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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, 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 # 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
20 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's 38 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's
21 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send 39 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send
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=head1 DESCRIPTION 114=head1 DESCRIPTION
72 115
73L<AnyEvent> provides an identical interface to multiple event loops. This 116L<AnyEvent> provides a uniform interface to various event loops. This
74allows module authors to utilise an event loop without forcing module 117allows module authors to use event loop functionality without forcing
75users 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
76peacefully at any one time). 119than one event loop cannot coexist peacefully).
77 120
78The 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>
79module. 122module.
80 123
81During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries 124During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries
82to 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
83following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, 126following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, L<AnyEvent::Loop>,
84L<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
85L<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
86to 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
87adaptor should always succeed) in the order given. The first one that can 130available, the pure-perl L<AnyEvent::Loop> should always work, so
88be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be 131the other two are not normally tried.
89found, AnyEvent will fall back to a pure-perl event loop, which is not
90very efficient, but should work everywhere.
91 132
92Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading 133Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading
93an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make 134an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make
94that model the default. For example: 135that model the default. For example:
95 136
97 use AnyEvent; 138 use AnyEvent;
98 139
99 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk 140 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk
100 141
101The 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
102starts 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,
103use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly... 144as very few modules hardcode event loops without announcing this very
145loudly.
104 146
105The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called 147The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called C<AnyEvent::Loop>. Like
106C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it 148other event modules you can load it explicitly and enjoy the high
107explicitly. 149availability of that event loop :)
108 150
109=head1 WATCHERS 151=head1 WATCHERS
110 152
111AnyEvent 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
112stores 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
113the callback to call, the filehandle to watch, etc. 155the callback to call, the file handle to watch, etc.
114 156
115These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After 157These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After
116creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the 158creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the
117callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model 159callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model
118is in control). 160is in control).
119 161
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
120To 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
121variable 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
122to it). 170to it).
123 171
124All 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.
125 173
126Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for 174Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for
127example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways. 175example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways.
128 176
129An any way to achieve that is this pattern: 177One way to achieve that is this pattern:
130 178
131 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub { 179 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub {
132 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it 180 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it
133 undef $w; 181 undef $w;
134 }); 182 });
135 183
136Note 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,
137my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are 185my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are
138declared. 186declared.
139 187
140=head2 I/O WATCHERS 188=head2 I/O WATCHERS
141 189
190 $w = AnyEvent->io (
191 fh => <filehandle_or_fileno>,
192 poll => <"r" or "w">,
193 cb => <callback>,
194 );
195
142You 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
143with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 197with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
144 198
145C<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
146for 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
147which creates a watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, 207watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, respectively.
208
148respectively. 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.
149becomes ready.
150 210
151Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 211Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
152presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 212presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
153callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks. 213callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks.
154 214
155The 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.
156You 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
157underlying file descriptor. 217underlying file descriptor.
158 218
159Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should 219Some event loops issue spurious readiness notifications, so you should
160always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file 220always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file
161handles. 221handles.
162 222
163Example:
164
165 # 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
166 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub { 226 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
167 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); 227 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>);
168 warn "read: $input\n"; 228 warn "read: $input\n";
169 undef $w; 229 undef $w;
170 }); 230 });
171 231
172=head2 TIME WATCHERS 232=head2 TIME WATCHERS
173 233
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
174You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >> 242You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >>
175method with the following mandatory arguments: 243method with the following mandatory arguments:
176 244
177C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are 245C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are
178supported) 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
180 248
181Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 249Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
182presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 250presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
183callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks. 251callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks.
184 252
185The 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
186timer 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
187and 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.
188 258
189Example: 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.
190 262
191 # fire an event after 7.7 seconds 263Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds.
264
192 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub { 265 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub {
193 warn "timeout\n"; 266 warn "timeout\n";
194 }); 267 });
195 268
196 # to cancel the timer: 269 # to cancel the timer:
197 undef $w; 270 undef $w;
198 271
199Example 2:
200
201 # fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second 272Example 2: fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second.
202 my $w;
203 273
204 my $cb = sub {
205 # cancel the old timer while creating a new one
206 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => $cb); 274 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, interval => 1, cb => sub {
275 warn "timeout\n";
207 }; 276 };
208
209 # start the "loop" by creating the first watcher
210 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, cb => $cb);
211 277
212=head3 TIMING ISSUES 278=head3 TIMING ISSUES
213 279
214There 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
215in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12 281in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12
217 283
218While 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
219use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock 285use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock
220"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
221the 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
222fire "after" a second might actually take six years to finally fire. 288fire "after a second" might actually take six years to finally fire.
223 289
224AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious 290AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious
225about 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
226on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time) 292on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time)
227timers. 293timers.
228 294
229AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the 295AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the
230AnyEvent API. 296AnyEvent API.
231 297
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
232=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 383=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
233 384
385 $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => <uppercase_signal_name>, cb => <callback>);
386
234You 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
235I<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
236be invoked whenever a signal occurs. 389callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs.
237 390
238Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 391Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
239presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 392presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
240callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks. 393callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks.
241 394
242Multiple signal occurances can be clumped together into one callback 395Multiple signal occurrences can be clumped together into one callback
243invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. synchronous means 396invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
244that 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,
245but it is guarenteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 398but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
246 399
247The 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
248between multiple watchers. 401between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
402interrupt your program at bad times.
249 403
250This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 404This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
251directly will likely not work correctly. 405so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
406correctly.
252 407
253Example: exit on SIGINT 408Example: exit on SIGINT
254 409
255 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 410 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
256 411
412=head3 Restart Behaviour
413
414While restart behaviour is up to the event loop implementation, most will
415not restart syscalls (that includes L<Async::Interrupt> and AnyEvent's
416pure perl implementation).
417
418=head3 Safe/Unsafe Signals
419
420Perl signals can be either "safe" (synchronous to opcode handling) or
421"unsafe" (asynchronous) - the former might get delayed indefinitely, the
422latter might corrupt your memory.
423
424AnyEvent signal handlers are, in addition, synchronous to the event loop,
425i.e. they will not interrupt your running perl program but will only be
426called as part of the normal event handling (just like timer, I/O etc.
427callbacks, too).
428
429=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
430
431Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
432callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot
433do race-free signal handling in perl, requiring C libraries for
434this. AnyEvent will try to do its best, which means in some cases,
435signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might be delayed is
436specified in C<$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
257=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 449=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
258 450
451 $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => <process id>, cb => <callback>);
452
259You 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.
260 454
261The 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,
262watches for any child process exit). The watcher will trigger as often 456using C<0> watches for any child process exit, on others this will
263as status change for the child are received. This works by installing a 457croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
264signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>. The callback will be called with the pid 458finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
265and exit status (as returned by waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, 459(stopped/continued).
266you 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).
267 469
268There 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
269I<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
270have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 472have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
271 473
272Not 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
273event 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
274loaded 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.
275 480
276This 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
277AnyEvent 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
278C<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.
279 489
280Example: fork a process and wait for it 490Example: fork a process and wait for it
281 491
282 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 492 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
283 493
284 my $pid = fork or exit 5; 494 my $pid = fork or exit 5;
285 495
286 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 496 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
287 pid => $pid, 497 pid => $pid,
288 cb => sub { 498 cb => sub {
289 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 499 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
290 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status"; 500 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status";
291 $done->send; 501 $done->send;
292 }, 502 },
293 ); 503 );
294 504
295 # do something else, then wait for process exit 505 # do something else, then wait for process exit
296 $done->recv; 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 });
297 547
298=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 548=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
549
550 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
551
552 $cv->send (<list>);
553 my @res = $cv->recv;
299 554
300If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them 555If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them
301require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that 556require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
302will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks. 557will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
303 558
304AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and 559AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
305will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user). 560loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
306 561
307The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called 562The tool to do that is called a "condition variable", so called because
308because they represent a condition that must become true. 563they represent a condition that must become true.
