Debug::SHELL = AnyEvent::Debug::shell ($host, $service);
1457 }
1458
1459 # now the anyevent environment is set up as the user told us to, so
1460 # call the actual user code - post detects
1461
1462 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
1463 undef @post_detect;
1464
1465 *post_detect = sub(&) {
1466 shift->();
1467
1468 undef
1469 };
1470
1471 $MODEL
1472}
1473
1474for my $name (@methods) {
1475 *$name = sub {
1476 detect;
1477 # we use goto because
1478 # a) it makes the thunk more transparent
1479 # b) it allows us to delete the thunk later
1480 goto &{ UNIVERSAL::can AnyEvent => "SUPER::$name" }
1481 };
1482}
1483
1484# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1485# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1486# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1487sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1488 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1489
1490 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1491 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1492
1493 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1494 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1495
1496 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1497
1498 ($fh2, $rw)
1499}
1500
1501=head1 SIMPLIFIED AE API
1502
1503Starting with version 5.0, AnyEvent officially supports a second, much
1504simpler, API that is designed to reduce the calling, typing and memory
1505overhead by using function call syntax and a fixed number of parameters.
1506
1507See the L<AE> manpage for details.
1508
1509=cut
1510
1511package AE;
1512
1513our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::VERSION;
1514
1515sub _reset() {
1516 eval q{
1517 # fall back to the main API by default - backends and AnyEvent::Base
1518 # implementations can overwrite these.
1519
1520 sub io($$$) {
1521 AnyEvent->io (fh => $_[0], poll => $_[1] ? "w" : "r", cb => $_[2])
1522 }
1523
1524 sub timer($$$) {
1525 AnyEvent->timer (after => $_[0], interval => $_[1], cb => $_[2])
1526 }
1527
1528 sub signal($$) {
1529 AnyEvent->signal (signal => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1530 }
1531
1532 sub child($$) {
1533 AnyEvent->child (pid => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1534 }
1535
1536 sub idle($) {
1537 AnyEvent->idle (cb => $_[0]);
1538 }
1539
1540 sub cv(;&) {
1541 AnyEvent->condvar (@_ ? (cb => $_[0]) : ())
1542 }
1543
1544 sub now() {
1545 AnyEvent->now
1546 }
1547
1548 sub now_update() {
1549 AnyEvent->now_update
1550 }
1551
1552 sub time() {
1553 AnyEvent->time
1554 }
1555
1556 *postpone = \&AnyEvent::postpone;
1557 *log = \&AnyEvent::log;
1558 };
1559 die if $@;
1560}
1561
1562BEGIN { _reset }
1563
1564package AnyEvent::Base;
1565
1566# default implementations for many methods
1567
1568sub time {
1569 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1570 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1571 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1572 *time = sub { Time::HiRes::time () };
1573 *AE::time = \& Time::HiRes::time ;
1574 *now = \&time;
1575 AnyEvent::log 8 => "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.";
1576 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1577 } else {
1578 *time = sub { CORE::time };
1579 *AE::time = sub (){ CORE::time };
1580 *now = \&time;
1581 AnyEvent::log 3 => "using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!";
1582 }
1583 };
1584 die if $@;
1585
1586 &time
1587}
1588
1589*now = \&time;
1590sub now_update { }
1591
1592sub _poll {
1593 Carp::croak "$AnyEvent::MODEL does not support blocking waits. Caught";
1594}
1595
1596# default implementation for ->condvar
1597# in fact, the default should not be overwritten
1598
1599sub condvar {
1600 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1601 *condvar = sub {
1602 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1603 };
1604
1605 *AE::cv = sub (;&) {
1606 bless { @_ ? (_ae_cb => shift) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1607 };
1608 };
1609 die if $@;
1610
1611 &condvar
1612}
1613
1614# default implementation for ->signal
1615
1616our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1617
1618sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1619 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1620 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.02 (); 1")
1621 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1622
1623 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1624}
1625
1626our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1627our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1628our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1629
1630# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1631# used by Impls
1632sub _sig_add() {
1633 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1634 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1635 my $NOW = AE::now;
1636
1637 $SIG_TW = AE::timer
1638 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1639 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1640 sub { } # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1641 ;
1642 }
1643}
1644
1645sub _sig_del {
1646 undef $SIG_TW
1647 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1648}
1649
1650our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1651 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1652 undef $_sig_name_init;
1653
1654 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1655 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1656 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1657 } else {
1658 require Config;
1659
1660 my %signame2num;
1661 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1662 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1663
1664 my @signum2name;
1665 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1666
1667 *sig2num = sub($) {
1668 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1669 };
1670 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1671 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1672 };
1673 }
1674 };
1675 die if $@;
1676};
1677
1678sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1679sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
1680
1681sub signal {
1682 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1683 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1684 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1685 AnyEvent::log 8 => "using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.";
1686
1687 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1688 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1689
1690 } else {
1691 AnyEvent::log 8 => "using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.";
1692
1693 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1694 require AnyEvent::Util;
1695
1696 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1697 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R, 1) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1698 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W, 1) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1699 } else {
1700 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1701 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1702 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1703
1704 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1705 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1706 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1707 }
1708
1709 $SIGPIPE_R
1710 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1711
1712 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1713 }
1714
1715 *signal = $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1716 ? sub {
1717 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1718
1719 # async::interrupt
1720 my $signal = sig2num $arg{signal};
1721 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1722
1723 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1724 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1725 signal => $signal,
1726 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1727 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1728 ;
1729
1730 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1731 }
1732 : sub {
1733 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1734
1735 # pure perl
1736 my $signal = sig2name $arg{signal};
1737 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1738
1739 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
537 last; 1740 local $!;
1741 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1742 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
538 } 1743 };
1744
1745 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1746 # so limit the signal latency.
