ViewVC Help
View File | Revision Log | Show Annotations | Download File
/cvs/AnyEvent/lib/AnyEvent.pm
(Generate patch)

Comparing AnyEvent/lib/AnyEvent.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.202 by root, Wed Apr 1 15:29:00 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.264 by root, Wed Jul 29 12:42:09 2009 UTC

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, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, Qt
6and 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 # file descriptor readable
11 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r|w", cb => sub { ... }); 13 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r", cb => sub { ... });
12 14
15 # one-shot or repeating timers
13 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... }); 16 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... });
14 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ... 17 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ...
15 18
16 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time 19 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time
17 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time. 20 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time.
18 21
22 # POSIX signal
19 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "TERM", cb => sub { ... }); 23 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "TERM", cb => sub { ... });
20 24
25 # child process exit
21 my $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { 26 my $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
22 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 27 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
23 ... 28 ...
24 }); 29 });
30
31 # called when event loop idle (if applicable)
32 my $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub { ... });
25 33
26 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged 34 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged
27 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's 35 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's
28 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send 36 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send
29 # use a condvar in callback mode: 37 # use a condvar in callback mode:
32=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL 40=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL
33 41
34This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested 42This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested
35in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the 43in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the
36L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage. 44L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage.
45
46=head1 SUPPORT
47
48There is a mailinglist for discussing all things AnyEvent, and an IRC
49channel, too.
50
51See the AnyEvent project page at the B<Schmorpforge Ta-Sa Software
52Repository>, at L<http://anyevent.schmorp.de>, for more info.
37 53
38=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 54=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
39 55
40Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 56Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
41nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 57nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
168=head2 I/O WATCHERS 184=head2 I/O WATCHERS
169 185
170You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 186You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
171with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 187with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
172 188
173C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 189C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
174for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file 190for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
175handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which 191handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
176non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets, 192non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
177most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files 193most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
178or block devices. 194or block devices.
320In either case, if you care (and in most cases, you don't), then you 336In either case, if you care (and in most cases, you don't), then you
321can get whatever behaviour you want with any event loop, by taking the 337can get whatever behaviour you want with any event loop, by taking the
322difference between C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> into 338difference between C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> into
323account. 339account.
324 340
341=item AnyEvent->now_update
342
343Some event loops (such as L<EV> or L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) cache
344the current time for each loop iteration (see the discussion of L<<
345AnyEvent->now >>, above).
346
347When a callback runs for a long time (or when the process sleeps), then
348this "current" time will differ substantially from the real time, which
349might affect timers and time-outs.
350
351When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the
352event loop's idea of "current time".
353
354Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled.
355
325=back 356=back
326 357
327=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 358=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
328 359
329You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal 360You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal
338invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means 369invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
339that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process, 370that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process,
340but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 371but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
341 372
342The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal 373The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal
343between multiple watchers. 374between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
375interrupt your program at bad times.
344 376
345This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 377This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
346directly will likely not work correctly. 378so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
379correctly.
347 380
348Example: exit on SIGINT 381Example: exit on SIGINT
349 382
350 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 383 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
351 384
385=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
386
387Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
388callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot do
389race-free signal handling in perl. AnyEvent will try to do it's best, but
390in some cases, signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might
391be delayed is specified in C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY> (default: 10
392seconds). This variable can be changed only before the first signal
393watcher is created, and should be left alone otherwise. Higher values
394will cause fewer spurious wake-ups, which is better for power and CPU
395saving. All these problems can be avoided by installing the optional
396L<Async::Interrupt> module. This will not work with inherently broken
397event loops such as L<Event> or L<Event::Lib> (and not with L<POE>
398currently, as POE does it's own workaround with one-second latency). With
399those, you just have to suffer the delays.
400
352=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 401=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
353 402
354You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status. 403You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status.
355 404
356The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (if set to C<0>, it 405The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (one some backends,
357watches for any child process exit). The watcher will triggered only when 406using C<0> watches for any child process exit, on others this will
358the child process has finished and an exit status is available, not on 407croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
359any trace events (stopped/continued). 408finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
409(stopped/continued).
360 410
361The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by 411The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by
362waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher 412waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher
363callback arguments. 413callback arguments.
364 414
369 419
370There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them 420There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them
371I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could 421I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could
372have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 422have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
373 423
374Not all event models handle this correctly (POE doesn't), but even for 424Not all event models handle this correctly (neither POE nor IO::Async do,
425see their AnyEvent::Impl manpages for details), but even for event models
375event models that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be 426that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be loaded before
376loaded before the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). 427the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). AnyEvent's
428pure perl event loop handles all cases correctly regardless of when you
429start the watcher.
377 430
378This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first thing in an 431This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
379AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one watcher before you 432thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
380C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call C<AnyEvent::detect>). 433watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
434C<AnyEvent::detect>).
435
436As most event loops do not support waiting for child events, they will be
437emulated by AnyEvent in most cases, in which the latency and race problems
438mentioned in the description of signal watchers apply.