564
565Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
309 566
310Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar 567Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
311>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is 568>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
312C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable 569C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
313becomes true. 570becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
571the results).
314 572
315After creation, the conditon variable is "false" until it becomes "true" 573After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
316by calling the C<send> method. 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).
317 577
318Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can 578Since condition variables are the most complex part of the AnyEvent API, here are
319optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points 579some different mental models of what they are - pick the ones you can connect to:
320in time where multiple outstandign events have been processed. And yet 580
321another way to call them is transations - each condition variable can be 581=over 4
322used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers 582
323a result. 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
324 601
325Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished, 602Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
326for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 603for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
327then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 604then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
328availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is 605availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
332you can block your main program until an event occurs - for example, you 609you can block your main program until an event occurs - for example, you
333could C<< ->recv >> in your main program until the user clicks the Quit 610could C<< ->recv >> in your main program until the user clicks the Quit
334button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event. 611button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event.
335 612
336Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have 613Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have
337two pieces of code that call C<< ->recv >> in a round-robbin fashion, you 614two pieces of code that call C<< ->recv >> in a round-robin fashion, you
338lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but 615lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but
339you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks, 616you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks,
340as this asks for trouble. 617as this asks for trouble.
341 618
342Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys 619Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys
343used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing 620used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing
344easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of 621easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of
345AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call 622AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call
346it's C<new> method in your own C<new> method. 623its C<new> method in your own C<new> method.
347 624
348There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which 625There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which
349eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits 626eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits
350for the send to occur. 627for the send to occur.
351 628
352Example: 629Example: wait for a timer.
353 630
354 # wait till the result is ready 631 # condition: "wait till the timer is fired"
355 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar; 632 my $timer_fired = AnyEvent->condvar;
356 633
357 # do something such as adding a timer 634 # create the timer - we could wait for, say
358 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->send 635 # a handle becomign ready, or even an
359 # when the "result" is ready. 636 # AnyEvent::HTTP request to finish, but
360 # in this case, we simply use a timer: 637 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
361 my $w = AnyEvent->timer ( 638 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
362 after => 1, 639 after => 1,
363 cb => sub { $result_ready->send }, 640 cb => sub { $timer_fired->send },
364 ); 641 );
365 642
366 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback 643 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
367 # calls send 644 # calls ->send
368 $result_ready->recv; 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 });
369 670
370=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS 671=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS
371 672
372These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the 673These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the
373code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also 674code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also
386immediately from within send. 687immediately from within send.
387 688
388Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all 689Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
389future C<< ->recv >> calls. 690future C<< ->recv >> calls.
390 691
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
391=item $cv->croak ($error) 696=item $cv->croak ($error)
392 697
393Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke 698Similar to send, but causes all calls to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
394C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar. 699C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
395 700
396This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable 701This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
397user/consumer. 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.
398 707
399=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 708=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
400 709
401=item $cv->end 710=item $cv->end
402
403These two methods are EXPERIMENTAL and MIGHT CHANGE.
404 711
405These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into 712These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
406one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 713one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
407to use a condition variable for the whole process. 714to use a condition variable for the whole process.
408 715
409Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to 716Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to
410C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end 717C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
411>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback 718>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed, passing the
412is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no 719condvar as first argument. That callback is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send
413callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 720>>, but that is not required. If no group callback was set, C<send> will
721be called without any arguments.
414 722
415Let's clarify this with the ping example: 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:
416 730
417 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 731 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
418 732
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
419 my %result; 757 my %result;
420 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 758 $cv->begin (sub { shift->send (\%result) });
421 759
422 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) { 760 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) {
423 $cv->begin; 761 $cv->begin;
424 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub { 762 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub {
425 $result{$host} = ...; 763 $result{$host} = ...;
440loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback 778loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
441to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 779to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
442C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop 780C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
443doesn't execute once). 781doesn't execute once).
444 782
445This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests: 783This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
446use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set the callback and ensure C<end> 784potentially zero) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
447is called at least once, and then, for each subrequest you start, call 785the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
448C<begin> and for eahc subrequest you finish, call C<end>. 786subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
787call C<end>.
449 788
450=back 789=back
451 790
452=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS 791=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
453 792
457=over 4 796=over 4
458 797
459=item $cv->recv 798=item $cv->recv
460 799
461Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak 800Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak
462>> methods have been called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers 801>> methods have been called on C<$cv>, while servicing other watchers
463normally. 802normally.
464 803
465You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but 804You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but
466will return immediately. 805will return immediately.
467 806
469function will call C<croak>. 808function will call C<croak>.
470 809
471In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned, 810In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
472in scalar context only the first one will be returned. 811in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
473 812
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.
819
474Not 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
475(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
476using 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
477caller 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
478condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 824condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
479callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 825callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
480while still suppporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 826while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
481 827
482Another reason I<never> to C<< ->recv >> in a module is that you cannot
483sensibly have two C<< ->recv >>'s in parallel, as that would require
484multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent>
485can supply.
486
487The L<Coro> module, however, I<can> and I<does> supply coroutines and, in
488fact, L<Coro::AnyEvent> replaces AnyEvent's condvars by coroutine-safe
489versions and also integrates coroutines into AnyEvent, making blocking
490C<< ->recv >> calls perfectly safe as long as they are done from another
491coroutine (one that doesn't run the event loop).
492
493You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and 828You can ensure that C<< ->recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
494only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later 829only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
495time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking 830time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
496waits otherwise. 831waits otherwise.
497 832
498=item $bool = $cv->ready 833=item $bool = $cv->ready
499 834
500Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or 835Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or
501C<croak> have been called. 836C<croak> have been called.
502 837
503=item $cb = $cv->cb ([new callback]) 838=item $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv))
504 839
505This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally 840This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
506replaces it before doing so. 841replaces it before doing so.
507 842
508The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when 843The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when
509C<send> or C<croak> are called. Calling C<recv> inside the callback 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
510or at any later time is guaranteed not to block. 847the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
511 848
512=back 849=back
513 850
851=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
852
853The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
854
855=over 4
856
857=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
858
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
913
514=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 914=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
515 915
916These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
917write AnyEvent extension modules.
918
516=over 4 919=over 4
517 920
518=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 921=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
519 922
520Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 923Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
924backend has been autodetected.
925
521contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 926Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
522Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 927name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
523C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 928of the C<AnyEvent::Impl::xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
524AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 929case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
525 930will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
526The known classes so far are:
527
528 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
529 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
530 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
531 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
532 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
533 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
534 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
535 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
536
537There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
538watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
539POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
540second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
541AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
542it's adaptor.
543
544AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
545autodetecting them.
546 931
547=item AnyEvent::detect 932=item AnyEvent::detect
548 933
549Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 934Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
550if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 935if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
551have 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
552runtime. 937runtime, and not e.g. during initialisation of your module.
938
939If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
940created, use C<post_detect>.
553 941
554=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK } 942=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
555 943
556Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is 944Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
557autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened). 945autodetected (or immediately if that has already happened).
946
947The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
948(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
949created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
950other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
951L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
952
953The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
954event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
955and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
956avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
558 957
559If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object 958If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
560that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed. See 959that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
960C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
561L<Coro::BDB> for a case where this is useful. 961a case where this is useful.
962
963Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
964C<$WATCHER>, but do so only do so after the event loop is initialised.
965
966 our WATCHER;
967
968 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
969 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
970 };
971
972 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
973 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
974 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
975 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
976
977 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
562 978
563=item @AnyEvent::post_detect 979=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
564 980
565If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it 981If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
566before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after 982before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will be called directly
567the event loop has been chosen. 983after the event loop has been chosen.
568 984
569You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though: 985You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
570if it contains a true value then the event loop has already been detected, 986if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
571and the array will be ignored. 987array will be ignored.
572 988
573Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> instead. 989Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
990it, as it takes care of these details.
