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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 and POE are various supported 5EV, Event, Glib, Tk, Perl, Event::Lib, Irssi, rxvt-unicode, IO::Async, Qt
6event loops. 6and POE are various supported event loops/environments.
7 7
8=head1 SYNOPSIS 8=head1 SYNOPSIS
9 9
10 use AnyEvent; 10 use AnyEvent;
11 11
12 # if you prefer function calls, look at the AE manpage for
13 # an alternative API.
14
12 # file descriptor readable 15 # file handle or descriptor readable
13 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r", cb => sub { ... }); 16 my $w = AnyEvent->io (fh => $fh, poll => "r", cb => sub { ... });
14 17
15 # one-shot or repeating timers 18 # one-shot or repeating timers
16 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... }); 19 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, cb => sub { ... });
17 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ... 20 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $seconds, interval => $seconds, cb => ...);
18 21
19 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time 22 print AnyEvent->now; # prints current event loop time
20 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time. 23 print AnyEvent->time; # think Time::HiRes::time or simply CORE::time.
21 24
22 # POSIX signal 25 # POSIX signal
40=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL 43=head1 INTRODUCTION/TUTORIAL
41 44
42This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested 45This manpage is mainly a reference manual. If you are interested
43in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the 46in a tutorial or some gentle introduction, have a look at the
44L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage. 47L<AnyEvent::Intro> manpage.
48
49=head1 SUPPORT
50
51An FAQ document is available as L<AnyEvent::FAQ>.
52
53There also is a mailinglist for discussing all things AnyEvent, and an IRC
54channel, too.
55
56See the AnyEvent project page at the B<Schmorpforge Ta-Sa Software
57Repository>, at L<http://anyevent.schmorp.de>, for more info.
45 58
46=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT) 59=head1 WHY YOU SHOULD USE THIS MODULE (OR NOT)
47 60
48Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen 61Glib, POE, IO::Async, Event... CPAN offers event models by the dozen
49nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent? 62nowadays. So what is different about AnyEvent?
65module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event 78module users into the same thing by forcing them to use the same event
66model you use. 79model you use.
67 80
68For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is 81For modules like POE or IO::Async (which is a total misnomer as it is
69actually doing all I/O I<synchronously>...), using them in your module is 82actually doing all I/O I<synchronously>...), using them in your module is
70like joining a cult: After you joined, you are dependent on them and you 83like joining a cult: After you join, you are dependent on them and you
71cannot use anything else, as they are simply incompatible to everything 84cannot use anything else, as they are simply incompatible to everything
72that isn't them. What's worse, all the potential users of your 85that isn't them. What's worse, all the potential users of your
73module are I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use. 86module are I<also> forced to use the same event loop you use.
74 87
75AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works 88AnyEvent is different: AnyEvent + POE works fine. AnyEvent + Glib works
76fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together 89fine. AnyEvent + Tk works fine etc. etc. but none of these work together
77with the rest: POE + IO::Async? No go. Tk + Event? No go. Again: if 90with the rest: POE + EV? No go. Tk + Event? No go. Again: if your module
78your module uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it, 91uses one of those, every user of your module has to use it, too. But if
79too. But if your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all 92your module uses AnyEvent, it works transparently with all event models it
80event models it supports (including stuff like IO::Async, as long as those 93supports (including stuff like IO::Async, as long as those use one of the
81use one of the supported event loops. It is trivial to add new event loops 94supported event loops. It is easy to add new event loops to AnyEvent, too,
82to AnyEvent, too, so it is future-proof). 95so it is future-proof).
83 96
84In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event 97In addition to being free of having to use I<the one and only true event
85model>, AnyEvent also is free of bloat and policy: with POE or similar 98model>, AnyEvent also is free of bloat and policy: with POE or similar
86modules, you get an enormous amount of code and strict rules you have to 99modules, you get an enormous amount of code and strict rules you have to
87follow. AnyEvent, on the other hand, is lean and up to the point, by only 100follow. AnyEvent, on the other hand, is lean and to the point, by only
88offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as 101offering the functionality that is necessary, in as thin as a wrapper as
89technically possible. 102technically possible.
90 103
91Of course, AnyEvent comes with a big (and fully optional!) toolbox 104Of course, AnyEvent comes with a big (and fully optional!) toolbox
92of useful functionality, such as an asynchronous DNS resolver, 100% 105of useful functionality, such as an asynchronous DNS resolver, 100%
98useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event 111useful) and you want to force your users to use the one and only event
99model, you should I<not> use this module. 112model, you should I<not> use this module.
100 113
101=head1 DESCRIPTION 114=head1 DESCRIPTION
102 115
103L<AnyEvent> provides an identical interface to multiple event loops. This 116L<AnyEvent> provides a uniform interface to various event loops. This
104allows module authors to utilise an event loop without forcing module 117allows module authors to use event loop functionality without forcing
105users to use the same event loop (as only a single event loop can coexist 118module users to use a specific event loop implementation (since more
106peacefully at any one time). 119than one event loop cannot coexist peacefully).
107 120
108The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event> 121The interface itself is vaguely similar, but not identical to the L<Event>
109module. 122module.
110 123
111During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries 124During the first call of any watcher-creation method, the module tries
112to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the 125to detect the currently loaded event loop by probing whether one of the
113following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, 126following modules is already loaded: L<EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
114L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, 127L<Event>, L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. The first one
115L<POE>. The first one found is used. If none are found, the module tries 128found is used. If none are detected, the module tries to load the first
116to load these modules (excluding Tk, Event::Lib, Qt and POE as the pure perl 129four modules in the order given; but note that if L<EV> is not
117adaptor should always succeed) in the order given. The first one that can 130available, the pure-perl L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> should always work, so
118be successfully loaded will be used. If, after this, still none could be 131the other two are not normally tried.
119found, AnyEvent will fall back to a pure-perl event loop, which is not
120very efficient, but should work everywhere.
121 132
122Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading 133Because AnyEvent first checks for modules that are already loaded, loading
123an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make 134an event model explicitly before first using AnyEvent will likely make
124that model the default. For example: 135that model the default. For example:
125 136
127 use AnyEvent; 138 use AnyEvent;
128 139
129 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk 140 # .. AnyEvent will likely default to Tk
130 141
131The I<likely> means that, if any module loads another event model and 142The I<likely> means that, if any module loads another event model and
132starts using it, all bets are off. Maybe you should tell their authors to 143starts using it, all bets are off - this case should be very rare though,
133use AnyEvent so their modules work together with others seamlessly... 144as very few modules hardcode event loops without announcing this very
145loudly.
134 146
135The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called 147The pure-perl implementation of AnyEvent is called
136C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it 148C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>. Like other event modules you can load it
137explicitly and enjoy the high availability of that event loop :) 149explicitly and enjoy the high availability of that event loop :)
138 150
147callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model 159callback when the event occurs (of course, only when the event model
148is in control). 160is in control).
149 161
150Note that B<callbacks must not permanently change global variables> 162Note that B<callbacks must not permanently change global variables>
151potentially in use by the event loop (such as C<$_> or C<$[>) and that B<< 163potentially in use by the event loop (such as C<$_> or C<$[>) and that B<<
152callbacks must not C<die> >>. The former is good programming practise in 164callbacks must not C<die> >>. The former is good programming practice in
153Perl and the latter stems from the fact that exception handling differs 165Perl and the latter stems from the fact that exception handling differs
154widely between event loops. 166widely between event loops.
155 167
156To disable the watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the 168To disable a watcher you have to destroy it (e.g. by setting the
157variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references 169variable you store it in to C<undef> or otherwise deleting all references
158to it). 170to it).
159 171
160All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class. 172All watchers are created by calling a method on the C<AnyEvent> class.
161 173
162Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for 174Many watchers either are used with "recursion" (repeating timers for
163example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways. 175example), or need to refer to their watcher object in other ways.