381 439
382Example: fork a process and wait for it 440Example: fork a process and wait for it
383 441
384 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 442 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
385 443
395 ); 453 );
396 454
397 # do something else, then wait for process exit 455 # do something else, then wait for process exit
398 $done->recv; 456 $done->recv;
399 457
458=head2 IDLE WATCHERS
459
460Sometimes there is a need to do something, but it is not so important
461to do it instantly, but only when there is nothing better to do. This
462"nothing better to do" is usually defined to be "no other events need
463attention by the event loop".
464
465Idle watchers ideally get invoked when the event loop has nothing
466better to do, just before it would block the process to wait for new
467events. Instead of blocking, the idle watcher is invoked.
468
469Most event loops unfortunately do not really support idle watchers (only
470EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent
471will simply call the callback "from time to time".
472
473Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the
474program is otherwise idle:
475
476 my @lines; # read data
477 my $idle_w;
478 my $io_w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
479 push @lines, scalar <STDIN>;
480
481 # start an idle watcher, if not already done
482 $idle_w ||= AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub {
483 # handle only one line, when there are lines left
484 if (my $line = shift @lines) {
485 print "handled when idle: $line";
486 } else {
487 # otherwise disable the idle watcher again
488 undef $idle_w;
489 }
490 });
491 });
492
400=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 493=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
401 494
402If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them 495If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them
403require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that 496require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
404will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks. 497will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
405 498
406AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and 499AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
407will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user). 500loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
408 501
409The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called 502The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called
410because they represent a condition that must become true. 503because they represent a condition that must become true.
411 504
505Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
506
412Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar 507Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
413>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is 508>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
414
415C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable 509C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
416becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not 510becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
417the results). 511the results).
418 512
419After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true" 513After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
424Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can 518Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can
425optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points 519optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points
426in time where multiple outstanding events have been processed. And yet 520in time where multiple outstanding events have been processed. And yet
427another way to call them is transactions - each condition variable can be 521another way to call them is transactions - each condition variable can be
428used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers 522used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers
429a result. 523a result. And yet some people know them as "futures" - a promise to
524compute/deliver something that you can wait for.
430 525
431Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished, 526Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
432for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 527for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
433then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 528then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
434availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is 529availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
468 after => 1, 563 after => 1,
469 cb => sub { $result_ready->send }, 564 cb => sub { $result_ready->send },
470 ); 565 );
471 566
472 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback 567 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
473 # calls send 568 # calls -<send
474 $result_ready->recv; 569 $result_ready->recv;
475 570
476Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that 571Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that condition
477condition variables are also code references. 572variables are also callable directly.
478 573
479 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 574 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
480 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done); 575 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done);
481 $done->recv; 576 $done->recv;
482 577
488 583
489 ... 584 ...
490 585
491 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv; 586 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv;
492 587
493And this is how you would just ste a callback to be called whenever the 588And this is how you would just set a callback to be called whenever the
494results are available: 589results are available:
495 590
496 $couchdb->info->cb (sub { 591 $couchdb->info->cb (sub {
497 my @info = $_[0]->recv; 592 my @info = $_[0]->recv;
498 }); 593 });
516immediately from within send. 611immediately from within send.
517 612
518Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all 613Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
519future C<< ->recv >> calls. 614future C<< ->recv >> calls.
520 615
521Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly 616Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as if
522(as a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling 617they were a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling
523C<send>. Note, however, that many C-based event loops do not handle 618C<send>.
524overloading, so as tempting as it may be, passing a condition variable
525instead of a callback does not work. Both the pure perl and EV loops
526support overloading, however, as well as all functions that use perl to
527invoke a callback (as in L<AnyEvent::Socket> and L<AnyEvent::DNS> for
528example).
529 619
530=item $cv->croak ($error) 620=item $cv->croak ($error)
531 621
532Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke 622Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
533C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar. 623C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
534 624
535This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable 625This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
536user/consumer. 626user/consumer. Doing it this way instead of calling C<croak> directly
627delays the error detetcion, but has the overwhelmign advantage that it
628diagnoses the error at the place where the result is expected, and not
629deep in some event clalback without connection to the actual code causing
630the problem.
537 631
538=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 632=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
539 633
540=item $cv->end 634=item $cv->end
541
542These two methods are EXPERIMENTAL and MIGHT CHANGE.
543 635
544These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into 636These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
545one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 637one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
546to use a condition variable for the whole process. 638to use a condition variable for the whole process.
547 639
549C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end 641C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
550>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback 642>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback
551is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no 643is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no
552callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 644callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments.
553 645
554Let's clarify this with the ping example: 646You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
647sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
648condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
649
650Let's start with a simple example: you have two I/O watchers (for example,
651STDOUT and STDERR for a program), and you want to wait for both streams to
652close before activating a condvar:
653
654 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
655
656 $cv->begin; # first watcher
657 my $w1 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh1, cb => sub {
658 defined sysread $fh1, my $buf, 4096
659 or $cv->end;
660 });
661
662 $cv->begin; # second watcher
663 my $w2 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh2, cb => sub {
664 defined sysread $fh2, my $buf, 4096
665 or $cv->end;
666 });
667
668 $cv->recv;
669
670This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), there is
671one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
672sending.
