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

Comparing AnyEvent/lib/AnyEvent.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.118 by root, Sun May 11 18:08:36 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.333 by root, Tue Oct 12 06:47:54 2010 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops 3AnyEvent - the DBI of event loop programming
4 4
5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, Qt
6and POE are various supported event loops/environments.
6 7
7=head1 SYNOPSIS 8=head1 SYNOPSIS
8 9
9 use AnyEvent; 10 use AnyEvent;
10 11
12 # 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
51There is a mailinglist for discussing all things AnyEvent, and an IRC
52channel, too.
53
54See the AnyEvent project page at the B<Schmorpforge Ta-Sa Software
55Repository>, at L<http://anyevent.schmorp.de>, for more info.
22 56
23=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 57=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
24 58
25Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 59Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
26nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 60nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
27 61
28Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of 62Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of
29policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>. 63policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>.
30 64
31First and foremost, I<AnyEvent is not an event model> itself, it only 65First 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 66interfaces to whatever event model the main program happens to use, in a
33pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike, 67pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike,
34the statement "there can only be one" is a bitter reality: In general, 68the 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 69only one event loop can be active at the same time in a process. AnyEvent
36helps hiding the differences between those event loops. 70cannot change this, but it can hide the differences between those event
71loops.
37 72
38The goal of AnyEvent is to offer module authors the ability to do event 73The 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 74programming (waiting for I/O or timer events) without subscribing to a
40religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your 75religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your
41module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event 76module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event
42model you use. 77model you use.
43 78
44For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is 79For 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 80actually 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 81like 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 82cannot use anything else, as they are simply incompatible to everything
48isn't itself. What's worse, all the potential users of your module are 83that isn't them. What's worse, all the potential users of your
49I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use. 84module are I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use.
50 85
51AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works 86AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works
52fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together 87fine. 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 88with the rest: POE + IO::Async? No go. Tk + Event? No go. Again: if
54your module uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it, 89your module uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it,
55too. But if your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all 90too. But if your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all
56event models it supports (including stuff like POE and IO::Async, as long 91event models it supports (including stuff like IO::Async, as long as those
57as those use one of the supported event loops. It is trivial to add new 92use one of the supported event loops. It is easy to add new event loops
58event loops to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof). 93to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof).
59 94
60In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event 95In 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 96model>, 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 97modules, 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 98follow. 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 99offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as
65technically possible. 100technically possible.
66 101
102Of course, AnyEvent comes with a big (and fully optional!) toolbox
103of useful functionality, such as an asynchronous DNS resolver, 100%
104non-blocking connects (even with TLS/SSL, IPv6 and on broken platforms
105such as Windows) and lots of real-world knowledge and workarounds for
106platform bugs and differences.
107
67Of course, if you want lots of policy (this can arguably be somewhat 108Now, 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 109useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event
69model, you should I<not> use this module. 110model, you should I<not> use this module.
70 111
71=head1 DESCRIPTION 112=head1 DESCRIPTION
72 113
73L<AnyEvent> provides an identical interface to multiple event loops. This 114L<AnyEvent> provides a uniform interface to various event loops. This
74allows module authors to utilise an event loop without forcing module 115allows module authors to use event loop functionality without forcing
75users to use the same event loop (as only a single event loop can coexist 116module users to use a specific event loop implementation (since more
76peacefully at any one time). 117than one event loop cannot coexist peacefully).
77 118
78The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event> 119The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event>
79module. 120module.
80 121
81During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries 122During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries
82to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the 123to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the
83following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, 124following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
84L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, 125L<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 126found 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 127four 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 128available, the pure-perl L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> should always work, so
88be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be 129the 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.
91 130
92Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading 131Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading
93an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make 132an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make
94that model the default. For example: 133that model the default. For example:
95 134
97 use AnyEvent; 136 use AnyEvent;
98 137
99 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk 138 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk
100 139
101The I<likely> means that, if any module loads another event model and 140The 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 141starts using it, all bets are off - this case should be very rare though,
103use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly... 142as very few modules hardcode event loops without announcing this very
143loudly.
104 144
105The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called 145The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called
106C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it 146C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it
107explicitly. 147explicitly and enjoy the high availability of that event loop :)
108 148
109=head1 WATCHERS 149=head1 WATCHERS
110 150
111AnyEvent has the central concept of a I<watcher>, which is an object that 151AnyEvent 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 152stores relevant data for each kind of event you are waiting for, such as
113the callback to call, the filehandle to watch, etc. 153the callback to call, the file handle to watch, etc.
114 154
115These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After 155These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After
116creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the 156creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the
117callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model 157callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model
118is in control). 158is in control).
119 159
160Note that B<callbacks must not permanently change global variables>
161potentially in use by the event loop (such as C<$_> or C<$[>) and that B<<
162callbacks must not C<die> >>. The former is good programming practice in
163Perl and the latter stems from the fact that exception handling differs
164widely between event loops.
165
120To disable the watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the 166To 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 167variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references
122to it). 168to it).
123 169
124All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class. 170All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class.
125 171
126Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for 172Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for
127example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways. 173example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways.
128 174
129An any way to achieve that is this pattern: 175One way to achieve that is this pattern:
130 176
131 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub { 177 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub {
132 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it 178 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it
133 undef $w; 179 undef $w;
134 }); 180 });
135 181
136Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl, 182Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl,
137my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are 183my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are
138declared. 184declared.
139 185
140=head2 I/O WATCHERS 186=head2 I/O WATCHERS
141 187
188 $w = AnyEvent->io (
189 fh => <filehandle_or_fileno>,
190 poll => <"r" or "w">,
191 cb => <callback>,
192 );
193
142You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 194You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
143with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 195with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
144 196
145C<fh> the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 197C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
198for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
199handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
200non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
201most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
202or block devices.
203
146for events. C<poll> must be a string that is either C<r> or C<w>, 204C<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, 205watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, respectively.
206
148respectively. C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle 207C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle becomes ready.
149becomes ready.
150 208
151Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 209Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
152presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 210presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
153callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks. 211callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks.
154 212
155The I/O watcher might use the underlying file descriptor or a copy of it. 213The 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 214You must not close a file handle as long as any watcher is active on the
157underlying file descriptor. 215underlying file descriptor.
158 216
159Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should 217Some event loops issue spurious readiness notifications, so you should
160always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file 218always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file
161handles. 219handles.
162 220
163Example:
164
165 # wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the watcher 221Example: wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the
222watcher.
223
166 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub { 224 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
167 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); 225 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>);
168 warn "read: $input\n"; 226 warn "read: $input\n";
169 undef $w; 227 undef $w;
170 }); 228 });
171 229
172=head2 TIME WATCHERS 230=head2 TIME WATCHERS
173 231
232 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => <seconds>, cb => <callback>);
233
234 $w = AnyEvent->timer (
235 after => <fractional_seconds>,
236 interval => <fractional_seconds>,
237 cb => <callback>,
238 );
239
174You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >> 240You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >>
175method with the following mandatory arguments: 241method with the following mandatory arguments:
176 242
177C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are 243C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are
178supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke 244supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke
180 246
181Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 247Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
182presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 248presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
183callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks. 249callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks.
184 250
185The timer callback will be invoked at most once: if you want a repeating 251The 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 252parameter, C<interval>, as a strictly positive number (> 0), then the
187and Glib). 253callback will be invoked regularly at that interval (in fractional
254seconds) after the first invocation. If C<interval> is specified with a
255false value, then it is treated as if it were not specified at all.
188 256
189Example: 257The callback will be rescheduled before invoking the callback, but no
258attempt is made to avoid timer drift in most backends, so the interval is
259only approximate.
190 260
191 # fire an event after 7.7 seconds 261Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds.
262
192 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub { 263 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub {
193 warn "timeout\n"; 264 warn "timeout\n";
194 }); 265 });
195 266
196 # to cancel the timer: 267 # to cancel the timer:
197 undef $w; 268 undef $w;
198 269
199Example 2:
200
201 # fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second 270Example 2: fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second.