164 176
165An any way to achieve that is this pattern: 177One way to achieve that is this pattern:
166 178
167 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub { 179 my $w; $w = AnyEvent->type (arg => value ..., cb => sub {
168 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it 180 # you can use $w here, for example to undef it
169 undef $w; 181 undef $w;
170 }); 182 });
173my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are 185my variables are only visible after the statement in which they are
174declared. 186declared.
175 187
176=head2 I/O WATCHERS 188=head2 I/O WATCHERS
177 189
190 $w = AnyEvent->io (
191 fh => <filehandle_or_fileno>,
192 poll => <"r" or "w">,
193 cb => <callback>,
194 );
195
178You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method 196You can create an I/O watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->io >> method
179with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments: 197with the following mandatory key-value pairs as arguments:
180 198
181C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (I<not> file descriptor) to watch 199C<fh> is the Perl I<file handle> (or a naked file descriptor) to watch
182for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file 200for events (AnyEvent might or might not keep a reference to this file
183handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which 201handle). Note that only file handles pointing to things for which
184non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets, 202non-blocking operation makes sense are allowed. This includes sockets,
185most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files 203most character devices, pipes, fifos and so on, but not for example files
186or block devices. 204or block devices.
196 214
197The I/O watcher might use the underlying file descriptor or a copy of it. 215The I/O watcher might use the underlying file descriptor or a copy of it.
198You must not close a file handle as long as any watcher is active on the 216You must not close a file handle as long as any watcher is active on the
199underlying file descriptor. 217underlying file descriptor.
200 218
201Some event loops issue spurious readyness notifications, so you should 219Some event loops issue spurious readiness notifications, so you should
202always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file 220always use non-blocking calls when reading/writing from/to your file
203handles. 221handles.
204 222
205Example: wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the 223Example: wait for readability of STDIN, then read a line and disable the
206watcher. 224watcher.
211 undef $w; 229 undef $w;
212 }); 230 });
213 231
214=head2 TIME WATCHERS 232=head2 TIME WATCHERS
215 233
234 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => <seconds>, cb => <callback>);
235
236 $w = AnyEvent->timer (
237 after => <fractional_seconds>,
238 interval => <fractional_seconds>,
239 cb => <callback>,
240 );
241
216You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >> 242You can create a time watcher by calling the C<< AnyEvent->timer >>
217method with the following mandatory arguments: 243method with the following mandatory arguments:
218 244
219C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are 245C<after> specifies after how many seconds (fractional values are
220supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke 246supported) the callback should be invoked. C<cb> is the callback to invoke
222 248
223Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and 249Although the callback might get passed parameters, their value and
224presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent 250presence is undefined and you cannot rely on them. Portable AnyEvent
225callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks. 251callbacks cannot use arguments passed to time watcher callbacks.
226 252
227The callback will normally be invoked once only. If you specify another 253The callback will normally be invoked only once. If you specify another
228parameter, C<interval>, as a strictly positive number (> 0), then the 254parameter, C<interval>, as a strictly positive number (> 0), then the
229callback will be invoked regularly at that interval (in fractional 255callback will be invoked regularly at that interval (in fractional
230seconds) after the first invocation. If C<interval> is specified with a 256seconds) after the first invocation. If C<interval> is specified with a
231false value, then it is treated as if it were missing. 257false value, then it is treated as if it were not specified at all.
232 258
233The callback will be rescheduled before invoking the callback, but no 259The callback will be rescheduled before invoking the callback, but no
234attempt is done to avoid timer drift in most backends, so the interval is 260attempt is made to avoid timer drift in most backends, so the interval is
235only approximate. 261only approximate.
236 262
237Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds. 263Example: fire an event after 7.7 seconds.
238 264
239 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub { 265 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 7.7, cb => sub {
257 283
258While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they 284While most event loops expect timers to specified in a relative way, they
259use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock 285use absolute time internally. This makes a difference when your clock
260"jumps", for example, when ntp decides to set your clock backwards from 286"jumps", for example, when ntp decides to set your clock backwards from
261the wrong date of 2014-01-01 to 2008-01-01, a watcher that is supposed to 287the wrong date of 2014-01-01 to 2008-01-01, a watcher that is supposed to
262fire "after" a second might actually take six years to finally fire. 288fire "after a second" might actually take six years to finally fire.
263 289
264AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious 290AnyEvent cannot compensate for this. The only event loop that is conscious
265about these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based 291of these issues is L<EV>, which offers both relative (ev_timer, based
266on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time) 292on true relative time) and absolute (ev_periodic, based on wallclock time)
267timers. 293timers.
268 294
269AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the 295AnyEvent always prefers relative timers, if available, matching the
270AnyEvent API. 296AnyEvent API.
292I<In almost all cases (in all cases if you don't care), this is the 318I<In almost all cases (in all cases if you don't care), this is the
293function to call when you want to know the current time.> 319function to call when you want to know the current time.>
294 320
295This function is also often faster then C<< AnyEvent->time >>, and 321This function is also often faster then C<< AnyEvent->time >>, and
296thus the preferred method if you want some timestamp (for example, 322thus the preferred method if you want some timestamp (for example,
297L<AnyEvent::Handle> uses this to update it's activity timeouts). 323L<AnyEvent::Handle> uses this to update its activity timeouts).
298 324
299The rest of this section is only of relevance if you try to be very exact 325The rest of this section is only of relevance if you try to be very exact
300with your timing, you can skip it without bad conscience. 326with your timing; you can skip it without a bad conscience.
301 327
302For a practical example of when these times differ, consider L<Event::Lib> 328For a practical example of when these times differ, consider L<Event::Lib>
303and L<EV> and the following set-up: 329and L<EV> and the following set-up:
304 330
305The event loop is running and has just invoked one of your callback at 331The event loop is running and has just invoked one of your callbacks at
306time=500 (assume no other callbacks delay processing). In your callback, 332time=500 (assume no other callbacks delay processing). In your callback,
307you wait a second by executing C<sleep 1> (blocking the process for a 333you wait a second by executing C<sleep 1> (blocking the process for a
308second) and then (at time=501) you create a relative timer that fires 334second) and then (at time=501) you create a relative timer that fires
309after three seconds. 335after three seconds.
310 336
341might affect timers and time-outs. 367might affect timers and time-outs.
342 368
343When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the 369When this is the case, you can call this method, which will update the
344event loop's idea of "current time". 370event loop's idea of "current time".
345 371
372A typical example would be a script in a web server (e.g. C<mod_perl>) -
373when mod_perl executes the script, then the event loop will have the wrong
374idea about the "current time" (being potentially far in the past, when the
375script ran the last time). In that case you should arrange a call to C<<
376AnyEvent->now_update >> each time the web server process wakes up again
377(e.g. at the start of your script, or in a handler).
378
346Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled. 379Note that updating the time I<might> cause some events to be handled.
347 380
348=back 381=back
349 382
350=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS 383=head2 SIGNAL WATCHERS
384
385 $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => <uppercase_signal_name>, cb => <callback>);
351 386
352You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal 387You can watch for signals using a signal watcher, C<signal> is the signal
353I<name> in uppercase and without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl 388I<name> in uppercase and without any C<SIG> prefix, C<cb> is the Perl
354callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs. 389callback to be invoked whenever a signal occurs.
355 390
361invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means 396invocation, and callback invocation will be synchronous. Synchronous means
362that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process, 397that it might take a while until the signal gets handled by the process,
363but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks. 398but it is guaranteed not to interrupt any other callbacks.
364 399
365The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal 400The main advantage of using these watchers is that you can share a signal
366between multiple watchers. 401between multiple watchers, and AnyEvent will ensure that signals will not
402interrupt your program at bad times.
367 403
368This watcher might use C<%SIG>, so programs overwriting those signals 404This watcher might use C<%SIG> (depending on the event loop used),
369directly will likely not work correctly. 405so programs overwriting those signals directly will likely not work
406correctly.
