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Revision 1.208 by root, Sun Apr 26 18:12:53 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.229 by root, Wed Jul 8 02:01:12 2009 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops 3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops
4 4
5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt and POE are various supported
6event loops.
6 7
7=head1 SYNOPSIS 8=head1 SYNOPSIS
8 9
9 use AnyEvent; 10 use AnyEvent;
10 11
175=head2 I/O WATCHERS 176=head2 I/O WATCHERS
176 177
177You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 178You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
178with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 179with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
179 180
180C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 181C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
181for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file 182for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
182handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which 183handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
183non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets, 184non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
184most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files 185most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
185or block devices. 186or block devices.
391 392
392There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them 393There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them
393I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could 394I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could
394have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 395have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
395 396
396Not all event models handle this correctly (POE doesn't), but even for 397Not all event models handle this correctly (neither POE nor IO::Async do,
398see their AnyEvent::Impl manpages for details), but even for event models
397event models that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be 399that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be loaded before
398loaded before the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). 400the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). AnyEvent's
401pure perl event loop handles all cases correctly regardless of when you
402start the watcher.
399 403
400This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first thing in an 404This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
401AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one watcher before you 405thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
402C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call C<AnyEvent::detect>). 406watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
407C<AnyEvent::detect>).
403 408
404Example: fork a process and wait for it 409Example: fork a process and wait for it
405 410
406 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 411 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
407 412
594 599
595=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 600=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
596 601
597=item $cv->end 602=item $cv->end
598 603
599These two methods are EXPERIMENTAL and MIGHT CHANGE.
600
601These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into 604These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
602one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 605one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
603to use a condition variable for the whole process. 606to use a condition variable for the whole process.
604 607
605Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to 608Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to
606C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end 609C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
607>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback 610>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback
608is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no 611is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no
609callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 612callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments.
610 613
611Let's clarify this with the ping example: 614You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
615sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
616condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
617
618Let's start with a simple example: you have two I/O watchers (for example,
619STDOUT and STDERR for a program), and you want to wait for both streams to
620close before activating a condvar:
621
622 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
623
624 $cv->begin; # first watcher
625 my $w1 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh1, cb => sub {
626 defined sysread $fh1, my $buf, 4096
627 or $cv->end;
628 });
629
630 $cv->begin; # second watcher
631 my $w2 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh2, cb => sub {
632 defined sysread $fh2, my $buf, 4096
633 or $cv->end;
634 });
635
636 $cv->recv;
637
638This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), there is
639one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
640sending.
641
642The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
643there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
644begung can potentially be zero:
612 645
613 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 646 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
614 647
615 my %result; 648 my %result;
616 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 649 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) });
636loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback 669loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
637to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 670to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
638C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop 671C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
639doesn't execute once). 672doesn't execute once).
640 673
641This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests: 674This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
642use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set the callback and ensure C<end> 675potentially none) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
643is called at least once, and then, for each subrequest you start, call 676the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
644C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish, call C<end>. 677subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
678call C<end>.
645 679
646=back 680=back
647 681
648=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS 682=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
649 683
729 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice. 763 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
730 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs). 764 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
731 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse. 765 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
732 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support. 766 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
733 767
768 # warning, support for IO::Async is only partial, as it is too broken
769 # and limited toe ven support the AnyEvent API. See AnyEvent::Impl::Async.
770 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
771
734There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for 772There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
735watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the 773watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
736POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per 774POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
737second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for 775second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
738AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using 776AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
930no warnings; 968no warnings;
931use strict qw(vars subs); 969use strict qw(vars subs);
932 970
933use Carp; 971use Carp;
934 972
935our $VERSION = 4.4; 973our $VERSION = 4.8;
936our $MODEL; 974our $MODEL;
937 975
938our $AUTOLOAD; 976our $AUTOLOAD;
939our @ISA; 977our @ISA;
940 978
941our @REGISTRY; 979our @REGISTRY;
942 980
943our $WIN32; 981our $WIN32;
944 982
945BEGIN { 983BEGIN {
946 my $win32 = ! ! ($^O =~ /mswin32/i); 984 eval "sub WIN32(){ " . (($^O =~ /mswin32/i)*1) ." }";
947 eval "sub WIN32(){ $win32 }"; 985 eval "sub TAINT(){ " . (${^TAINT}*1) . " }";
986
987 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
988 if ${^TAINT};
948} 989}
949 990
950our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1; 991our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
951 992
952our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred 993our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
970 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy 1011 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
971 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 1012 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
972 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 1013 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
973 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1014 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
974 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1015 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
1016 # IO::Async is just too broken - we would need workaorunds for its
1017 # byzantine signal and broken child handling, among others.