202 my $w;
203 271
204 my $cb = sub {
205 # cancel the old timer while creating a new one
206 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => $cb); 272 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, interval => 1, cb => sub {
273 warn "timeout\n";
207 }; 274 };
208
209 # start the "loop" by creating the first watcher
210 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, cb => $cb);
211 275
212=head3 TIMING ISSUES 276=head3 TIMING ISSUES
213 277
214There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire 278There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire
215in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12 279in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12
217 281
218While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they 282While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they
219use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock 283use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock
220"jumps", for example, when ntp decides to set your clock backwards from 284"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 285the 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. 286fire "after a second" might actually take six years to finally fire.
223 287
224AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious 288AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious
225about these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based 289of these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based
226on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time) 290on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time)
227timers. 291timers.
228 292
229AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the 293AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the
230AnyEvent API. 294AnyEvent API.
231 295
296AnyEvent has two additional methods that return the "current time":
297
298=over 4
299
300=item AnyEvent->time
301
302This returns the "current wallclock time" as a fractional number of
303seconds since the Epoch (the same thing as C<time> or C<Time::HiRes::time>
304return, and the result is guaranteed to be compatible with those).
305
306It progresses independently of any event loop processing, i.e. each call
307will check the system clock, which usually gets updated frequently.
308
309=item AnyEvent->now
310
311This also returns the "current wallclock time", but unlike C<time>, above,
312this value might change only once per event loop iteration, depending on
313the event loop (most return the same time as C<time>, above). This is the
314time that AnyEvent's timers get scheduled against.
315
316I<In almost all cases (in all cases if you don't care), this is the
317function to call when you want to know the current time.>
318
319This function is also often faster then C<< AnyEvent->time >>, and
320thus the preferred method if you want some timestamp (for example,
321L<AnyEvent::Handle> uses this to update its activity timeouts).
322
323The rest of this section is only of relevance if you try to be very exact
324with your timing; you can skip it without a bad conscience.
325
326For a practical example of when these times differ, consider L<Event::Lib>
327and L<EV> and the following set-up:
328
329The event loop is running and has just invoked one of your callbacks at
330time=500 (assume no other callbacks delay processing). In your callback,
331you wait a second by executing C<sleep 1> (blocking the process for a
332second) and then (at time=501) you create a relative timer that fires
333after three seconds.
334
335With L<Event::Lib>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> will
336both return C<501>, because that is the current time, and the timer will
337be scheduled to fire at time=504 (C<501> + C<3>).
338
339With L<EV>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> returns C<501> (as that is the current
340time), but C<< AnyEvent->now >> returns C<500>, as that is the time the
341last event processing phase started. With L<EV>, your timer gets scheduled
342to run at time=503 (C<500> + C<3>).
343
344In one sense, L<Event::Lib> is more exact, as it uses the current time
345regardless of any delays introduced by event processing. However, most
346callbacks do not expect large delays in processing, so this causes a
347higher drift (and a lot more system calls to get the current time).
348
349In another sense, L<EV> is more exact, as your timer will be scheduled at
350the same time, regardless of how long event processing actually took.
351
352In either case, if you care (and in most cases, you don't), then you
353can get whatever behaviour you want with any event loop, by taking the
354difference between C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> into
355account.
356
357=item AnyEvent->now_update
358
359Some event loops (such as L<EV> or L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) cache
360the current time for each loop iteration (see the discussion of L<<
361AnyEvent->now >>, above).
362
363When a callback runs for a long time (or when the process sleeps), then
364this "current" time will differ substantially from the real time, which
365might affect timers and time-outs.
366
367When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the
368event loop's idea of "current time".
369
370A typical example would be a script in a web server (e.g. C<mod_perl>) -
371when mod_perl executes the script, then the event loop will have the wrong
372idea about the "current time" (being potentially far in the past, when the
373script ran the last time). In that case you should arrange a call to C<<
374AnyEvent->now_update >> each time the web server process wakes up again
375(e.g. at the start of your script, or in a handler).
376
377Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled.
378
379=back
380
232=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 381=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
233 382
383 $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => <uppercase_signal_name>, cb => <callback>);
384
234You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal 385You 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 386I<name> in uppercase and without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl
236be invoked whenever a signal occurs. 387callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs.
237 388
238Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 389Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
239presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 390presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
240callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks. 391callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks.
241 392
242Multiple signal occurances can be clumped together into one callback 393Multiple signal occurrences can be clumped together into one callback
243invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. synchronous means 394invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
244that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process, 395that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process,
245but it is guarenteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 396but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
246 397
247The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal 398The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal
248between multiple watchers. 399between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
400interrupt your program at bad times.
249 401
250This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 402This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
251directly will likely not work correctly. 403so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
404correctly.
252 405
253Example: exit on SIGINT 406Example: exit on SIGINT
254 407
255 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 408 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
256 409
410=head3 Restart Behaviour
411
412While restart behaviour is up to the event loop implementation, most will
413not restart syscalls (that includes L<Async::Interrupt> and AnyEvent's
414pure perl implementation).
415
416=head3 Safe/Unsafe Signals
417
418Perl signals can be either "safe" (synchronous to opcode handling) or
419"unsafe" (asynchronous) - the former might get delayed indefinitely, the
420latter might corrupt your memory.
421
422AnyEvent signal handlers are, in addition, synchronous to the event loop,
423i.e. they will not interrupt your running perl program but will only be
424called as part of the normal event handling (just like timer, I/O etc.
425callbacks, too).
426
427=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
428
429Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
430callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot
431do race-free signal handling in perl, requiring C libraries for
432this. AnyEvent will try to do its best, which means in some cases,
433signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might be delayed is
434specified in C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY> (default: 10 seconds). This
435variable can be changed only before the first signal watcher is created,
436and should be left alone otherwise. This variable determines how often
437AnyEvent polls for signals (in case a wake-up was missed). Higher values
438will cause fewer spurious wake-ups, which is better for power and CPU
439saving.
440
441All these problems can be avoided by installing the optional
442L<Async::Interrupt> module, which works with most event loops. It will not
443work with inherently broken event loops such as L<Event> or L<Event::Lib>
444(and not with L<POE> currently, as POE does its own workaround with
445one-second latency). For those, you just have to suffer the delays.
446
257=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 447=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
258 448
449 $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => <process id>, cb => <callback>);
450
259You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status. 451You can also watch for a child process exit and catch its exit status.
260 452
261The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (if set to C<0>, it 453The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (on some backends,
262watches for any child process exit). The watcher will trigger as often 454using 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 455croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
264signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>. The callback will be called with the pid 456finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
265and exit status (as returned by waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, 457(stopped/continued).
266you I<can> rely on child watcher callback arguments. 458
459The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by
460waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher
461callback arguments.
462
463This watcher type works by installing a signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>,
464and since it cannot be shared, nothing else should use SIGCHLD or reap
465random child processes (waiting for specific child processes, e.g. inside
466C<system>, is just fine).
267 467
268There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them 468There 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 469I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could
270have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 470have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
271 471
272Not all event models handle this correctly (POE doesn't), but even for 472Not all event models handle this correctly (neither POE nor IO::Async do,
473see their AnyEvent::Impl manpages for details), but even for event models
273event models that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be 474that 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). 475the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). AnyEvent's
476pure perl event loop handles all cases correctly regardless of when you
477start the watcher.
275 478
276This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first thing in an 479This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
277AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one watcher before you 480thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
278C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call C<AnyEvent::detect>). 481watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
482C<AnyEvent::detect>).
483
484As most event loops do not support waiting for child events, they will be
485emulated by AnyEvent in most cases, in which the latency and race problems
486mentioned in the description of signal watchers apply.
279 487
280Example: fork a process and wait for it 488Example: fork a process and wait for it
281 489
282 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 490 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
283 491
284 my $pid = fork or exit 5; 492 my $pid = fork or exit 5;
285 493
286 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 494 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
287 pid => $pid, 495 pid => $pid,
288 cb => sub { 496 cb => sub {
289 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 497 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
290 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status"; 498 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status";
291 $done->send; 499 $done->send;
292 }, 500 },
293 ); 501 );
294 502
295 # do something else, then wait for process exit 503 # do something else, then wait for process exit
296 $done->recv; 504 $done->recv;
505
506=head2 IDLE WATCHERS
507
508 $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => <callback>);
509
510This will repeatedly invoke the callback after the process becomes idle,
511until either the watcher is destroyed or new events have been detected.