991
992This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
993when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
994not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
995into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
996
997Example: To load Coro::AnyEvent whenever Coro and AnyEvent are used
998together, you could put this into Coro (this is the actual code used by
999Coro to accomplish this):
1000
1001 if (defined $AnyEvent::MODEL) {
1002 # AnyEvent already initialised, so load Coro::AnyEvent
1003 require Coro::AnyEvent;
1004 } else {
1005 # AnyEvent not yet initialised, so make sure to load Coro::AnyEvent
1006 # as soon as it is
1007 push @AnyEvent::post_detect, sub { require Coro::AnyEvent };
1008 }
1009
1010=item AnyEvent::postpone { BLOCK }
1011
1012Arranges for the block to be executed as soon as possible, but not before
1013the call itself returns. In practise, the block will be executed just
1014before the event loop polls for new events, or shortly afterwards.
1015
1016This function never returns anything (to make the C<return postpone { ...
1017}> idiom more useful.
1018
1019To understand the usefulness of this function, consider a function that
1020asynchronously does something for you and returns some transaction
1021object or guard to let you cancel the operation. For example,
1022C<AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect>:
1023
1024 # start a conenction attempt unless one is active
1025 $self->{connect_guard} ||= AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect "www.example.net", 80, sub {
1026 delete $self->{connect_guard};
1027 ...
1028 };
1029
1030Imagine that this function could instantly call the callback, for
1031example, because it detects an obvious error such as a negative port
1032number. Invoking the callback before the function returns causes problems
1033however: the callback will be called and will try to delete the guard
1034object. But since the function hasn't returned yet, there is nothing to
1035delete. When the function eventually returns it will assign the guard
1036object to C<< $self->{connect_guard} >>, where it will likely never be
1037deleted, so the program thinks it is still trying to connect.
1038
1039This is where C<AnyEvent::postpone> should be used. Instead of calling the
1040callback directly on error:
1041
1042 $cb->(undef), return # signal error to callback, BAD!
1043 if $some_error_condition;
1044
1045It should use C<postpone>:
1046
1047 AnyEvent::postpone { $cb->(undef) }, return # signal error to callback, later
1048 if $some_error_condition;
574 1049
575=back 1050=back
576 1051
577=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 1052=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
578 1053
589because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using 1064because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using
590events is to stay interactive. 1065events is to stay interactive.
591 1066
592It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module 1067It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module
593requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method 1068requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method
594called C<results> that returns the results, it should call C<< ->recv >> 1069called C<results> that returns the results, it may call C<< ->recv >>
595freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. always). 1070freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. Always).
596 1071
597=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM 1072=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM
598 1073
599There will always be a single main program - the only place that should 1074There will always be a single main program - the only place that should
600dictate which event model to use. 1075dictate which event model to use.
601 1076
602If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not 1077If the program is not event-based, it need not do anything special, even
603do anything special (it does not need to be event-based) and let AnyEvent 1078when it depends on a module that uses an AnyEvent. If the program itself
604decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it. 1079uses AnyEvent, but does not care which event loop is used, all it needs
1080to do is C<use AnyEvent>. In either case, AnyEvent will choose the best
1081available loop implementation.
605 1082
606If the main program relies on a specific event model. For example, in 1083If the main program relies on a specific event model - for example, in
607Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module. You should load the 1084Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module - you should load the
608event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally 1085event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally
609speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that 1086speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that
610modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will 1087modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will
611decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it 1088decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it
612might chose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself. 1089might choose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself.
613 1090
614You can chose to use a rather inefficient pure-perl implementation by 1091You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the
615loading the C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar 1092C<AnyEvent::Loop> module, which gives you similar behaviour
616behaviour everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose is generally better. 1093everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better.
1094
1095=head2 MAINLOOP EMULATION
1096
1097Sometimes (often for short test scripts, or even standalone programs who
1098only want to use AnyEvent), you do not want to run a specific event loop.
1099
1100In that case, you can use a condition variable like this:
1101
1102 AnyEvent->condvar->recv;
1103
1104This has the effect of entering the event loop and looping forever.
1105
1106Note that usually your program has some exit condition, in which case
1107it is better to use the "traditional" approach of storing a condition
1108variable somewhere, waiting for it, and sending it when the program should
1109exit cleanly.
1110
617 1111
618=head1 OTHER MODULES 1112=head1 OTHER MODULES
619 1113
620The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use 1114The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
621AnyEvent and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent modules 1115AnyEvent as a client and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent
622in the same program. Some of the modules come with AnyEvent, some are 1116modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the modules
623available via CPAN. 1117come as part of AnyEvent, the others are available via CPAN.
624 1118
625=over 4 1119=over 4
626 1120
627=item L<AnyEvent::Util> 1121=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
628 1122
629Contains various utility functions that replace often-used but blocking 1123Contains various utility functions that replace often-used blocking
630functions such as C<inet_aton> by event-/callback-based versions. 1124functions such as C<inet_aton> with event/callback-based versions.
1125
1126=item L<AnyEvent::Socket>
1127
1128Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets,
1129addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp
1130connections or tcp servers, with IPv6 and SRV record support and more.
631 1131
632=item L<AnyEvent::Handle> 1132=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
633 1133
634Provide read and write buffers and manages watchers for reads and writes. 1134Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
1135supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
1136non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>).
1137
1138=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
1139
1140Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
1141
1142=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>, L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IGS>, L<AnyEvent::FCP>
1143
1144Implement event-based interfaces to the protocols of the same name (for
1145the curious, IGS is the International Go Server and FCP is the Freenet
1146Client Protocol).
1147
1148=item L<AnyEvent::Handle::UDP>
1149
1150Here be danger!
1151
1152As Pauli would put it, "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!" -
1153there are so many things wrong with AnyEvent::Handle::UDP, most notably
1154its use of a stream-based API with a protocol that isn't streamable, that
1155the only way to improve it is to delete it.
1156
1157It features data corruption (but typically only under load) and general
1158confusion. On top, the author is not only clueless about UDP but also
1159fact-resistant - some gems of his understanding: "connect doesn't work
1160with UDP", "UDP packets are not IP packets", "UDP only has datagrams, not
1161packets", "I don't need to implement proper error checking as UDP doesn't
1162support error checking" and so on - he doesn't even understand what's
1163wrong with his module when it is explained to him.
1164
1165=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
1166
1167Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you,
1168notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished.
1169
1170=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
1171
1172Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in the
1173toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
1174L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to event-based
1175file I/O, and much more.
635 1176
636=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD> 1177=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD>
637 1178
638Provides a simple web application server framework. 1179A simple embedded webserver.
639
640=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
641
642Provides asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities, beyond what
643L<AnyEvent::Util> offers.
644 1180
645=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing> 1181=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing>
646 1182
647The fastest ping in the west. 1183The fastest ping in the west.
648 1184
649=item L<Net::IRC3>
650
651AnyEvent based IRC client module family.
652
653=item L<Net::XMPP2>
654
655AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family.
656
657=item L<Net::FCP>
658
659AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace
660of AnyEvent.
661
662=item L<Event::ExecFlow>
663
664High level API for event-based execution flow control.
665
666=item L<Coro> 1185=item L<Coro>
667 1186
668Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>. 1187Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
669 1188
670=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>, L<IO::AIO>
671
672Truly asynchronous I/O, should be in the toolbox of every event
673programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses IO::AIO and AnyEvent
674together.
675
676=item L<AnyEvent::BDB>, L<BDB>
677
678Truly asynchronous Berkeley DB access. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
679IO::AIO and AnyEvent together.
680
681=item L<IO::Lambda>
682
683The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent.
