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1=head1 => NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent - provide framework for multiple event loops 3AnyEvent - the DBI of event loop programming
4 4
5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Qt, POE - various supported event loops 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, Qt
6and POE are various supported event loops/environments.
6 7
7=head1 SYNOPSIS 8=head1 SYNOPSIS
8 9
9 use AnyEvent; 10 use AnyEvent;
10 11
12 # file descriptor readable
11 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r|w", cb => sub { 13 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r", cb => sub { ... });
14
15 # one-shot or repeating timers
16 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... });
17 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ...
18
19 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time
20 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time.
21
22 # POSIX signal
23 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "TERM", cb => sub { ... });
24
25 # child process exit
26 my $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
27 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
12 ... 28 ...
13 }); 29 });
14 30
15 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { 31 # called when event loop idle (if applicable)
16 ... 32 my $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub { ... });
17 });
18 33
19 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged 34 my $w = AnyEvent->condvar; # stores whether a condition was flagged
20 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's 35 $w->send; # wake up current and all future recv's
21 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send 36 $w->recv; # enters "main loop" till $condvar gets ->send
37 # use a condvar in callback mode:
38 $w->cb (sub { $_[0]->recv });
39
40=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL
41
42This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested
43in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the
44L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage.
45
46=head1 SUPPORT
47
48There is a mailinglist for discussing all things AnyEvent, and an IRC
49channel, too.
50
51See the AnyEvent project page at the B<Schmorpforge Ta-Sa Software
52Repository>, at L<http://anyevent.schmorp.de>, for more info.
22 53
23=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 54=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
24 55
25Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 56Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
26nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 57nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
27 58
28Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of 59Executive Summary: AnyEvent is I<compatible>, AnyEvent is I<free of
29policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>. 60policy> and AnyEvent is I<small and efficient>.
30 61
31First and foremost, I<AnyEvent is not an event model> itself, it only 62First 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 63interfaces to whatever event model the main program happens to use, in a
33pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike, 64pragmatic way. For event models and certain classes of immortals alike,
34the statement "there can only be one" is a bitter reality: In general, 65the 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 66only one event loop can be active at the same time in a process. AnyEvent
36helps hiding the differences between those event loops. 67cannot change this, but it can hide the differences between those event
68loops.
37 69
38The goal of AnyEvent is to offer module authors the ability to do event 70The 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 71programming (waiting for I/O or timer events) without subscribing to a
40religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your 72religion, a way of living, and most importantly: without forcing your
41module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event 73module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event
42model you use. 74model you use.
43 75
44For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is 76For 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 77actually 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 78like joining a cult: After you joined, you are dependent on them and you
47cannot use anything else, as it is simply incompatible to everything that 79cannot use anything else, as they are simply incompatible to everything
48isn't itself. What's worse, all the potential users of your module are 80that isn't them. What's worse, all the potential users of your
49I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use. 81module are I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use.
50 82
51AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works 83AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works
52fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together 84fine. 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 85with 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, 86your 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 87too. But if your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all
56event models it supports (including stuff like POE and IO::Async, as long 88event 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 89use one of the supported event loops. It is trivial to add new event loops
58event loops to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof). 90to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof).
59 91
60In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event 92In 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 93model>, AnyEvent also is free of bloat and policy: with POE or similar
62modules, you get an enormous amount of code and strict rules you have to 94modules, 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 95follow. AnyEvent, on the other hand, is lean and up to the point, by only
64offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as 96offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as
65technically possible. 97technically possible.
66 98
99Of course, AnyEvent comes with a big (and fully optional!) toolbox
100of useful functionality, such as an asynchronous DNS resolver, 100%
101non-blocking connects (even with TLS/SSL, IPv6 and on broken platforms
102such as Windows) and lots of real-world knowledge and workarounds for
103platform bugs and differences.
104
67Of course, if you want lots of policy (this can arguably be somewhat 105Now, 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 106useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event
69model, you should I<not> use this module. 107model, you should I<not> use this module.
70 108
71=head1 DESCRIPTION 109=head1 DESCRIPTION
72 110
102starts using it, all bets are off. Maybe you should tell their authors to 140starts using it, all bets are off. Maybe you should tell their authors to
103use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly... 141use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly...
104 142
105The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called 143The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called
106C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it 144C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it
107explicitly. 145explicitly and enjoy the high availability of that event loop :)
108 146
109=head1 WATCHERS 147=head1 WATCHERS
110 148
111AnyEvent has the central concept of a I<watcher>, which is an object that 149AnyEvent 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 150stores relevant data for each kind of event you are waiting for, such as
115These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After 153These watchers are normal Perl objects with normal Perl lifetime. After
116creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the 154creating a watcher it will immediately "watch" for events and invoke the
117callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model 155callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model
118is in control). 156is in control).
119 157
158Note that B<callbacks must not permanently change global variables>
159potentially in use by the event loop (such as C<$_> or C<$[>) and that B<<
160callbacks must not C<die> >>. The former is good programming practise in
161Perl and the latter stems from the fact that exception handling differs
162widely between event loops.
163
120To disable the watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the 164To disable the watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the
121variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references 165variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references
122to it). 166to it).
123 167
124All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class. 168All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class.
126Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for 170Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for
127example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways. 171example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways.
128 172
129An any way to achieve that is this pattern: 173An any way to achieve that is this pattern:
130 174
131 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub { 175 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub {
132 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it 176 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it
133 undef $w; 177 undef $w;
134 }); 178 });
135 179
136Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl, 180Note that C<my $w; $w => combination. This is necessary because in Perl,
137my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are 181my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are
138declared. 182declared.
139 183
140=head2 I/O WATCHERS 184=head2 I/O WATCHERS
141 185
186 $w = AnyEvent->io (
187 fh => <filehandle_or_fileno>,
188 poll => <"r" or "w">,
189 cb => <callback>,
190 );
191
142You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 192You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
143with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 193with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
144 194
145C<fh> the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 195C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
196for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
197handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
198non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
199most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
200or block devices.
201
146for events. C<poll> must be a string that is either C<r> or C<w>, 202C<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, 203watcher waiting for "r"eadable or "w"ritable events, respectively.
204
148respectively. C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle 205C<cb> is the callback to invoke each time the file handle becomes ready.
149becomes ready.
150 206
151Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 207Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
152presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 208presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
153callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks. 209callbacks cannot use arguments passed to I/O watcher callbacks.
154 210
158 214
159Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should 215Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should
160always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file 216always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file
161handles. 217handles.
162 218
163Example:
164
165 # wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the watcher 219Example: wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the
220watcher.
221
166 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub { 222 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
167 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>); 223 chomp (my $input = <STDIN>);
168 warn "read: $input\n"; 224 warn "read: $input\n";
169 undef $w; 225 undef $w;
170 }); 226 });
171 227
172=head2 TIME WATCHERS 228=head2 TIME WATCHERS
173 229
230 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => <seconds>, cb => <callback>);
231
232 $w = AnyEvent->timer (
233 after => <fractional_seconds>,
234 interval => <fractional_seconds>,
235 cb => <callback>,
236 );
237
174You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >> 238You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >>
175method with the following mandatory arguments: 239method with the following mandatory arguments:
176 240
177C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are 241C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are
178supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke 242supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke
180 244
181Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 245Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
182presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 246presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
183callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks. 247callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks.
184 248
185The timer callback will be invoked at most once: if you want a repeating 249The callback will normally be invoked once only. If you specify another
186timer you have to create a new watcher (this is a limitation by both Tk 250parameter, C<interval>, as a strictly positive number (> 0), then the
187and Glib). 251callback will be invoked regularly at that interval (in fractional
252seconds) after the first invocation. If C<interval> is specified with a
253false value, then it is treated as if it were missing.
188 254
189Example: 255The callback will be rescheduled before invoking the callback, but no
256attempt is done to avoid timer drift in most backends, so the interval is
257only approximate.
190 258
191 # fire an event after 7.7 seconds 259Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds.