370 407
371Example: exit on SIGINT 408Example: exit on SIGINT
372 409
373 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 }); 410 my $w = AnyEvent->signal (signal => "INT", cb => sub { exit 1 });
374 411
412=head3 Restart Behaviour
413
414While restart behaviour is up to the event loop implementation, most will
415not restart syscalls (that includes L<Async::Interrupt> and AnyEvent's
416pure perl implementation).
417
418=head3 Safe/Unsafe Signals
419
420Perl signals can be either "safe" (synchronous to opcode handling) or
421"unsafe" (asynchronous) - the former might get delayed indefinitely, the
422latter might corrupt your memory.
423
424AnyEvent signal handlers are, in addition, synchronous to the event loop,
425i.e. they will not interrupt your running perl program but will only be
426called as part of the normal event handling (just like timer, I/O etc.
427callbacks, too).
428
429=head3 Signal Races, Delays and Workarounds
430
431Many event loops (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt, IO::Async) do not support attaching
432callbacks to signals in a generic way, which is a pity, as you cannot
433do race-free signal handling in perl, requiring C libraries for
434this. AnyEvent will try to do its best, which means in some cases,
435signals will be delayed. The maximum time a signal might be delayed is
436specified in C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY> (default: 10 seconds). This
437variable can be changed only before the first signal watcher is created,
438and should be left alone otherwise. This variable determines how often
439AnyEvent polls for signals (in case a wake-up was missed). Higher values
440will cause fewer spurious wake-ups, which is better for power and CPU
441saving.
442
443All these problems can be avoided by installing the optional
444L<Async::Interrupt> module, which works with most event loops. It will not
445work with inherently broken event loops such as L<Event> or L<Event::Lib>
446(and not with L<POE> currently, as POE does its own workaround with
447one-second latency). For those, you just have to suffer the delays.
448
375=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS 449=head2 CHILD PROCESS WATCHERS
376 450
451 $w = AnyEvent->child (pid => <process id>, cb => <callback>);
452
377You can also watch on a child process exit and catch its exit status. 453You can also watch for a child process exit and catch its exit status.
378 454
379The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (if set to C<0>, it 455The child process is specified by the C<pid> argument (on some backends,
380watches for any child process exit). The watcher will triggered only when 456using C<0> watches for any child process exit, on others this will
381the child process has finished and an exit status is available, not on 457croak). The watcher will be triggered only when the child process has
382any trace events (stopped/continued). 458finished and an exit status is available, not on any trace events
459(stopped/continued).
383 460
384The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by 461The callback will be called with the pid and exit status (as returned by
385waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher 462waitpid), so unlike other watcher types, you I<can> rely on child watcher
386callback arguments. 463callback arguments.
387 464
403 480
404This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first 481This means you cannot create a child watcher as the very first
405thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one 482thing in an AnyEvent program, you I<have> to create at least one
406watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call 483watcher before you C<fork> the child (alternatively, you can call
407C<AnyEvent::detect>). 484C<AnyEvent::detect>).
485
486As most event loops do not support waiting for child events, they will be
487emulated by AnyEvent in most cases, in which the latency and race problems
488mentioned in the description of signal watchers apply.
408 489
409Example: fork a process and wait for it 490Example: fork a process and wait for it
410 491
411 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 492 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
412 493
424 # do something else, then wait for process exit 505 # do something else, then wait for process exit
425 $done->recv; 506 $done->recv;
426 507
427=head2 IDLE WATCHERS 508=head2 IDLE WATCHERS
428 509
429Sometimes there is a need to do something, but it is not so important 510 $w = AnyEvent->idle (cb => <callback>);
430to do it instantly, but only when there is nothing better to do. This
431"nothing better to do" is usually defined to be "no other events need
432attention by the event loop".
433 511
434Idle watchers ideally get invoked when the event loop has nothing 512This will repeatedly invoke the callback after the process becomes idle,
435better to do, just before it would block the process to wait for new 513until either the watcher is destroyed or new events have been detected.
436events. Instead of blocking, the idle watcher is invoked.
437 514
438Most event loops unfortunately do not really support idle watchers (only 515Idle watchers are useful when there is a need to do something, but it
516is not so important (or wise) to do it instantly. The callback will be
517invoked only when there is "nothing better to do", which is usually
518defined as "all outstanding events have been handled and no new events
519have been detected". That means that idle watchers ideally get invoked
520when the event loop has just polled for new events but none have been
521detected. Instead of blocking to wait for more events, the idle watchers
522will be invoked.
523
524Unfortunately, most event loops do not really support idle watchers (only
439EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent 525EV, Event and Glib do it in a usable fashion) - for the rest, AnyEvent
440will simply call the callback "from time to time". 526will simply call the callback "from time to time".
441 527
442Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the 528Example: read lines from STDIN, but only process them when the
443program is otherwise idle: 529program is otherwise idle:
459 }); 545 });
460 }); 546 });
461 547
462=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES 548=head2 CONDITION VARIABLES
463 549
550 $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
551
552 $cv->send (<list>);
553 my @res = $cv->recv;
554
464If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them 555If you are familiar with some event loops you will know that all of them
465require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that 556require you to run some blocking "loop", "run" or similar function that
466will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks. 557will actively watch for new events and call your callbacks.
467 558
468AnyEvent is different, it expects somebody else to run the event loop and 559AnyEvent is slightly different: it expects somebody else to run the event
469will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user). 560loop and will only block when necessary (usually when told by the user).
470 561
471The instrument to do that is called a "condition variable", so called 562The tool to do that is called a "condition variable", so called because
472because they represent a condition that must become true. 563they represent a condition that must become true.
564
565Now is probably a good time to look at the examples further below.
473 566
474Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar 567Condition variables can be created by calling the C<< AnyEvent->condvar
475>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is 568>> method, usually without arguments. The only argument pair allowed is
476
477C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable 569C<cb>, which specifies a callback to be called when the condition variable
478becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not 570becomes true, with the condition variable as the first argument (but not
479the results). 571the results).
480 572
481After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true" 573After creation, the condition variable is "false" until it becomes "true"
482by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it 574by calling the C<send> method (or calling the condition variable as if it
483were a callback, read about the caveats in the description for the C<< 575were a callback, read about the caveats in the description for the C<<
484->send >> method). 576->send >> method).
485 577
486Condition variables are similar to callbacks, except that you can 578Since condition variables are the most complex part of the AnyEvent API, here are
487optionally wait for them. They can also be called merge points - points 579some different mental models of what they are - pick the ones you can connect to:
488in time where multiple outstanding events have been processed. And yet 580
489another way to call them is transactions - each condition variable can be 581=over 4
490used to represent a transaction, which finishes at some point and delivers 582
491a result. 583=item * Condition variables are like callbacks - you can call them (and pass them instead
584of callbacks). Unlike callbacks however, you can also wait for them to be called.
585
586=item * Condition variables are signals - one side can emit or send them,
587the other side can wait for them, or install a handler that is called when
588the signal fires.
589
590=item * Condition variables are like "Merge Points" - points in your program
591where you merge multiple independent results/control flows into one.
592
593=item * Condition variables represent a transaction - functions that start
594some kind of transaction can return them, leaving the caller the choice
595between waiting in a blocking fashion, or setting a callback.
596
597=item * Condition variables represent future values, or promises to deliver
598some result, long before the result is available.
599
600=back
492 601
493Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished, 602Condition variables are very useful to signal that something has finished,
494for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests, 603for example, if you write a module that does asynchronous http requests,
495then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the 604then a condition variable would be the ideal candidate to signal the
496availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is 605availability of results. The user can either act when the callback is
509 618
510Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys 619Condition variables are represented by hash refs in perl, and the keys
511used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing 620used by AnyEvent itself are all named C<_ae_XXX> to make subclassing
512easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of 621easy (it is often useful to build your own transaction class on top of
513AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call 622AnyEvent). To subclass, use C<AnyEvent::CondVar> as base class and call
514it's C<new> method in your own C<new> method. 623its C<new> method in your own C<new> method.