684
685=back 1189=back
686 1190
687=cut 1191=cut
688 1192
689package AnyEvent; 1193package AnyEvent;
690 1194
691no warnings; 1195# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
692use strict; 1196sub common_sense {
1197 # from common:.sense 3.4
1198 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS} ^ "\x3c\x3f\x33\x00\x0f\xf0\x0f\xc0\xf0\xfc\x33\x00";
1199 # use strict vars subs - NO UTF-8, as Util.pm doesn't like this atm. (uts46data.pl)
1200 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1201}
693 1202
1203BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1204
694use Carp; 1205use Carp ();
695 1206
696our $VERSION = '3.41'; 1207our $VERSION = '5.34';
697our $MODEL; 1208our $MODEL;
698 1209
699our $AUTOLOAD; 1210our $AUTOLOAD;
700our @ISA; 1211our @ISA;
701 1212
702our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
703
704our @REGISTRY; 1213our @REGISTRY;
705 1214
1215our $VERBOSE;
1216
1217BEGIN {
1218 require "AnyEvent/constants.pl";
1219
1220 eval "sub TAINT (){" . (${^TAINT}*1) . "}";
1221
1222 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
1223 if ${^TAINT};
1224
1225 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1226
1227}
1228
1229our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
1230
1231our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
1232
1233{
1234 my $idx;
1235 $PROTOCOL{$_} = ++$idx
1236 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
1237 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
1238}
1239
1240our @post_detect;
1241
1242sub post_detect(&) {
1243 my ($cb) = @_;
1244
1245 push @post_detect, $cb;
1246
1247 defined wantarray
1248 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
1249 : ()
1250}
1251
1252sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
1253 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
1254}
1255
1256our $POSTPONE_W;
1257our @POSTPONE;
1258
1259sub _postpone_exec {
1260 undef $POSTPONE_W;
1261
1262 &{ shift @POSTPONE }
1263 while @POSTPONE;
1264}
1265
1266sub postpone(&) {
1267 push @POSTPONE, shift;
1268
1269 $POSTPONE_W ||= AE::timer (0, 0, \&_postpone_exec);
1270
1271 ()
1272}
1273
706my @models = ( 1274our @models = (
707 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1275 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
1276 [AnyEvent::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
1277 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
1278 # as the pure perl backend should work everywhere
1279 # and is usually faster
708 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 1280 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
1281 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1282 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1283 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
709 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], 1284 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
1285 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
1286 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
710 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1287 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
711 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1288 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
712 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1289 [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # a bitch to autodetect
713 # everything below here will not be autoprobed as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1290 [Cocoa::EventLoop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa::],
714 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], 1291 [FLTK:: => AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK2::],
715 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
716 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
717 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
718); 1292);
719 1293
720our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar one_event DESTROY);
721
722our @post_detect;
723
724sub post_detect(&) { 1294sub detect() {
725 my ($cb) = @_; 1295 # free some memory
1296 *detect = sub () { $MODEL };
726 1297
727 if ($MODEL) { 1298 local $!; # for good measure
728 $cb->(); 1299 local $SIG{__DIE__};
729 1300
730 1 1301 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z0-9:]+)$/) {
1302 my $model = $1;
1303 $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$model" unless $model =~ s/::$//;
1304 if (eval "require $model") {
1305 $MODEL = $model;
1306 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
731 } else { 1307 } else {
732 push @post_detect, $cb; 1308 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@" if $VERBOSE;
733 1309 }
734 defined wantarray
735 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::Guard"
736 : ()
737 } 1310 }
738}
739 1311
740sub AnyEvent::Util::Guard::DESTROY { 1312 # check for already loaded models
741 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
742}
743
744sub detect() {
745 unless ($MODEL) { 1313 unless ($MODEL) {
746 no strict 'refs'; 1314 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
747 1315 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
748 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) { 1316 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
749 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
750 if (eval "require $model") { 1317 if (eval "require $model") {
751 $MODEL = $model; 1318 $MODEL = $model;
752 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1319 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
753 } else { 1320 last;
754 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose; 1321 }
755 } 1322 }
756 } 1323 }
757 1324
758 # check for already loaded models
759 unless ($MODEL) { 1325 unless ($MODEL) {
1326 # try to autoload a model
760 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1327 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
761 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1328 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1329 if (
1330 $autoload
1331 and eval "require $package"
762 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1332 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
763 if (eval "require $model") { 1333 and eval "require $model"
1334 ) {
764 $MODEL = $model; 1335 $MODEL = $model;
765 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1336 warn "AnyEvent: autoloaded model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
766 last; 1337 last;
767 }
768 } 1338 }
769 } 1339 }
770 1340
771 unless ($MODEL) {
772 # try to load a model
773
774 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
775 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
776 if (eval "require $package"
777 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
778 and eval "require $model") {
779 $MODEL = $model;
780 warn "AnyEvent: autoprobed model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1;
781 last;
782 }
783 }
784
785 $MODEL 1341 $MODEL
786 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib."; 1342 or die "AnyEvent: backend autodetection failed - did you properly install AnyEvent?\n";
787 }
788 } 1343 }
789
790 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
791 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
792
793 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
794 } 1344 }
795 1345
1346 # free memory only needed for probing
1347 undef @models;
1348 undef @REGISTRY;
1349
1350 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
1351 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
1352
1353 # now nuke some methods that are overridden by the backend.
1354 # SUPER usage is not allowed in these.
1355 for (qw(time signal child idle)) {
1356 undef &{"AnyEvent::Base::$_"}
1357 if defined &{"$MODEL\::$_"};
1358 }
1359
1360 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}) {
1361 eval { require AnyEvent::Strict };
1362 warn "AnyEvent: cannot load AnyEvent::Strict: $@"
1363 if $@ && $VERBOSE;
1364 }
1365
1366 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
1367 undef @post_detect;
1368
1369 *post_detect = sub(&) {
1370 shift->();
1371
1372 undef
1373 };
1374
1375 # recover a few more bytes
1376 postpone {
1377 undef &AUTOLOAD;
1378 };
1379
796 $MODEL 1380 $MODEL
797} 1381}
1382
1383our %method = map +($_ => 1),
1384 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar DESTROY);
798 1385
799sub AUTOLOAD { 1386sub AUTOLOAD {
800 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://; 1387 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
801 1388
802 $method{$func} 1389 $method{$func}
803 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects"; 1390 or Carp::croak "$func: not a valid AnyEvent class method";
804 1391
805 detect unless $MODEL; 1392 # free some memory
1393 undef %method;
1394
1395 detect;
806 1396
807 my $class = shift; 1397 my $class = shift;
808 $class->$func (@_); 1398 $class->$func (@_);
809} 1399}
810 1400
1401# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1402# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1403# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1404sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1405 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1406
1407 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1408 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1409
1410 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1411 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1412
1413 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1414
1415 ($fh2, $rw)
1416}
1417
1418=head1 SIMPLIFIED AE API
1419
1420Starting with version 5.0, AnyEvent officially supports a second, much
1421simpler, API that is designed to reduce the calling, typing and memory
1422overhead by using function call syntax and a fixed number of parameters.
1423
1424See the L<AE> manpage for details.
1425
1426=cut
1427
1428package AE;
1429
1430our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::VERSION;
1431
1432
1433sub _reset() {
1434 eval q{
1435 # fall back to the main API by default - backends and AnyEvent::Base
1436 # implementations can overwrite these.