1747 _sig_add;
1748
1749 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1750 }
1751 ;
1752
1753 *AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY = sub {
1754 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1755
1756 _sig_del;
1757
1758 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1759
1760 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1761 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1762 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1763 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1764 # instead of getting the default action.
1765 undef $SIG{$signal}
1766 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1767 };
1768
1769 *_signal_exec = sub {
1770 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1771 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1772 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, (my $dummy), 9;
1773
1774 while (%SIG_EV) {
1775 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1776 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
1777 &$_ for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
539 } 1778 }
540
541 $MODEL
542 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV (or Coro+EV), Event (or Coro+Event) or Glib.";
543 } 1779 }
544 } 1780 };
545
546 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
547 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
548 }
549
550 $MODEL
551}
552
553sub AUTOLOAD {
554 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
555
556 $method{$func}
557 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects";
558
559 detect unless $MODEL;
560
561 my $class = shift;
562 $class->$func (@_);
563}
564
565package AnyEvent::Base;
566
567# default implementation for ->condvar, ->wait, ->broadcast
568
569sub condvar {
570 bless \my $flag, "AnyEvent::Base::CondVar"
571}
572
573sub AnyEvent::Base::CondVar::broadcast {
574 ${$_[0]}++;
575}
576
577sub AnyEvent::Base::CondVar::wait {
578 AnyEvent->one_event while !${$_[0]};
579}
580
581# default implementation for ->signal
582
583our %SIG_CB;
584
585sub signal {
586 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
587
588 my $signal = uc $arg{signal}
589 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
590
591 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
592 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
593 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} || {} };
594 }; 1781 };
1782 die if $@;
595 1783
596 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Signal" 1784 &signal
597}
598
599sub AnyEvent::Base::Signal::DESTROY {
600 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
601
602 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
603
604 $SIG{$signal} = 'DEFAULT' unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
605} 1785}
606 1786
607# default implementation for ->child 1787# default implementation for ->child
608 1788
609our %PID_CB; 1789our %PID_CB;
610our $CHLD_W; 1790our $CHLD_W;
611our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1791our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
612our $PID_IDLE;
613our $WNOHANG;
614 1792
615sub _child_wait { 1793# used by many Impl's
616 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1794sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
1795 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1796
1797 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
617 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1798 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
618 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1799 values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} };
1800}
1801
1802sub child {
1803 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1804 *_sigchld = sub {
1805 my $pid;
1806
1807 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
1808 while ($pid = waitpid -1, WNOHANG) > 0;
1809 };
1810
1811 *child = sub {
1812 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1813
1814 my $pid = $arg{pid};
1815 my $cb = $arg{cb};
1816
1817 $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb+0} = $cb;
1818
1819 unless ($CHLD_W) {
1820 $CHLD_W = AE::signal CHLD => \&_sigchld;
1821 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
1822 &_sigchld;
1823 }
1824
1825 bless [$pid, $cb+0], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
1826 };
1827
1828 *AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY = sub {
1829 my ($pid, $icb) = @{$_[0]};
1830
1831 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$icb};
1832 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
1833
1834 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1835 };
1836 };
1837 die if $@;
1838
1839 &child
1840}
1841
1842# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1843# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1844# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1845sub idle {
1846 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1847 *idle = sub {
1848 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1849
1850 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1851
1852 $rcb = sub {
1853 if ($cb) {
1854 $w = AE::time;
1855 &$cb;
1856 $w = AE::time - $w;
1857
1858 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1859 # within some limits
1860 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1861 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1862
1863 $w = AE::timer $w, 0, $rcb;
1864 } else {
1865 # clean up...
1866 undef $w;
1867 undef $rcb;
1868 }
1869 };
1870
1871 $w = AE::timer 0.05, 0, $rcb;
1872
1873 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1874 };
1875
1876 *AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY = sub {
1877 undef $${$_[0]};
1878 };
1879 };
1880 die if $@;
1881
1882 &idle
1883}
1884
1885package AnyEvent::CondVar;
1886
1887our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
1888
1889# only to be used for subclassing
1890sub new {
1891 my $class = shift;
1892 bless AnyEvent->condvar (@_), $class
1893}
1894
1895package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
1896
1897#use overload
1898# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
1899# fallback => 1;
1900
1901# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1902${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1903*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1904*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1905${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1906
1907our $WAITING;
1908
1909sub _send {
1910 # nop
1911}
1912
1913sub _wait {
1914 AnyEvent->_poll until $_[0]{_ae_sent};
1915}
1916
1917sub send {
1918 my $cv = shift;
1919 $cv->{_ae_sent} = [@_];
1920 (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv) if $cv->{_ae_cb};
1921 $cv->_send;
1922}
1923
1924sub croak {
1925 $_[0]{_ae_croak} = $_[1];
1926 $_[0]->send;
1927}
1928
1929sub ready {
1930 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
1931}
1932
1933sub recv {
1934 unless ($_[0]{_ae_sent}) {
1935 $WAITING
1936 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait attempted";
1937
1938 local $WAITING = 1;
1939 $_[0]->_wait;
619 } 1940 }
620 1941
621 undef $PID_IDLE; 1942 $_[0]{_ae_croak}
622} 1943 and Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak};
623 1944
624sub _sigchld { 1945 wantarray
625 # make sure we deliver these changes "synchronous" with the event loop. 1946 ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} }
626 $CHLD_DELAY_W ||= AnyEvent->timer (after => 0, cb => sub { 1947 : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0]
627 undef $CHLD_DELAY_W;
628 &_child_wait;
629 });
630} 1948}
631 1949
632sub child { 1950sub cb {
633 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1951 my $cv = shift;
634 1952
635 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1953 @_
636 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1954 and $cv->{_ae_cb} = shift
1955 and $cv->{_ae_sent}
1956 and (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv);
637 1957
638 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1958 $cv->{_ae_cb}
639
640 unless ($WNOHANG) {
641 $WNOHANG = eval { require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
642 }
643
644 unless ($CHLD_W) {
645 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld);
646 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
647 &_sigchld;
648 }
649
650 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Child"
651} 1959}
652 1960
653sub AnyEvent::Base::Child::DESTROY { 1961sub begin {
654 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1962 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter};
655 1963 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
656 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb};
657 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
658
659 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
660} 1964}
1965
1966sub end {
1967 return if --$_[0]{_ae_counter};
1968 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} || sub { $_[0]->send } };
1969}
1970
1971# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4
1972*broadcast = \&send;
1973*wait = \&recv;
1974
1975=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
1976
1977In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the
1978caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also
1979the C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> environment variable, below) provides strict
1980checking of all AnyEvent methods, however, which is highly useful during
1981development.