515 624
516There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which 625There are two "sides" to a condition variable - the "producer side" which
517eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits 626eventually calls C<< -> send >>, and the "consumer side", which waits
518for the send to occur. 627for the send to occur.
519 628
520Example: wait for a timer. 629Example: wait for a timer.
521 630
522 # wait till the result is ready 631 # condition: "wait till the timer is fired"
523 my $result_ready = AnyEvent->condvar; 632 my $timer_fired = AnyEvent->condvar;
524 633
525 # do something such as adding a timer 634 # create the timer - we could wait for, say
526 # or socket watcher the calls $result_ready->send 635 # a handle becomign ready, or even an
527 # when the "result" is ready. 636 # AnyEvent::HTTP request to finish, but
528 # in this case, we simply use a timer: 637 # in this case, we simply use a timer:
529 my $w = AnyEvent->timer ( 638 my $w = AnyEvent->timer (
530 after => 1, 639 after => 1,
531 cb => sub { $result_ready->send }, 640 cb => sub { $timer_fired->send },
532 ); 641 );
533 642
534 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback 643 # this "blocks" (while handling events) till the callback
535 # calls send 644 # calls ->send
536 $result_ready->recv; 645 $timer_fired->recv;
537 646
538Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that 647Example: wait for a timer, but take advantage of the fact that condition
539condition variables are also code references. 648variables are also callable directly.
540 649
541 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar; 650 my $done = AnyEvent->condvar;
542 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done); 651 my $delay = AnyEvent->timer (after => 5, cb => $done);
543 $done->recv; 652 $done->recv;
544 653
550 659
551 ... 660 ...
552 661
553 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv; 662 my @info = $couchdb->info->recv;
554 663
555And this is how you would just ste a callback to be called whenever the 664And this is how you would just set a callback to be called whenever the
556results are available: 665results are available:
557 666
558 $couchdb->info->cb (sub { 667 $couchdb->info->cb (sub {
559 my @info = $_[0]->recv; 668 my @info = $_[0]->recv;
560 }); 669 });
578immediately from within send. 687immediately from within send.
579 688
580Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all 689Any arguments passed to the C<send> call will be returned by all
581future C<< ->recv >> calls. 690future C<< ->recv >> calls.
582 691
583Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly 692Condition variables are overloaded so one can call them directly (as if
584(as a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling 693they were a code reference). Calling them directly is the same as calling
585C<send>. Note, however, that many C-based event loops do not handle 694C<send>.
586overloading, so as tempting as it may be, passing a condition variable
587instead of a callback does not work. Both the pure perl and EV loops
588support overloading, however, as well as all functions that use perl to
589invoke a callback (as in L<AnyEvent::Socket> and L<AnyEvent::DNS> for
590example).
591 695
592=item $cv->croak ($error) 696=item $cv->croak ($error)
593 697
594Similar to send, but causes all call's to C<< ->recv >> to invoke 698Similar to send, but causes all calls to C<< ->recv >> to invoke
595C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar. 699C<Carp::croak> with the given error message/object/scalar.
596 700
597This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable 701This can be used to signal any errors to the condition variable
598user/consumer. 702user/consumer. Doing it this way instead of calling C<croak> directly
703delays the error detection, but has the overwhelming advantage that it
704diagnoses the error at the place where the result is expected, and not
705deep in some event callback with no connection to the actual code causing
706the problem.
599 707
600=item $cv->begin ([group callback]) 708=item $cv->begin ([group callback])
601 709
602=item $cv->end 710=item $cv->end
603 711
605one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want 713one. For example, a function that pings many hosts in parallel might want
606to use a condition variable for the whole process. 714to use a condition variable for the whole process.
607 715
608Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to 716Every call to C<< ->begin >> will increment a counter, and every call to
609C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end 717C<< ->end >> will decrement it. If the counter reaches C<0> in C<< ->end
610>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed. That callback 718>>, the (last) callback passed to C<begin> will be executed, passing the
611is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send >>, but that is not required. If no 719condvar as first argument. That callback is I<supposed> to call C<< ->send
612callback was set, C<send> will be called without any arguments. 720>>, but that is not required. If no group callback was set, C<send> will
721be called without any arguments.
613 722
614You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call 723You can think of C<< $cv->send >> giving you an OR condition (one call
615sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND 724sends), while C<< $cv->begin >> and C<< $cv->end >> giving you an AND
616condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends). 725condition (all C<begin> calls must be C<end>'ed before the condvar sends).
617 726
639one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before 748one call to C<begin>, so the condvar waits for all calls to C<end> before
640sending. 749sending.
641 750
642The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the 751The ping example mentioned above is slightly more complicated, as the
643there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are 752there are results to be passwd back, and the number of tasks that are
644begung can potentially be zero: 753begun can potentially be zero:
645 754
646 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar; 755 my $cv = AnyEvent->condvar;
647 756
648 my %result; 757 my %result;
649 $cv->begin (sub { $cv->send (\%result) }); 758 $cv->begin (sub { shift->send (\%result) });
650 759
651 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) { 760 for my $host (@list_of_hosts) {
652 $cv->begin; 761 $cv->begin;
653 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub { 762 ping_host_then_call_callback $host, sub {
654 $result{$host} = ...; 763 $result{$host} = ...;
670to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that 779to be called once the counter reaches C<0>, and second, it ensures that
671C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop 780C<send> is called even when C<no> hosts are being pinged (the loop
672doesn't execute once). 781doesn't execute once).
673 782
674This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but 783This is the general pattern when you "fan out" into multiple (but
675potentially none) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set 784potentially zero) subrequests: use an outer C<begin>/C<end> pair to set
676the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each 785the callback and ensure C<end> is called at least once, and then, for each
677subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish, 786subrequest you start, call C<begin> and for each subrequest you finish,
678call C<end>. 787call C<end>.
679 788
680=back 789=back
687=over 4 796=over 4
688 797
689=item $cv->recv 798=item $cv->recv
690 799
691Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak 800Wait (blocking if necessary) until the C<< ->send >> or C<< ->croak
692>> methods have been called on c<$cv>, while servicing other watchers 801>> methods have been called on C<$cv>, while servicing other watchers
693normally. 802normally.
694 803
695You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but 804You can only wait once on a condition - additional calls are valid but
696will return immediately. 805will return immediately.
697 806
699function will call C<croak>. 808function will call C<croak>.
700 809
701In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned, 810In list context, all parameters passed to C<send> will be returned,
702in scalar context only the first one will be returned. 811in scalar context only the first one will be returned.
703 812
813Note that doing a blocking wait in a callback is not supported by any
814event loop, that is, recursive invocation of a blocking C<< ->recv
815>> is not allowed, and the C<recv> call will C<croak> if such a
816condition is detected. This condition can be slightly loosened by using
817L<Coro::AnyEvent>, which allows you to do a blocking C<< ->recv >> from
818any thread that doesn't run the event loop itself.
819
704Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case 820Not all event models support a blocking wait - some die in that case
705(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are 821(programs might want to do that to stay interactive), so I<if you are
706using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>, but let the 822using this from a module, never require a blocking wait>. Instead, let the
707caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling 823caller decide whether the call will block or not (for example, by coupling
708condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting 824condition variables with some kind of request results and supporting
709callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block, 825callbacks so the caller knows that getting the result will not block,
710while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires). 826while still supporting blocking waits if the caller so desires).
711 827
712Another reason I<never> to C<< ->recv >> in a module is that you cannot
713sensibly have two C<< ->recv >>'s in parallel, as that would require
714multiple interpreters or coroutines/threads, none of which C<AnyEvent>
715can supply.
716
717The L<Coro> module, however, I<can> and I<does> supply coroutines and, in
718fact, L<Coro::AnyEvent> replaces AnyEvent's condvars by coroutine-safe
719versions and also integrates coroutines into AnyEvent, making blocking
720C<< ->recv >> calls perfectly safe as long as they are done from another
721coroutine (one that doesn't run the event loop).