673
674The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
675there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
676begung can potentially be zero:
555 677
556 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 678 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
557 679
558 my %result; 680 my %result;
559 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 681 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) });
579loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback 701loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
580to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 702to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
581C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop 703C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
582doesn't execute once). 704doesn't execute once).
583 705
584This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests: 706This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
585use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set the callback and ensure C<end> 707potentially none) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
586is called at least once, and then, for each subrequest you start, call 708the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
587C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish, call C<end>. 709subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
710call C<end>.
588 711
589=back 712=back
590 713
591=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS 714=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
592 715
608function will call C<croak>. 731function will call C<croak>.
609 732
610In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned, 733In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
611in scalar context only the first one will be returned. 734in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
612 735
736Note that doing a blocking wait in a callback is not supported by any
737event loop, that is, recursive invocation of a blocking C<< ->recv
738>> is not allowed, and the C<recv> call will C<croak> if such a
739condition is detected. This condition can be slightly loosened by using
740L<Coro::AnyEvent>, which allows you to do a blocking C<< ->recv >> from
741any thread that doesn't run the event loop itself.
742
613Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 743Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case
614(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are 744(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are
615using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the 745using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>. Instead, let the
616caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling 746caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
617condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 747condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
618callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 748callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
619while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 749while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
620 750
621Another reason I<never> to C<< ->recv >> in a module is that you cannot
622sensibly have two C<< ->recv >>'s in parallel, as that would require
623multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent>
624can supply.
625
626The L<Coro> module, however, I<can> and I<does> supply coroutines and, in
627fact, L<Coro::AnyEvent> replaces AnyEvent's condvars by coroutine-safe
628versions and also integrates coroutines into AnyEvent, making blocking
629C<< ->recv >> calls perfectly safe as long as they are done from another
630coroutine (one that doesn't run the event loop).
631
632You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and 751You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
633only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later 752only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
634time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking 753time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
635waits otherwise. 754waits otherwise.
636 755
649variable itself. Calling C<recv> inside the callback or at any later time 768variable itself. Calling C<recv> inside the callback or at any later time
650is guaranteed not to block. 769is guaranteed not to block.
651 770
652=back 771=back
653 772
773=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
774
775The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
776
777=over 4
778
779=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
780
781EV is the preferred backend when no other event loop seems to be in
782use. If EV is not installed, then AnyEvent will try Event, and, failing
783that, will fall back to its own pure-perl implementation, which is
784available everywhere as it comes with AnyEvent itself.
785
786 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (interface to libev, best choice).
787 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
788 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
789
790=item Backends that are transparently being picked up when they are used.
791
792These will be used when they are currently loaded when the first watcher
793is created, in which case it is assumed that the application is using
794them. This means that AnyEvent will automatically pick the right backend
795when the main program loads an event module before anything starts to
796create watchers. Nothing special needs to be done by the main program.
797
798 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
799 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
800 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
801 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
802 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
803
804=item Backends with special needs.
805
806Qt requires the Qt::Application to be instantiated first, but will
807otherwise be picked up automatically. As long as the main program
808instantiates the application before any AnyEvent watchers are created,
809everything should just work.
810
811 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt.
812
813Support for IO::Async can only be partial, as it is too broken and
814architecturally limited to even support the AnyEvent API. It also
815is the only event loop that needs the loop to be set explicitly, so
816it can only be used by a main program knowing about AnyEvent. See
817L<AnyEvent::Impl::Async> for the gory details.
818
819 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async, cannot be autoprobed.
820
821=item Event loops that are indirectly supported via other backends.
822
823Some event loops can be supported via other modules:
824
825There is no direct support for WxWidgets (L<Wx>) or L<Prima>.
826
827B<WxWidgets> has no support for watching file handles. However, you can
828use WxWidgets through the POE adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply
829polls 20 times per second, which was considered to be too horrible to even
830consider for AnyEvent.
831
832B<Prima> is not supported as nobody seems to be using it, but it has a POE
833backend, so it can be supported through POE.
834
835AnyEvent knows about both L<Prima> and L<Wx>, however, and will try to
836load L<POE> when detecting them, in the hope that POE will pick them up,
837in which case everything will be automatic.
838
839=back
840
654=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 841=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
655 842
843These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
844write AnyEvent extension modules.
845
656=over 4 846=over 4
657 847
658=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 848=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
659 849
660Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 850Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
851backend has been autodetected.
852
661contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 853Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
662Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 854name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
663C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 855of the C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
664AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 856case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
665 857will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
666The known classes so far are:
667
668 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
669 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
670 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
671 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
672 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
673 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
674 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
675 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
676
677There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
678watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
679POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
680second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
681AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
682it's adaptor.
683
684AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
685autodetecting them.
686 858
687=item AnyEvent::detect 859=item AnyEvent::detect
688 860
689Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 861Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
690if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 862if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
691have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 863have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
692runtime. 864runtime, and not e.g. while initialising of your module.
865
866If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
867created, use C<post_detect>.