260
192 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub { 261 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub {
193 warn "timeout\n"; 262 warn "timeout\n";
194 }); 263 });
195 264
196 # to cancel the timer: 265 # to cancel the timer:
197 undef $w; 266 undef $w;
198 267
199Example 2:
200
201 # fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second 268Example 2: fire an event after 0.5 seconds, then roughly every second.
202 my $w;
203 269
204 my $cb = sub {
205 # cancel the old timer while creating a new one
206 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => $cb); 270 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, interval => 1, cb => sub {
271 warn "timeout\n";
207 }; 272 };
208
209 # start the "loop" by creating the first watcher
210 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.5, cb => $cb);
211 273
212=head3 TIMING ISSUES 274=head3 TIMING ISSUES
213 275
214There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire 276There are two ways to handle timers: based on real time (relative, "fire
215in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12 277in 10 seconds") and based on wallclock time (absolute, "fire at 12
227timers. 289timers.
228 290
229AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the 291AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the
230AnyEvent API. 292AnyEvent API.
231 293
294AnyEvent has two additional methods that return the "current time":
295
296=over 4
297
298=item AnyEvent->time
299
300This returns the "current wallclock time" as a fractional number of
301seconds since the Epoch (the same thing as C<time> or C<Time::HiRes::time>
302return, and the result is guaranteed to be compatible with those).
303
304It progresses independently of any event loop processing, i.e. each call
305will check the system clock, which usually gets updated frequently.
306
307=item AnyEvent->now
308
309This also returns the "current wallclock time", but unlike C<time>, above,
310this value might change only once per event loop iteration, depending on
311the event loop (most return the same time as C<time>, above). This is the
312time that AnyEvent's timers get scheduled against.
313
314I<In almost all cases (in all cases if you don't care), this is the
315function to call when you want to know the current time.>
316
317This function is also often faster then C<< AnyEvent->time >>, and
318thus the preferred method if you want some timestamp (for example,
319L<AnyEvent::Handle> uses this to update it's activity timeouts).
320
321The rest of this section is only of relevance if you try to be very exact
322with your timing, you can skip it without bad conscience.
323
324For a practical example of when these times differ, consider L<Event::Lib>
325and L<EV> and the following set-up:
326
327The event loop is running and has just invoked one of your callback at
328time=500 (assume no other callbacks delay processing). In your callback,
329you wait a second by executing C<sleep 1> (blocking the process for a
330second) and then (at time=501) you create a relative timer that fires
331after three seconds.
332
333With L<Event::Lib>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> will
334both return C<501>, because that is the current time, and the timer will
335be scheduled to fire at time=504 (C<501> + C<3>).
336
337With L<EV>, C<< AnyEvent->time >> returns C<501> (as that is the current
338time), but C<< AnyEvent->now >> returns C<500>, as that is the time the
339last event processing phase started. With L<EV>, your timer gets scheduled
340to run at time=503 (C<500> + C<3>).
341
342In one sense, L<Event::Lib> is more exact, as it uses the current time
343regardless of any delays introduced by event processing. However, most
344callbacks do not expect large delays in processing, so this causes a
345higher drift (and a lot more system calls to get the current time).
346
347In another sense, L<EV> is more exact, as your timer will be scheduled at
348the same time, regardless of how long event processing actually took.
349
350In either case, if you care (and in most cases, you don't), then you
351can get whatever behaviour you want with any event loop, by taking the
352difference between C<< AnyEvent->time >> and C<< AnyEvent->now >> into
353account.
354
355=item AnyEvent->now_update
356
357Some event loops (such as L<EV> or L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) cache
358the current time for each loop iteration (see the discussion of L<<
359AnyEvent->now >>, above).
360
361When a callback runs for a long time (or when the process sleeps), then
362this "current" time will differ substantially from the real time, which
363might affect timers and time-outs.
364
365When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the
366event loop's idea of "current time".
367
368Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled.
369
370=back
371
232=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 372=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
233 373
374 $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => <uppercase_signal_name>, cb => <callback>);
375
234You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal 376You 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 377I<name> in uppercase and without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl
236be invoked whenever a signal occurs. 378callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs.
237 379
238Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 380Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
239presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 381presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
240callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks. 382callbacks cannot use arguments passed to signal watcher callbacks.
241 383
243invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means 385invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
244that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process, 386that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process,
245but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 387but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
246 388
247The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal 389The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal
248between multiple watchers. 390between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
391interrupt your program at bad times.
249 392
250This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 393This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
251directly will likely not work correctly. 394so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
395correctly.
252 396
253Example: exit on SIGINT 397Example: exit on SIGINT
254 398
255 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 399 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
256 400
401=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
402
403Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
404callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot
405do race-free signal handling in perl, requiring C libraries for
406this. AnyEvent will try to do it's best, which means in some cases,
407signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might be delayed is
408specified in C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY> (default: 10 seconds). This
409variable can be changed only before the first signal watcher is created,
410and should be left alone otherwise. This variable determines how often
411AnyEvent polls for signals (in case a wake-up was missed). Higher values
412will cause fewer spurious wake-ups, which is better for power and CPU
413saving.
414
415All these problems can be avoided by installing the optional
416L<Async::Interrupt> module, which works with most event loops. It will not
417work with inherently broken event loops such as L<Event> or L<Event::Lib>
418(and not with L<POE> currently, as POE does it's own workaround with
419one-second latency). For those, you just have to suffer the delays.
420
257=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 421=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
258 422
423 $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => <process id>, cb => <callback>);
424
259You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status. 425You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status.
260 426
261The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (if set to C<0>, it 427The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (one some backends,
262watches for any child process exit). The watcher will trigger as often 428using 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 429croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
264signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>. The callback will be called with the pid 430finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
265and exit status (as returned by waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, 431(stopped/continued).
266you I<can> rely on child watcher callback arguments. 432
433The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by
434waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher
435callback arguments.
436
437This watcher type works by installing a signal handler for C<SIGCHLD>,
438and since it cannot be shared, nothing else should use SIGCHLD or reap
439random child processes (waiting for specific child processes, e.g. inside
440C<system>, is just fine).
267 441
268There is a slight catch to child watchers, however: you usually start them 442There 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 443I<after> the child process was created, and this means the process could
270have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore). 444have exited already (and no SIGCHLD will be sent anymore).
271 445
272Not all event models handle this correctly (POE doesn't), but even for 446Not all event models handle this correctly (neither POE nor IO::Async do,
447see their AnyEvent::Impl manpages for details), but even for event models
273event models that I<do> handle this correctly, they usually need to be 448that 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). 449the process exits (i.e. before you fork in the first place). AnyEvent's
450pure perl event loop handles all cases correctly regardless of when you
451start the watcher.
275 452
276This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first thing in an 453This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
277AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one watcher before you 454thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
278C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call C<AnyEvent::detect>). 455watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
456C<AnyEvent::detect>).
457
458As most event loops do not support waiting for child events, they will be
459emulated by AnyEvent in most cases, in which the latency and race problems
460mentioned in the description of signal watchers apply.
279 461
280Example: fork a process and wait for it 462Example: fork a process and wait for it
281 463
282 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 464 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
283 465
284 my $pid = fork or exit 5; 466 my $pid = fork or exit 5;
285 467
286 my $w = AnyEvent->child ( 468 my $w = AnyEvent->child (
287 pid => $pid, 469 pid => $pid,
288 cb => sub { 470 cb => sub {
289 my ($pid, $status) = @_; 471 my ($pid, $status) = @_;
290 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status"; 472 warn "pid $pid exited with status $status";
291 $done->send; 473 $done->send;
292 }, 474 },
293 ); 475 );
294 476
295 # do something else, then wait for process exit 477 # do something else, then wait for process exit
296 $done->recv; 478 $done->recv;
479
480=head2 IDLE WATCHERS
481
482 $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => <callback>);
483
484Sometimes there is a need to do something, but it is not so important
485to do it instantly, but only when there is nothing better to do. This
486"nothing better to do" is usually defined to be "no other events need
487attention by the event loop".
488
489Idle watchers ideally get invoked when the event loop has nothing
490better to do, just before it would block the process to wait for new
491events. Instead of blocking, the idle watcher is invoked.