1982
1983As for exception handling (i.e. runtime errors and exceptions thrown while
1984executing a callback), this is not only highly event-loop specific, but
1985also not in any way wrapped by this module, as this is the job of the main
1986program.
1987
1988The pure perl event loop simply re-throws the exception (usually
1989within C<< condvar->recv >>), the L<Event> and L<EV> modules call C<<
1990$Event/EV::DIED->() >>, L<Glib> uses C<< install_exception_handler >> and
1991so on.
1992
1993=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1994
1995AnyEvent supports a number of environment variables that tune the
1996runtime behaviour. They are usually evaluated when AnyEvent is
1997loaded, initialised, or a submodule that uses them is loaded. Many of
1998them also cause AnyEvent to load additional modules - for example,
1999C<PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_WRAP> causes the L<AnyEvent::Debug> module to be
2000loaded.
2001
2002All the environment variables documented here start with
2003C<PERL_ANYEVENT_>, which is what AnyEvent considers its own
2004namespace. Other modules are encouraged (but by no means required) to use
2005C<PERL_ANYEVENT_SUBMODULE> if they have registered the AnyEvent::Submodule
2006namespace on CPAN, for any submodule. For example, L<AnyEvent::HTTP> could
2007be expected to use C<PERL_ANYEVENT_HTTP_PROXY> (it should not access env
2008variables starting with C<AE_>, see below).
2009
2010All variables can also be set via the C<AE_> prefix, that is, instead
2011of setting C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE> you can also set C<AE_VERBOSE>. In
2012case there is a clash btween anyevent and another program that uses
2013C<AE_something> you can set the corresponding C<PERL_ANYEVENT_something>
2014variable to the empty string, as those variables take precedence.
2015
2016When AnyEvent is first loaded, it copies all C<AE_xxx> env variables
2017to their C<PERL_ANYEVENT_xxx> counterpart unless that variable already
2018exists. If taint mode is on, then AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment
2019variables starting with C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> (or replace them
2020with C<undef> or the empty string, if the corresaponding C<AE_> variable
2021is set).
2022
2023The exact algorithm is currently:
2024
2025 1. if taint mode enabled, delete all PERL_ANYEVENT_xyz variables from %ENV
2026 2. copy over AE_xyz to PERL_ANYEVENT_xyz unless the latter alraedy exists
2027 3. if taint mode enabled, set all PERL_ANYEVENT_xyz variables to undef.
2028
2029This ensures that child processes will not see the C<AE_> variables.
2030
2031The following environment variables are currently known to AnyEvent:
2032
2033=over 4
2034
2035=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
2036
2037By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
2038conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
2039talkative. If you want to do more than just set the global logging level
2040you should have a look at C<PERL_ANYEVENT_LOG>, which allows much more
2041complex specifications.
2042
2043When set to C<5> or higher (warn), causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
2044conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
2045C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>, or a guard callback throwing an exception - this
2046is the minimum recommended level.
2047
2048When set to C<7> or higher (info), cause AnyEvent to report which event model it
2049chooses.
2050
2051When set to C<8> or higher (debug), then AnyEvent will report extra information on
2052which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
2053
2054=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_LOG>
2055
2056Accepts rather complex logging specifications. For example, you could log
2057all C<debug> messages of some module to stderr, warnings and above to
2058stderr, and errors and above to syslog, with:
2059
2060 PERL_ANYEVENT_LOG=Some::Module=debug,+log:filter=warn,+%syslog:%syslog=error,syslog
2061
2062For the rather extensive details, see L<AnyEvent::Log>.
2063
2064This variable is evaluated when AnyEvent (or L<AnyEvent::Log>) is loaded,
2065so will take effect even before AnyEvent has initialised itself.
2066
2067Note that specifying this environment variable causes the L<AnyEvent::Log>
2068module to be loaded, while C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE> does not, so only
2069using the latter saves a few hundred kB of memory until the first message
2070is being logged.
2071
2072=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
2073
2074AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
2075argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
2076will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
2077check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
2078it will croak.
2079
2080In other words, enables "strict" mode.
2081
2082Unlike C<use strict> (or its modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
2083>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
2084C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
2085can be very useful, however.