512
513Idle watchers are useful when there is a need to do something, but it
514is not so important (or wise) to do it instantly. The callback will be
515invoked only when there is "nothing better to do", which is usually
516defined as "all outstanding events have been handled and no new events
517have been detected". That means that idle watchers ideally get invoked
518when the event loop has just polled for new events but none have been
519detected. Instead of blocking to wait for more events, the idle watchers
520will be invoked.
521
522Unfortunately, most event loops do not really support idle watchers (only
523EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent
524will simply call the callback "from time to time".
525
526Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the
527program is otherwise idle:
528
529 my @lines; # read data
530 my $idle_w;
531 my $io_w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
532 push @lines, scalar <STDIN>;
533
534 # start an idle watcher, if not already done
535 $idle_w ||= AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub {
536 # handle only one line, when there are lines left
537 if (my $line = shift @lines) {
538 print "handled when idle: $line";
539 } else {
540 # otherwise disable the idle watcher again
541 undef $idle_w;
542 }
543 });
544 });
297 545
298=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 546=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
547
548 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
549
550 $cv->send (<list>);
551 my @res = $cv->recv;
299 552
300If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them 553If 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 554require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
302will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks. 555will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
303 556
304AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and 557AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
305will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user). 558loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
306 559
307The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called 560The tool to do that is called a "condition variable", so called because
308because they represent a condition that must become true. 561they represent a condition that must become true.
562
563Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
309 564
310Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar 565Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
311>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is 566>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
312C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable 567C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
313becomes true. 568becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
569the results).
314 570
315After creation, the conditon variable is "false" until it becomes "true" 571After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
316by calling the C<send> method. 572by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it
573were a callback, read about the caveats in the description for the C<<
574->send >> method).
317 575
318Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can 576Since 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 577some 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 578
321another way to call them is transations - each condition variable can be 579=over 4
322used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers 580
323a result. 581=item * Condition variables are like callbacks - you can call them (and pass them instead
582of callbacks). Unlike callbacks however, you can also wait for them to be called.
583
584=item * Condition variables are signals - one side can emit or send them,
585the other side can wait for them, or install a handler that is called when
586the signal fires.
587
588=item * Condition variables are like "Merge Points" - points in your program
589where you merge multiple independent results/control flows into one.
590
591=item * Condition variables represent a transaction - functions that start
592some kind of transaction can return them, leaving the caller the choice
593between waiting in a blocking fashion, or setting a callback.
594
595=item * Condition variables represent future values, or promises to deliver
596some result, long before the result is available.
597
598=back
324 599
325Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished, 600Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
326for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 601for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
327then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 602then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
328availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is 603availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
332you can block your main program until an event occurs - for example, you 607you 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 608could C<< ->recv >> in your main program until the user clicks the Quit
334button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event. 609button of your app, which would C<< ->send >> the "quit" event.
335 610
336Note that condition variables recurse into the event loop - if you have 611Note 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 612two 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 613lose. Therefore, condition variables are good to export to your caller, but
339you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks, 614you should avoid making a blocking wait yourself, at least in callbacks,
340as this asks for trouble. 615as this asks for trouble.
341 616
342Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys 617Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys
343used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing 618used 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 619easy (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 620AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call
346it's C<new> method in your own C<new> method. 621its C<new> method in your own C<new> method.
347 622
348There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which 623There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which
349eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits 624eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits
350for the send to occur. 625for the send to occur.
351 626
352Example: 627Example: wait for a timer.
353 628
354 # wait till the result is ready 629 # condition: "wait till the timer is fired"
355 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar; 630 my $timer_fired = AnyEvent->condvar;
356 631
357 # do something such as adding a timer 632 # create the timer - we could wait for, say
358 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->send 633 # a handle becomign ready, or even an
359 # when the "result" is ready. 634 # AnyEvent::HTTP request to finish, but
360 # in this case, we simply use a timer: 635 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
361 my $w = AnyEvent->timer ( 636 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
362 after => 1, 637 after => 1,
363 cb => sub { $result_ready->send }, 638 cb => sub { $timer_fired->send },
364 ); 639 );
365 640
366 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback 641 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
367 # calls send 642 # calls ->send
368 $result_ready->recv; 643 $timer_fired->recv;
644
645Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that condition
646variables are also callable directly.
647
648 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
649 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done);
650 $done->recv;
651
652Example: Imagine an API that returns a condvar and doesn't support
653callbacks. This is how you make a synchronous call, for example from
654the main program:
655
656 use AnyEvent::CouchDB;
657
658 ...
659
660 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv;
661
662And this is how you would just set a callback to be called whenever the
663results are available:
664
665 $couchdb->info->cb (sub {
666 my @info = $_[0]->recv;
667 });
369 668
370=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS 669=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS
371 670
372These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the 671These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the
373code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also 672code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also
386immediately from within send. 685immediately from within send.
387 686
388Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all 687Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
389future C<< ->recv >> calls. 688future C<< ->recv >> calls.
390 689
690Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as if
691they were a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling
692C<send>.
693
391=item $cv->croak ($error) 694=item $cv->croak ($error)
392 695
393Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke 696Similar to send, but causes all calls to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
394C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar. 697C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
395 698
396This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable 699This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
397user/consumer. 700user/consumer. Doing it this way instead of calling C<croak> directly
701delays the error detection, but has the overwhelming advantage that it
702diagnoses the error at the place where the result is expected, and not
703deep in some event callback with no connection to the actual code causing
704the problem.
398 705
399=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 706=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
400 707
401=item $cv->end 708=item $cv->end
402
403These two methods are EXPERIMENTAL and MIGHT CHANGE.
404 709
405These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into 710These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
406one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 711one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
407to use a condition variable for the whole process. 712to use a condition variable for the whole process.
408 713
409Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to 714Every 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 715C<< ->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 716>>, 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 717condvar as first argument. That callback is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send
413callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 718>>, but that is not required. If no group callback was set, C<send> will
719be called without any arguments.
414 720
415Let's clarify this with the ping example: 721You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
722sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
723condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
724
725Let's start with a simple example: you have two I/O watchers (for example,
726STDOUT and STDERR for a program), and you want to wait for both streams to
727close before activating a condvar:
416 728
417 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 729 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
418 730
731 $cv->begin; # first watcher
732 my $w1 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh1, cb => sub {
733 defined sysread $fh1, my $buf, 4096
734 or $cv->end;
735 });
736
737 $cv->begin; # second watcher
738 my $w2 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh2, cb => sub {
739 defined sysread $fh2, my $buf, 4096
740 or $cv->end;
741 });
742
743 $cv->recv;
744
745This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), there is
746one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
747sending.
748
749The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
750there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
751begun can potentially be zero:
752
753 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
754
419 my %result; 755 my %result;
420 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 756 $cv->begin (sub { shift->send (\%result) });
421 757
422 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) { 758 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) {
423 $cv->begin; 759 $cv->begin;
424 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub { 760 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub {
425 $result{$host} = ...; 761 $result{$host} = ...;
440loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback 776loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
441to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 777to 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 778C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
443doesn't execute once). 779doesn't execute once).
444 780
445This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests: 781This 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> 782potentially 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 783the 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>. 784subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
785call C<end>.
449 786
450=back 787=back
451 788
452=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS 789=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
453 790
457=over 4 794=over 4
458 795
459=item $cv->recv 796=item $cv->recv
460 797
461Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak 798Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak
462>> methods have been called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers 799>> methods have been called on C<$cv>, while servicing other watchers
463normally. 800normally.
464 801
465You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but 802You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but
466will return immediately. 803will return immediately.
467 804
469function will call C<croak>. 806function will call C<croak>.
470 807
471In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned, 808In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
472in scalar context only the first one will be returned. 809in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
473 810
811Note that doing a blocking wait in a callback is not supported by any
812event loop, that is, recursive invocation of a blocking C<< ->recv
813>> is not allowed, and the C<recv> call will C<croak> if such a
814condition is detected. This condition can be slightly loosened by using
815L<Coro::AnyEvent>, which allows you to do a blocking C<< ->recv >> from
816any thread that doesn't run the event loop itself.
817
474Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 818Not 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 819(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 820using 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 821caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
478condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 822condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
479callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 823callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
480while still suppporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 824while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
481 825
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 826You can ensure that C<< ->recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
494only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later 827only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
495time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking 828time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
496waits otherwise. 829waits otherwise.