693 868
694=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK } 869=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
695 870
696Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is 871Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
697autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened). 872autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened).
698 873
874The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
875(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
876created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
877other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
878L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
879
880The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
881event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
882and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
883avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
884
699If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object 885If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
700that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed. See 886that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
887C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
701L<Coro::BDB> for a case where this is useful. 888a case where this is useful.
889
890Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
891C<$WATCHER>. Only do so after the event loop is initialised, though.
892
893 our WATCHER;
894
895 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
896 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
897 };
898
899 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
900 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
901 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
902 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
903
904 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
702 905
703=item @AnyEvent::post_detect 906=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
704 907
705If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it 908If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
706before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after 909before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after
707the event loop has been chosen. 910the event loop has been chosen.
708 911
709You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though: 912You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
710if it contains a true value then the event loop has already been detected, 913if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
711and the array will be ignored. 914array will be ignored.
712 915
713Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> instead. 916Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
917it,as it takes care of these details.
918
919This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
920when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
921not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
922into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
714 923
715=back 924=back
716 925
717=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 926=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
718 927
773 982
774 983
775=head1 OTHER MODULES 984=head1 OTHER MODULES
776 985
777The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use 986The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
778AnyEvent and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent modules 987AnyEvent as a client and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent
779in the same program. Some of the modules come with AnyEvent, some are 988modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the modules
780available via CPAN. 989come with AnyEvent, most are available via CPAN.
781 990
782=over 4 991=over 4
783 992
784=item L<AnyEvent::Util> 993=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
785 994
794 1003
795=item L<AnyEvent::Handle> 1004=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
796 1005
797Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes, 1006Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
798supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and 1007supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
799non-blocking SSL/TLS. 1008non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
800 1009
801=item L<AnyEvent::DNS> 1010=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
802 1011
803Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities. 1012Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
804 1013
832 1041
833=item L<AnyEvent::GPSD> 1042=item L<AnyEvent::GPSD>
834 1043
835A non-blocking interface to gpsd, a daemon delivering GPS information. 1044A non-blocking interface to gpsd, a daemon delivering GPS information.
836 1045
1046=item L<AnyEvent::IRC>
1047
1048AnyEvent based IRC client module family (replacing the older Net::IRC3).
1049
1050=item L<AnyEvent::XMPP>
1051
1052AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family (replacing the older
1053Net::XMPP2>.
1054
837=item L<AnyEvent::IGS> 1055=item L<AnyEvent::IGS>
838 1056
839A non-blocking interface to the Internet Go Server protocol (used by 1057A non-blocking interface to the Internet Go Server protocol (used by
840L<App::IGS>). 1058L<App::IGS>).
841 1059
842=item L<AnyEvent::IRC>
843
844AnyEvent based IRC client module family (replacing the older Net::IRC3).
845
846=item L<Net::XMPP2>
847
848AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family.
849
850=item L<Net::FCP> 1060=item L<Net::FCP>
851 1061
852AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace 1062AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace
853of AnyEvent. 1063of AnyEvent.
854 1064
858 1068
859=item L<Coro> 1069=item L<Coro>
860 1070
861Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>. 1071Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
862 1072
863=item L<IO::Lambda>
864
865The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent.
866
867=back 1073=back
868 1074
869=cut 1075=cut
870 1076
871package AnyEvent; 1077package AnyEvent;
872 1078
1079# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
1080sub common_sense {
873no warnings; 1081 # no warnings
1082 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS};
874use strict qw(vars subs); 1083 # use strict vars subs
1084 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1085}
875 1086
1087BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1088
876use Carp; 1089use Carp ();
877 1090
878our $VERSION = 4.35; 1091our $VERSION = 4.881;
879our $MODEL; 1092our $MODEL;
880 1093
881our $AUTOLOAD; 1094our $AUTOLOAD;
882our @ISA; 1095our @ISA;
883 1096
884our @REGISTRY; 1097our @REGISTRY;
885 1098
886our $WIN32; 1099our $WIN32;
887 1100
1101our $VERBOSE;
1102
888BEGIN { 1103BEGIN {
889 my $win32 = ! ! ($^O =~ /mswin32/i); 1104 eval "sub WIN32(){ " . (($^O =~ /mswin32/i)*1) ." }";
890 eval "sub WIN32(){ $win32 }"; 1105 eval "sub TAINT(){ " . (${^TAINT}*1) . " }";
891}
892 1106
1107 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
1108 if ${^TAINT};
1109
893our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1; 1110 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1111
1112}
1113
1114our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
894 1115
895our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred 1116our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
896 1117
897{ 1118{
898 my $idx; 1119 my $idx;
900 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/, 1121 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
901 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6"; 1122 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
902} 1123}
903 1124
904my @models = ( 1125my @models = (
905 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1126 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
906 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 1127 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
907 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1128 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
908 # everything below here will not be autoprobed 1129 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
909 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1130 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere
910 # and is usually faster 1131 # and is usually faster
1132 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1133 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1134 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
911 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles 1135 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
912 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
913 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
914 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 1136 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
915 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 1137 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
916 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1138 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
917 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1139 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
1140 # IO::Async is just too broken - we would need workarounds for its
1141 # byzantine signal and broken child handling, among others.