2086
2087=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_SHELL>
2088
2089If this env variable is set, then its contents will be interpreted by
2090C<AnyEvent::Socket::parse_hostport> (after replacing every occurance of
2091C<$$> by the process pid) and an C<AnyEvent::Debug::shell> is bound on
2092that port. The shell object is saved in C<$AnyEvent::Debug::SHELL>.
2093
2094This happens when the first watcher is created.
2095
2096For example, to bind a debug shell on a unix domain socket in
2097F<< /tmp/debug<pid>.sock >>, you could use this:
2098
2099 PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_SHELL=/tmp/debug\$\$.sock perlprog
2100
2101Note that creating sockets in F</tmp> is very unsafe on multiuser
2102systems.
2103
2104=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_DEBUG_WRAP>
2105
2106Can be set to C<0>, C<1> or C<2> and enables wrapping of all watchers for
2107debugging purposes. See C<AnyEvent::Debug::wrap> for details.
2108
2109=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
2110
2111This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
2112auto detection and -probing kicks in.
2113
2114It normally is a string consisting entirely of ASCII letters (e.g. C<EV>
2115or C<IOAsync>). The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended and the
2116resulting module name is loaded and - if the load was successful - used as
2117event model backend. If it fails to load then AnyEvent will proceed with
2118auto detection and -probing.
2119
2120If the string ends with C<::> instead (e.g. C<AnyEvent::Impl::EV::>) then
2121nothing gets prepended and the module name is used as-is (hint: C<::> at
2122the end of a string designates a module name and quotes it appropriately).
2123
2124For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Loop::Perl>) you
2125could start your program like this:
2126
2127 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
2128
2129=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS>
2130
2131Used by both L<AnyEvent::DNS> and L<AnyEvent::Socket> to determine preferences
2132for IPv4 or IPv6. The default is unspecified (and might change, or be the result
2133of auto probing).
2134
2135Must be set to a comma-separated list of protocols or address families,
2136current supported: C<ipv4> and C<ipv6>. Only protocols mentioned will be
2137used, and preference will be given to protocols mentioned earlier in the
2138list.
2139
2140This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
2141against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is likely
2142small, as the program has to handle conenction and other failures anyways.
2143
2144Examples: C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6> - prefer IPv4 over IPv6,
2145but support both and try to use both. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4>
2146- only support IPv4, never try to resolve or contact IPv6
2147addresses. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv6,ipv4> support either IPv4 or
2148IPv6, but prefer IPv6 over IPv4.
2149
2150=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_HOSTS>
2151
2152This variable, if specified, overrides the F</etc/hosts> file used by
2153L<AnyEvent::Socket>C<::resolve_sockaddr>, i.e. hosts aliases will be read
2154from that file instead.
2155
2156=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_EDNS0>
2157
2158Used by L<AnyEvent::DNS> to decide whether to use the EDNS0 extension for
2159DNS. This extension is generally useful to reduce DNS traffic, especially
2160when DNSSEC is involved, but some (broken) firewalls drop such DNS
2161packets, which is why it is off by default.
2162
2163Setting this variable to C<1> will cause L<AnyEvent::DNS> to announce
2164EDNS0 in its DNS requests.
2165
2166=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
2167
2168The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
2169will create in parallel.
2170
2171=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
2172
2173The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
2174resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
2175sent to the DNS server.
2176
2177=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
2178
2179The absolute path to a F<resolv.conf>-style file to use instead of
2180F</etc/resolv.conf> (or the OS-specific configuration) in the default
2181resolver, or the empty string to select the default configuration.
2182
2183=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
2184
2185When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
2186L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
2187variables are nonempty, they will be used to specify CA certificate
2188locations instead of a system-dependent default.
2189
2190=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
2191
2192When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
2193loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
2194
2195=back
661 2196
662=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 2197=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
663 2198
664This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in 2199This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in
665a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to 2200a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to
699 2234
700I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to 2235I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to
701condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will 2236condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will
702C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must 2237C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must
703not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense. 2238not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense.
704
705=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
706
707The following environment variables are used by this module:
708
709=over 4
710
711=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
712
713By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
714conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
715talkative.
716
717When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
718conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
719C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
720
721When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
722model it chooses.
723
724=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
725
726This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
727autodetection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
728entirely of ASCII letters. The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended
729and the resulting module name is loaded and if the load was successful,
730used as event model. If it fails to load AnyEvent will proceed with
731autodetection and -probing.
732
733This functionality might change in future versions.