722
723You can ensure that C<< -recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and 828You can ensure that C<< ->recv >> never blocks by setting a callback and
724only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later 829only calling C<< ->recv >> from within that callback (or at a later
725time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking 830time). This will work even when the event loop does not support blocking
726waits otherwise. 831waits otherwise.
727 832
728=item $bool = $cv->ready 833=item $bool = $cv->ready
734 839
735This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally 840This is a mutator function that returns the callback set and optionally
736replaces it before doing so. 841replaces it before doing so.
737 842
738The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when 843The callback will be called when the condition becomes "true", i.e. when
739C<send> or C<croak> are called, with the only argument being the condition 844C<send> or C<croak> are called, with the only argument being the
740variable itself. Calling C<recv> inside the callback or at any later time 845condition variable itself. If the condition is already true, the
741is guaranteed not to block. 846callback is called immediately when it is set. Calling C<recv> inside
847the callback or at any later time is guaranteed not to block.
742 848
743=back 849=back
744 850
851=head1 SUPPORTED EVENT LOOPS/BACKENDS
852
853The available backend classes are (every class has its own manpage):
854
855=over 4
856
857=item Backends that are autoprobed when no other event loop can be found.
858
859EV is the preferred backend when no other event loop seems to be in
860use. If EV is not installed, then AnyEvent will fall back to its own
861pure-perl implementation, which is available everywhere as it comes with
862AnyEvent itself.
863
864 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (interface to libev, best choice).
865 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
866
867=item Backends that are transparently being picked up when they are used.
868
869These will be used if they are already loaded when the first watcher
870is created, in which case it is assumed that the application is using
871them. This means that AnyEvent will automatically pick the right backend
872when the main program loads an event module before anything starts to
873create watchers. Nothing special needs to be done by the main program.
874
875 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, very stable, few glitches.
876 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, slow but very stable.
877 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very broken.
878 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
879 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, very slow, some limitations.
880 AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi used when running within irssi.
881 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async.
882 AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa based on Cocoa::EventLoop.
883 AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK based on FLTK.
884
885=item Backends with special needs.
886
887Qt requires the Qt::Application to be instantiated first, but will
888otherwise be picked up automatically. As long as the main program
889instantiates the application before any AnyEvent watchers are created,
890everything should just work.
891
892 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt.
893
894=item Event loops that are indirectly supported via other backends.
895
896Some event loops can be supported via other modules:
897
898There is no direct support for WxWidgets (L<Wx>) or L<Prima>.
899
900B<WxWidgets> has no support for watching file handles. However, you can
901use WxWidgets through the POE adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply
902polls 20 times per second, which was considered to be too horrible to even
903consider for AnyEvent.
904
905B<Prima> is not supported as nobody seems to be using it, but it has a POE
906backend, so it can be supported through POE.
907
908AnyEvent knows about both L<Prima> and L<Wx>, however, and will try to
909load L<POE> when detecting them, in the hope that POE will pick them up,
910in which case everything will be automatic.
911
912=back
913
745=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS 914=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES AND FUNCTIONS
746 915
916These are not normally required to use AnyEvent, but can be useful to
917write AnyEvent extension modules.
918
747=over 4 919=over 4
748 920
749=item $AnyEvent::MODEL 921=item $AnyEvent::MODEL
750 922
751Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created. Then it 923Contains C<undef> until the first watcher is being created, before the
924backend has been autodetected.
925
752contains the event model that is being used, which is the name of the 926Afterwards it contains the event model that is being used, which is the
753Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one of the 927name of the Perl class implementing the model. This class is usually one
754C<AnyEvent::Impl:xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the case 928of the C<AnyEvent::Impl::xxx> modules, but can be any other class in the
755AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode>). 929case AnyEvent has been extended at runtime (e.g. in I<rxvt-unicode> it
756 930will be C<urxvt::anyevent>).
757The known classes so far are:
758
759 AnyEvent::Impl::EV based on EV (an interface to libev, best choice).
760 AnyEvent::Impl::Event based on Event, second best choice.
761 AnyEvent::Impl::Perl pure-perl implementation, fast and portable.
762 AnyEvent::Impl::Glib based on Glib, third-best choice.
763 AnyEvent::Impl::Tk based on Tk, very bad choice.
764 AnyEvent::Impl::Qt based on Qt, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
765 AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib based on Event::Lib, leaks memory and worse.
766 AnyEvent::Impl::POE based on POE, not generic enough for full support.
767
768 # warning, support for IO::Async is only partial, as it is too broken
769 # and limited toe ven support the AnyEvent API. See AnyEvent::Impl::Async.
770 AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync based on IO::Async, cannot be autoprobed (see its docs).
771
772There is no support for WxWidgets, as WxWidgets has no support for
773watching file handles. However, you can use WxWidgets through the
774POE Adaptor, as POE has a Wx backend that simply polls 20 times per
775second, which was considered to be too horrible to even consider for
776AnyEvent. Likewise, other POE backends can be used by AnyEvent by using
777it's adaptor.
778
779AnyEvent knows about L<Prima> and L<Wx> and will try to use L<POE> when
780autodetecting them.
781 931
782=item AnyEvent::detect 932=item AnyEvent::detect
783 933
784Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model 934Returns C<$AnyEvent::MODEL>, forcing autodetection of the event model
785if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would 935if necessary. You should only call this function right before you would
786have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at 936have created an AnyEvent watcher anyway, that is, as late as possible at
787runtime. 937runtime, and not e.g. during initialisation of your module.
938
939If you need to do some initialisation before AnyEvent watchers are
940created, use C<post_detect>.
788 941
789=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK } 942=item $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }
790 943
791Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is 944Arranges for the code block to be executed as soon as the event model is
792autodetected (or immediately if this has already happened). 945autodetected (or immediately if that has already happened).
946
947The block will be executed I<after> the actual backend has been detected
948(C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> is set), but I<before> any watchers have been
949created, so it is possible to e.g. patch C<@AnyEvent::ISA> or do
950other initialisations - see the sources of L<AnyEvent::Strict> or
951L<AnyEvent::AIO> to see how this is used.
952
953The most common usage is to create some global watchers, without forcing
954event module detection too early, for example, L<AnyEvent::AIO> creates
955and installs the global L<IO::AIO> watcher in a C<post_detect> block to
956avoid autodetecting the event module at load time.
793 957
794If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object 958If called in scalar or list context, then it creates and returns an object
795that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed. See 959that automatically removes the callback again when it is destroyed (or
960C<undef> when the hook was immediately executed). See L<AnyEvent::AIO> for
796L<Coro::BDB> for a case where this is useful. 961a case where this is useful.
962
963Example: Create a watcher for the IO::AIO module and store it in
964C<$WATCHER>, but do so only do so after the event loop is initialised.
965
966 our WATCHER;
967
968 my $guard = AnyEvent::post_detect {
969 $WATCHER = AnyEvent->io (fh => IO::AIO::poll_fileno, poll => 'r', cb => \&IO::AIO::poll_cb);
970 };
971
972 # the ||= is important in case post_detect immediately runs the block,
973 # as to not clobber the newly-created watcher. assigning both watcher and
974 # post_detect guard to the same variable has the advantage of users being
975 # able to just C<undef $WATCHER> if the watcher causes them grief.
976
977 $WATCHER ||= $guard;
797 978
798=item @AnyEvent::post_detect 979=item @AnyEvent::post_detect
799 980
800If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it 981If there are any code references in this array (you can C<push> to it
801before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will called directly after 982before or after loading AnyEvent), then they will be called directly
802the event loop has been chosen. 983after the event loop has been chosen.
803 984
804You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though: 985You should check C<$AnyEvent::MODEL> before adding to this array, though:
805if it contains a true value then the event loop has already been detected, 986if it is defined then the event loop has already been detected, and the
806and the array will be ignored. 987array will be ignored.