1142 # IO::Async is rather hard to detect, as it doesn't have any
1143 # obvious default class.
1144# [0, IO::Async:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1145# [0, IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1146# [0, IO::Async::Notifier:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
918); 1147);
919 1148
920our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer time now signal child condvar one_event DESTROY); 1149our %method = map +($_ => 1),
1150 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY);
921 1151
922our @post_detect; 1152our @post_detect;
923 1153
924sub post_detect(&) { 1154sub post_detect(&) {
925 my ($cb) = @_; 1155 my ($cb) = @_;
926 1156
927 if ($MODEL) { 1157 if ($MODEL) {
928 $cb->(); 1158 $cb->();
929 1159
930 1 1160 undef
931 } else { 1161 } else {
932 push @post_detect, $cb; 1162 push @post_detect, $cb;
933 1163
934 defined wantarray 1164 defined wantarray
935 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::PostDetect" 1165 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
936 : () 1166 : ()
937 } 1167 }
938} 1168}
939 1169
940sub AnyEvent::Util::PostDetect::DESTROY { 1170sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
941 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect; 1171 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
942} 1172}
943 1173
944sub detect() { 1174sub detect() {
945 unless ($MODEL) { 1175 unless ($MODEL) {
946 no strict 'refs';
947 local $SIG{__DIE__}; 1176 local $SIG{__DIE__};
948 1177
949 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) { 1178 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) {
950 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1"; 1179 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
951 if (eval "require $model") { 1180 if (eval "require $model") {
952 $MODEL = $model; 1181 $MODEL = $model;
953 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1182 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
954 } else { 1183 } else {
955 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose; 1184 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@" if $VERBOSE;
956 } 1185 }
957 } 1186 }
958 1187
959 # check for already loaded models 1188 # check for already loaded models
960 unless ($MODEL) { 1189 unless ($MODEL) {
961 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1190 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
962 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1191 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
963 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1192 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
964 if (eval "require $model") { 1193 if (eval "require $model") {
965 $MODEL = $model; 1194 $MODEL = $model;
966 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1195 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
967 last; 1196 last;
968 } 1197 }
969 } 1198 }
970 } 1199 }
971 1200
972 unless ($MODEL) { 1201 unless ($MODEL) {
973 # try to load a model 1202 # try to autoload a model
974
975 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1203 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
976 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1204 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1205 if (
1206 $autoload
977 if (eval "require $package" 1207 and eval "require $package"
978 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0 1208 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
979 and eval "require $model") { 1209 and eval "require $model"
1210 ) {
980 $MODEL = $model; 1211 $MODEL = $model;
981 warn "AnyEvent: autoprobed model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1212 warn "AnyEvent: autoloaded model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
982 last; 1213 last;
983 } 1214 }
984 } 1215 }
985 1216
986 $MODEL 1217 $MODEL
987 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib."; 1218 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib.\n";
988 } 1219 }
989 } 1220 }
990 1221
991 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base"; 1222 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
992 1223
1002 1233
1003sub AUTOLOAD { 1234sub AUTOLOAD {
1004 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://; 1235 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
1005 1236
1006 $method{$func} 1237 $method{$func}
1007 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects"; 1238 or Carp::croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects";
1008 1239
1009 detect unless $MODEL; 1240 detect unless $MODEL;
1010 1241
1011 my $class = shift; 1242 my $class = shift;
1012 $class->$func (@_); 1243 $class->$func (@_);
1013} 1244}
1014 1245
1015# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends 1246# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1016# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually 1247# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1017# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one). 1248# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1018sub _dupfh($$$$) { 1249sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1019 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_; 1250 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1020 1251
1021 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't 1252 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1022 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<") 1253 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1023 : $poll eq "w" ? ($w, ">")
1024 : Carp::croak "AnyEvent->io requires poll set to either 'r' or 'w'";
1025 1254
1026 open my $fh2, "$mode&" . fileno $fh 1255 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1027 or die "cannot dup() filehandle: $!"; 1256 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1028 1257
1029 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases 1258 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1030 1259
1031 ($fh2, $rw) 1260 ($fh2, $rw)
1032} 1261}
1033 1262
1034package AnyEvent::Base; 1263package AnyEvent::Base;
1035 1264
1036# default implementation for now and time 1265# default implementations for many methods
1037 1266
1038BEGIN { 1267sub _time {
1268 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1039 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); time (); 1") { 1269 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1270 warn "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1040 *_time = \&Time::HiRes::time; 1271 *_time = \&Time::HiRes::time;
1041 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())... 1272 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1042 } else { 1273 } else {
1274 warn "AnyEvent: using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!\n" if $VERBOSE;
1043 *_time = sub { time }; # epic fail 1275 *_time = sub { time }; # epic fail
1044 } 1276 }
1277
1278 &_time
1045} 1279}
1046 1280
1047sub time { _time } 1281sub time { _time }
1048sub now { _time } 1282sub now { _time }
1283sub now_update { }
1049 1284
1050# default implementation for ->condvar 1285# default implementation for ->condvar
1051 1286
1052sub condvar { 1287sub condvar {
1053 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, AnyEvent::CondVar:: 1288 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1054} 1289}
1055 1290
1056# default implementation for ->signal 1291# default implementation for ->signal
1057 1292
1293our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1294
1295sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1296 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1297 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.0 (); 1")
1298 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1299
1300 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1301}
1302
1058our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO); 1303our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1304our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1305our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1059 1306
1060sub _signal_exec { 1307sub _signal_exec {
1308 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1309 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1061 sysread $SIGPIPE_R, my $dummy, 4; 1310 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, my $dummy, 9;
1062 1311
1063 while (%SIG_EV) { 1312 while (%SIG_EV) {
1064 for (keys %SIG_EV) { 1313 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1065 delete $SIG_EV{$_}; 1314 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
1066 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} }; 1315 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
1067 } 1316 }
1068 } 1317 }
1069} 1318}
1070 1319
1320# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1321sub _sig_add() {
1322 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1323 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1324 my $NOW = AnyEvent->now;
1325
1326 $SIG_TW = AnyEvent->timer (
1327 after => $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1328 interval => $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1329 cb => sub { }, # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1330 );
1331 }
1332}
1333
1334sub _sig_del {
1335 undef $SIG_TW
1336 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1337}
1338
1339our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1340 undef $_sig_name_init;