492
493Most event loops unfortunately do not really support idle watchers (only
494EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent
495will simply call the callback "from time to time".
496
497Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the
498program is otherwise idle:
499
500 my @lines; # read data
501 my $idle_w;
502 my $io_w = AnyEvent->io (fh => \*STDIN, poll => 'r', cb => sub {
503 push @lines, scalar <STDIN>;
504
505 # start an idle watcher, if not already done
506 $idle_w ||= AnyEvent->idle (cb => sub {
507 # handle only one line, when there are lines left
508 if (my $line = shift @lines) {
509 print "handled when idle: $line";
510 } else {
511 # otherwise disable the idle watcher again
512 undef $idle_w;
513 }
514 });
515 });
297 516
298=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 517=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
518
519 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
520
521 $cv->send (<list>);
522 my @res = $cv->recv;
299 523
300If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them 524If 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 525require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
302will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks. 526will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
303 527
304AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and 528AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
305will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user). 529loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
306 530
307The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called 531The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called
308because they represent a condition that must become true. 532because they represent a condition that must become true.
533
534Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
309 535
310Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar 536Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
311>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is 537>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
312C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable 538C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
313becomes true. 539becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
540the results).
314 541
315After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true" 542After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
316by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it 543by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it
317were a callback). 544were a callback, read about the caveats in the description for the C<<
545->send >> method).
318 546
319Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can 547Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can
320optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points 548optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points
321in time where multiple outstanding events have been processed. And yet 549in time where multiple outstanding events have been processed. And yet
322another way to call them is transactions - each condition variable can be 550another way to call them is transactions - each condition variable can be
323used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers 551used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers
324a result. 552a result. And yet some people know them as "futures" - a promise to
553compute/deliver something that you can wait for.
325 554
326Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished, 555Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
327for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 556for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
328then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 557then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
329availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is 558availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
363 after => 1, 592 after => 1,
364 cb => sub { $result_ready->send }, 593 cb => sub { $result_ready->send },
365 ); 594 );
366 595
367 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback 596 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
368 # calls send 597 # calls -<send
369 $result_ready->recv; 598 $result_ready->recv;
370 599
371Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that 600Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that condition
372condition variables are also code references. 601variables are also callable directly.
373 602
374 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 603 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
375 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done); 604 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done);
376 $done->recv; 605 $done->recv;
606
607Example: Imagine an API that returns a condvar and doesn't support
608callbacks. This is how you make a synchronous call, for example from
609the main program:
610
611 use AnyEvent::CouchDB;
612
613 ...
614
615 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv;
616
617And this is how you would just set a callback to be called whenever the
618results are available:
619
620 $couchdb->info->cb (sub {
621 my @info = $_[0]->recv;
622 });
377 623
378=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS 624=head3 METHODS FOR PRODUCERS
379 625
380These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the 626These methods should only be used by the producing side, i.e. the
381code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also 627code/module that eventually sends the signal. Note that it is also
394immediately from within send. 640immediately from within send.
395 641
396Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all 642Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
397future C<< ->recv >> calls. 643future C<< ->recv >> calls.
398 644
399Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as a 645Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as if
400code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling C<send>. 646they were a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling
647C<send>.
401 648
402=item $cv->croak ($error) 649=item $cv->croak ($error)
403 650
404Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke 651Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
405C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar. 652C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
406 653
407This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable 654This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
408user/consumer. 655user/consumer. Doing it this way instead of calling C<croak> directly
656delays the error detetcion, but has the overwhelmign advantage that it
657diagnoses the error at the place where the result is expected, and not
658deep in some event clalback without connection to the actual code causing
659the problem.
409 660
410=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 661=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
411 662
412=item $cv->end 663=item $cv->end
413
414These two methods are EXPERIMENTAL and MIGHT CHANGE.
415 664
416These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into 665These two methods can be used to combine many transactions/events into
417one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 666one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
418to use a condition variable for the whole process. 667to use a condition variable for the whole process.
419 668
421C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end 670C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
422>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback 671>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback
423is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no 672is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no
424callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 673callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments.
425 674
426Let's clarify this with the ping example: 675You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
676sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
677condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
678
679Let's start with a simple example: you have two I/O watchers (for example,
680STDOUT and STDERR for a program), and you want to wait for both streams to
681close before activating a condvar:
682
683 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
684
685 $cv->begin; # first watcher
686 my $w1 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh1, cb => sub {
687 defined sysread $fh1, my $buf, 4096
688 or $cv->end;
689 });
690
691 $cv->begin; # second watcher
692 my $w2 = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh2, cb => sub {
693 defined sysread $fh2, my $buf, 4096
694 or $cv->end;
695 });
696
697 $cv->recv;
698
699This works because for every event source (EOF on file handle), there is
700one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
701sending.
702
703The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
704there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
705begung can potentially be zero:
427 706
428 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 707 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
429 708
430 my %result; 709 my %result;
431 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 710 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) });
451loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback 730loop, which serves two important purposes: first, it sets the callback
452to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 731to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
453C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop 732C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
454doesn't execute once). 733doesn't execute once).
455 734
456This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple subrequests: 735This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
457use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set the callback and ensure C<end> 736potentially none) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
458is called at least once, and then, for each subrequest you start, call 737the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
459C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish, call C<end>. 738subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
739call C<end>.
460 740
461=back 741=back
462 742
463=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS 743=head3 METHODS FOR CONSUMERS
464 744
480function will call C<croak>. 760function will call C<croak>.
481 761
482In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned, 762In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
483in scalar context only the first one will be returned. 763in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
484 764
765Note that doing a blocking wait in a callback is not supported by any
766event loop, that is, recursive invocation of a blocking C<< ->recv
767>> is not allowed, and the C<recv> call will C<croak> if such a
768condition is detected. This condition can be slightly loosened by using
769L<Coro::AnyEvent>, which allows you to do a blocking C<< ->recv >> from
770any thread that doesn't run the event loop itself.
771
485Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 772Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case
486(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are 773(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are
487using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the 774using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>. Instead, let the
488caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling 775caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
489condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 776condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
490callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 777callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
491while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 778while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
492 779
493Another reason I<never> to C<< ->recv >> in a module is that you cannot
494sensibly have two C<< ->recv >>'s in parallel, as that would require
495multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent>
496can supply.
497
498The L<Coro> module, however, I<can> and I<does> supply coroutines and, in
499fact, L<Coro::AnyEvent> replaces AnyEvent's condvars by coroutine-safe
500versions and also integrates coroutines into AnyEvent, making blocking
501C<< ->recv >> calls perfectly safe as long as they are done from another
502coroutine (one that doesn't run the event loop).
503
504You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and 780You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
505only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later 781only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
506time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking 782time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
507waits otherwise. 783waits otherwise.
508 784
509=item $bool = $cv->ready 785=item $bool = $cv->ready
510 786
511Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or 787Returns true when the condition is "true", i.e. whether C<send> or
512C<croak> have been called. 788C<croak> have been called.
513 789
514=item $cb = $cv->cb ([new callback]) 790=item $cb = $cv->cb ($cb->($cv))
515 791
516This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally 792This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
517replaces it before doing so. 793replaces it before doing so.
518 794
519The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when 795The callback will be called when the condition becomes (or already was)
520C<send> or C<croak> are called. Calling C<recv> inside the callback 796"true", i.e. when C<send> or C<croak> are called (or were called), with
797the only argument being the condition variable itself. Calling C<recv>
521or at any later time is guaranteed not to block. 798inside the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
522 799
523=back 800=back
524 801
525=head3 MAINLOOP EMULATION 802=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
526 803
527Sometimes (often for short test scripts, or even standalone programs 804The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
528who only want to use AnyEvent), you I<do> want your program to block
529indefinitely in some event loop.
530 805
531In that case, you cna use a condition variable like this: 806=over 4
532 807
533 AnyEvent->condvar->recv; 808=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
534 809
535This has the effect of entering the event loop and looping forever. 810EV is the preferred backend when no other event loop seems to be in
811use. If EV is not installed, then AnyEvent will try Event, and, failing
812that, will fall back to its own pure-perl implementation, which is
813available everywhere as it comes with AnyEvent itself.