734
735For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) you
736could start your program like this:
737
738 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
739
740=back
741 2239
742=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM 2240=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
743 2241
744The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer 2242The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer
745to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the 2243to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the
754 poll => 'r', 2252 poll => 'r',
755 cb => sub { 2253 cb => sub {
756 warn "io event <$_[0]>\n"; # will always output <r> 2254 warn "io event <$_[0]>\n"; # will always output <r>
757 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); # read a line 2255 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); # read a line
758 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read 2256 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read
759 $cv->broadcast if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i 2257 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i
760 }, 2258 },
761 ); 2259 );
762 2260
763 my $time_watcher; # can only be used once
764
765 sub new_timer {
766 $timer = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => sub { 2261 my $time_watcher = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, interval => 1, cb => sub {
767 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' about every second 2262 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' at most every second
768 &new_timer; # and restart the time
769 }); 2263 });
770 }
771 2264
772 new_timer; # create first timer
773
774 $cv->wait; # wait until user enters /^q/i 2265 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i
775 2266
776=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE 2267=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
777 2268
778Consider the L<Net::FCP> module. It features (among others) the following 2269Consider the L<Net::FCP> module. It features (among others) the following
779API calls, which are to freenet what HTTP GET requests are to http: 2270API calls, which are to freenet what HTTP GET requests are to http:
829 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request} 2320 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request}
830 or die "connection or write error"; 2321 or die "connection or write error";
831 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r }); 2322 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r });
832 2323
833Again, C<fh_ready_r> waits till all data has arrived, and then stores the 2324Again, C<fh_ready_r> waits till all data has arrived, and then stores the
834result and signals any possible waiters that the request ahs finished: 2325result and signals any possible waiters that the request has finished:
835 2326
836 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf}; 2327 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf};
837 2328
838 if (end-of-file or data complete) { 2329 if (end-of-file or data complete) {
839 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf}; 2330 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf};
840 $txn->{finished}->broadcast; 2331 $txn->{finished}->send;
841 $txb->{cb}->($txn) of $txn->{cb}; # also call callback 2332 $txb->{cb}->($txn) of $txn->{cb}; # also call callback
842 } 2333 }
843 2334
844The C<result> method, finally, just waits for the finished signal (if the 2335The C<result> method, finally, just waits for the finished signal (if the
845request was already finished, it doesn't wait, of course, and returns the 2336request was already finished, it doesn't wait, of course, and returns the
846data: 2337data:
847 2338
848 $txn->{finished}->wait; 2339 $txn->{finished}->recv;
849 return $txn->{result}; 2340 return $txn->{result};
850 2341
851The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions) 2342The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions)
852that occured during request processing. The C<result> method detects 2343that occurred during request processing. The C<result> method detects
853whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object) 2344whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object)
854and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other 2345and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other
855problems get reported tot he code that tries to use the result, not in a 2346problems get reported to the code that tries to use the result, not in a
856random callback. 2347random callback.
857 2348
858All of this enables the following usage styles: 2349All of this enables the following usage styles:
859 2350
8601. Blocking: 23511. Blocking:
888 2379
889 my $quit = AnyEvent->condvar; 2380 my $quit = AnyEvent->condvar;
890 2381
891 $fcp->txn_client_get ($url)->cb (sub { 2382 $fcp->txn_client_get ($url)->cb (sub {
892 ... 2383 ...
893 $quit->broadcast; 2384 $quit->send;
894 }); 2385 });
895 2386
896 $quit->wait; 2387 $quit->recv;
897 2388
898 2389
899=head1 BENCHMARKS 2390=head1 BENCHMARKS
900 2391
901To give you an idea of the performance and overheads that AnyEvent adds 2392To give you an idea of the performance and overheads that AnyEvent adds
903of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks. 2394of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks.
904 2395
905=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD 2396=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD
906 2397
907Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and 2398Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and
908through anyevent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero 2399through AnyEvent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero
909timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable, 2400timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable,
910which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again. 2401which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again.
911 2402
912Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent 2403Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent
913distribution. 2404distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2405for the EV and Perl backends only.
914 2406
915=head3 Explanation of the columns 2407=head3 Explanation of the columns
916 2408
917I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since 2409I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since
918different event models feature vastly different performances, each event 2410different event models feature vastly different performances, each event
930all watchers, to avoid adding memory overhead. That means closure creation 2422all watchers, to avoid adding memory overhead. That means closure creation
931and memory usage is not included in the figures. 2423and memory usage is not included in the figures.
932 2424
933I<invoke> is the time, in microseconds, used to invoke a simple 2425I<invoke> is the time, in microseconds, used to invoke a simple
934callback. The callback simply counts down a Perl variable and after it was 2426callback. The callback simply counts down a Perl variable and after it was
935invoked "watcher" times, it would C<< ->broadcast >> a condvar once to 2427invoked "watcher" times, it would C<< ->send >> a condvar once to
936signal the end of this phase. 2428signal the end of this phase.
937 2429
938I<destroy> is the time, in microseconds, that it takes to destroy a single 2430I<destroy> is the time, in microseconds, that it takes to destroy a single
939watcher. 2431watcher.
940 2432
941=head3 Results 2433=head3 Results
942 2434
943 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment 2435 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment
944 EV/EV 400000 244 0.56 0.46 0.31 EV native interface 2436 EV/EV 100000 223 0.47 0.43 0.27 EV native interface
945 EV/Any 100000 244 2.50 0.46 0.29 EV + AnyEvent watchers 2437 EV/Any 100000 223 0.48 0.42 0.26 EV + AnyEvent watchers
946 CoroEV/Any 100000 244 2.49 0.44 0.29 coroutines + Coro::Signal 2438 Coro::EV/Any 100000 223 0.47 0.42 0.26 coroutines + Coro::Signal
947 Perl/Any 100000 513 4.92 0.87 1.12 pure perl implementation 2439 Perl/Any 100000 431 2.70 0.74 0.92 pure perl implementation
948 Event/Event 16000 516 31.88 31.30 0.85 Event native interface 2440 Event/Event 16000 516 31.16 31.84 0.82 Event native interface
949 Event/Any 16000 936 39.17 33.63 1.43 Event + AnyEvent watchers 2441 Event/Any 16000 1203 42.61 34.79 1.80 Event + AnyEvent watchers
2442 IOAsync/Any 16000 1911 41.92 27.45 16.81 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
2443 IOAsync/Any 16000 1726 40.69 26.37 15.25 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
950 Glib/Any 16000 1357 98.22 12.41 54.00 quadratic behaviour 2444 Glib/Any 16000 1118 89.00 12.57 51.17 quadratic behaviour
951 Tk/Any 2000 1860 26.97 67.98 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 2445 Tk/Any 2000 1346 20.96 10.75 8.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
952 POE/Event 2000 6644 108.64 736.02 14.73 via POE::Loop::Event 2446 POE/Any 2000 6951 108.97 795.32 14.24 via POE::Loop::Event
953 POE/Select 2000 6343 94.13 809.12 565.96 via POE::Loop::Select 2447 POE/Any 2000 6648 94.79 774.40 575.51 via POE::Loop::Select
954 2448
955=head3 Discussion 2449=head3 Discussion
956 2450
957The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very 2451The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very
958well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one) 2452well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one)
964Also, note that the number of watchers usually has a nonlinear effect on 2458Also, note that the number of watchers usually has a nonlinear effect on
965overall speed, that is, creating twice as many watchers doesn't take twice 2459overall speed, that is, creating twice as many watchers doesn't take twice
966the time - usually it takes longer. This puts event loops tested with a 2460the time - usually it takes longer. This puts event loops tested with a
967higher number of watchers at a disadvantage. 2461higher number of watchers at a disadvantage.