1341
1342 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1343 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1344 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1345 } else {
1346 require Config;
1347
1348 my %signame2num;
1349 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1350 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1351
1352 my @signum2name;
1353 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1354
1355 *sig2num = sub($) {
1356 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1357 };
1358 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1359 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1360 };
1361 }
1362};
1363
1364sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1365sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
1366
1367sub _signal {
1368 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1369
1370 my $signal = uc $arg{signal}
1371 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
1372
1373 if ($HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT) {
1374 # async::interrupt
1375
1376 $signal = sig2num $signal;
1377 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1378
1379 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1380 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1381 signal => $signal,
1382 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1383 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1384 ;
1385
1386 } else {
1387 # pure perl
1388
1389 # AE::Util has been loaded in signal
1390 $signal = sig2name $signal;
1391 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1392
1393 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
1394 local $!;
1395 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1396 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1397 };
1398
1399 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1400 # so limit the signal latency.
1401 _sig_add;
1402 }
1403
1404 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1405}
1406
1071sub signal { 1407sub signal {
1072 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1408 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1409 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1410 warn "AnyEvent: using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1073 1411
1074 unless ($SIGPIPE_R) { 1412 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1413 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec);
1414
1415 } else {
1416 warn "AnyEvent: using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1417
1075 require Fcntl; 1418 require Fcntl;
1076 1419
1077 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) { 1420 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1078 require AnyEvent::Util; 1421 require AnyEvent::Util;
1079 1422
1082 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case 1425 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1083 } else { 1426 } else {
1084 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W; 1427 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1085 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R; 1428 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1086 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case 1429 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1430
1431 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1432 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1433 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1087 } 1434 }
1088 1435
1089 $SIGPIPE_R 1436 $SIGPIPE_R
1090 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n"; 1437 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1091 1438
1092 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1093 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1094 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1095
1096 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec); 1439 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec);
1097 } 1440 }
1098 1441
1099 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1442 *signal = \&_signal;
1100 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing"; 1443 &signal
1101
1102 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1103 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
1104 local $!;
1105 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1106 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1107 };
1108
1109 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Signal"
1110} 1444}
1111 1445
1112sub AnyEvent::Base::Signal::DESTROY { 1446sub AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY {
1113 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1447 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1114 1448
1449 _sig_del;
1450
1115 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb}; 1451 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1116 1452
1453 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1454 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1455 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1456 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1457 # instead of getting the default action.
1458 undef $SIG{$signal}
1117 delete $SIG{$signal} unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} }; 1459 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1118} 1460}
1119 1461
1120# default implementation for ->child 1462# default implementation for ->child
1121 1463
1122our %PID_CB; 1464our %PID_CB;
1123our $CHLD_W; 1465our $CHLD_W;
1124our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1466our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
1125our $PID_IDLE;
1126our $WNOHANG; 1467our $WNOHANG;
1127 1468
1128sub _child_wait { 1469sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
1129 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1470 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1471
1472 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
1130 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1473 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
1131 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1474 values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} };
1132 }
1133
1134 undef $PID_IDLE;
1135} 1475}
1136 1476
1137sub _sigchld { 1477sub _sigchld {
1138 # make sure we deliver these changes "synchronous" with the event loop. 1478 my $pid;
1139 $CHLD_DELAY_W ||= AnyEvent->timer (after => 0, cb => sub { 1479
1140 undef $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1480 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
1141 &_child_wait; 1481 while ($pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG) > 0;
1142 });
1143} 1482}
1144 1483
1145sub child { 1484sub child {
1146 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1485 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1147 1486
1148 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1487 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0)
1149 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1488 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing";
1150 1489
1151 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1490 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1152 1491
1153 unless ($WNOHANG) { 1492 # WNOHANG is almost cetrainly 1 everywhere
1493 $WNOHANG ||= $^O =~ /^(?:openbsd|netbsd|linux|freebsd|cygwin|MSWin32)$/
1494 ? 1
1154 $WNOHANG = eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1; 1495 : eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
1155 }
1156 1496
1157 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1497 unless ($CHLD_W) {
1158 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1498 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld);
1159 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1499 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
1160 &_sigchld; 1500 &_sigchld;
1161 } 1501 }
1162 1502
1163 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Child" 1503 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
1164} 1504}
1165 1505
1166sub AnyEvent::Base::Child::DESTROY { 1506sub AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY {
1167 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1507 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1168 1508
1169 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb}; 1509 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb};
1170 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} }; 1510 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
1171 1511
1172 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1512 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1173} 1513}
1174 1514
1515# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1516# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1517# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1518sub idle {
1519 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1520
1521 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1522
1523 $rcb = sub {
1524 if ($cb) {
1525 $w = _time;
1526 &$cb;
1527 $w = _time - $w;
1528
1529 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1530 # within some limits
1531 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1532 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1533
1534 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $w, cb => $rcb);
1535 } else {
1536 # clean up...