536 814
537Note that usually your program has some exit condition, in which case 815 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (interface to libev, best choice).
538it is better to use the "traditional" approach of storing a condition 816 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
539variable, waiting for it, and sending it when the program should exit 817 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
540cleanly.
541 818
819=item Backends that are transparently being picked up when they are used.
820
821These will be used when they are currently loaded when the first watcher
822is created, in which case it is assumed that the application is using
823them. This means that AnyEvent will automatically pick the right backend
824when the main program loads an event module before anything starts to
825create watchers. Nothing special needs to be done by the main program.
826
827 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
828 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
829 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
830 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
831 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
832
833=item Backends with special needs.
834
835Qt requires the Qt::Application to be instantiated first, but will
836otherwise be picked up automatically. As long as the main program
837instantiates the application before any AnyEvent watchers are created,
838everything should just work.
839
840 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt.
841
842Support for IO::Async can only be partial, as it is too broken and
843architecturally limited to even support the AnyEvent API. It also
844is the only event loop that needs the loop to be set explicitly, so
845it can only be used by a main program knowing about AnyEvent. See
846L<AnyEvent::Impl::Async> for the gory details.
847
848 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async, cannot be autoprobed.
849
850=item Event loops that are indirectly supported via other backends.
851
852Some event loops can be supported via other modules:
853
854There is no direct support for WxWidgets (L<Wx>) or L<Prima>.
855
856B<WxWidgets> has no support for watching file handles. However, you can
857use WxWidgets through the POE adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply
858polls 20 times per second, which was considered to be too horrible to even
859consider for AnyEvent.
860
861B<Prima> is not supported as nobody seems to be using it, but it has a POE
862backend, so it can be supported through POE.
863
864AnyEvent knows about both L<Prima> and L<Wx>, however, and will try to
865load L<POE> when detecting them, in the hope that POE will pick them up,
866in which case everything will be automatic.
867
868=back
542 869
543=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 870=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
544 871
872These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
873write AnyEvent extension modules.
874
545=over 4 875=over 4
546 876
547=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 877=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
548 878
549Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 879Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
880backend has been autodetected.
881
550contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 882Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
551Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 883name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
552C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 884of the C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
553AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 885case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
554 886will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
555The known classes so far are:
556
557 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
558 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
559 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
560 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
561 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
562 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
563 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
564 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
565
566There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
567watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
568POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
569second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
570AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
571it's adaptor.
572
573AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
574autodetecting them.
575 887
576=item AnyEvent::detect 888=item AnyEvent::detect
577 889
578Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 890Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
579if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 891if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
580have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 892have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
581runtime. 893runtime, and not e.g. while initialising of your module.
894
895If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
896created, use C<post_detect>.
582 897
583=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK } 898=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
584 899
585Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is 900Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
586autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened). 901autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened).
587 902
903The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
904(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
905created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
906other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
907L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
908
909The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
910event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
911and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
912avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
913
588If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object 914If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
589that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed. See 915that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
916C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
590L<Coro::BDB> for a case where this is useful. 917a case where this is useful.
918
919Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
920C<$WATCHER>. Only do so after the event loop is initialised, though.
921
922 our WATCHER;
923
924 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
925 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
926 };
927
928 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
929 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
930 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
931 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
932
933 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
591 934
592=item @AnyEvent::post_detect 935=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
593 936
594If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it 937If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
595before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after 938before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after
596the event loop has been chosen. 939the event loop has been chosen.
597 940
598You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though: 941You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
599if it contains a true value then the event loop has already been detected, 942if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
600and the array will be ignored. 943array will be ignored.
601 944
602Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> instead. 945Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
946it,as it takes care of these details.
947
948This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
949when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
950not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
951into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
603 952
604=back 953=back
605 954
606=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 955=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
607 956
630 979
631If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not 980If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not
632do anything special (it does not need to be event-based) and let AnyEvent 981do anything special (it does not need to be event-based) and let AnyEvent
633decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it. 982decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it.
634 983
635If the main program relies on a specific event model. For example, in 984If the main program relies on a specific event model - for example, in
636Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module. You should load the 985Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module - you should load the
637event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally 986event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally
638speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that 987speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that
639modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will 988modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will
640decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it 989decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it
641might chose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself. 990might chose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself.
642 991
643You can chose to use a rather inefficient pure-perl implementation by 992You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the
644loading the C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar 993C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar behaviour
645behaviour everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose is generally better. 994everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better.
995
996=head2 MAINLOOP EMULATION
997
998Sometimes (often for short test scripts, or even standalone programs who
999only want to use AnyEvent), you do not want to run a specific event loop.
1000
1001In that case, you can use a condition variable like this:
1002
1003 AnyEvent->condvar->recv;
1004
1005This has the effect of entering the event loop and looping forever.
1006
1007Note that usually your program has some exit condition, in which case
1008it is better to use the "traditional" approach of storing a condition
1009variable somewhere, waiting for it, and sending it when the program should
1010exit cleanly.
1011
646 1012
647=head1 OTHER MODULES 1013=head1 OTHER MODULES
648 1014
649The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use 1015The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
650AnyEvent and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent modules 1016AnyEvent as a client and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent
651in the same program. Some of the modules come with AnyEvent, some are 1017modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the modules
652available via CPAN. 1018come with AnyEvent, most are available via CPAN.
653 1019
654=over 4 1020=over 4
655 1021
656=item L<AnyEvent::Util> 1022=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
657 1023
658Contains various utility functions that replace often-used but blocking 1024Contains various utility functions that replace often-used but blocking
659functions such as C<inet_aton> by event-/callback-based versions. 1025functions such as C<inet_aton> by event-/callback-based versions.
660
661=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
662
663Provide read and write buffers and manages watchers for reads and writes.
664 1026
665=item L<AnyEvent::Socket> 1027=item L<AnyEvent::Socket>
666 1028
667Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets, 1029Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets,
668addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp 1030addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp
669connections or tcp servers, with IPv6 and SRV record support and more. 1031connections or tcp servers, with IPv6 and SRV record support and more.
670 1032
1033=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
1034
1035Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
1036supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
1037non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
1038
1039=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
1040
1041Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
1042
1043=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP>
1044
1045A simple-to-use HTTP library that is capable of making a lot of concurrent
1046HTTP requests.
1047
671=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD> 1048=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD>
672 1049
673Provides a simple web application server framework. 1050Provides a simple web application server framework.
674 1051
675=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
676
677Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
678
679=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing> 1052=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing>
680 1053
681The fastest ping in the west. 1054The fastest ping in the west.
682 1055
1056=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
1057
1058Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process.
1059
1060=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
1061
1062Truly asynchronous I/O, should be in the toolbox of every event
1063programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent
1064together.
1065
1066=item L<AnyEvent::BDB>
1067
1068Truly asynchronous Berkeley DB access. AnyEvent::BDB transparently fuses
1069L<BDB> and AnyEvent together.
1070
1071=item L<AnyEvent::GPSD>
1072
1073A non-blocking interface to gpsd, a daemon delivering GPS information.
1074
683=item L<Net::IRC3> 1075=item L<AnyEvent::IRC>
684 1076
685AnyEvent based IRC client module family. 1077AnyEvent based IRC client module family (replacing the older Net::IRC3).
686 1078
687=item L<Net::XMPP2> 1079=item L<AnyEvent::XMPP>
688 1080
689AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family. 1081AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family (replacing the older
1082Net::XMPP2>.
1083
1084=item L<AnyEvent::IGS>
1085
1086A non-blocking interface to the Internet Go Server protocol (used by
1087L<App::IGS>).
690 1088
691=item L<Net::FCP> 1089=item L<Net::FCP>
692 1090
693AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace 1091AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace
694of AnyEvent. 1092of AnyEvent.