1437
1438 sub io($$$) {
1439 AnyEvent->io (fh => $_[0], poll => $_[1] ? "w" : "r", cb => $_[2])
1440 }
1441
1442 sub timer($$$) {
1443 AnyEvent->timer (after => $_[0], interval => $_[1], cb => $_[2])
1444 }
1445
1446 sub signal($$) {
1447 AnyEvent->signal (signal => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1448 }
1449
1450 sub child($$) {
1451 AnyEvent->child (pid => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1452 }
1453
1454 sub idle($) {
1455 AnyEvent->idle (cb => $_[0])
1456 }
1457
1458 sub cv(;&) {
1459 AnyEvent->condvar (@_ ? (cb => $_[0]) : ())
1460 }
1461
1462 sub now() {
1463 AnyEvent->now
1464 }
1465
1466 sub now_update() {
1467 AnyEvent->now_update
1468 }
1469
1470 sub time() {
1471 AnyEvent->time
1472 }
1473
1474 *postpone = \&AnyEvent::postpone;
1475 };
1476 die if $@;
1477}
1478
1479BEGIN { _reset }
1480
811package AnyEvent::Base; 1481package AnyEvent::Base;
812 1482
1483# default implementations for many methods
1484
1485sub time {
1486 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1487 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1488 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1489 warn "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1490 *AE::time = \&Time::HiRes::time;
1491 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1492 } else {
1493 warn "AnyEvent: using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!\n" if $VERBOSE;
1494 *AE::time = sub (){ time }; # epic fail
1495 }
1496
1497 *time = sub { AE::time }; # different prototypes
1498 };
1499 die if $@;
1500
1501 &time
1502}
1503
1504*now = \&time;
1505
1506sub now_update { }
1507
1508sub _poll {
1509 Carp::croak "$AnyEvent::MODEL does not support blocking waits. Caught";
1510}
1511
813# default implementation for ->condvar 1512# default implementation for ->condvar
1513# in fact, the default should not be overwritten
814 1514
815sub condvar { 1515sub condvar {
816 bless {}, AnyEvent::CondVar:: 1516 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1517 *condvar = sub {
1518 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1519 };
1520
1521 *AE::cv = sub (;&) {
1522 bless { @_ ? (_ae_cb => shift) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1523 };
1524 };
1525 die if $@;
1526
1527 &condvar
817} 1528}
818 1529
819# default implementation for ->signal 1530# default implementation for ->signal
820 1531
821our %SIG_CB; 1532our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1533
1534sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1535 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1536 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.02 (); 1")
1537 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1538
1539 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1540}
1541
1542our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1543our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1544our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1545
1546# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1547# used by Impls
1548sub _sig_add() {
1549 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1550 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1551 my $NOW = AE::now;
1552
1553 $SIG_TW = AE::timer
1554 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1555 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1556 sub { } # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1557 ;
1558 }
1559}
1560
1561sub _sig_del {
1562 undef $SIG_TW
1563 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1564}
1565
1566our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1567 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1568 undef $_sig_name_init;
1569
1570 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1571 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1572 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1573 } else {
1574 require Config;
1575
1576 my %signame2num;
1577 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1578 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1579
1580 my @signum2name;
1581 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1582
1583 *sig2num = sub($) {
1584 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1585 };
1586 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1587 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1588 };
1589 }
1590 };
1591 die if $@;
1592};
1593
1594sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1595sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
822 1596
823sub signal { 1597sub signal {
1598 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1599 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1600 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1601 warn "AnyEvent: using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1602
1603 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1604 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1605
1606 } else {
1607 warn "AnyEvent: using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1608
1609 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1610 require AnyEvent::Util;
1611
1612 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1613 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R, 1) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1614 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W, 1) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1615 } else {
1616 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1617 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1618 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1619
1620 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1621 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1622 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1623 }
1624
1625 $SIGPIPE_R
1626 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1627
1628 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1629 }
1630
1631 *signal = $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1632 ? sub {
824 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1633 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
825 1634
1635 # async::interrupt
826 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1636 my $signal = sig2num $arg{signal};
827 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
828
829 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1637 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1638
1639 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1640 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1641 signal => $signal,
1642 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1643 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1644 ;
1645
1646 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1647 }
1648 : sub {
1649 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1650
1651 # pure perl
1652 my $signal = sig2name $arg{signal};
1653 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1654
830 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub { 1655 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
1656 local $!;
1657 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1658 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1659 };
1660
1661 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1662 # so limit the signal latency.
1663 _sig_add;
1664
1665 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1666 }
1667 ;
1668
1669 *AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY = sub {
1670 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1671
1672 _sig_del;
1673
1674 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1675
1676 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1677 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1678 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1679 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1680 # instead of getting the default action.
1681 undef $SIG{$signal}
1682 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1683 };
1684
1685 *_signal_exec = sub {
1686 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1687 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1688 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, (my $dummy), 9;
1689
1690 while (%SIG_EV) {
1691 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1692 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
831 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} || {} }; 1693 &$_ for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
1694 }
1695 }
1696 };
832 }; 1697 };
1698 die if $@;
833 1699
834 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Signal" 1700 &signal
835}
836
837sub AnyEvent::Base::Signal::DESTROY {
838 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
839
840 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
841
842 $SIG{$signal} = 'DEFAULT' unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
843} 1701}
844 1702
845# default implementation for ->child 1703# default implementation for ->child
846 1704
847our %PID_CB; 1705our %PID_CB;
848our $CHLD_W; 1706our $CHLD_W;
849our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1707our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
850our $PID_IDLE;
851our $WNOHANG;
852 1708
853sub _child_wait { 1709# used by many Impl's
854 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1710sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
1711 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1712
1713 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
855 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1714 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
856 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1715 values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} };
857 }
858
859 undef $PID_IDLE;
860}
861
862sub _sigchld {
863 # make sure we deliver these changes "synchronous" with the event loop.
864 $CHLD_DELAY_W ||= AnyEvent->timer (after => 0, cb => sub {
865 undef $CHLD_DELAY_W;
866 &_child_wait;
867 });
868} 1716}
869 1717
870sub child { 1718sub child {
1719 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1720 *_sigchld = sub {
1721 my $pid;
1722
1723 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
1724 while ($pid = waitpid -1, WNOHANG) > 0;
1725 };
1726
1727 *child = sub {
871 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1728 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
872 1729
873 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1730 my $pid = $arg{pid};
874 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1731 my $cb = $arg{cb};
875 1732
876 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1733 $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb+0} = $cb;
877 1734
878 unless ($WNOHANG) {
879 $WNOHANG = eval { require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
880 }
881
882 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1735 unless ($CHLD_W) {
883 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1736 $CHLD_W = AE::signal CHLD => \&_sigchld;
884 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1737 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
885 &_sigchld; 1738 &_sigchld;
886 } 1739 }
887 1740
888 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Child" 1741 bless [$pid, $cb+0], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
889} 1742 };
890 1743
891sub AnyEvent::Base::Child::DESTROY { 1744 *AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY = sub {
892 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1745 my ($pid, $icb) = @{$_[0]};
893 1746
894 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb}; 1747 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$icb};
895 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} }; 1748 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
896 1749
897 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1750 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1751 };
1752 };
1753 die if $@;
1754
1755 &child
1756}
1757
1758# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1759# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1760# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1761sub idle {
1762 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1763 *idle = sub {
1764 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1765
1766 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1767
1768 $rcb = sub {
1769 if ($cb) {
1770 $w = AE::time;
1771 &$cb;
1772 $w = AE::time - $w;
1773
1774 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1775 # within some limits
1776 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1777 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1778
1779 $w = AE::timer $w, 0, $rcb;
1780 } else {
1781 # clean up...