1537 undef $w;
1538 undef $rcb;
1539 }
1540 };
1541
1542 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.05, cb => $rcb);
1543
1544 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1545}
1546
1547sub AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY {
1548 undef $${$_[0]};
1549}
1550
1175package AnyEvent::CondVar; 1551package AnyEvent::CondVar;
1176 1552
1177our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::; 1553our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
1178 1554
1179package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base; 1555package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
1180 1556
1181use overload 1557#use overload
1182 '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }, 1558# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
1183 fallback => 1; 1559# fallback => 1;
1560
1561# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1562${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1563*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1564*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1565${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1566
1567our $WAITING;
1184 1568
1185sub _send { 1569sub _send {
1186 # nop 1570 # nop
1187} 1571}
1188 1572
1201sub ready { 1585sub ready {
1202 $_[0]{_ae_sent} 1586 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
1203} 1587}
1204 1588
1205sub _wait { 1589sub _wait {
1590 $WAITING
1591 and !$_[0]{_ae_sent}
1592 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait detected";
1593
1594 local $WAITING = 1;
1206 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent}; 1595 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent};
1207} 1596}
1208 1597
1209sub recv { 1598sub recv {
1210 $_[0]->_wait; 1599 $_[0]->_wait;
1251so on. 1640so on.
1252 1641
1253=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES 1642=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1254 1643
1255The following environment variables are used by this module or its 1644The following environment variables are used by this module or its
1256submodules: 1645submodules.
1646
1647Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
1648C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
1649enabled.
1257 1650
1258=over 4 1651=over 4
1259 1652
1260=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE> 1653=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1261 1654
1268C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>. 1661C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1269 1662
1270When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event 1663When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1271model it chooses. 1664model it chooses.
1272 1665
1666When set to C<8> or higher, then AnyEvent will report extra information on
1667which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
1668
1273=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> 1669=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1274 1670
1275AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough 1671AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1276argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value 1672argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1277will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly 1673will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1278check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems 1674check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1279it will croak. 1675it will croak.
1280 1676
1281In other words, enables "strict" mode. 1677In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1282 1678
1283Unlike C<use strict>, it is definitely recommended ot keep it off in 1679Unlike C<use strict> (or it's modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
1284production. Keeping C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while 1680>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
1285developing programs can be very useful, however. 1681C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
1682can be very useful, however.
1286 1683
1287=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL> 1684=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1288 1685
1289This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before 1686This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1290auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting 1687auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1333 1730
1334=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS> 1731=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
1335 1732
1336The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call> 1733The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
1337will create in parallel. 1734will create in parallel.
1735
1736=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
1737
1738The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
1739resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
1740sent to the DNS server.
1741
1742=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
1743
1744The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
1745configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
1746default config will be used.
1747
1748=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
1749
1750When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
1751L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
1752variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
1753instead of a system-dependent default.
1754
1755=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
1756
1757When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
1758loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
1338 1759
1339=back 1760=back
1340 1761
1341=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 1762=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
1342 1763
1587 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers 2008 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers
1588 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal 2009 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal
1589 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation 2010 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation
1590 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface 2011 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface
1591 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers 2012 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers
2013 IOAsync/Any 16000 989 38.10 32.77 11.13 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
2014 IOAsync/Any 16000 990 37.59 29.50 10.61 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
1592 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour 2015 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour
1593 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 2016 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
1594 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event 2017 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event
1595 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select 2018 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select
1596 2019
1625performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 2048performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
1626them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 2049them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
1627 2050
1628The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 2051The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
1629cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 2052cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
2053
2054C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
2055when using its pure perl backend.