699 1097
700=item L<Coro> 1098=item L<Coro>
701 1099
702Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>. 1100Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
703 1101
704=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>, L<IO::AIO>
705
706Truly asynchronous I/O, should be in the toolbox of every event
707programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses IO::AIO and AnyEvent
708together.
709
710=item L<AnyEvent::BDB>, L<BDB>
711
712Truly asynchronous Berkeley DB access. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
713IO::AIO and AnyEvent together.
714
715=item L<IO::Lambda>
716
717The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent.
718
719=back 1102=back
720 1103
721=cut 1104=cut
722 1105
723package AnyEvent; 1106package AnyEvent;
724 1107
1108# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
1109sub common_sense {
725no warnings; 1110 # no warnings
726use strict; 1111 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS};
1112 # use strict vars subs
1113 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1114}
727 1115
1116BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1117
728use Carp; 1118use Carp ();
729 1119
730our $VERSION = '4.03'; 1120our $VERSION = 4.9;
731our $MODEL; 1121our $MODEL;
732 1122
733our $AUTOLOAD; 1123our $AUTOLOAD;
734our @ISA; 1124our @ISA;
735 1125
736our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
737
738our @REGISTRY; 1126our @REGISTRY;
739 1127
740our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2) 1128our $WIN32;
1129
1130our $VERBOSE;
1131
1132BEGIN {
1133 eval "sub WIN32(){ " . (($^O =~ /mswin32/i)*1) ." }";
1134 eval "sub TAINT(){ " . (${^TAINT}*1) . " }";
1135
1136 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
1137 if ${^TAINT};
1138
1139 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1140
1141}
1142
1143our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
1144
1145our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
741 1146
742{ 1147{
743 my $idx; 1148 my $idx;
744 $PROTOCOL{$_} = ++$idx 1149 $PROTOCOL{$_} = ++$idx
1150 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
745 for split /\s*,\s*/, $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6"; 1151 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
746} 1152}
747 1153
748my @models = ( 1154my @models = (
749 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1155 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
750 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::], 1156 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
1157 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
1158 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
1159 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere
1160 # and is usually faster
1161 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1162 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1163 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
751 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], 1164 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
1165 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
1166 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
752 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1167 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
753 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1168 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
754 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1169 # IO::Async is just too broken - we would need workarounds for its
755 # everything below here will not be autoprobed as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1170 # byzantine signal and broken child handling, among others.
756 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], 1171 # IO::Async is rather hard to detect, as it doesn't have any
757 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy 1172 # obvious default class.
758 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 1173# [0, IO::Async:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
759 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 1174# [0, IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1175# [0, IO::Async::Notifier:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
760); 1176);
761 1177
762our %method = map +($_ => 1), qw(io timer signal child condvar one_event DESTROY); 1178our %method = map +($_ => 1),
1179 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY);
763 1180
764our @post_detect; 1181our @post_detect;
765 1182
766sub post_detect(&) { 1183sub post_detect(&) {
767 my ($cb) = @_; 1184 my ($cb) = @_;
768 1185
769 if ($MODEL) { 1186 if ($MODEL) {
770 $cb->(); 1187 $cb->();
771 1188
772 1 1189 undef
773 } else { 1190 } else {
774 push @post_detect, $cb; 1191 push @post_detect, $cb;
775 1192
776 defined wantarray 1193 defined wantarray
777 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::PostDetect" 1194 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
778 : () 1195 : ()
779 } 1196 }
780} 1197}
781 1198
782sub AnyEvent::Util::PostDetect::DESTROY { 1199sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
783 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect; 1200 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
784} 1201}
785 1202
786sub detect() { 1203sub detect() {
787 unless ($MODEL) { 1204 unless ($MODEL) {
788 no strict 'refs'; 1205 local $SIG{__DIE__};
789 1206
790 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) { 1207 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) {
791 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1"; 1208 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
792 if (eval "require $model") { 1209 if (eval "require $model") {
793 $MODEL = $model; 1210 $MODEL = $model;
794 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1211 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
795 } else { 1212 } else {
796 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose; 1213 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@" if $VERBOSE;
797 } 1214 }
798 } 1215 }
799 1216
800 # check for already loaded models 1217 # check for already loaded models
801 unless ($MODEL) { 1218 unless ($MODEL) {
802 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1219 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
803 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1220 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
804 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1221 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
805 if (eval "require $model") { 1222 if (eval "require $model") {
806 $MODEL = $model; 1223 $MODEL = $model;
807 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1224 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
808 last; 1225 last;
809 } 1226 }
810 } 1227 }
811 } 1228 }
812 1229
813 unless ($MODEL) { 1230 unless ($MODEL) {
814 # try to load a model 1231 # try to autoload a model
815
816 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1232 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
817 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1233 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1234 if (
1235 $autoload
818 if (eval "require $package" 1236 and eval "require $package"
819 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0 1237 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
820 and eval "require $model") { 1238 and eval "require $model"
1239 ) {
821 $MODEL = $model; 1240 $MODEL = $model;
822 warn "AnyEvent: autoprobed model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1241 warn "AnyEvent: autoloaded model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
823 last; 1242 last;
824 } 1243 }
825 } 1244 }
826 1245
827 $MODEL 1246 $MODEL
828 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib."; 1247 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib.\n";
829 } 1248 }
830 } 1249 }
831 1250
1251 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
1252
832 unshift @ISA, $MODEL; 1253 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
833 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base"; 1254
1255 require AnyEvent::Strict if $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT};
834 1256
835 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect; 1257 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
836 } 1258 }
837 1259
838 $MODEL 1260 $MODEL
840 1262
841sub AUTOLOAD { 1263sub AUTOLOAD {
842 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://; 1264 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
843 1265
844 $method{$func} 1266 $method{$func}
845 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects"; 1267 or Carp::croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects";
846 1268
847 detect unless $MODEL; 1269 detect unless $MODEL;
848 1270
849 my $class = shift; 1271 my $class = shift;
850 $class->$func (@_); 1272 $class->$func (@_);
851} 1273}
852 1274
1275# utility function to dup a filehandle. this is used by many backends
1276# to support binding more than one watcher per filehandle (they usually
1277# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1278sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1279 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1280
1281 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1282 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1283
1284 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1285 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1286
1287 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1288
1289 ($fh2, $rw)
1290}
1291
853package AnyEvent::Base; 1292package AnyEvent::Base;
854 1293
1294# default implementations for many methods
1295
1296sub _time {
1297 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1298 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1299 warn "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1300 *_time = \&Time::HiRes::time;
1301 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1302 } else {
1303 warn "AnyEvent: using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!\n" if $VERBOSE;
1304 *_time = sub { time }; # epic fail
1305 }
1306
1307 &_time
1308}
1309
1310sub time { _time }
1311sub now { _time }
1312sub now_update { }
1313
855# default implementation for ->condvar 1314# default implementation for ->condvar
856 1315
857sub condvar { 1316sub condvar {
858 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, AnyEvent::CondVar:: 1317 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
859} 1318}
860 1319
861# default implementation for ->signal 1320# default implementation for ->signal
862 1321
863our %SIG_CB; 1322our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1323
1324sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1325 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1326 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.0 (); 1")
1327 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1328
1329 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1330}
1331
1332our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1333our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1334our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1335
1336sub _signal_exec {
1337 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1338 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1339 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, my $dummy, 9;
1340
1341 while (%SIG_EV) {
1342 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1343 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
1344 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
1345 }
1346 }
1347}
1348
1349# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1350sub _sig_add() {
1351 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1352 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1353 my $NOW = AnyEvent->now;
1354
1355 $SIG_TW = AnyEvent->timer (
1356 after => $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1357 interval => $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1358 cb => sub { }, # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1359 );
1360 }
1361}
1362
1363sub _sig_del {
1364 undef $SIG_TW
1365 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1366}
1367
1368our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1369 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading
1370 undef $_sig_name_init;
1371
1372 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1373 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1374 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1375 } else {
1376 require Config;
1377
1378 my %signame2num;
1379 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1380 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1381
1382 my @signum2name;
1383 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1384
1385 *sig2num = sub($) {
1386 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1387 };
1388 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1389 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1390 };
1391 }
1392 };
1393 die if $@;
1394};
1395
1396sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1397sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
864 1398
865sub signal { 1399sub signal {
1400 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1401 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1402 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1403 warn "AnyEvent: using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1404
1405 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1406 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec);
1407
1408 } else {
1409 warn "AnyEvent: using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1410
1411 require Fcntl;
1412
1413 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1414 require AnyEvent::Util;
1415
1416 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1417 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R, 1) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1418 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W, 1) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1419 } else {
1420 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1421 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1422 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1423
1424 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1425 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1426 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC;
1427 }
1428
1429 $SIGPIPE_R
1430 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1431
1432 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec);
1433 }
1434
1435 *signal = sub {
866 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1436 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
867 1437
868 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1438 my $signal = uc $arg{signal}
869 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing"; 1439 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
870 1440
1441 if ($HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT) {
1442 # async::interrupt
1443
1444 $signal = sig2num $signal;
871 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1445 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1446
1447 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1448 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1449 signal => $signal,
1450 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1451 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1452 ;
1453
1454 } else {
1455 # pure perl
1456
1457 # AE::Util has been loaded in signal
1458 $signal = sig2name $signal;
1459 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1460
872 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub { 1461 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
873 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} || {} }; 1462 local $!;
1463 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1464 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1465 };
1466
1467 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1468 # so limit the signal latency.