807 988
808Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> instead. 989Best use C<AnyEvent::post_detect { BLOCK }> when your application allows
990it, as it takes care of these details.
991
992This variable is mainly useful for modules that can do something useful
993when AnyEvent is used and thus want to know when it is initialised, but do
994not need to even load it by default. This array provides the means to hook
995into AnyEvent passively, without loading it.
996
997Example: To load Coro::AnyEvent whenever Coro and AnyEvent are used
998together, you could put this into Coro (this is the actual code used by
999Coro to accomplish this):
1000
1001 if (defined $AnyEvent::MODEL) {
1002 # AnyEvent already initialised, so load Coro::AnyEvent
1003 require Coro::AnyEvent;
1004 } else {
1005 # AnyEvent not yet initialised, so make sure to load Coro::AnyEvent
1006 # as soon as it is
1007 push @AnyEvent::post_detect, sub { require Coro::AnyEvent };
1008 }
809 1009
810=back 1010=back
811 1011
812=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE 1012=head1 WHAT TO DO IN A MODULE
813 1013
824because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using 1024because it will stall the whole program, and the whole point of using
825events is to stay interactive. 1025events is to stay interactive.
826 1026
827It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module 1027It is fine, however, to call C<< ->recv >> when the user of your module
828requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method 1028requests it (i.e. if you create a http request object ad have a method
829called C<results> that returns the results, it should call C<< ->recv >> 1029called C<results> that returns the results, it may call C<< ->recv >>
830freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. always). 1030freely, as the user of your module knows what she is doing. Always).
831 1031
832=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM 1032=head1 WHAT TO DO IN THE MAIN PROGRAM
833 1033
834There will always be a single main program - the only place that should 1034There will always be a single main program - the only place that should
835dictate which event model to use. 1035dictate which event model to use.
836 1036
837If it doesn't care, it can just "use AnyEvent" and use it itself, or not 1037If the program is not event-based, it need not do anything special, even
838do anything special (it does not need to be event-based) and let AnyEvent 1038when it depends on a module that uses an AnyEvent. If the program itself
839decide which implementation to chose if some module relies on it. 1039uses AnyEvent, but does not care which event loop is used, all it needs
1040to do is C<use AnyEvent>. In either case, AnyEvent will choose the best
1041available loop implementation.
840 1042
841If the main program relies on a specific event model - for example, in 1043If the main program relies on a specific event model - for example, in
842Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module - you should load the 1044Gtk2 programs you have to rely on the Glib module - you should load the
843event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally 1045event module before loading AnyEvent or any module that uses it: generally
844speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that 1046speaking, you should load it as early as possible. The reason is that
845modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will 1047modules might create watchers when they are loaded, and AnyEvent will
846decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it 1048decide on the event model to use as soon as it creates watchers, and it
847might chose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself. 1049might choose the wrong one unless you load the correct one yourself.
848 1050
849You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the 1051You can chose to use a pure-perl implementation by loading the
850C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar behaviour 1052C<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl> module, which gives you similar behaviour
851everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better. 1053everywhere, but letting AnyEvent chose the model is generally better.
852 1054
868 1070
869 1071
870=head1 OTHER MODULES 1072=head1 OTHER MODULES
871 1073
872The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use 1074The following is a non-exhaustive list of additional modules that use
873AnyEvent and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent modules 1075AnyEvent as a client and can therefore be mixed easily with other AnyEvent
874in the same program. Some of the modules come with AnyEvent, some are 1076modules and other event loops in the same program. Some of the modules
875available via CPAN. 1077come as part of AnyEvent, the others are available via CPAN.
876 1078
877=over 4 1079=over 4
878 1080
879=item L<AnyEvent::Util> 1081=item L<AnyEvent::Util>
880 1082
881Contains various utility functions that replace often-used but blocking 1083Contains various utility functions that replace often-used blocking
882functions such as C<inet_aton> by event-/callback-based versions. 1084functions such as C<inet_aton> with event/callback-based versions.
883 1085
884=item L<AnyEvent::Socket> 1086=item L<AnyEvent::Socket>
885 1087
886Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets, 1088Provides various utility functions for (internet protocol) sockets,
887addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp 1089addresses and name resolution. Also functions to create non-blocking tcp
889 1091
890=item L<AnyEvent::Handle> 1092=item L<AnyEvent::Handle>
891 1093
892Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes, 1094Provide read and write buffers, manages watchers for reads and writes,
893supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and 1095supports raw and formatted I/O, I/O queued and fully transparent and
894non-blocking SSL/TLS. 1096non-blocking SSL/TLS (via L<AnyEvent::TLS>).
895 1097
896=item L<AnyEvent::DNS> 1098=item L<AnyEvent::DNS>
897 1099
898Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities. 1100Provides rich asynchronous DNS resolver capabilities.
899 1101
1102=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>, L<AnyEvent::XMPP>, L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IGS>, L<AnyEvent::FCP>
1103
1104Implement event-based interfaces to the protocols of the same name (for
1105the curious, IGS is the International Go Server and FCP is the Freenet
1106Client Protocol).
1107
1108=item L<AnyEvent::Handle::UDP>
1109
1110Here be danger!
1111
1112As Pauli would put it, "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!" -
1113there are so many things wrong with AnyEvent::Handle::UDP, most notably
1114its use of a stream-based API with a protocol that isn't streamable, that
1115the only way to improve it is to delete it.
1116
1117It features data corruption (but typically only under load) and general
1118confusion. On top, the author is not only clueless about UDP but also
1119fact-resistant - some gems of his understanding: "connect doesn't work
1120with UDP", "UDP packets are not IP packets", "UDP only has datagrams, not
1121packets", "I don't need to implement proper error checking as UDP doesn't
1122support error checking" and so on - he doesn't even understand what's
1123wrong with his module when it is explained to him.
1124
900=item L<AnyEvent::HTTP> 1125=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
901 1126
902A simple-to-use HTTP library that is capable of making a lot of concurrent 1127Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process for you,
903HTTP requests. 1128notifying you in an event-based way when the operation is finished.
1129
1130=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
1131
1132Truly asynchronous (as opposed to non-blocking) I/O, should be in the
1133toolbox of every event programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses
1134L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent together, giving AnyEvent access to event-based
1135file I/O, and much more.
904 1136
905=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD> 1137=item L<AnyEvent::HTTPD>
906 1138
907Provides a simple web application server framework. 1139A simple embedded webserver.
908 1140
909=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing> 1141=item L<AnyEvent::FastPing>
910 1142
911The fastest ping in the west. 1143The fastest ping in the west.
912 1144
913=item L<AnyEvent::DBI>
914
915Executes L<DBI> requests asynchronously in a proxy process.
916
917=item L<AnyEvent::AIO>
918
919Truly asynchronous I/O, should be in the toolbox of every event
920programmer. AnyEvent::AIO transparently fuses L<IO::AIO> and AnyEvent
921together.
922
923=item L<AnyEvent::BDB>
924
925Truly asynchronous Berkeley DB access. AnyEvent::BDB transparently fuses
926L<BDB> and AnyEvent together.
927
928=item L<AnyEvent::GPSD>
929
930A non-blocking interface to gpsd, a daemon delivering GPS information.
931
932=item L<AnyEvent::IGS>
933
934A non-blocking interface to the Internet Go Server protocol (used by
935L<App::IGS>).
936
937=item L<AnyEvent::IRC>
938
939AnyEvent based IRC client module family (replacing the older Net::IRC3).
940
941=item L<Net::XMPP2>
942
943AnyEvent based XMPP (Jabber protocol) module family.
944
945=item L<Net::FCP>
946
947AnyEvent-based implementation of the Freenet Client Protocol, birthplace
948of AnyEvent.
949
950=item L<Event::ExecFlow>
951
952High level API for event-based execution flow control.
953
954=item L<Coro> 1145=item L<Coro>
955 1146
956Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>. 1147Has special support for AnyEvent via L<Coro::AnyEvent>.