497 830
498=item $bool = $cv->ready 831=item $bool = $cv->ready
499 832
500Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or 833Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or
501C<croak> have been called. 834C<croak> have been called.
502 835
503=item $cb = $cv->cb ([new callback]) 836=item $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv))
504 837
505This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally 838This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
506replaces it before doing so. 839replaces it before doing so.
507 840
508The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when 841The 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 842C<send> or C<croak> are called, with the only argument being the
843condition variable itself. If the condition is already true, the
844callback is called immediately when it is set. Calling C<recv> inside
510or at any later time is guaranteed not to block. 845the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
511 846
512=back 847=back
513 848
849=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
850
851The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
852
853=over 4
854
855=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
856
857EV is the preferred backend when no other event loop seems to be in
858use. If EV is not installed, then AnyEvent will fall back to its own
859pure-perl implementation, which is available everywhere as it comes with
860AnyEvent itself.
861
862 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (interface to libev, best choice).
863 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
864
865=item Backends that are transparently being picked up when they are used.
866
867These will be used if they are already loaded when the first watcher
868is created, in which case it is assumed that the application is using
869them. This means that AnyEvent will automatically pick the right backend
870when the main program loads an event module before anything starts to
871create watchers. Nothing special needs to be done by the main program.
872
873 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
874 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
875 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
876 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
877 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
878 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
879
880=item Backends with special needs.
881
882Qt requires the Qt::Application to be instantiated first, but will
883otherwise be picked up automatically. As long as the main program
884instantiates the application before any AnyEvent watchers are created,
885everything should just work.
886
887 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt.
888
889Support for IO::Async can only be partial, as it is too broken and
890architecturally limited to even support the AnyEvent API. It also
891is the only event loop that needs the loop to be set explicitly, so
892it can only be used by a main program knowing about AnyEvent. See
893L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync> for the gory details.
894
895 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async, cannot be autoprobed.
896
897=item Event loops that are indirectly supported via other backends.
898
899Some event loops can be supported via other modules:
900
901There is no direct support for WxWidgets (L<Wx>) or L<Prima>.
902
903B<WxWidgets> has no support for watching file handles. However, you can
904use WxWidgets through the POE adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply
905polls 20 times per second, which was considered to be too horrible to even
906consider for AnyEvent.
907
908B<Prima> is not supported as nobody seems to be using it, but it has a POE
909backend, so it can be supported through POE.
910
911AnyEvent knows about both L<Prima> and L<Wx>, however, and will try to
912load L<POE> when detecting them, in the hope that POE will pick them up,
913in which case everything will be automatic.
914
915=back
916
514=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 917=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
515 918
919These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
920write AnyEvent extension modules.
921
516=over 4 922=over 4
517 923
518=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 924=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
519 925
520Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 926Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
927backend has been autodetected.
928
521contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 929Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
522Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 930name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
523C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 931of the C<AnyEvent::Impl::xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
524AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 932case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
525 933will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
526The known classes so far are:
527
528 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
529 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
530 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
531 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
532 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
533 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
534 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
535 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
536
537There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
538watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
539POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
540second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
541AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
542it's adaptor.
543
544AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
545autodetecting them.
546 934
547=item AnyEvent::detect 935=item AnyEvent::detect
548 936
549Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 937Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
550if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 938if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
551have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 939have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
552runtime. 940runtime, and not e.g. during initialisation of your module.
941
942If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
943created, use C<post_detect>.
553 944
554=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK } 945=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
555 946
556Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is 947Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
557autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened). 948autodetected (or immediately if that has already happened).
949
950The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
951(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
952created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
953other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
954L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
955
956The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
957event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
958and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
959avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
558 960
559If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object 961If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
560that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed. See 962that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
963C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
561L<Coro::BDB> for a case where this is useful. 964a case where this is useful.
965
966Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
967C<$WATCHER>, but do so only do so after the event loop is initialised.
968
969 our WATCHER;
970
971 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
972 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
973 };
974
975 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
976 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
977 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
978 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
979
980 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
562 981
563=item @AnyEvent::post_detect 982=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
564 983
565If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it 984If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
566before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after 985before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will be called directly
567the event loop has been chosen. 986after the event loop has been chosen.
568 987
569You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though: 988You 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, 989if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
571and the array will be ignored. 990array will be ignored.
572 991
573Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> instead. 992Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
993it, as it takes care of these details.
994
995This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
996when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
997not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
998into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
999
1000Example: To load Coro::AnyEvent whenever Coro and AnyEvent are used
1001together, you could put this into Coro (this is the actual code used by
1002Coro to accomplish this):
1003
1004 if (defined $AnyEvent::MODEL) {
1005 # AnyEvent already initialised, so load Coro::AnyEvent
1006 require Coro::AnyEvent;
1007 } else {
1008 # AnyEvent not yet initialised, so make sure to load Coro::AnyEvent
1009 # as soon as it is
1010 push @AnyEvent::post_detect, sub { require Coro::AnyEvent };
1011 }
574 1012
575=back 1013=back
576 1014
577=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 1015=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
578 1016
589because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using 1027because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using
590events is to stay interactive. 1028events is to stay interactive.
591 1029
592It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module 1030It 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 1031requests 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 >> 1032called C<results> that returns the results, it may call C<< ->recv >>
595freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. always). 1033freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. Always).
596 1034
597=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM 1035=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM
598 1036
599There will always be a single main program - the only place that should 1037There will always be a single main program - the only place that should
600dictate which event model to use. 1038dictate which event model to use.
601 1039
602If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not 1040If 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 1041when it depends on a module that uses an AnyEvent. If the program itself
604decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it. 1042uses AnyEvent, but does not care which event loop is used, all it needs
1043to do is C<use AnyEvent>. In either case, AnyEvent will choose the best
1044available loop implementation.
605 1045
606If the main program relies on a specific event model. For example, in 1046If 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 1047Gtk2 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 1048event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally
609speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that 1049speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that
610modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will 1050modules 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 1051decide 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. 1052might choose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself.
613 1053
614You can chose to use a rather inefficient pure-perl implementation by 1054You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the
615loading the C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar 1055C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar behaviour
616behaviour everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose is generally better. 1056everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better.
1057
1058=head2 MAINLOOP EMULATION
1059
1060Sometimes (often for short test scripts, or even standalone programs who
1061only want to use AnyEvent), you do not want to run a specific event loop.
1062
1063In that case, you can use a condition variable like this:
1064
1065 AnyEvent->condvar->recv;
1066
1067This has the effect of entering the event loop and looping forever.
1068
1069Note that usually your program has some exit condition, in which case
1070it is better to use the "traditional" approach of storing a condition
1071variable somewhere, waiting for it, and sending it when the program should
1072exit cleanly.
1073
617 1074
618=head1 OTHER MODULES 1075=head1 OTHER MODULES
619 1076
620The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use 1077The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
621AnyEvent and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent modules 1078AnyEvent 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 1079modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the modules
623available via CPAN. 1080come as part of AnyEvent, the others are available via CPAN.
624 1081
625=over 4 1082=over 4
626 1083
627=item L<AnyEvent::Util> 1084=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
628 1085
629Contains various utility functions that replace often-used but blocking 1086Contains various utility functions that replace often-used blocking
630functions such as C<inet_aton> by event-/callback-based versions. 1087functions such as C<inet_aton> with event/callback-based versions.
1088
1089=item L<AnyEvent::Socket>
1090
1091Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets,
1092addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp
1093connections or tcp servers, with IPv6 and SRV record support and more.
631 1094
632=item L<AnyEvent::Handle> 1095=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
633 1096
634Provide read and write buffers and manages watchers for reads and writes. 1097Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
1098supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
1099non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>).
1100
1101=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
1102
1103Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
1104
1105=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>, L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IGS>, L<AnyEvent::FCP>
1106
1107Implement event-based interfaces to the protocols of the same name (for
1108the curious, IGS is the International Go Server and FCP is the Freenet
1109Client Protocol).
1110
1111=item L<AnyEvent::Handle::UDP>
1112
1113Here be danger!
1114
1115As Pauli would put it, "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!" -
1116there are so many things wrong with AnyEvent::Handle::UDP, most notably
1117its use of a stream-based API with a protocol that isn't streamable, that
1118the only way to improve it is to delete it.