1469 _sig_add;
1470 }
1471
1472 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1473 };
1474
1475 *AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY = sub {
1476 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1477
1478 _sig_del;
1479
1480 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1481
1482 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1483 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1484 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1485 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1486 # instead of getting the default action.
1487 undef $SIG{$signal}
1488 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1489 };
874 }; 1490 };
875 1491 die if $@;
876 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Signal" 1492 &signal
877}
878
879sub AnyEvent::Base::Signal::DESTROY {
880 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
881
882 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
883
884 $SIG{$signal} = 'DEFAULT' unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
885} 1493}
886 1494
887# default implementation for ->child 1495# default implementation for ->child
888 1496
889our %PID_CB; 1497our %PID_CB;
890our $CHLD_W; 1498our $CHLD_W;
891our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1499our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
892our $PID_IDLE;
893our $WNOHANG; 1500our $WNOHANG;
894 1501
895sub _child_wait { 1502sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
896 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1503 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1504
1505 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
897 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1506 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
898 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1507 values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} };
899 }
900
901 undef $PID_IDLE;
902} 1508}
903 1509
904sub _sigchld { 1510sub _sigchld {
905 # make sure we deliver these changes "synchronous" with the event loop. 1511 my $pid;
906 $CHLD_DELAY_W ||= AnyEvent->timer (after => 0, cb => sub { 1512
907 undef $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1513 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
908 &_child_wait; 1514 while ($pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG) > 0;
909 });
910} 1515}
911 1516
912sub child { 1517sub child {
913 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1518 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
914 1519
915 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1520 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0)
916 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1521 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing";
917 1522
918 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1523 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
919 1524
920 unless ($WNOHANG) { 1525 # WNOHANG is almost cetrainly 1 everywhere
921 $WNOHANG = eval { require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1; 1526 $WNOHANG ||= $^O =~ /^(?:openbsd|netbsd|linux|freebsd|cygwin|MSWin32)$/
922 } 1527 ? 1
1528 : eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
923 1529
924 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1530 unless ($CHLD_W) {
925 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1531 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld);
926 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1532 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
927 &_sigchld; 1533 &_sigchld;
928 } 1534 }
929 1535
930 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::Child" 1536 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
931} 1537}
932 1538
933sub AnyEvent::Base::Child::DESTROY { 1539sub AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY {
934 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1540 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
935 1541
936 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb}; 1542 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb};
937 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} }; 1543 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
938 1544
939 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1545 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
940} 1546}
941 1547
1548# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1549# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1550# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1551sub idle {
1552 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1553
1554 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1555
1556 $rcb = sub {
1557 if ($cb) {
1558 $w = _time;
1559 &$cb;
1560 $w = _time - $w;
1561
1562 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1563 # within some limits
1564 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1565 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1566
1567 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $w, cb => $rcb);
1568 } else {
1569 # clean up...
1570 undef $w;
1571 undef $rcb;
1572 }
1573 };
1574
1575 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.05, cb => $rcb);
1576
1577 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1578}
1579
1580sub AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY {
1581 undef $${$_[0]};
1582}
1583
942package AnyEvent::CondVar; 1584package AnyEvent::CondVar;
943 1585
944our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::; 1586our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
945 1587
946package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base; 1588package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
947 1589
948use overload 1590#use overload
949 '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }, 1591# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
950 fallback => 1; 1592# fallback => 1;
1593
1594# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1595${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1596*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1597*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1598${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1599
1600our $WAITING;
951 1601
952sub _send { 1602sub _send {
953 # nop 1603 # nop
954} 1604}
955 1605
968sub ready { 1618sub ready {
969 $_[0]{_ae_sent} 1619 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
970} 1620}
971 1621
972sub _wait { 1622sub _wait {
1623 $WAITING
1624 and !$_[0]{_ae_sent}
1625 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait detected";
1626
1627 local $WAITING = 1;
973 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent}; 1628 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent};
974} 1629}
975 1630
976sub recv { 1631sub recv {
977 $_[0]->_wait; 1632 $_[0]->_wait;
979 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak}; 1634 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak};
980 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0] 1635 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0]
981} 1636}
982 1637
983sub cb { 1638sub cb {
984 $_[0]{_ae_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1639 my $cv = shift;
1640
1641 @_
1642 and $cv->{_ae_cb} = shift
1643 and $cv->{_ae_sent}
1644 and (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv);
985 $_[0]{_ae_cb} 1645 $cv->{_ae_cb}
986} 1646}
987 1647
988sub begin { 1648sub begin {
989 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1649 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter};
990 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1650 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
996} 1656}
997 1657
998# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4 1658# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4
999*broadcast = \&send; 1659*broadcast = \&send;
1000*wait = \&_wait; 1660*wait = \&_wait;
1661
1662#############################################################################
1663# "new" API, currently only emulation of it
1664#############################################################################
1665
1666package AE;
1667
1668sub io($$$) {
1669 AnyEvent->io (fh => $_[0], poll => $_[1] ? "w" : "r", cb => $_[2])
1670}
1671
1672sub timer($$$) {
1673 AnyEvent->timer (after => $_[0], interval => $_[1], cb => $_[2]);
1674}
1675
1676sub signal($$) {
1677 AnyEvent->signal (signal => $_[0], cb => $_[1]);
1678}
1679
1680sub child($$) {
1681 AnyEvent->child (pid => $_[0], cb => $_[1]);
1682}
1683
1684sub idle($) {
1685 AnyEvent->idle (cb => $_[0]);
1686}
1687
1688sub cv() {
1689 AnyEvent->condvar
1690}
1691
1692sub now() {
1693 AnyEvent->now
1694}
1695
1696sub now_update() {
1697 AnyEvent->now_update
1698}
1699
1700sub time() {
1701 AnyEvent->time
1702}
1703
1704=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
1705
1706In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the
1707caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also
1708the C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> environment variable, below) provides strict
1709checking of all AnyEvent methods, however, which is highly useful during
1710development.
1711
1712As for exception handling (i.e. runtime errors and exceptions thrown while
1713executing a callback), this is not only highly event-loop specific, but
1714also not in any way wrapped by this module, as this is the job of the main
1715program.
1716
1717The pure perl event loop simply re-throws the exception (usually
1718within C<< condvar->recv >>), the L<Event> and L<EV> modules call C<<
1719$Event/EV::DIED->() >>, L<Glib> uses C<< install_exception_handler >> and
1720so on.
1721
1722=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1723
1724The following environment variables are used by this module or its
1725submodules.
1726
1727Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
1728C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
1729enabled.
1730
1731=over 4
1732
1733=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1734
1735By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
1736conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
1737talkative.
1738
1739When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
1740conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
1741C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1742
1743When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1744model it chooses.