968 2462
2463To put the range of results into perspective, consider that on the
2464benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with
2465EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU
2466cycles with POE.
2467
969C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both 2468C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both
970maximal/minimal, respectively. Even when going through AnyEvent, it uses 2469maximal/minimal, respectively. When using the L<AE> API there is zero
2470overhead (when going through the AnyEvent API create is about 5-6 times
2471slower, with other times being equal, so still uses far less memory than
971far less memory than any other event loop and is still faster than Event 2472any other event loop and is still faster than Event natively).
972natively.
973 2473
974The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the 2474The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the
975constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl 2475constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl
976interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it 2476interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it
977adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its 2477adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its
978performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 2478performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
979them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 2479them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
980 2480
981The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 2481The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
982cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 2482cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
2483
2484C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
2485when using its pure perl backend.
983 2486
984C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 2487C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a
985faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as 2488faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
986C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 2489C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
987watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 2490watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
995file descriptor is dup()ed for each watcher. This shows that the dup() 2498file descriptor is dup()ed for each watcher. This shows that the dup()
996employed by some adaptors is not a big performance issue (it does incur a 2499employed by some adaptors is not a big performance issue (it does incur a
997hidden memory cost inside the kernel which is not reflected in the figures 2500hidden memory cost inside the kernel which is not reflected in the figures
998above). 2501above).
999 2502
1000C<POE>, regardless of underlying event loop (whether using its pure 2503C<POE>, regardless of underlying event loop (whether using its pure perl
1001perl select-based backend or the Event module, the POE-EV backend 2504select-based backend or the Event module, the POE-EV backend couldn't
1002couldn't be tested because it wasn't working) shows abysmal performance 2505be tested because it wasn't working) shows abysmal performance and
1003and memory usage: Watchers use almost 30 times as much memory as 2506memory usage with AnyEvent: Watchers use almost 30 times as much memory
1004EV watchers, and 10 times as much memory as Event (the high memory 2507as EV watchers, and 10 times as much memory as Event (the high memory
1005requirements are caused by requiring a session for each watcher). Watcher 2508requirements are caused by requiring a session for each watcher). Watcher
1006invocation speed is almost 900 times slower than with AnyEvent's pure perl 2509invocation speed is almost 900 times slower than with AnyEvent's pure perl
2510implementation.
2511
1007implementation. The design of the POE adaptor class in AnyEvent can not 2512The design of the POE adaptor class in AnyEvent can not really account
1008really account for this, as session creation overhead is small compared 2513for the performance issues, though, as session creation overhead is
1009to execution of the state machine, which is coded pretty optimally within 2514small compared to execution of the state machine, which is coded pretty
1010L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. POE simply seems to be abysmally slow. 2515optimally within L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE> (and while everybody agrees that
2516using multiple sessions is not a good approach, especially regarding
2517memory usage, even the author of POE could not come up with a faster
2518design).
1011 2519
1012=head3 Summary 2520=head3 Summary
1013 2521
1014=over 4 2522=over 4
1015 2523
1017(even when used without AnyEvent), but most event loops have acceptable 2525(even when used without AnyEvent), but most event loops have acceptable
1018performance with or without AnyEvent. 2526performance with or without AnyEvent.
1019 2527
1020=item * The overhead AnyEvent adds is usually much smaller than the overhead of 2528=item * The overhead AnyEvent adds is usually much smaller than the overhead of
1021the actual event loop, only with extremely fast event loops such as EV 2529the actual event loop, only with extremely fast event loops such as EV
1022adds AnyEvent significant overhead. 2530does AnyEvent add significant overhead.
1023 2531
1024=item * You should avoid POE like the plague if you want performance or 2532=item * You should avoid POE like the plague if you want performance or
1025reasonable memory usage. 2533reasonable memory usage.
1026 2534
1027=back 2535=back
1028 2536
1029=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE 2537=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE
1030 2538
1031This benchmark atcually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by 2539This benchmark actually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by
1032creating a number of "servers": each server consists of a socketpair, a 2540creating a number of "servers": each server consists of a socket pair, a
1033timeout watcher that gets reset on activity (but never fires), and an I/O 2541timeout watcher that gets reset on activity (but never fires), and an I/O
1034watcher waiting for input on one side of the socket. Each time the socket 2542watcher waiting for input on one side of the socket. Each time the socket
1035watcher reads a byte it will write that byte to a random other "server". 2543watcher reads a byte it will write that byte to a random other "server".