1119
1120It features data corruption (but typically only under load) and general
1121confusion. On top, the author is not only clueless about UDP but also
1122fact-resistant - some gems of his understanding: "connect doesn't work
1123with UDP", "UDP packets are not IP packets", "UDP only has datagrams, not
1124packets", "I don't need to implement proper error checking as UDP doesn't
1125support error checking" and so on - he doesn't even understand what's
1126wrong with his module when it is explained to him.
1127
1128=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
1129
1130Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you,
1131notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished.
1132
1133=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
1134
1135Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in the
1136toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
1137L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to event-based
1138file I/O, and much more.
635 1139
636=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD> 1140=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD>
637 1141
638Provides a simple web application server framework. 1142A simple embedded webserver.
639
640=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
641
642Provides asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities, beyond what
643L<AnyEvent::Util> offers.
644 1143
645=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing> 1144=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing>
646 1145
647The fastest ping in the west. 1146The fastest ping in the west.
648 1147
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> 1148=item L<Coro>
667 1149
668Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>. 1150Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
669 1151
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 1152=back
686 1153
687=cut 1154=cut
688 1155
689package AnyEvent; 1156package AnyEvent;
690 1157
691no warnings; 1158# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
692use strict; 1159sub common_sense {
1160 # from common:.sense 3.3
1161 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS} ^ "\x3c\x3f\x33\x00\x0f\xf3\x0f\xc0\xf0\xfc\x33\x00";
1162 # use strict vars subs - NO UTF-8, as Util.pm doesn't like this atm. (uts46data.pl)
1163 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1164}
693 1165
1166BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1167
694use Carp; 1168use Carp ();
695 1169
696our $VERSION = '3.41'; 1170our $VERSION = '5.271';
697our $MODEL; 1171our $MODEL;
698 1172
699our $AUTOLOAD; 1173our $AUTOLOAD;
700our @ISA; 1174our @ISA;
701 1175
702our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
703
704our @REGISTRY; 1176our @REGISTRY;
705 1177
1178our $VERBOSE;
1179
1180BEGIN {
1181 require "AnyEvent/constants.pl";
1182
1183 eval "sub TAINT (){" . (${^TAINT}*1) . "}";
1184
1185 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
1186 if ${^TAINT};
1187
1188 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1189
1190}
1191
1192our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
1193
1194our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
1195
1196{
1197 my $idx;
1198 $PROTOCOL{$_} = ++$idx
1199 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
1200 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
1201}
1202
706my @models = ( 1203my @models = (
707 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1204 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
1205 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
1206 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
1207 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere
1208 # and is usually faster
708 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 1209 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
1210 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1211 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1212 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
709 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], 1213 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
1214 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
1215 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
710 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1216 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
711 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1217 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
712 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1218 # IO::Async is just too broken - we would need workarounds for its
713 # everything below here will not be autoprobed as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1219 # byzantine signal and broken child handling, among others.
714 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], 1220 # IO::Async is rather hard to detect, as it doesn't have any
715 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy 1221 # obvious default class.
716 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 1222 [IO::Async:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
717 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 1223 [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1224 [IO::Async::Notifier:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1225 [AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
718); 1226);
719 1227
720our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar one_event DESTROY); 1228our %method = map +($_ => 1),
1229 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY);
721 1230
722our @post_detect; 1231our @post_detect;
723 1232
724sub post_detect(&) { 1233sub post_detect(&) {
725 my ($cb) = @_; 1234 my ($cb) = @_;
726 1235
727 if ($MODEL) {
728 $cb->();
729
730 1
731 } else {
732 push @post_detect, $cb; 1236 push @post_detect, $cb;
733 1237
734 defined wantarray 1238 defined wantarray
735 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::Guard" 1239 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
736 : () 1240 : ()
1241}
1242
1243sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
1244 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
1245}
1246
1247sub detect() {
1248 # free some memory
1249 *detect = sub () { $MODEL };
1250
1251 local $!; # for good measure
1252 local $SIG{__DIE__};
1253
1254 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) {
1255 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
1256 if (eval "require $model") {
1257 $MODEL = $model;
1258 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
1259 } else {
1260 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@" if $VERBOSE;
1261 }
737 } 1262 }
738}
739 1263
740sub AnyEvent::Util::Guard::DESTROY { 1264 # check for already loaded models
741 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
742}
743
744sub detect() {
745 unless ($MODEL) { 1265 unless ($MODEL) {
746 no strict 'refs'; 1266 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
747 1267 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
748 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) { 1268 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
749 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
750 if (eval "require $model") { 1269 if (eval "require $model") {
751 $MODEL = $model; 1270 $MODEL = $model;
752 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1271 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
753 } else { 1272 last;
754 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose; 1273 }
755 } 1274 }
756 } 1275 }
757 1276
758 # check for already loaded models
759 unless ($MODEL) { 1277 unless ($MODEL) {
1278 # try to autoload a model
760 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1279 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
761 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1280 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1281 if (
1282 $autoload
1283 and eval "require $package"
762 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1284 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
763 if (eval "require $model") { 1285 and eval "require $model"
1286 ) {
764 $MODEL = $model; 1287 $MODEL = $model;
765 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1288 warn "AnyEvent: autoloaded model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
766 last; 1289 last;
767 }
768 } 1290 }
769 } 1291 }
770 1292
771 unless ($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 1293 $MODEL
786 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib."; 1294 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib.\n";
787 }
788 } 1295 }
789
790 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
791 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
792
793 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
794 } 1296 }
1297
1298 @models = (); # free probe data
1299
1300 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
1301 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
1302
1303 # now nuke some methods that are overriden by the backend.
1304 # SUPER is not allowed.
1305 for (qw(time signal child idle)) {
1306 undef &{"AnyEvent::Base::$_"}
1307 if defined &{"$MODEL\::$_"};
1308 }
1309
1310 require AnyEvent::Strict if $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT};
1311
1312 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
1313
1314 *post_detect = sub(&) {
1315 shift->();
1316
1317 undef
1318 };
795 1319
796 $MODEL 1320 $MODEL
797} 1321}
798 1322
799sub AUTOLOAD { 1323sub AUTOLOAD {
800 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://; 1324 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
801 1325
802 $method{$func} 1326 $method{$func}
803 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects"; 1327 or Carp::croak "$func: not a valid AnyEvent class method";
804 1328
805 detect unless $MODEL; 1329 detect;
806 1330
807 my $class = shift; 1331 my $class = shift;
808 $class->$func (@_); 1332 $class->$func (@_);
809} 1333}
810 1334
1335# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1336# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1337# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1338sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1339 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1340
1341 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1342 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1343
1344 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1345 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1346
1347 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1348
1349 ($fh2, $rw)
1350}
1351
1352=head1 SIMPLIFIED AE API
1353
1354Starting with version 5.0, AnyEvent officially supports a second, much
1355simpler, API that is designed to reduce the calling, typing and memory
1356overhead by using function call syntax and a fixed number of parameters.
1357
1358See the L<AE> manpage for details.
1359
1360=cut
1361
1362package AE;
1363
1364our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::VERSION;
1365
1366# fall back to the main API by default - backends and AnyEvent::Base
1367# implementations can overwrite these.