957 1148
958=item L<IO::Lambda>
959
960The lambda approach to I/O - don't ask, look there. Can use AnyEvent.
961
962=back 1149=back
963 1150
964=cut 1151=cut
965 1152
966package AnyEvent; 1153package AnyEvent;
967 1154
968no warnings; 1155# basically a tuned-down version of common::sense
969use strict qw(vars subs); 1156sub common_sense {
1157 # from common:.sense 3.4
1158 ${^WARNING_BITS} ^= ${^WARNING_BITS} ^ "\x3c\x3f\x33\x00\x0f\xf0\x0f\xc0\xf0\xfc\x33\x00";
1159 # use strict vars subs - NO UTF-8, as Util.pm doesn't like this atm. (uts46data.pl)
1160 $^H |= 0x00000600;
1161}
970 1162
1163BEGIN { AnyEvent::common_sense }
1164
971use Carp; 1165use Carp ();
972 1166
973our $VERSION = 4.42; 1167our $VERSION = '5.34';
974our $MODEL; 1168our $MODEL;
975 1169
976our $AUTOLOAD; 1170our $AUTOLOAD;
977our @ISA; 1171our @ISA;
978 1172
979our @REGISTRY; 1173our @REGISTRY;
980 1174
981our $WIN32; 1175our $VERBOSE;
982 1176
983BEGIN { 1177BEGIN {
984 eval "sub WIN32(){ " . (($^O =~ /mswin32/i)*1) ." }"; 1178 require "AnyEvent/constants.pl";
1179
985 eval "sub TAINT(){ " . (${^TAINT}*1) . " }"; 1180 eval "sub TAINT (){" . (${^TAINT}*1) . "}";
986 1181
987 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV} 1182 delete @ENV{grep /^PERL_ANYEVENT_/, keys %ENV}
988 if ${^TAINT}; 1183 if ${^TAINT};
989}
990 1184
991our $verbose = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1; 1185 $VERBOSE = $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_VERBOSE}*1;
1186
1187}
1188
1189our $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY = 10;
992 1190
993our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred 1191our %PROTOCOL; # (ipv4|ipv6) => (1|2), higher numbers are preferred
994 1192
995{ 1193{
996 my $idx; 1194 my $idx;
998 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/, 1196 for reverse split /\s*,\s*/,
999 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6"; 1197 $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_PROTOCOLS} || "ipv4,ipv6";
1000} 1198}
1001 1199
1002my @models = ( 1200my @models = (
1003 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV::], 1201 [EV:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EV:: , 1],
1004 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::],
1005 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl::], 1202 [AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Perl:: , 1],
1006 # everything below here will not be autoprobed 1203 # everything below here will not (normally) be autoprobed
1007 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere 1204 # as the pureperl backend should work everywhere
1008 # and is usually faster 1205 # and is usually faster
1206 [Event:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Event::, 1],
1207 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib:: , 1], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1208 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1209 [Irssi:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Irssi::], # Irssi has a bogus "Event" package
1009 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles 1210 [Tk:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Tk::], # crashes with many handles
1010 [Glib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Glib::], # becomes extremely slow with many watchers
1011 [Event::Lib:: => AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib::], # too buggy
1012 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program 1211 [Qt:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Qt::], # requires special main program
1013 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza 1212 [POE::Kernel:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], # lasciate ogni speranza
1014 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1213 [Wx:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
1015 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::], 1214 [Prima:: => AnyEvent::Impl::POE::],
1016 # IO::Async is just too broken - we would need workaorunds for its
1017 # byzantine signal and broken child handling, among others.
1018 # IO::Async is rather hard to detect, as it doesn't have any
1019 # obvious default class.
1020# [IO::Async:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program
1021# [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program 1215 [IO::Async::Loop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::],
1022# [IO::Async::Notifier:: => AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync::], # requires special main program 1216 [Cocoa::EventLoop:: => AnyEvent::Impl::Cocoa::],
1217 [FLTK:: => AnyEvent::Impl::FLTK::],
1023); 1218);
1024 1219
1025our %method = map +($_ => 1), 1220our %method = map +($_ => 1),
1026 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar one_event DESTROY); 1221 qw(io timer time now now_update signal child idle condvar DESTROY);
1027 1222
1028our @post_detect; 1223our @post_detect;
1029 1224
1030sub post_detect(&) { 1225sub post_detect(&) {
1031 my ($cb) = @_; 1226 my ($cb) = @_;
1032 1227
1033 if ($MODEL) {
1034 $cb->();
1035
1036 1
1037 } else {
1038 push @post_detect, $cb; 1228 push @post_detect, $cb;
1039 1229
1040 defined wantarray 1230 defined wantarray
1041 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect" 1231 ? bless \$cb, "AnyEvent::Util::postdetect"
1042 : () 1232 : ()
1043 }
1044} 1233}
1045 1234
1046sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY { 1235sub AnyEvent::Util::postdetect::DESTROY {
1047 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect; 1236 @post_detect = grep $_ != ${$_[0]}, @post_detect;
1048} 1237}
1049 1238
1050sub detect() { 1239sub detect() {
1240 # free some memory
1241 *detect = sub () { $MODEL };
1242
1243 local $!; # for good measure
1244 local $SIG{__DIE__};
1245
1246 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) {
1247 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
1248 if (eval "require $model") {
1249 $MODEL = $model;
1250 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}), using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
1251 } else {
1252 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL}):\n$@" if $VERBOSE;
1253 }
1254 }
1255
1256 # check for already loaded models
1051 unless ($MODEL) { 1257 unless ($MODEL) {
1052 no strict 'refs'; 1258 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
1053 local $SIG{__DIE__}; 1259 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
1054 1260 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) {
1055 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL} =~ /^([a-zA-Z]+)$/) {
1056 my $model = "AnyEvent::Impl::$1";
1057 if (eval "require $model") { 1261 if (eval "require $model") {
1058 $MODEL = $model; 1262 $MODEL = $model;
1059 warn "AnyEvent: loaded model '$model' (forced by \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL), using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1263 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
1060 } else { 1264 last;
1061 warn "AnyEvent: unable to load model '$model' (from \$PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL):\n$@" if $verbose; 1265 }
1062 } 1266 }
1063 } 1267 }
1064 1268
1065 # check for already loaded models
1066 unless ($MODEL) { 1269 unless ($MODEL) {
1270 # try to autoload a model
1067 for (@REGISTRY, @models) { 1271 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
1068 my ($package, $model) = @$_; 1272 my ($package, $model, $autoload) = @$_;
1273 if (
1274 $autoload
1275 and eval "require $package"
1069 if (${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0) { 1276 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
1070 if (eval "require $model") { 1277 and eval "require $model"
1278 ) {
1071 $MODEL = $model; 1279 $MODEL = $model;
1072 warn "AnyEvent: autodetected model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1; 1280 warn "AnyEvent: autoloaded model '$model', using it.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 2;
1073 last; 1281 last;
1074 }
1075 } 1282 }
1076 } 1283 }
1077 1284
1078 unless ($MODEL) {
1079 # try to load a model
1080
1081 for (@REGISTRY, @models) {
1082 my ($package, $model) = @$_;
1083 if (eval "require $package"
1084 and ${"$package\::VERSION"} > 0
1085 and eval "require $model") {
1086 $MODEL = $model;
1087 warn "AnyEvent: autoprobed model '$model', using it.\n" if $verbose > 1;
1088 last;
1089 }
1090 }
1091
1092 $MODEL 1285 $MODEL
1093 or die "No event module selected for AnyEvent and autodetect failed. Install any one of these modules: EV, Event or Glib.\n"; 1286 or die "AnyEvent: backend autodetection failed - did you properly install AnyEvent?\n";
1094 }
1095 } 1287 }
1096
1097 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
1098
1099 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
1100
1101 require AnyEvent::Strict if $ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT};
1102
1103 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
1104 } 1288 }
1289
1290 @models = (); # free probe data
1291
1292 push @{"$MODEL\::ISA"}, "AnyEvent::Base";
1293 unshift @ISA, $MODEL;
1294
1295 # now nuke some methods that are overridden by the backend.