1018 # IO::Async is rather hard to detect, as it doesn't have any
1019 # obvious default class.
1020# [IO::Async:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1021# [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1022# [IO::Async::Notifier:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
975); 1023);
976 1024
977our %method = map +($_ => 1), 1025our %method = map +($_ => 1),
978 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY); 1026 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY);
979 1027
1071} 1119}
1072 1120
1073# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends 1121# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1074# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually 1122# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1075# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one). 1123# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1076sub _dupfh($$$$) { 1124sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1077 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_; 1125 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1078 1126
1079 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't 1127 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1080 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<") 1128 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<") : ($w, ">");
1081 : $poll eq "w" ? ($w, ">")
1082 : Carp::croak "AnyEvent->io requires poll set to either 'r' or 'w'";
1083 1129
1084 open my $fh2, "$mode&" . fileno $fh 1130 open my $fh2, "$mode&", $fh
1085 or die "cannot dup() filehandle: $!,"; 1131 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1086 1132
1087 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases 1133 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1088 1134
1089 ($fh2, $rw) 1135 ($fh2, $rw)
1090} 1136}
1141 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case 1187 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1142 } else { 1188 } else {
1143 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W; 1189 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1144 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R; 1190 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1145 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case 1191 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1192
1193 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1194 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1195 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1146 } 1196 }
1147 1197
1148 $SIGPIPE_R 1198 $SIGPIPE_R
1149 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n"; 1199 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1150
1151 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1152 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1153 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1154 1200
1155 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec); 1201 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec);
1156 } 1202 }
1157 1203
1158 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1204 my $signal = uc $arg{signal}
1171sub AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY { 1217sub AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY {
1172 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1218 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1173 1219
1174 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb}; 1220 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1175 1221
1222 # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1223 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1224 # instead of getting the default action.
1176 delete $SIG{$signal} unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} }; 1225 undef $SIG{$signal} unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1177} 1226}
1178 1227
1179# default implementation for ->child 1228# default implementation for ->child
1180 1229
1181our %PID_CB; 1230our %PID_CB;
1182our $CHLD_W; 1231our $CHLD_W;
1183our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1232our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
1184our $PID_IDLE;
1185our $WNOHANG; 1233our $WNOHANG;
1186 1234
1187sub _child_wait { 1235sub _sigchld {
1188 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1236 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) {
1189 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1237 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }),
1190 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1238 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} });
1191 } 1239 }
1192
1193 undef $PID_IDLE;
1194}
1195
1196sub _sigchld {
1197 # make sure we deliver these changes "synchronous" with the event loop.
1198 $CHLD_DELAY_W ||= AnyEvent->timer (after => 0, cb => sub {
1199 undef $CHLD_DELAY_W;
1200 &_child_wait;
1201 });
1202} 1240}
1203 1241
1204sub child { 1242sub child {
1205 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1243 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1206 1244
1207 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1245 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0)
1208 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1246 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing";
1209 1247
1210 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1248 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1211 1249
1212 unless ($WNOHANG) {
1213 $WNOHANG = eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1; 1250 $WNOHANG ||= eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
1214 }
1215 1251
1216 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1252 unless ($CHLD_W) {
1217 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1253 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld);
1218 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1254 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
1219 &_sigchld; 1255 &_sigchld;
1230 1266
1231 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1267 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1232} 1268}
1233 1269
1234# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless 1270# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1235# of whether the proces sis idle or not, and not letting 1271# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1236# the callback use more than 50% of the time. 1272# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1237sub idle { 1273sub idle {
1238 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1274 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1239 1275
1240 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb}; 1276 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1346so on. 1382so on.
1347 1383
1348=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES 1384=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1349 1385
1350The following environment variables are used by this module or its 1386The following environment variables are used by this module or its
1351submodules: 1387submodules.
1388
1389Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
1390C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
1391enabled.
1352 1392
1353=over 4 1393=over 4
1354 1394
1355=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE> 1395=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1356 1396
1368=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> 1408=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1369 1409
1370AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough 1410AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1371argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value 1411argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1372will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly 1412will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1373check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems 1413check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1374it will croak. 1414it will croak.
1375 1415
1376In other words, enables "strict" mode. 1416In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1377 1417
1378Unlike C<use strict>, it is definitely recommended ot keep it off in 1418Unlike C<use strict>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in
1379production. Keeping C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while 1419production. Keeping C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while
1380developing programs can be very useful, however. 1420developing programs can be very useful, however.