1036 2544
1037The effect is that there will be a lot of I/O watchers, only part of which 2545The effect is that there will be a lot of I/O watchers, only part of which
1038are active at any one point (so there is a constant number of active 2546are active at any one point (so there is a constant number of active
1039fds for each loop iterstaion, but which fds these are is random). The 2547fds for each loop iteration, but which fds these are is random). The
1040timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how 2548timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how
1041most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops). 2549most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops).
1042 2550
1043In this benchmark, we use 10000 socketpairs (20000 sockets), of which 100 2551In this benchmark, we use 10000 socket pairs (20000 sockets), of which 100
1044(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many 2552(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many
1045connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time. 2553connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time.
1046 2554
1047Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent 2555Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent
1048distribution. 2556distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2557for the EV and Perl backends only.
1049 2558
1050=head3 Explanation of the columns 2559=head3 Explanation of the columns
1051 2560
1052I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as 2561I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as
1053each server has a read and write socket end). 2562each server has a read and write socket end).
1054 2563
1055I<create> is the time it takes to create a socketpair (which is 2564I<create> is the time it takes to create a socket pair (which is
1056nontrivial) and two watchers: an I/O watcher and a timeout watcher. 2565nontrivial) and two watchers: an I/O watcher and a timeout watcher.
1057 2566
1058I<request>, the most important value, is the time it takes to handle a 2567I<request>, the most important value, is the time it takes to handle a
1059single "request", that is, reading the token from the pipe and forwarding 2568single "request", that is, reading the token from the pipe and forwarding
1060it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 2569it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1061a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2570a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1062 2571
1063=head3 Results 2572=head3 Results
1064 2573
1065 name sockets create request 2574 name sockets create request
1066 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2575 EV 20000 62.66 7.99
1067 Perl 20000 75.28 112.76 2576 Perl 20000 68.32 32.64
1068 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2577 IOAsync 20000 174.06 101.15 epoll
1069 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2578 IOAsync 20000 174.67 610.84 poll
2579 Event 20000 202.69 242.91
2580 Glib 20000 557.01 1689.52
1070 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2581 POE 20000 341.54 12086.32 uses POE::Loop::Event
1071 2582
1072=head3 Discussion 2583=head3 Discussion
1073 2584
1074This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2585This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1075particular event loop. 2586particular event loop.
1077EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 2588EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1078is relatively high, though. 2589is relatively high, though.
1079 2590
1080Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 2591Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1081loops Event and Glib. 2592loops Event and Glib.
2593
2594IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
2595good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1082 2596
1083Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 2597Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will
1084understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to 2598understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1085the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 2599the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1086uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 2600uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1094 2608
1095=head3 Summary 2609=head3 Summary
1096 2610
1097=over 4 2611=over 4
1098 2612
1099=item * The pure perl implementation performs extremely well, considering 2613=item * The pure perl implementation performs extremely well.
1100that it uses select.
1101 2614
1102=item * Avoid Glib or POE in large projects where performance matters. 2615=item * Avoid Glib or POE in large projects where performance matters.
1103 2616
1104=back 2617=back
1105 2618
1118 2631
1119=head3 Results 2632=head3 Results
1120 2633
1121 name sockets create request 2634 name sockets create request
1122 EV 16 20.00 6.54 2635 EV 16 20.00 6.54
2636 Perl 16 25.75 12.62
1123 Event 16 81.27 35.86 2637 Event 16 81.27 35.86
1124 Glib 16 32.63 15.48 2638 Glib 16 32.63 15.48
1125 Perl 16 24.62 162.37
1126 POE 16 261.87 276.28 uses POE::Loop::Event 2639 POE 16 261.87 276.28 uses POE::Loop::Event
1127 2640
1128=head3 Discussion 2641=head3 Discussion
1129 2642
1130The benchmark tries to test the performance of a typical small 2643The benchmark tries to test the performance of a typical small
1131server. While knowing how various event loops perform is interesting, keep 2644server. While knowing how various event loops perform is interesting, keep
1132in mind that their overhead in this case is usually not as important, due 2645in mind that their overhead in this case is usually not as important, due
1133to the small absolute number of watchers. 2646to the small absolute number of watchers (that is, you need efficiency and
2647speed most when you have lots of watchers, not when you only have a few of
2648them).
1134 2649
1135EV is again fastest. 2650EV is again fastest.
1136 2651
1137The C-based event loops Event and Glib come in second this time, as the 2652Perl again comes second. It is noticeably faster than the C-based event
1138overhead of running an iteration is much smaller in C than in Perl (little 2653loops Event and Glib, although the difference is too small to really
1139code to execute in the inner loop, and perl's function calling overhead is 2654matter.
1140high, and updating all the data structures is costly).
1141 2655
1142The pure perl event loop is much slower, but still competitive.
1143
1144POE also performs much better in this case, but is is stillf ar behind the 2656POE also performs much better in this case, but is is still far behind the
1145others. 2657others.
1146 2658
1147=head3 Summary 2659=head3 Summary
1148 2660
1149=over 4 2661=over 4
1151=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 2663=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1152watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 2664watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1153 2665
1154=back 2666=back
1155 2667
2668=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
2669
2670Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
2671could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
2672simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
2673shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
2674fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
2675very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
2676baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
2677
2678The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
2679connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
2680creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
2681test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
2682benchmark nevertheless.
2683
2684 name runtime
2685 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
2686 + optimized 0.122 sec
2687 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
2688 + optimized 0.138 sec
2689 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
2690 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
2691 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
2692 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
2693
2694 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
2695 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
2696 +state machine 0.134 sec
2697
2698The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2699benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2700defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2701written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2702AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2703resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2704generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2705connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2706
2707The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2708offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2709Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2710non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2711
2712As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2713hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2714backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2715
2716And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2717slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda
2718higher level ("unoptimised") abstractions by a large margin, even though
2719it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O in a non-blocking way.