1782 undef $w;
1783 undef $rcb;
1784 }
1785 };
1786
1787 $w = AE::timer 0.05, 0, $rcb;
1788
1789 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1790 };
1791
1792 *AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY = sub {
1793 undef $${$_[0]};
1794 };
1795 };
1796 die if $@;
1797
1798 &idle
898} 1799}
899 1800
900package AnyEvent::CondVar; 1801package AnyEvent::CondVar;
901 1802
902our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::; 1803our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
903 1804
1805# only to be used for subclassing
1806sub new {
1807 my $class = shift;
1808 bless AnyEvent->condvar (@_), $class
1809}
1810
904package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base; 1811package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
1812
1813#use overload
1814# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
1815# fallback => 1;
1816
1817# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1818${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1819*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1820*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1821${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1822
1823our $WAITING;
905 1824
906sub _send { 1825sub _send {
907 # nop 1826 # nop
1827}
1828
1829sub _wait {
1830 AnyEvent->_poll until $_[0]{_ae_sent};
908} 1831}
909 1832
910sub send { 1833sub send {
911 my $cv = shift; 1834 my $cv = shift;
912 $cv->{_ae_sent} = [@_]; 1835 $cv->{_ae_sent} = [@_];
921 1844
922sub ready { 1845sub ready {
923 $_[0]{_ae_sent} 1846 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
924} 1847}
925 1848
926sub _wait {
927 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent};
928}
929
930sub recv { 1849sub recv {
1850 unless ($_[0]{_ae_sent}) {
1851 $WAITING
1852 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait attempted";
1853
1854 local $WAITING = 1;
931 $_[0]->_wait; 1855 $_[0]->_wait;
1856 }
932 1857
933 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak}; 1858 $_[0]{_ae_croak}
934 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0] 1859 and Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak};
1860
1861 wantarray
1862 ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} }
1863 : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0]
935} 1864}
936 1865
937sub cb { 1866sub cb {
938 $_[0]{_ae_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1867 my $cv = shift;
1868
1869 @_
1870 and $cv->{_ae_cb} = shift
1871 and $cv->{_ae_sent}
1872 and (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv);
1873
939 $_[0]{_ae_cb} 1874 $cv->{_ae_cb}
940} 1875}
941 1876
942sub begin { 1877sub begin {
943 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1878 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter};
944 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1879 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
945} 1880}
946 1881
947sub end { 1882sub end {
948 return if --$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1883 return if --$_[0]{_ae_counter};
949 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} } if $_[0]{_ae_end_cb}; 1884 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} || sub { $_[0]->send } };
950} 1885}
951 1886
952# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4 1887# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4
953*broadcast = \&send; 1888*broadcast = \&send;
954*wait = \&_wait; 1889*wait = \&recv;
1890
1891=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
1892
1893In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the
1894caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also
1895the C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> environment variable, below) provides strict
1896checking of all AnyEvent methods, however, which is highly useful during
1897development.
1898
1899As for exception handling (i.e. runtime errors and exceptions thrown while
1900executing a callback), this is not only highly event-loop specific, but
1901also not in any way wrapped by this module, as this is the job of the main
1902program.
1903
1904The pure perl event loop simply re-throws the exception (usually
1905within C<< condvar->recv >>), the L<Event> and L<EV> modules call C<<
1906$Event/EV::DIED->() >>, L<Glib> uses C<< install_exception_handler >> and
1907so on.
1908
1909=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1910
1911The following environment variables are used by this module or its
1912submodules.
1913
1914Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
1915C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
1916enabled.
1917
1918=over 4
1919
1920=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1921
1922By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
1923conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
1924talkative.
1925
1926When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
1927conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
1928C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1929
1930When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1931model it chooses.
1932
1933When set to C<8> or higher, then AnyEvent will report extra information on
1934which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
1935
1936=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1937
1938AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1939argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1940will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1941check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1942it will croak.
1943
1944In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1945
1946Unlike C<use strict> (or its modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
1947>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
1948C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
1949can be very useful, however.
1950
1951=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1952
1953This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1954auto detection and -probing kicks in.
1955
1956It normally is a string consisting entirely of ASCII letters (e.g. C<EV>
1957or C<IOAsync>). The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended and the
1958resulting module name is loaded and - if the load was successful - used as
1959event model backend. If it fails to load then AnyEvent will proceed with
1960auto detection and -probing.
1961
1962If the string ends with C<::> instead (e.g. C<AnyEvent::Impl::EV::>) then
1963nothing gets prepended and the module name is used as-is (hint: C<::> at
1964the end of a string designates a module name and quotes it appropriately).
1965
1966For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Loop::Perl>) you
1967could start your program like this:
1968
1969 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
1970
1971=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS>
1972
1973Used by both L<AnyEvent::DNS> and L<AnyEvent::Socket> to determine preferences
1974for IPv4 or IPv6. The default is unspecified (and might change, or be the result
1975of auto probing).
1976
1977Must be set to a comma-separated list of protocols or address families,
1978current supported: C<ipv4> and C<ipv6>. Only protocols mentioned will be
1979used, and preference will be given to protocols mentioned earlier in the
1980list.
1981
1982This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
1983against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is likely
1984small, as the program has to handle conenction and other failures anyways.
1985
1986Examples: C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6> - prefer IPv4 over IPv6,
1987but support both and try to use both. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4>
1988- only support IPv4, never try to resolve or contact IPv6
1989addresses. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv6,ipv4> support either IPv4 or
1990IPv6, but prefer IPv6 over IPv4.
1991
1992=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_EDNS0>
1993
1994Used by L<AnyEvent::DNS> to decide whether to use the EDNS0 extension
1995for DNS. This extension is generally useful to reduce DNS traffic, but
1996some (broken) firewalls drop such DNS packets, which is why it is off by
1997default.
1998
1999Setting this variable to C<1> will cause L<AnyEvent::DNS> to announce
2000EDNS0 in its DNS requests.
2001
2002=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
2003
2004The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
2005will create in parallel.
2006
2007=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
2008
2009The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
2010resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
2011sent to the DNS server.
2012
2013=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
2014
2015The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
2016configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
2017default config will be used.
2018
2019=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
2020
2021When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
2022L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
2023variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
2024instead of a system-dependent default.
2025
2026=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
2027
2028When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
2029loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
2030
2031=back
955 2032
956=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 2033=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
957 2034
958This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in 2035This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in
959a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to 2036a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to
993 2070
994I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to 2071I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to
995condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will 2072condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will
996C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must 2073C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must
997not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense. 2074not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense.
998
999=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1000
1001The following environment variables are used by this module:
1002
1003=over 4
1004
1005=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1006
1007By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
1008conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
1009talkative.
1010
1011When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
1012conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
1013C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1014
1015When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1016model it chooses.
1017
1018=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1019
1020This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1021autodetection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1022entirely of ASCII letters. The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended
1023and the resulting module name is loaded and if the load was successful,
1024used as event model. If it fails to load AnyEvent will proceed with
1025autodetection and -probing.
1026
1027This functionality might change in future versions.
1028
1029For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) you
1030could start your program like this:
1031
1032 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
1033
1034=back
1035 2075
1036=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM 2076=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
1037 2077
1038The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer 2078The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer
1039to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the 2079to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the
1048 poll => 'r', 2088 poll => 'r',
1049 cb => sub { 2089 cb => sub {
1050 warn "io event <$_[0]>\n"; # will always output <r> 2090 warn "io event <$_[0]>\n"; # will always output <r>
1051 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); # read a line 2091 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); # read a line
1052 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read 2092 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read
1053 $cv->broadcast if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i 2093 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i
1054 }, 2094 },
1055 ); 2095 );
1056 2096
1057 my $time_watcher; # can only be used once
1058
1059 sub new_timer {
1060 $timer = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => sub { 2097 my $time_watcher = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, interval => 1, cb => sub {
1061 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' about every second 2098 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' at most every second
1062 &new_timer; # and restart the time
1063 }); 2099 });
1064 }
1065 2100
1066 new_timer; # create first timer
1067
1068 $cv->wait; # wait until user enters /^q/i 2101 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i
1069 2102
1070=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE 2103=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
1071 2104
1072Consider the L<Net::FCP> module. It features (among others) the following 2105Consider the L<Net::FCP> module. It features (among others) the following
1073API calls, which are to freenet what HTTP GET requests are to http: 2106API calls, which are to freenet what HTTP GET requests are to http:
1123 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request} 2156 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request}
1124 or die "connection or write error"; 2157 or die "connection or write error";
1125 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r }); 2158 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r });
1126 2159
1127Again, C<fh_ready_r> waits till all data has arrived, and then stores the 2160Again, C<fh_ready_r> waits till all data has arrived, and then stores the
1128result and signals any possible waiters that the request ahs finished: 2161result and signals any possible waiters that the request has finished:
1129 2162
1130 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf}; 2163 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf};
1131 2164
1132 if (end-of-file or data complete) { 2165 if (end-of-file or data complete) {
1133 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf}; 2166 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf};
1134 $txn->{finished}->broadcast; 2167 $txn->{finished}->send;
1135 $txb->{cb}->($txn) of $txn->{cb}; # also call callback 2168 $txb->{cb}->($txn) of $txn->{cb}; # also call callback
1136 } 2169 }
1137 2170
1138The C<result> method, finally, just waits for the finished signal (if the 2171The C<result> method, finally, just waits for the finished signal (if the
1139request was already finished, it doesn't wait, of course, and returns the 2172request was already finished, it doesn't wait, of course, and returns the
1140data: 2173data:
1141 2174
1142 $txn->{finished}->wait; 2175 $txn->{finished}->recv;
1143 return $txn->{result}; 2176 return $txn->{result};
1144 2177
1145The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions) 2178The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions)
1146that occured during request processing. The C<result> method detects 2179that occurred during request processing. The C<result> method detects
1147whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object) 2180whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object)
1148and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other 2181and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other
1149problems get reported tot he code that tries to use the result, not in a 2182problems get reported to the code that tries to use the result, not in a
1150random callback. 2183random callback.