1381 1421
1382=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL> 1422=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1383 1423
1428 1468
1429=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS> 1469=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
1430 1470
1431The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call> 1471The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
1432will create in parallel. 1472will create in parallel.
1473
1474=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
1475
1476The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
1477resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
1478sent to the DNS server.
1479
1480=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
1481
1482The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
1483configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
1484default config will be used.
1485
1486=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
1487
1488When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
1489L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
1490variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
1491instead of a system-dependent default.
1433 1492
1434=back 1493=back
1435 1494
1436=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 1495=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
1437 1496
1682 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers 1741 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers
1683 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal 1742 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal
1684 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation 1743 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation
1685 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface 1744 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface
1686 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers 1745 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers
1746 IOAsync/Any 16000 989 38.10 32.77 11.13 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
1747 IOAsync/Any 16000 990 37.59 29.50 10.61 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
1687 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour 1748 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour
1688 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 1749 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
1689 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event 1750 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event
1690 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select 1751 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select
1691 1752
1720performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 1781performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
1721them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 1782them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
1722 1783
1723The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 1784The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
1724cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 1785cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
1786
1787C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
1788when using its pure perl backend.
1725 1789
1726C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 1790C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a
1727faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as 1791faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
1728C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 1792C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
1729watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 1793watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
1807it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 1871it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1808a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 1872a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1809 1873
1810=head3 Results 1874=head3 Results
1811 1875
1812 name sockets create request 1876 name sockets create request
1813 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 1877 EV 20000 69.01 11.16
1814 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 1878 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87
1879 IOAsync 20000 157.00 98.14 epoll
1880 IOAsync 20000 159.31 616.06 poll
1815 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 1881 Event 20000 212.62 257.32
1816 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 1882 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30
1817 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 1883 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event
1818 1884
1819=head3 Discussion 1885=head3 Discussion
1820 1886
1821This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 1887This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1822particular event loop. 1888particular event loop.
1824EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 1890EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1825is relatively high, though. 1891is relatively high, though.
1826 1892
1827Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 1893Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1828loops Event and Glib. 1894loops Event and Glib.
1895
1896IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
1897good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1829 1898
1830Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 1899Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will
1831understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to 1900understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1832the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 1901the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1833uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 1902uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1896=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 1965=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1897watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 1966watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1898 1967
1899=back 1968=back
1900 1969
1970=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
1971
1972Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
1973could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
1974simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
1975shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
1976fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
1977very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
1978baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
1979
1980The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
1981connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
1982creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
1983test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
1984benchmark nevertheless.
1985
1986 name runtime
1987 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
1988 + optimized 0.122 sec
1989 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
1990 + optimized 0.138 sec
1991 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
1992 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
1993 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
1994 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
1995
1996 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
1997 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
1998 +state machine 0.134 sec
1999
2000The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2001benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2002defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2003written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2004AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2005resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2006generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2007connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2008
2009The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2010offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2011Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2012non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2013
2014As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2015hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2016backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2017
2018And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2019slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda by a
2020large margin, even though it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O
2021in a non-blocking way.
2022
2023The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2024F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2025part of the IO::lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2026
1901 2027
1902=head1 SIGNALS 2028=head1 SIGNALS
1903 2029
1904AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals: 2030AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
1905 2031
1908=item SIGCHLD 2034=item SIGCHLD
1909 2035
1910A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher 2036A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
1911emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some 2037emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
1912event loops install a similar handler. 2038event loops install a similar handler.
2039
2040If, when AnyEvent is loaded, SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then AnyEvent will
2041reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
1913 2042
1914=item SIGPIPE 2043=item SIGPIPE
1915 2044
1916A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef> 2045A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
1917when AnyEvent gets loaded. 2046when AnyEvent gets loaded.
1929 2058
1930=back 2059=back
1931 2060
1932=cut 2061=cut
1933 2062
2063undef $SIG{CHLD}
2064 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2065
1934$SIG{PIPE} = sub { } 2066$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
1935 unless defined $SIG{PIPE}; 2067 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
1936
1937 2068
1938=head1 FORK 2069=head1 FORK
1939 2070
1940Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2071Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
1941because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> 2072because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll>
1962 use AnyEvent; 2093 use AnyEvent;
1963 2094
1964Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can 2095Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1965be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is 2096be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1966probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and 2097probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
1967$ENV{PERL_ANYEGENT_STRICT}. 2098$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2099
2100Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2101C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2102enabled.
1968 2103
1969 2104
1970=head1 BUGS 2105=head1 BUGS
1971 2106
1972Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard 2107Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard

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