1745
1746When set to C<8> or higher, then AnyEvent will report extra information on
1747which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
1748
1749=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1750
1751AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1752argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1753will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1754check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1755it will croak.
1756
1757In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1758
1759Unlike C<use strict> (or it's modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
1760>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
1761C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
1762can be very useful, however.
1763
1764=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1765
1766This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1767auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1768entirely of ASCII letters. The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended
1769and the resulting module name is loaded and if the load was successful,
1770used as event model. If it fails to load AnyEvent will proceed with
1771auto detection and -probing.
1772
1773This functionality might change in future versions.
1774
1775For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) you
1776could start your program like this:
1777
1778 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
1779
1780=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS>
1781
1782Used by both L<AnyEvent::DNS> and L<AnyEvent::Socket> to determine preferences
1783for IPv4 or IPv6. The default is unspecified (and might change, or be the result
1784of auto probing).
1785
1786Must be set to a comma-separated list of protocols or address families,
1787current supported: C<ipv4> and C<ipv6>. Only protocols mentioned will be
1788used, and preference will be given to protocols mentioned earlier in the
1789list.
1790
1791This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
1792against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is likely
1793small, as the program has to handle conenction and other failures anyways.
1794
1795Examples: C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6> - prefer IPv4 over IPv6,
1796but support both and try to use both. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4>
1797- only support IPv4, never try to resolve or contact IPv6
1798addresses. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv6,ipv4> support either IPv4 or
1799IPv6, but prefer IPv6 over IPv4.
1800
1801=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_EDNS0>
1802
1803Used by L<AnyEvent::DNS> to decide whether to use the EDNS0 extension
1804for DNS. This extension is generally useful to reduce DNS traffic, but
1805some (broken) firewalls drop such DNS packets, which is why it is off by
1806default.
1807
1808Setting this variable to C<1> will cause L<AnyEvent::DNS> to announce
1809EDNS0 in its DNS requests.
1810
1811=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
1812
1813The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
1814will create in parallel.
1815
1816=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
1817
1818The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
1819resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
1820sent to the DNS server.
1821
1822=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
1823
1824The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
1825configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
1826default config will be used.
1827
1828=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
1829
1830When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
1831L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
1832variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
1833instead of a system-dependent default.
1834
1835=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
1836
1837When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
1838loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
1839
1840=back
1001 1841
1002=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 1842=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
1003 1843
1004This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in 1844This is an advanced topic that you do not normally need to use AnyEvent in
1005a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to 1845a module. This section is only of use to event loop authors who want to
1039 1879
1040I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to 1880I<rxvt-unicode> also cheats a bit by not providing blocking access to
1041condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will 1881condition variables: code blocking while waiting for a condition will
1042C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must 1882C<die>. This still works with most modules/usages, and blocking calls must
1043not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense. 1883not be done in an interactive application, so it makes sense.
1044
1045=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
1046
1047The following environment variables are used by this module:
1048
1049=over 4
1050
1051=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE>
1052
1053By default, AnyEvent will be completely silent except in fatal
1054conditions. You can set this environment variable to make AnyEvent more
1055talkative.
1056
1057When set to C<1> or higher, causes AnyEvent to warn about unexpected
1058conditions, such as not being able to load the event model specified by
1059C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1060
1061When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1062model it chooses.
1063
1064=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1065
1066This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1067auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1068entirely of ASCII letters. The string C<AnyEvent::Impl::> gets prepended
1069and the resulting module name is loaded and if the load was successful,
1070used as event model. If it fails to load AnyEvent will proceed with
1071auto detection and -probing.
1072
1073This functionality might change in future versions.
1074
1075For example, to force the pure perl model (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) you
1076could start your program like this:
1077
1078 PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL=Perl perl ...
1079
1080=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS>
1081
1082Used by both L<AnyEvent::DNS> and L<AnyEvent::Socket> to determine preferences
1083for IPv4 or IPv6. The default is unspecified (and might change, or be the result
1084of auto probing).
1085
1086Must be set to a comma-separated list of protocols or address families,
1087current supported: C<ipv4> and C<ipv6>. Only protocols mentioned will be
1088used, and preference will be given to protocols mentioned earlier in the
1089list.
1090
1091This variable can effectively be used for denial-of-service attacks
1092against local programs (e.g. when setuid), although the impact is likely
1093small, as the program has to handle connection errors already-
1094
1095Examples: C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4,ipv6> - prefer IPv4 over IPv6,
1096but support both and try to use both. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv4>
1097- only support IPv4, never try to resolve or contact IPv6
1098addresses. C<PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS=ipv6,ipv4> support either IPv4 or
1099IPv6, but prefer IPv6 over IPv4.
1100
1101=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_EDNS0>
1102
1103Used by L<AnyEvent::DNS> to decide whether to use the EDNS0 extension
1104for DNS. This extension is generally useful to reduce DNS traffic, but
1105some (broken) firewalls drop such DNS packets, which is why it is off by
1106default.
1107
1108Setting this variable to C<1> will cause L<AnyEvent::DNS> to announce
1109EDNS0 in its DNS requests.
1110
1111=back
1112 1884
1113=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM 1885=head1 EXAMPLE PROGRAM
1114 1886
1115The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer 1887The following program uses an I/O watcher to read data from STDIN, a timer
1116to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the 1888to display a message once per second, and a condition variable to quit the
1310watcher. 2082watcher.
1311 2083
1312=head3 Results 2084=head3 Results
1313 2085
1314 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment 2086 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment
1315 EV/EV 400000 244 0.56 0.46 0.31 EV native interface 2087 EV/EV 400000 224 0.47 0.35 0.27 EV native interface
1316 EV/Any 100000 244 2.50 0.46 0.29 EV + AnyEvent watchers 2088 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers
1317 CoroEV/Any 100000 244 2.49 0.44 0.29 coroutines + Coro::Signal 2089 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal
1318 Perl/Any 100000 513 4.92 0.87 1.12 pure perl implementation 2090 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation
1319 Event/Event 16000 516 31.88 31.30 0.85 Event native interface 2091 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface
1320 Event/Any 16000 590 35.75 31.42 1.08 Event + AnyEvent watchers 2092 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers
2093 IOAsync/Any 16000 989 38.10 32.77 11.13 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
2094 IOAsync/Any 16000 990 37.59 29.50 10.61 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
1321 Glib/Any 16000 1357 98.22 12.41 54.00 quadratic behaviour 2095 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour
1322 Tk/Any 2000 1860 26.97 67.98 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 2096 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
1323 POE/Event 2000 6644 108.64 736.02 14.73 via POE::Loop::Event 2097 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event
1324 POE/Select 2000 6343 94.13 809.12 565.96 via POE::Loop::Select 2098 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select
1325 2099
1326=head3 Discussion 2100=head3 Discussion
1327 2101
1328The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very 2102The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very
1329well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one) 2103well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one)
1354performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of 2128performance becomes really bad with lots of file descriptors (and few of
1355them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark. 2129them active), of course, but this was not subject of this benchmark.
1356 2130
1357The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation 2131The C<Event> module has a relatively high setup and callback invocation
1358cost, but overall scores in on the third place. 2132cost, but overall scores in on the third place.
2133
2134C<IO::Async> performs admirably well, about on par with C<Event>, even
2135when using its pure perl backend.
1359 2136
1360C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a 2137C<Glib>'s memory usage is quite a bit higher, but it features a
1361faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as 2138faster callback invocation and overall ends up in the same class as
1362C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of 2139C<Event>. However, Glib scales extremely badly, doubling the number of
1363watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four, 2140watchers increases the processing time by more than a factor of four,
1441it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating 2218it to another server. This includes deleting the old timeout and creating
1442a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2219a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1443 2220
1444=head3 Results 2221=head3 Results
1445 2222
1446 name sockets create request 2223 name sockets create request
1447 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2224 EV 20000 69.01 11.16
1448 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 2225 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87
2226 IOAsync 20000 157.00 98.14 epoll
2227 IOAsync 20000 159.31 616.06 poll
1449 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2228 Event 20000 212.62 257.32
1450 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2229 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30
1451 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2230 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event
1452 2231
1453=head3 Discussion 2232=head3 Discussion
1454 2233
1455This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2234This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1456particular event loop. 2235particular event loop.