1368
1369sub io($$$) {
1370 AnyEvent->io (fh => $_[0], poll => $_[1] ? "w" : "r", cb => $_[2])
1371}
1372
1373sub timer($$$) {
1374 AnyEvent->timer (after => $_[0], interval => $_[1], cb => $_[2])
1375}
1376
1377sub signal($$) {
1378 AnyEvent->signal (signal => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1379}
1380
1381sub child($$) {
1382 AnyEvent->child (pid => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1383}
1384
1385sub idle($) {
1386 AnyEvent->idle (cb => $_[0])
1387}
1388
1389sub cv(;&) {
1390 AnyEvent->condvar (@_ ? (cb => $_[0]) : ())
1391}
1392
1393sub now() {
1394 AnyEvent->now
1395}
1396
1397sub now_update() {
1398 AnyEvent->now_update
1399}
1400
1401sub time() {
1402 AnyEvent->time
1403}
1404
811package AnyEvent::Base; 1405package AnyEvent::Base;
812 1406
1407# default implementations for many methods
1408
1409sub time {
1410 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1411 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1412 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1413 warn "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1414 *AE::time = \&Time::HiRes::time;
1415 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1416 } else {
1417 warn "AnyEvent: using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!\n" if $VERBOSE;
1418 *AE::time = sub (){ time }; # epic fail
1419 }
1420
1421 *time = sub { AE::time }; # different prototypes
1422 };
1423 die if $@;
1424
1425 &time
1426}
1427
1428*now = \&time;
1429
1430sub now_update { }
1431
813# default implementation for ->condvar 1432# default implementation for ->condvar
814 1433
815sub condvar { 1434sub condvar {
816 bless {}, AnyEvent::CondVar:: 1435 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1436 *condvar = sub {
1437 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1438 };
1439
1440 *AE::cv = sub (;&) {
1441 bless { @_ ? (_ae_cb => shift) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1442 };
1443 };
1444 die if $@;
1445
1446 &condvar
817} 1447}
818 1448
819# default implementation for ->signal 1449# default implementation for ->signal
820 1450
821our %SIG_CB; 1451our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1452
1453sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1454 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1455 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.02 (); 1")
1456 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1457
1458 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1459}
1460
1461our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1462our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1463our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1464
1465# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1466# used by Impls
1467sub _sig_add() {
1468 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1469 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1470 my $NOW = AE::now;
1471
1472 $SIG_TW = AE::timer
1473 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1474 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1475 sub { } # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1476 ;
1477 }
1478}
1479
1480sub _sig_del {
1481 undef $SIG_TW
1482 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1483}
1484
1485our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1486 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1487 undef $_sig_name_init;
1488
1489 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1490 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1491 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1492 } else {
1493 require Config;
1494
1495 my %signame2num;
1496 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1497 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1498
1499 my @signum2name;
1500 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1501
1502 *sig2num = sub($) {
1503 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1504 };
1505 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1506 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1507 };
1508 }
1509 };
1510 die if $@;
1511};
1512
1513sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1514sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
822 1515
823sub signal { 1516sub signal {
1517 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1518 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1519 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1520 warn "AnyEvent: using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1521
1522 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1523 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1524
1525 } else {
1526 warn "AnyEvent: using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1527
1528 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1529 require AnyEvent::Util;
1530
1531 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1532 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R, 1) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1533 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W, 1) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1534 } else {
1535 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1536 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1537 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1538
1539 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1540 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1541 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1542 }
1543
1544 $SIGPIPE_R
1545 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1546
1547 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1548 }
1549
1550 *signal = $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1551 ? sub {
824 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1552 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
825 1553
1554 # async::interrupt
826 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1555 my $signal = sig2num $arg{signal};
827 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
828
829 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1556 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1557
1558 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1559 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1560 signal => $signal,
1561 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1562 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1563 ;
1564
1565 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1566 }
1567 : sub {
1568 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1569
1570 # pure perl
1571 my $signal = sig2name $arg{signal};
1572 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1573
830 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub { 1574 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
1575 local $!;
1576 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1577 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1578 };
1579
1580 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1581 # so limit the signal latency.
1582 _sig_add;
1583
1584 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1585 }
1586 ;
1587
1588 *AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY = sub {
1589 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1590
1591 _sig_del;
1592
1593 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1594
1595 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1596 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1597 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1598 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1599 # instead of getting the default action.
1600 undef $SIG{$signal}
1601 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1602 };
1603
1604 *_signal_exec = sub {
1605 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1606 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1607 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, (my $dummy), 9;
1608
1609 while (%SIG_EV) {
1610 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1611 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
831 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} || {} }; 1612 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
1613 }
1614 }
1615 };
832 }; 1616 };
1617 die if $@;
833 1618
834 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Signal" 1619 &signal
835}
836
837sub AnyEvent::Base::Signal::DESTROY {
838 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
839
840 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
841
842 $SIG{$signal} = 'DEFAULT' unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
843} 1620}
844 1621
845# default implementation for ->child 1622# default implementation for ->child
846 1623
847our %PID_CB; 1624our %PID_CB;
848our $CHLD_W; 1625our $CHLD_W;
849our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1626our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
850our $PID_IDLE;
851our $WNOHANG; 1627our $WNOHANG;
852 1628
853sub _child_wait { 1629# used by many Impl's
854 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1630sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
1631 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1632
1633 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
855 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1634 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
856 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1635 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} 1636}
869 1637
870sub child { 1638sub child {
1639 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1640 *_sigchld = sub {
1641 my $pid;
1642
1643 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
1644 while ($pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG) > 0;
1645 };
1646
1647 *child = sub {
871 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1648 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
872 1649
873 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1650 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0)
874 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1651 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing";
875 1652
876 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1653 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
877 1654
878 unless ($WNOHANG) { 1655 # WNOHANG is almost cetrainly 1 everywhere
879 $WNOHANG = eval { require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1; 1656 $WNOHANG ||= $^O =~ /^(?:openbsd|netbsd|linux|freebsd|cygwin|MSWin32)$/
880 } 1657 ? 1
1658 : eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
881 1659
882 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1660 unless ($CHLD_W) {
883 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1661 $CHLD_W = AE::signal CHLD => \&_sigchld;
884 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1662 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
885 &_sigchld; 1663 &_sigchld;
886 } 1664 }
887 1665
888 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Child" 1666 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
889} 1667 };
890 1668
891sub AnyEvent::Base::Child::DESTROY { 1669 *AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY = sub {
892 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1670 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
893 1671
894 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb}; 1672 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb};
895 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} }; 1673 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
896 1674
897 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1675 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1676 };
1677 };
1678 die if $@;
1679
1680 &child
1681}
1682
1683# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1684# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1685# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1686sub idle {
1687 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1688 *idle = sub {
1689 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1690
1691 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1692
1693 $rcb = sub {
1694 if ($cb) {
1695 $w = _time;
1696 &$cb;
1697 $w = _time - $w;
1698
1699 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1700 # within some limits
1701 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1702 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1703
1704 $w = AE::timer $w, 0, $rcb;
1705 } else {
1706 # clean up...
1707 undef $w;
1708 undef $rcb;
1709 }
1710 };
1711
1712 $w = AE::timer 0.05, 0, $rcb;
1713
1714 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1715 };
1716
1717 *AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY = sub {
1718 undef $${$_[0]};
1719 };
1720 };
1721 die if $@;
1722
1723 &idle
898} 1724}
899 1725
900package AnyEvent::CondVar; 1726package AnyEvent::CondVar;
901 1727
902our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::; 1728our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
903 1729
1730# only to be used for subclassing
1731sub new {
1732 my $class = shift;
1733 bless AnyEvent->condvar (@_), $class
1734}
1735
904package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base; 1736package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
1737
1738#use overload
1739# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
1740# fallback => 1;
1741
1742# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1743${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1744*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1745*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1746${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1747
1748our $WAITING;
905 1749
906sub _send { 1750sub _send {
907 # nop 1751 # nop
908} 1752}
909 1753
922sub ready { 1766sub ready {
923 $_[0]{_ae_sent} 1767 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
924} 1768}
925 1769
926sub _wait { 1770sub _wait {
1771 $WAITING
1772 and !$_[0]{_ae_sent}
1773 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait detected";
1774
1775 local $WAITING = 1;
927 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent}; 1776 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent};
928} 1777}
929 1778
930sub recv { 1779sub recv {
931 $_[0]->_wait; 1780 $_[0]->_wait;
933 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak}; 1782 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak};
934 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0] 1783 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0]
935} 1784}
936 1785
937sub cb { 1786sub cb {
938 $_[0]{_ae_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1787 my $cv = shift;
1788
1789 @_
1790 and $cv->{_ae_cb} = shift
1791 and $cv->{_ae_sent}
1792 and (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv);
1793
939 $_[0]{_ae_cb} 1794 $cv->{_ae_cb}
940} 1795}
941 1796
942sub begin { 1797sub begin {
943 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1798 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter};
944 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1799 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
945} 1800}
946 1801
947sub end { 1802sub end {
948 return if --$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1803 return if --$_[0]{_ae_counter};
949 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} } if $_[0]{_ae_end_cb}; 1804 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} || sub { $_[0]->send } };
950} 1805}
951 1806
952# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4 1807# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4
953*broadcast = \&send; 1808*broadcast = \&send;
954*wait = \&_wait; 1809*wait = \&_wait;
1810
1811=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
1812
1813In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the
1814caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also
1815the C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> environment variable, below) provides strict
1816checking of all AnyEvent methods, however, which is highly useful during
1817development.