1151 2184
1152All of this enables the following usage styles: 2185All of this enables the following usage styles:
1153 2186
11541. Blocking: 21871. Blocking:
1182 2215
1183 my $quit = AnyEvent->condvar; 2216 my $quit = AnyEvent->condvar;
1184 2217
1185 $fcp->txn_client_get ($url)->cb (sub { 2218 $fcp->txn_client_get ($url)->cb (sub {
1186 ... 2219 ...
1187 $quit->broadcast; 2220 $quit->send;
1188 }); 2221 });
1189 2222
1190 $quit->wait; 2223 $quit->recv;
1191 2224
1192 2225
1193=head1 BENCHMARKS 2226=head1 BENCHMARKS
1194 2227
1195To give you an idea of the performance and overheads that AnyEvent adds 2228To give you an idea of the performance and overheads that AnyEvent adds
1197of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks. 2230of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks.
1198 2231
1199=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD 2232=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD
1200 2233
1201Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and 2234Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and
1202through anyevent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero 2235through AnyEvent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero
1203timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable, 2236timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable,
1204which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again. 2237which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again.
1205 2238
1206Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent 2239Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent
1207distribution. 2240distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2241for the EV and Perl backends only.
1208 2242
1209=head3 Explanation of the columns 2243=head3 Explanation of the columns
1210 2244
1211I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since 2245I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since
1212different event models feature vastly different performances, each event 2246different event models feature vastly different performances, each event
1224all watchers, to avoid adding memory overhead. That means closure creation 2258all watchers, to avoid adding memory overhead. That means closure creation
1225and memory usage is not included in the figures. 2259and memory usage is not included in the figures.
1226 2260
1227I<invoke> is the time, in microseconds, used to invoke a simple 2261I<invoke> is the time, in microseconds, used to invoke a simple
1228callback. The callback simply counts down a Perl variable and after it was 2262callback. The callback simply counts down a Perl variable and after it was
1229invoked "watcher" times, it would C<< ->broadcast >> a condvar once to 2263invoked "watcher" times, it would C<< ->send >> a condvar once to
1230signal the end of this phase. 2264signal the end of this phase.
1231 2265
1232I<destroy> is the time, in microseconds, that it takes to destroy a single 2266I<destroy> is the time, in microseconds, that it takes to destroy a single
1233watcher. 2267watcher.
1234 2268
1235=head3 Results 2269=head3 Results
1236 2270
1237 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment 2271 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment
1238 EV/EV 400000 244 0.56 0.46 0.31 EV native interface 2272 EV/EV 100000 223 0.47 0.43 0.27 EV native interface
1239 EV/Any 100000 244 2.50 0.46 0.29 EV + AnyEvent watchers 2273 EV/Any 100000 223 0.48 0.42 0.26 EV + AnyEvent watchers
1240 CoroEV/Any 100000 244 2.49 0.44 0.29 coroutines + Coro::Signal 2274 Coro::EV/Any 100000 223 0.47 0.42 0.26 coroutines + Coro::Signal
1241 Perl/Any 100000 513 4.92 0.87 1.12 pure perl implementation 2275 Perl/Any 100000 431 2.70 0.74 0.92 pure perl implementation
1242 Event/Event 16000 516 31.88 31.30 0.85 Event native interface 2276 Event/Event 16000 516 31.16 31.84 0.82 Event native interface
1243 Event/Any 16000 590 35.75 31.42 1.08 Event + AnyEvent watchers 2277 Event/Any 16000 1203 42.61 34.79 1.80 Event + AnyEvent watchers
2278 IOAsync/Any 16000 1911 41.92 27.45 16.81 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
2279 IOAsync/Any 16000 1726 40.69 26.37 15.25 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
1244 Glib/Any 16000 1357 98.22 12.41 54.00 quadratic behaviour 2280 Glib/Any 16000 1118 89.00 12.57 51.17 quadratic behaviour
1245 Tk/Any 2000 1860 26.97 67.98 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 2281 Tk/Any 2000 1346 20.96 10.75 8.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
1246 POE/Event 2000 6644 108.64 736.02 14.73 via POE::Loop::Event 2282 POE/Any 2000 6951 108.97 795.32 14.24 via POE::Loop::Event
1247 POE/Select 2000 6343 94.13 809.12 565.96 via POE::Loop::Select 2283 POE/Any 2000 6648 94.79 774.40 575.51 via POE::Loop::Select
1248 2284
1249=head3 Discussion 2285=head3 Discussion
1250 2286
1251The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very 2287The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very
1252well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one) 2288well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one)
1264benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with 2300benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with
1265EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU 2301EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU
1266cycles with POE. 2302cycles with POE.
1267 2303
1268C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both 2304C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both
1269maximal/minimal, respectively. Even when going through AnyEvent, it uses 2305maximal/minimal, respectively. When using the L<AE> API there is zero
2306overhead (when going through the AnyEvent API create is about 5-6 times
2307slower, with other times being equal, so still uses far less memory than
1270far less memory than any other event loop and is still faster than Event 2308any other event loop and is still faster than Event natively).
1271natively.
1272 2309
1273The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the 2310The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the
1274constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl 2311constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl
1275interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it 2312interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it
1276adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its 2313adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its
1277performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 2314performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
1278them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 2315them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
1279 2316
1280The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 2317The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
1281cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 2318cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
2319
2320C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
2321when using its pure perl backend.
1282 2322
1283C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 2323C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a
1284faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as 2324faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
1285C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 2325C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
1286watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 2326watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
1330 2370
1331=back 2371=back
1332 2372
1333=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE 2373=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE
1334 2374
1335This benchmark atcually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by 2375This benchmark actually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by
1336creating a number of "servers": each server consists of a socketpair, a 2376creating a number of "servers": each server consists of a socket pair, a
1337timeout watcher that gets reset on activity (but never fires), and an I/O 2377timeout watcher that gets reset on activity (but never fires), and an I/O
1338watcher waiting for input on one side of the socket. Each time the socket 2378watcher waiting for input on one side of the socket. Each time the socket
1339watcher reads a byte it will write that byte to a random other "server". 2379watcher reads a byte it will write that byte to a random other "server".
1340 2380
1341The effect is that there will be a lot of I/O watchers, only part of which 2381The effect is that there will be a lot of I/O watchers, only part of which
1342are active at any one point (so there is a constant number of active 2382are active at any one point (so there is a constant number of active
1343fds for each loop iterstaion, but which fds these are is random). The 2383fds for each loop iteration, but which fds these are is random). The
1344timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how 2384timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how
1345most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops). 2385most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops).
1346 2386
1347In this benchmark, we use 10000 socketpairs (20000 sockets), of which 100 2387In this benchmark, we use 10000 socket pairs (20000 sockets), of which 100
1348(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many 2388(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many
1349connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time. 2389connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time.
1350 2390
1351Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent 2391Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent
1352distribution. 2392distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2393for the EV and Perl backends only.
1353 2394
1354=head3 Explanation of the columns 2395=head3 Explanation of the columns
1355 2396
1356I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as 2397I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as
1357each server has a read and write socket end). 2398each server has a read and write socket end).