1630 2056
1631C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 2057C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a
1632faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as 2058faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
1633C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 2059C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
1634watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 2060watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
1712it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 2138it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1713a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2139a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1714 2140
1715=head3 Results 2141=head3 Results
1716 2142
1717 name sockets create request 2143 name sockets create request
1718 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2144 EV 20000 69.01 11.16
1719 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 2145 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87
2146 IOAsync 20000 157.00 98.14 epoll
2147 IOAsync 20000 159.31 616.06 poll
1720 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2148 Event 20000 212.62 257.32
1721 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2149 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30
1722 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2150 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event
1723 2151
1724=head3 Discussion 2152=head3 Discussion
1725 2153
1726This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2154This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1727particular event loop. 2155particular event loop.
1729EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 2157EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1730is relatively high, though. 2158is relatively high, though.
1731 2159
1732Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 2160Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1733loops Event and Glib. 2161loops Event and Glib.
2162
2163IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
2164good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1734 2165
1735Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 2166Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will
1736understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to 2167understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1737the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 2168the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1738uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 2169uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1801=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 2232=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1802watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 2233watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1803 2234
1804=back 2235=back
1805 2236
2237=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
2238
2239Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
2240could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
2241simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
2242shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
2243fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
2244very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
2245baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
2246
2247The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
2248connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
2249creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
2250test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
2251benchmark nevertheless.
2252
2253 name runtime
2254 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
2255 + optimized 0.122 sec
2256 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
2257 + optimized 0.138 sec
2258 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
2259 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
2260 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
2261 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
2262
2263 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
2264 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
2265 +state machine 0.134 sec
2266
2267The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2268benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2269defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2270written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2271AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2272resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2273generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2274connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2275
2276The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2277offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2278Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2279non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2280
2281As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2282hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2283backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2284
2285And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2286slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda by a
2287large margin, even though it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O
2288in a non-blocking way.
2289
2290The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2291F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2292part of the IO::lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2293
1806 2294
1807=head1 SIGNALS 2295=head1 SIGNALS
1808 2296
1809AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals: 2297AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
1810 2298
1813=item SIGCHLD 2301=item SIGCHLD
1814 2302
1815A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher 2303A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
1816emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some 2304emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
1817event loops install a similar handler. 2305event loops install a similar handler.
2306
2307Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2308AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
1818 2309
1819=item SIGPIPE 2310=item SIGPIPE
1820 2311
1821A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef> 2312A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
1822when AnyEvent gets loaded. 2313when AnyEvent gets loaded.
1834 2325
1835=back 2326=back
1836 2327
1837=cut 2328=cut
1838 2329
2330undef $SIG{CHLD}
2331 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2332
1839$SIG{PIPE} = sub { } 2333$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
1840 unless defined $SIG{PIPE}; 2334 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2335
2336=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2337
2338One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2339it's built-in modules) are required to use it.
2340
2341That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2342modules if they are installed.
2343
2344This section epxlains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2345affect AnyEvent's operetion.
2346
2347=over 4
2348
2349=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2350
2351This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2352my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2353signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2354delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2355catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2356C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2357
2358If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2359catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2360will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (And good for
2361battery life on laptops).
2362
2363This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2364that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2365
2366Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2367and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2368(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2369does nothing for those backends.
2370
2371=item L<EV>
2372
2373This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2374event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2375loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2376the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2377automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2378can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2379C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2380L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2381
2382=item L<Guard>
2383
2384The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2385C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2386lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2387purely used for performance.
2388
2389=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2390
2391This module is required when you want to read or write JSON data via
2392L<AnyEvent::Handle>. It is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2393advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2394
2395In fact, L<AnyEvent::Handle> will use L<JSON::XS> by default if it is
2396installed.
2397
2398=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2399
2400Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2401worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2402the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2403
2404=item L<Time::HiRes>
2405
2406This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2407chosen event library does not come with a timing source on it's own. The
2408pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) will additionally use it to
2409try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2410
2411=back
1841 2412
1842 2413
1843=head1 FORK 2414=head1 FORK
1844 2415
1845Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2416Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
1846because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> 2417because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll>
1847calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2418calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware.
1848 2419
1849If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2420If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first
1850watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child. 2421watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2422something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
1851 2423
1852 2424
1853=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2425=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1854 2426
1855AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2427AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
1867 use AnyEvent; 2439 use AnyEvent;
1868 2440
1869Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can 2441Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1870be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is 2442be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1871probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and 2443probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
1872$ENV{PERL_ANYEGENT_STRICT}. 2444$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2445
2446Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2447C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2448enabled.
1873 2449
1874 2450
1875=head1 BUGS 2451=head1 BUGS
1876 2452
1877Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard 2453Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard
1889L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 2465L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1890 2466
1891Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, 2467Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
1892L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, 2468L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
1893L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, 2469L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1894L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 2470L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>.
1895 2471
1896Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and 2472Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and
1897servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>. 2473servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
1898 2474
1899Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2475Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
1900 2476
1901Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, 2477Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>,
2478L<Coro::Event>,
1902 2479
1903Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>, L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2480Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>,
2481L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
1904 2482
1905 2483
1906=head1 AUTHOR 2484=head1 AUTHOR
1907 2485
1908 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2486 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

Diff Legend

Removed lines
+ Added lines
< Changed lines
> Changed lines