1818
1819As for exception handling (i.e. runtime errors and exceptions thrown while
1820executing a callback), this is not only highly event-loop specific, but
1821also not in any way wrapped by this module, as this is the job of the main
1822program.
1823
1824The pure perl event loop simply re-throws the exception (usually
1825within C<< condvar->recv >>), the L<Event> and L<EV> modules call C<<
1826$Event/EV::DIED->() >>, L<Glib> uses C<< install_exception_handler >> and
1827so on.
1828
1829=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1830
1831The following environment variables are used by this module or its
1832submodules.
1833
1834Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
1835C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
1836enabled.
1837
1838=over 4
1839
1840=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1841
1842By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
1843conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
1844talkative.
1845
1846When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
1847conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
1848C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1849
1850When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1851model it chooses.
1852
1853When set to C<8> or higher, then AnyEvent will report extra information on
1854which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
1855
1856=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1857
1858AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1859argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1860will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1861check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1862it will croak.
1863
1864In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1865
1866Unlike C<use strict> (or its modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
1867>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
1868C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
1869can be very useful, however.
1870
1871=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1872
1873This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1874auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1875entirely of ASCII letters. The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended
1876and the resulting module name is loaded and if the load was successful,
1877used as event model. If it fails to load AnyEvent will proceed with
1878auto detection and -probing.
1879
1880This functionality might change in future versions.
1881
1882For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) you
1883could start your program like this:
1884
1885 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
1886
1887=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS>
1888
1889Used by both L<AnyEvent::DNS> and L<AnyEvent::Socket> to determine preferences
1890for IPv4 or IPv6. The default is unspecified (and might change, or be the result
1891of auto probing).
1892
1893Must be set to a comma-separated list of protocols or address families,
1894current supported: C<ipv4> and C<ipv6>. Only protocols mentioned will be
1895used, and preference will be given to protocols mentioned earlier in the
1896list.
1897
1898This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
1899against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is likely
1900small, as the program has to handle conenction and other failures anyways.
1901
1902Examples: C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6> - prefer IPv4 over IPv6,
1903but support both and try to use both. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4>
1904- only support IPv4, never try to resolve or contact IPv6
1905addresses. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv6,ipv4> support either IPv4 or
1906IPv6, but prefer IPv6 over IPv4.
1907
1908=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_EDNS0>
1909
1910Used by L<AnyEvent::DNS> to decide whether to use the EDNS0 extension
1911for DNS. This extension is generally useful to reduce DNS traffic, but
1912some (broken) firewalls drop such DNS packets, which is why it is off by
1913default.
1914
1915Setting this variable to C<1> will cause L<AnyEvent::DNS> to announce
1916EDNS0 in its DNS requests.
1917
1918=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
1919
1920The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
1921will create in parallel.
1922
1923=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
1924
1925The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
1926resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
1927sent to the DNS server.
1928
1929=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
1930
1931The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
1932configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
1933default config will be used.
1934
1935=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
1936
1937When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
1938L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
1939variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
1940instead of a system-dependent default.
1941
1942=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
1943
1944When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
1945loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
1946
1947=back
955 1948
956=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 1949=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
957 1950
958This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in 1951This 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 1952a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to
993 1986
994I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to 1987I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to
995condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will 1988condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will
996C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must 1989C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must
997not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense. 1990not 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 1991
1036=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM 1992=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
1037 1993
1038The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer 1994The 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 1995to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the
1052 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read 2008 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read
1053 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i 2009 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i
1054 }, 2010 },
1055 ); 2011 );
1056 2012
1057 my $time_watcher; # can only be used once
1058
1059 sub new_timer {
1060 $timer = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => sub { 2013 my $time_watcher = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, interval => 1, cb => sub {
1061 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' about every second 2014 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' at most every second
1062 &new_timer; # and restart the time
1063 }); 2015 });
1064 }
1065
1066 new_timer; # create first timer
1067 2016
1068 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i 2017 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i
1069 2018
1070=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE 2019=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
1071 2020
1123 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request} 2072 syswrite $txn->{fh}, $txn->{request}
1124 or die "connection or write error"; 2073 or die "connection or write error";
1125 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r }); 2074 $txn->{w} = AnyEvent->io (fh => $txn->{fh}, poll => 'r', cb => sub { $txn->fh_ready_r });
1126 2075
1127Again, C<fh_ready_r> waits till all data has arrived, and then stores the 2076Again, 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: 2077result and signals any possible waiters that the request has finished:
1129 2078
1130 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf}; 2079 sysread $txn->{fh}, $txn->{buf}, length $txn->{$buf};
1131 2080
1132 if (end-of-file or data complete) { 2081 if (end-of-file or data complete) {
1133 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf}; 2082 $txn->{result} = $txn->{buf};
1141 2090
1142 $txn->{finished}->recv; 2091 $txn->{finished}->recv;
1143 return $txn->{result}; 2092 return $txn->{result};
1144 2093
1145The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions) 2094The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions)
1146that occured during request processing. The C<result> method detects 2095that occurred during request processing. The C<result> method detects
1147whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object) 2096whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object)
1148and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other 2097and 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 2098problems get reported to the code that tries to use the result, not in a
1150random callback. 2099random callback.
1151 2100
1152All of this enables the following usage styles: 2101All of this enables the following usage styles:
1153 2102
11541. Blocking: 21031. Blocking:
1197of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks. 2146of various event loops I prepared some benchmarks.
1198 2147
1199=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD 2148=head2 BENCHMARKING ANYEVENT OVERHEAD
1200 2149
1201Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and 2150Here is a benchmark of various supported event models used natively and
1202through anyevent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero 2151through AnyEvent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero
1203timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable, 2152timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable,
1204which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again. 2153which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again.
1205 2154
1206Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent 2155Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent
1207distribution. 2156distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2157for the EV and Perl backends only.
1208 2158
1209=head3 Explanation of the columns 2159=head3 Explanation of the columns
1210 2160
1211I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since 2161I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since
1212different event models feature vastly different performances, each event 2162different event models feature vastly different performances, each event
1233watcher. 2183watcher.
1234 2184
1235=head3 Results 2185=head3 Results
1236 2186
1237 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment 2187 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment
1238 EV/EV 400000 244 0.56 0.46 0.31 EV native interface 2188 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 2189 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 2190 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 2191 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 2192 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 2193 Event/Any 16000 1203 42.61 34.79 1.80 Event + AnyEvent watchers
2194 IOAsync/Any 16000 1911 41.92 27.45 16.81 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
2195 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 2196 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 2197 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 2198 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 2199 POE/Any 2000 6648 94.79 774.40 575.51 via POE::Loop::Select
1248 2200
1249=head3 Discussion 2201=head3 Discussion
1250 2202
1251The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very 2203The 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) 2204well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one)
1264benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with 2216benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with
1265EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU 2217EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU
1266cycles with POE. 2218cycles with POE.
1267 2219
1268C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both 2220C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both
1269maximal/minimal, respectively. Even when going through AnyEvent, it uses 2221maximal/minimal, respectively. When using the L<AE> API there is zero
2222overhead (when going through the AnyEvent API create is about 5-6 times
2223slower, 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 2224any other event loop and is still faster than Event natively).
1271natively.
1272 2225
1273The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the 2226The 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 2227constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl
1275interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it 2228interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it
1276adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its 2229adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its
1277performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 2230performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
1278them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 2231them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
1279 2232
1280The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 2233The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
1281cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 2234cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
2235
2236C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
2237when using its pure perl backend.
1282 2238
1283C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 2239C<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 2240faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
1285C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 2241C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
1286watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 2242watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
1330 2286
1331=back 2287=back
1332 2288
1333=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE 2289=head2 BENCHMARKING THE LARGE SERVER CASE
1334 2290
1335This benchmark atcually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by 2291This benchmark actually benchmarks the event loop itself. It works by
1336creating a number of "servers": each server consists of a socketpair, a 2292creating 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 2293timeout 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 2294watcher 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". 2295watcher reads a byte it will write that byte to a random other "server".