1358 2399
1359I<create> is the time it takes to create a socketpair (which is 2400I<create> is the time it takes to create a socket pair (which is
1360nontrivial) and two watchers: an I/O watcher and a timeout watcher. 2401nontrivial) and two watchers: an I/O watcher and a timeout watcher.
1361 2402
1362I<request>, the most important value, is the time it takes to handle a 2403I<request>, the most important value, is the time it takes to handle a
1363single "request", that is, reading the token from the pipe and forwarding 2404single "request", that is, reading the token from the pipe and forwarding
1364it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 2405it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1365a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2406a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1366 2407
1367=head3 Results 2408=head3 Results
1368 2409
1369 name sockets create request 2410 name sockets create request
1370 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2411 EV 20000 62.66 7.99
1371 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 2412 Perl 20000 68.32 32.64
1372 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2413 IOAsync 20000 174.06 101.15 epoll
1373 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2414 IOAsync 20000 174.67 610.84 poll
2415 Event 20000 202.69 242.91
2416 Glib 20000 557.01 1689.52
1374 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2417 POE 20000 341.54 12086.32 uses POE::Loop::Event
1375 2418
1376=head3 Discussion 2419=head3 Discussion
1377 2420
1378This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2421This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1379particular event loop. 2422particular event loop.
1381EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 2424EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1382is relatively high, though. 2425is relatively high, though.
1383 2426
1384Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 2427Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1385loops Event and Glib. 2428loops Event and Glib.
2429
2430IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
2431good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1386 2432
1387Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 2433Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will
1388understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to 2434understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1389the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 2435the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1390uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 2436uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1437speed most when you have lots of watchers, not when you only have a few of 2483speed most when you have lots of watchers, not when you only have a few of
1438them). 2484them).
1439 2485
1440EV is again fastest. 2486EV is again fastest.
1441 2487
1442Perl again comes second. It is noticably faster than the C-based event 2488Perl again comes second. It is noticeably faster than the C-based event
1443loops Event and Glib, although the difference is too small to really 2489loops Event and Glib, although the difference is too small to really
1444matter. 2490matter.
1445 2491
1446POE also performs much better in this case, but is is still far behind the 2492POE also performs much better in this case, but is is still far behind the
1447others. 2493others.
1453=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 2499=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1454watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 2500watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1455 2501
1456=back 2502=back
1457 2503
2504=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
2505
2506Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
2507could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
2508simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
2509shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
2510fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
2511very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
2512baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
2513
2514The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
2515connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
2516creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
2517test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
2518benchmark nevertheless.
2519
2520 name runtime
2521 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
2522 + optimized 0.122 sec
2523 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
2524 + optimized 0.138 sec
2525 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
2526 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
2527 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
2528 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
2529
2530 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
2531 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
2532 +state machine 0.134 sec
2533
2534The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2535benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2536defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2537written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2538AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2539resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2540generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2541connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2542
2543The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2544offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2545Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2546non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2547
2548As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2549hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2550backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2551
2552And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2553slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda
2554higher level ("unoptimised") abstractions by a large margin, even though
2555it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O in a non-blocking way.
2556
2557The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2558F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2559part of the IO::Lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2560
2561
2562=head1 SIGNALS
2563
2564AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
2565
2566=over 4
2567
2568=item SIGCHLD
2569
2570A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
2571emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
2572event loops install a similar handler.
2573
2574Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2575AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
2576
2577=item SIGPIPE
2578
2579A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
2580when AnyEvent gets loaded.
2581
2582The rationale for this is that AnyEvent users usually do not really depend
2583on SIGPIPE delivery (which is purely an optimisation for shell use, or
2584badly-written programs), but C<SIGPIPE> can cause spurious and rare
2585program exits as a lot of people do not expect C<SIGPIPE> when writing to
2586some random socket.
2587
2588The rationale for installing a no-op handler as opposed to ignoring it is
2589that this way, the handler will be restored to defaults on exec.
2590
2591Feel free to install your own handler, or reset it to defaults.
2592
2593=back
2594
2595=cut
2596
2597undef $SIG{CHLD}
2598 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2599
2600$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
2601 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2602
2603=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2604
2605One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2606its built-in modules) are required to use it.
2607
2608That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2609modules if they are installed.
2610
2611This section explains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2612affect AnyEvent's operation.
2613
2614=over 4
2615
2616=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2617
2618This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2619my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2620signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2621delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2622catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2623C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2624
2625If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2626catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2627will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (and good for
2628battery life on laptops).
2629
2630This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2631that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2632
2633Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2634and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2635(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2636does nothing for those backends.
2637
2638=item L<EV>
2639
2640This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2641event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2642loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2643the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2644automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2645can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2646C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2647L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2648
2649If you only use backends that rely on another event loop (e.g. C<Tk>),
2650then this module will do nothing for you.
2651
2652=item L<Guard>
2653
2654The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2655C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2656lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2657purely used for performance.
2658
2659=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2660
2661One of these modules is required when you want to read or write JSON data
2662via L<AnyEvent::Handle>. L<JSON> is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2663advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2664
2665=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2666
2667Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2668worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2669the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2670
2671=item L<Time::HiRes>
2672
2673This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2674chosen event library does not come with a timing source of its own. The
2675pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Loop>) will additionally load it to
2676try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2677
2678=back
2679
1458 2680
1459=head1 FORK 2681=head1 FORK
1460 2682
1461Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2683Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
1462because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> 2684because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> calls
1463calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2685- higher performance APIs such as BSD's kqueue or the dreaded Linux epoll
2686are usually badly thought-out hacks that are incompatible with fork in
2687one way or another. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware and ensures that you
2688continue event-processing in both parent and child (or both, if you know
2689what you are doing).
2690
2691This means that, in general, you cannot fork and do event processing in
2692the child if the event library was initialised before the fork (which
2693usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the library
2694is loaded).
1464 2695
1465If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2696If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first
1466watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child. 2697watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2698something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
2699
2700The problem of doing event processing in the parent I<and> the child
2701is much more complicated: even for backends that I<are> fork-aware or
2702fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all
2703watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both
2704parent and child, which is almost never what you want. USing C<exec>
2705to start worker children from some kind of manage rprocess is usually
2706preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of having
2707to have another binary.
1467 2708
1468 2709
1469=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2710=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1470 2711
1471AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2712AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
1476specified in the variable. 2717specified in the variable.
1477 2718
1478You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it 2719You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it
1479before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block: 2720before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block:
1480 2721
1481 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} } 2722 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} }
1482 2723
1483 use AnyEvent; 2724 use AnyEvent;
1484 2725
1485Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can 2726Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1486be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is 2727be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1487probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL). 2728probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
2729$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2730
2731Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2732C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2733enabled.
2734
2735
2736=head1 BUGS
2737
2738Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard
2739to work around. If you suffer from memleaks, first upgrade to Perl 5.10
2740and check wether the leaks still show up. (Perl 5.10.0 has other annoying
2741memleaks, such as leaking on C<map> and C<grep> but it is usually not as
2742pronounced).
1488 2743
1489 2744
1490=head1 SEE ALSO 2745=head1 SEE ALSO
1491 2746
1492Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, 2747Tutorial/Introduction: L<AnyEvent::Intro>.
2748
2749FAQ: L<AnyEvent::FAQ>.
2750
2751Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>.
2752
2753Event modules: L<AnyEvent::Loop>, L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>,
1493L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 2754L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1494 2755
1495Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, 2756Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
1496L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, 2757L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
1497L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, 2758L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1498L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 2759L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>.
1499 2760
2761Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and
2762servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
2763
2764Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
2765
1500Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, 2766Thread support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
1501 2767
1502Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>. 2768Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>,
2769L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
1503 2770
1504 2771
1505=head1 AUTHOR 2772=head1 AUTHOR
1506 2773
1507 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2774 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
1508 http://home.schmorp.de/ 2775 http://home.schmorp.de/
1509 2776
1510=cut 2777=cut
1511 2778
15121 27791
1513 2780

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