2720
2721The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2722F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2723part of the IO::Lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2724
2725
2726=head1 SIGNALS
2727
2728AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
2729
2730=over 4
2731
2732=item SIGCHLD
2733
2734A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
2735emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
2736event loops install a similar handler.
2737
2738Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2739AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
2740
2741=item SIGPIPE
2742
2743A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
2744when AnyEvent gets loaded.
2745
2746The rationale for this is that AnyEvent users usually do not really depend
2747on SIGPIPE delivery (which is purely an optimisation for shell use, or
2748badly-written programs), but C<SIGPIPE> can cause spurious and rare
2749program exits as a lot of people do not expect C<SIGPIPE> when writing to
2750some random socket.
2751
2752The rationale for installing a no-op handler as opposed to ignoring it is
2753that this way, the handler will be restored to defaults on exec.
2754
2755Feel free to install your own handler, or reset it to defaults.
2756
2757=back
2758
2759=cut
2760
2761undef $SIG{CHLD}
2762 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2763
2764$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
2765 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2766
2767=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2768
2769One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2770its built-in modules) are required to use it.
2771
2772That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2773modules if they are installed.
2774
2775This section explains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2776affect AnyEvent's operation.
2777
2778=over 4
2779
2780=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2781
2782This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2783my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2784signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2785delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2786catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2787C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2788
2789If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2790catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2791will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (and good for
2792battery life on laptops).
2793
2794This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2795that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2796
2797Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2798and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2799(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2800does nothing for those backends.
2801
2802=item L<EV>
2803
2804This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2805event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2806loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2807the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2808automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2809can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2810C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2811L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2812
2813If you only use backends that rely on another event loop (e.g. C<Tk>),
2814then this module will do nothing for you.
2815
2816=item L<Guard>
2817
2818The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2819C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2820lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2821purely used for performance.
2822
2823=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2824
2825One of these modules is required when you want to read or write JSON data
2826via L<AnyEvent::Handle>. L<JSON> is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2827advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2828
2829=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2830
2831Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2832worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2833the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2834
2835=item L<Time::HiRes>
2836
2837This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2838chosen event library does not come with a timing source of its own. The
2839pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Loop>) will additionally load it to
2840try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2841
2842=back
2843
1156 2844
1157=head1 FORK 2845=head1 FORK
1158 2846
1159Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2847Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
1160because they are so inefficient. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2848because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> calls
2849- higher performance APIs such as BSD's kqueue or the dreaded Linux epoll
2850are usually badly thought-out hacks that are incompatible with fork in
2851one way or another. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware and ensures that you
2852continue event-processing in both parent and child (or both, if you know
2853what you are doing).
2854
2855This means that, in general, you cannot fork and do event processing in
2856the child if the event library was initialised before the fork (which
2857usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the library
2858is loaded).
1161 2859
1162If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2860If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first
1163watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child. 2861watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2862something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
2863
2864The problem of doing event processing in the parent I<and> the child
2865is much more complicated: even for backends that I<are> fork-aware or
2866fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all
2867watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both
2868parent and child, which is almost never what you want. USing C<exec>
2869to start worker children from some kind of manage rprocess is usually
2870preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of having
2871to have another binary.
1164 2872
1165 2873
1166=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2874=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1167 2875
1168AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2876AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
1173specified in the variable. 2881specified in the variable.
1174 2882
1175You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it 2883You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it
1176before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block: 2884before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block:
1177 2885
1178 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} } 2886 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} }
1179 2887
1180 use AnyEvent; 2888 use AnyEvent;
2889
2890Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
2891be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
2892probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
2893$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2894
2895Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2896C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2897enabled.
2898
2899
2900=head1 BUGS
2901
2902Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard
2903to work around. If you suffer from memleaks, first upgrade to Perl 5.10
2904and check wether the leaks still show up. (Perl 5.10.0 has other annoying
2905memleaks, such as leaking on C<map> and C<grep> but it is usually not as
2906pronounced).
1181 2907
1182 2908
1183=head1 SEE ALSO 2909=head1 SEE ALSO
1184 2910
1185Event modules: L<Coro::EV>, L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, 2911Tutorial/Introduction: L<AnyEvent::Intro>.
1186L<Coro::Event>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, L<Glib>, L<Coro>, L<Tk>,
1187L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1188 2912
1189Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, 2913FAQ: L<AnyEvent::FAQ>.
2914
2915Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util> (misc. grab-bag), L<AnyEvent::Log>
2916(simply logging).
2917
2918Development/Debugging: L<AnyEvent::Strict> (stricter checking),
2919L<AnyEvent::Debug> (interactive shell, watcher tracing).
2920
2921Supported event modules: L<AnyEvent::Loop>, L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>,
2922L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>,
2923L<Qt>, L<POE>, L<FLTK>.
2924
2925Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
2926L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
2927L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1190L<AnyEvent::Impl::CoroEvent>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, 2928L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>,
1191L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, 2929L<AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK>.
1192L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>.
1193 2930
2931Non-blocking handles, pipes, stream sockets, TCP clients and
2932servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
2933
2934Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
2935
2936Thread support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
2937
1194Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>. 2938Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>,
2939L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
1195 2940
1196 2941
1197=head1 AUTHOR 2942=head1 AUTHOR
1198 2943
1199 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2944 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
1200 http://home.schmorp.de/ 2945 http://home.schmorp.de/
1201 2946
1202=cut 2947=cut
1203 2948
12041 29491
1205 2950

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