1458EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time 2237EV is again fastest. Since it is using epoll on my system, the setup time
1459is relatively high, though. 2238is relatively high, though.
1460 2239
1461Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event 2240Perl surprisingly comes second. It is much faster than the C-based event
1462loops Event and Glib. 2241loops Event and Glib.
2242
2243IO::Async performs very well when using its epoll backend, and still quite
2244good compared to Glib when using its pure perl backend.
1463 2245
1464Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will 2246Event suffers from high setup time as well (look at its code and you will
1465understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to 2247understand why). Callback invocation also has a high overhead compared to
1466the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event 2248the C<< $_->() for .. >>-style loop that the Perl event loop uses. Event
1467uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations. 2249uses select or poll in basically all documented configurations.
1530=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of 2312=item * C-based event loops perform very well with small number of
1531watchers, as the management overhead dominates. 2313watchers, as the management overhead dominates.
1532 2314
1533=back 2315=back
1534 2316
2317=head2 THE IO::Lambda BENCHMARK
2318
2319Recently I was told about the benchmark in the IO::Lambda manpage, which
2320could be misinterpreted to make AnyEvent look bad. In fact, the benchmark
2321simply compares IO::Lambda with POE, and IO::Lambda looks better (which
2322shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody). As such, the benchmark is
2323fine, and mostly shows that the AnyEvent backend from IO::Lambda isn't
2324very optimal. But how would AnyEvent compare when used without the extra
2325baggage? To explore this, I wrote the equivalent benchmark for AnyEvent.
2326
2327The benchmark itself creates an echo-server, and then, for 500 times,
2328connects to the echo server, sends a line, waits for the reply, and then
2329creates the next connection. This is a rather bad benchmark, as it doesn't
2330test the efficiency of the framework or much non-blocking I/O, but it is a
2331benchmark nevertheless.
2332
2333 name runtime
2334 Lambda/select 0.330 sec
2335 + optimized 0.122 sec
2336 Lambda/AnyEvent 0.327 sec
2337 + optimized 0.138 sec
2338 Raw sockets/select 0.077 sec
2339 POE/select, components 0.662 sec
2340 POE/select, raw sockets 0.226 sec
2341 POE/select, optimized 0.404 sec
2342
2343 AnyEvent/select/nb 0.085 sec
2344 AnyEvent/EV/nb 0.068 sec
2345 +state machine 0.134 sec
2346
2347The benchmark is also a bit unfair (my fault): the IO::Lambda/POE
2348benchmarks actually make blocking connects and use 100% blocking I/O,
2349defeating the purpose of an event-based solution. All of the newly
2350written AnyEvent benchmarks use 100% non-blocking connects (using
2351AnyEvent::Socket::tcp_connect and the asynchronous pure perl DNS
2352resolver), so AnyEvent is at a disadvantage here, as non-blocking connects
2353generally require a lot more bookkeeping and event handling than blocking
2354connects (which involve a single syscall only).
2355
2356The last AnyEvent benchmark additionally uses L<AnyEvent::Handle>, which
2357offers similar expressive power as POE and IO::Lambda, using conventional
2358Perl syntax. This means that both the echo server and the client are 100%
2359non-blocking, further placing it at a disadvantage.
2360
2361As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
2362hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
2363backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2364
2365And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2366slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda by a
2367large margin, even though it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O
2368in a non-blocking way.
2369
2370The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2371F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2372part of the IO::lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2373
2374
2375=head1 SIGNALS
2376
2377AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
2378
2379=over 4
2380
2381=item SIGCHLD
2382
2383A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
2384emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
2385event loops install a similar handler.
2386
2387Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2388AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
2389
2390=item SIGPIPE
2391
2392A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
2393when AnyEvent gets loaded.
2394
2395The rationale for this is that AnyEvent users usually do not really depend
2396on SIGPIPE delivery (which is purely an optimisation for shell use, or
2397badly-written programs), but C<SIGPIPE> can cause spurious and rare
2398program exits as a lot of people do not expect C<SIGPIPE> when writing to
2399some random socket.
2400
2401The rationale for installing a no-op handler as opposed to ignoring it is
2402that this way, the handler will be restored to defaults on exec.
2403
2404Feel free to install your own handler, or reset it to defaults.
2405
2406=back
2407
2408=cut
2409
2410undef $SIG{CHLD}
2411 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2412
2413$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
2414 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2415
2416=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2417
2418One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2419it's built-in modules) are required to use it.
2420
2421That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2422modules if they are installed.
2423
2424This section epxlains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2425affect AnyEvent's operetion.
2426
2427=over 4
2428
2429=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2430
2431This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2432my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2433signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2434delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2435catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2436C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2437
2438If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2439catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2440will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (And good for
2441battery life on laptops).
2442
2443This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2444that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2445
2446Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2447and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2448(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2449does nothing for those backends.
2450
2451=item L<EV>
2452
2453This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2454event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2455loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2456the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2457automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2458can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2459C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2460L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2461
2462=item L<Guard>
2463
2464The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2465C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2466lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2467purely used for performance.
2468
2469=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2470
2471This module is required when you want to read or write JSON data via
2472L<AnyEvent::Handle>. It is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2473advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2474
2475In fact, L<AnyEvent::Handle> will use L<JSON::XS> by default if it is
2476installed.
2477
2478=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2479
2480Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2481worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2482the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2483
2484=item L<Time::HiRes>
2485
2486This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2487chosen event library does not come with a timing source on it's own. The
2488pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) will additionally use it to
2489try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2490
2491=back
2492
1535 2493
1536=head1 FORK 2494=head1 FORK
1537 2495
1538Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2496Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
1539because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> 2497because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll>
1540calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2498calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware.
1541 2499
1542If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2500If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first
1543watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child. 2501watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2502something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
1544 2503
1545 2504
1546=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2505=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
1547 2506
1548AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2507AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
1553specified in the variable. 2512specified in the variable.
1554 2513
1555You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it 2514You can make AnyEvent completely ignore this variable by deleting it
1556before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block: 2515before the first watcher gets created, e.g. with a C<BEGIN> block:
1557 2516
1558 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} } 2517 BEGIN { delete $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} }
1559 2518
1560 use AnyEvent; 2519 use AnyEvent;
1561 2520
1562Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can 2521Similar considerations apply to $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}, as that can
1563be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is 2522be used to probe what backend is used and gain other information (which is
1564probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL). 2523probably even less useful to an attacker than PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), and
2524$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}.
2525
2526Note that AnyEvent will remove I<all> environment variables starting with
2527C<PERL_ANYEVENT_> from C<%ENV> when it is loaded while taint mode is
2528enabled.
2529
2530
2531=head1 BUGS
2532
2533Perl 5.8 has numerous memleaks that sometimes hit this module and are hard
2534to work around. If you suffer from memleaks, first upgrade to Perl 5.10
2535and check wether the leaks still show up. (Perl 5.10.0 has other annoying
2536memleaks, such as leaking on C<map> and C<grep> but it is usually not as
2537pronounced).
1565 2538
1566 2539
1567=head1 SEE ALSO 2540=head1 SEE ALSO
1568 2541
1569Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>. 2542Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>.
1572L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 2545L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
1573 2546
1574Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, 2547Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
1575L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, 2548L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
1576L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, 2549L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
1577L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 2550L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>.
1578 2551
1579Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and 2552Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and
1580servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>. 2553servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
1581 2554
1582Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2555Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
1583 2556
1584Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, 2557Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>,
2558L<Coro::Event>,
1585 2559
1586Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>, L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2560Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>,
2561L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
1587 2562
1588 2563
1589=head1 AUTHOR 2564=head1 AUTHOR
1590 2565
1591 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2566 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
1592 http://home.schmorp.de/ 2567 http://home.schmorp.de/
1593 2568
1594=cut 2569=cut
1595 2570
15961 25711
1597 2572

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