1340 2296
1341The effect is that there will be a lot of I/O watchers, only part of which 2297The 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 2298are 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 2299fds for each loop iteration, but which fds these are is random). The
1344timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how 2300timeout is reset each time something is read because that reflects how
1345most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops). 2301most timeouts work (and puts extra pressure on the event loops).
1346 2302
1347In this benchmark, we use 10000 socketpairs (20000 sockets), of which 100 2303In 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 2304(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many
1349connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time. 2305connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time.
1350 2306
1351Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent 2307Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent
1352distribution. 2308distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2309for the EV and Perl backends only.
1353 2310
1354=head3 Explanation of the columns 2311=head3 Explanation of the columns
1355 2312
1356I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as 2313I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as
1357each server has a read and write socket end). 2314each server has a read and write socket end).
1358 2315
1359I<create> is the time it takes to create a socketpair (which is 2316I<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. 2317nontrivial) and two watchers: an I/O watcher and a timeout watcher.
1361 2318
1362I<request>, the most important value, is the time it takes to handle a 2319I<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 2320single "request", that is, reading the token from the pipe and forwarding
1364it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 2321it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1365a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2322a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1366 2323
1367=head3 Results 2324=head3 Results
1368 2325
1369 name sockets create request 2326 name sockets create request
1370 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2327 EV 20000 62.66 7.99
1371 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 2328 Perl 20000 68.32 32.64
1372 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2329 IOAsync 20000 174.06 101.15 epoll
1373 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2330 IOAsync 20000 174.67 610.84 poll
2331 Event 20000 202.69 242.91
2332 Glib 20000 557.01 1689.52
1374 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2333 POE 20000 341.54 12086.32 uses POE::Loop::Event
1375 2334
1376=head3 Discussion 2335=head3 Discussion
1377 2336
1378This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2337This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1379particular event loop. 2338particular event loop.
1381EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 2340EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1382is relatively high, though. 2341is relatively high, though.
1383 2342
1384Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 2343Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1385loops Event and Glib. 2344loops Event and Glib.
2345
2346IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
2347good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1386 2348
1387Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 2349Event 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 2350understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1389the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 2351the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1390uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 2352uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1437speed most when you have lots of watchers, not when you only have a few of 2399speed most when you have lots of watchers, not when you only have a few of
1438them). 2400them).
1439 2401
1440EV is again fastest. 2402EV is again fastest.
1441 2403
1442Perl again comes second. It is noticably faster than the C-based event 2404Perl again comes second. It is noticeably faster than the C-based event
1443loops Event and Glib, although the difference is too small to really 2405loops Event and Glib, although the difference is too small to really
1444matter. 2406matter.
1445 2407
1446POE also performs much better in this case, but is is still far behind the 2408POE also performs much better in this case, but is is still far behind the
1447others. 2409others.
1453=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 2415=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1454watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 2416watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1455 2417
1456=back 2418=back
1457 2419
2420=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
2421
2422Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
2423could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
2424simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
2425shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
2426fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
2427very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
2428baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
2429
2430The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
2431connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
2432creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
2433test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
2434benchmark nevertheless.
2435
2436 name runtime
2437 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
2438 + optimized 0.122 sec
2439 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
2440 + optimized 0.138 sec
2441 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
2442 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
2443 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
2444 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
2445
2446 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
2447 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
2448 +state machine 0.134 sec
2449
2450The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2451benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2452defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2453written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2454AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2455resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2456generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2457connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2458
2459The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2460offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2461Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2462non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2463
2464As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2465hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2466backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2467
2468And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2469slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda
2470higher level ("unoptimised") abstractions by a large margin, even though
2471it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O in a non-blocking way.
2472
2473The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2474F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2475part of the IO::Lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2476
2477
2478=head1 SIGNALS
2479
2480AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
2481
2482=over 4
2483
2484=item SIGCHLD
2485
2486A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
2487emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
2488event loops install a similar handler.
2489
2490Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2491AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
2492
2493=item SIGPIPE
2494
2495A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
2496when AnyEvent gets loaded.
2497
2498The rationale for this is that AnyEvent users usually do not really depend
2499on SIGPIPE delivery (which is purely an optimisation for shell use, or
2500badly-written programs), but C<SIGPIPE> can cause spurious and rare
2501program exits as a lot of people do not expect C<SIGPIPE> when writing to
2502some random socket.
2503
2504The rationale for installing a no-op handler as opposed to ignoring it is
2505that this way, the handler will be restored to defaults on exec.
2506
2507Feel free to install your own handler, or reset it to defaults.
2508
2509=back
2510
2511=cut
2512
2513undef $SIG{CHLD}
2514 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2515
2516$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
2517 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2518
2519=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2520
2521One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2522its built-in modules) are required to use it.
2523
2524That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2525modules if they are installed.
2526
2527This section explains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2528affect AnyEvent's operation.
2529
2530=over 4
2531
2532=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2533
2534This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2535my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2536signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2537delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2538catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2539C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2540
2541If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2542catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2543will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (and good for
2544battery life on laptops).
2545
2546This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2547that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2548
2549Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2550and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2551(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2552does nothing for those backends.
2553
2554=item L<EV>
2555
2556This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2557event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2558loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2559the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2560automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2561can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2562C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2563L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2564
2565If you only use backends that rely on another event loop (e.g. C<Tk>),
2566then this module will do nothing for you.
2567
2568=item L<Guard>
2569
2570The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2571C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2572lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2573purely used for performance.
2574
2575=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2576
2577One of these modules is required when you want to read or write JSON data
2578via L<AnyEvent::Handle>. L<JSON> is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2579advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2580
2581=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2582
2583Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2584worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2585the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2586
2587=item L<Time::HiRes>
2588
2589This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2590chosen event library does not come with a timing source of its own. The
2591pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) will additionally use it to
2592try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2593
2594=back
2595
1458 2596
1459=head1 FORK 2597=head1 FORK
1460 2598
1461Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2599Most 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> 2600because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> calls
1463calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2601- higher performance APIs such as BSD's kqueue or the dreaded Linux epoll
2602are usually badly thought-out hacks that are incompatible with fork in
2603one way or another. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware and ensures that you
2604continue event-processing in both parent and child (or both, if you know
2605what you are doing).
2606
2607This means that, in general, you cannot fork and do event processing in
2608the child if the event library was initialised before the fork (which
2609usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the library
2610is loaded).
1464 2611
1465If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2612If 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. 2613watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2614something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
2615
2616The problem of doing event processing in the parent I<and> the child
2617is much more complicated: even for backends that I<are> fork-aware or
2618fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all
2619watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both
2620parent and child, which is almost never what you want. USing C<exec>
2621to start worker children from some kind of manage rprocess is usually
2622preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of having
2623to have another binary.
1467 2624
1468 2625
1469=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2626=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1470 2627
1471AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2628AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
1476specified in the variable. 2633specified in the variable.
1477 2634
1478You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it 2635You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it
1479before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block: 2636before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block:
1480 2637
1481 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} } 2638 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} }
1482 2639
1483 use AnyEvent; 2640 use AnyEvent;
1484 2641
1485Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can 2642Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1486be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is 2643be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1487probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL). 2644probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
2645$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2646
2647Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2648C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2649enabled.
2650
2651
2652=head1 BUGS
2653
2654Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard
2655to work around. If you suffer from memleaks, first upgrade to Perl 5.10
2656and check wether the leaks still show up. (Perl 5.10.0 has other annoying
2657memleaks, such as leaking on C<map> and C<grep> but it is usually not as
2658pronounced).
1488 2659
1489 2660
1490=head1 SEE ALSO 2661=head1 SEE ALSO
2662
2663Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>.
1491 2664
1492Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, 2665Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>,
1493L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 2666L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1494 2667
1495Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, 2668Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
1496L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, 2669L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
1497L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, 2670L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1498L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 2671L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>.
1499 2672
2673Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and
2674servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
2675
2676Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
2677
1500Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, 2678Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>,
2679L<Coro::Event>,
1501 2680
1502Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>. 2681Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>,
2682L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
1503 2683
1504 2684
1505=head1 AUTHOR 2685=head1 AUTHOR
1506 2686
1507 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2687 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
1508 http://home.schmorp.de/ 2688 http://home.schmorp.de/
1509 2689
1510=cut 2690=cut
1511 2691
15121 26921
1513 2693

Diff Legend

Removed lines
+ Added lines
< Changed lines
> Changed lines