1296 # SUPER is not allowed.
1297 for (qw(time signal child idle)) {
1298 undef &{"AnyEvent::Base::$_"}
1299 if defined &{"$MODEL\::$_"};
1300 }
1301
1302 if ($ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT}) {
1303 eval { require AnyEvent::Strict };
1304 warn "AnyEvent: cannot load AnyEvent::Strict: $@"
1305 if $@ && $VERBOSE;
1306 }
1307
1308 (shift @post_detect)->() while @post_detect;
1309
1310 *post_detect = sub(&) {
1311 shift->();
1312
1313 undef
1314 };
1105 1315
1106 $MODEL 1316 $MODEL
1107} 1317}
1108 1318
1109sub AUTOLOAD { 1319sub AUTOLOAD {
1110 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://; 1320 (my $func = $AUTOLOAD) =~ s/.*://;
1111 1321
1112 $method{$func} 1322 $method{$func}
1113 or croak "$func: not a valid method for AnyEvent objects"; 1323 or Carp::croak "$func: not a valid AnyEvent class method";
1114 1324
1115 detect unless $MODEL; 1325 detect;
1116 1326
1117 my $class = shift; 1327 my $class = shift;
1118 $class->$func (@_); 1328 $class->$func (@_);
1119} 1329}
1120 1330
1123# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one). 1333# allow only one watcher per fd, so we dup it to get a different one).
1124sub _dupfh($$;$$) { 1334sub _dupfh($$;$$) {
1125 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_; 1335 my ($poll, $fh, $r, $w) = @_;
1126 1336
1127 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't 1337 # cygwin requires the fh mode to be matching, unix doesn't
1128 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<") 1338 my ($rw, $mode) = $poll eq "r" ? ($r, "<&") : ($w, ">&");
1129 : $poll eq "w" ? ($w, ">")
1130 : Carp::croak "AnyEvent->io requires poll set to either 'r' or 'w'";
1131 1339
1132 open my $fh2, "$mode&" . fileno $fh 1340 open my $fh2, $mode, $fh
1133 or die "cannot dup() filehandle: $!,"; 1341 or die "AnyEvent->io: cannot dup() filehandle in mode '$poll': $!,";
1134 1342
1135 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases 1343 # we assume CLOEXEC is already set by perl in all important cases
1136 1344
1137 ($fh2, $rw) 1345 ($fh2, $rw)
1138} 1346}
1139 1347
1348=head1 SIMPLIFIED AE API
1349
1350Starting with version 5.0, AnyEvent officially supports a second, much
1351simpler, API that is designed to reduce the calling, typing and memory
1352overhead by using function call syntax and a fixed number of parameters.
1353
1354See the L<AE> manpage for details.
1355
1356=cut
1357
1358package AE;
1359
1360our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::VERSION;
1361
1362# fall back to the main API by default - backends and AnyEvent::Base
1363# implementations can overwrite these.
1364
1365sub io($$$) {
1366 AnyEvent->io (fh => $_[0], poll => $_[1] ? "w" : "r", cb => $_[2])
1367}
1368
1369sub timer($$$) {
1370 AnyEvent->timer (after => $_[0], interval => $_[1], cb => $_[2])
1371}
1372
1373sub signal($$) {
1374 AnyEvent->signal (signal => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1375}
1376
1377sub child($$) {
1378 AnyEvent->child (pid => $_[0], cb => $_[1])
1379}
1380
1381sub idle($) {
1382 AnyEvent->idle (cb => $_[0])
1383}
1384
1385sub cv(;&) {
1386 AnyEvent->condvar (@_ ? (cb => $_[0]) : ())
1387}
1388
1389sub now() {
1390 AnyEvent->now
1391}
1392
1393sub now_update() {
1394 AnyEvent->now_update
1395}
1396
1397sub time() {
1398 AnyEvent->time
1399}
1400
1140package AnyEvent::Base; 1401package AnyEvent::Base;
1141 1402
1142# default implementations for many methods 1403# default implementations for many methods
1143 1404
1144BEGIN { 1405sub time {
1406 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1407 # probe for availability of Time::HiRes
1145 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") { 1408 if (eval "use Time::HiRes (); Time::HiRes::time (); 1") {
1409 warn "AnyEvent: using Time::HiRes for sub-second timing accuracy.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1146 *_time = \&Time::HiRes::time; 1410 *AE::time = \&Time::HiRes::time;
1147 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())... 1411 # if (eval "use POSIX (); (POSIX::times())...
1148 } else { 1412 } else {
1413 warn "AnyEvent: using built-in time(), WARNING, no sub-second resolution!\n" if $VERBOSE;
1149 *_time = sub { time }; # epic fail 1414 *AE::time = sub (){ time }; # epic fail
1415 }
1416
1417 *time = sub { AE::time }; # different prototypes
1418 };
1419 die if $@;
1420
1421 &time
1422}
1423
1424*now = \&time;
1425
1426sub now_update { }
1427
1428# default implementation for ->condvar
1429
1430sub condvar {
1431 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1432 *condvar = sub {
1433 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1434 };
1435
1436 *AE::cv = sub (;&) {
1437 bless { @_ ? (_ae_cb => shift) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1438 };
1439 };
1440 die if $@;
1441
1442 &condvar
1443}
1444
1445# default implementation for ->signal
1446
1447our $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1448
1449sub _have_async_interrupt() {
1450 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT = 1*(!$ENV{PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT}
1451 && eval "use Async::Interrupt 1.02 (); 1")
1452 unless defined $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT;
1453
1454 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1455}
1456
1457our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO);
1458our (%SIG_ASY, %SIG_ASY_W);
1459our ($SIG_COUNT, $SIG_TW);
1460
1461# install a dummy wakeup watcher to reduce signal catching latency
1462# used by Impls
1463sub _sig_add() {
1464 unless ($SIG_COUNT++) {
1465 # try to align timer on a full-second boundary, if possible
1466 my $NOW = AE::now;
1467
1468 $SIG_TW = AE::timer
1469 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY - ($NOW - int $NOW),
1470 $MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY,
1471 sub { } # just for the PERL_ASYNC_CHECK
1472 ;
1150 } 1473 }
1151} 1474}
1152 1475
1153sub time { _time } 1476sub _sig_del {
1154sub now { _time } 1477 undef $SIG_TW
1155sub now_update { } 1478 unless --$SIG_COUNT;
1156
1157# default implementation for ->condvar
1158
1159sub condvar {
1160 bless { @_ == 3 ? (_ae_cb => $_[2]) : () }, "AnyEvent::CondVar"
1161} 1479}
1162 1480
1163# default implementation for ->signal 1481our $_sig_name_init; $_sig_name_init = sub {
1482 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1483 undef $_sig_name_init;
1164 1484
1165our ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W, %SIG_CB, %SIG_EV, $SIG_IO); 1485 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1486 *sig2num = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2num;
1487 *sig2name = \&Async::Interrupt::sig2name;
1488 } else {
1489 require Config;
1166 1490
1167sub _signal_exec { 1491 my %signame2num;
1168 sysread $SIGPIPE_R, my $dummy, 4; 1492 @signame2num{ split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_name} }
1493 = split ' ', $Config::Config{sig_num};
1169 1494
1170 while (%SIG_EV) { 1495 my @signum2name;
1171 for (keys %SIG_EV) { 1496 @signum2name[values %signame2num] = keys %signame2num;
1172 delete $SIG_EV{$_}; 1497
1173 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} }; 1498 *sig2num = sub($) {
1499 $_[0] > 0 ? shift : $signame2num{+shift}
1500 };
1501 *sig2name = sub ($) {
1502 $_[0] > 0 ? $signum2name[+shift] : shift
1503 };
1174 } 1504 }
1175 } 1505 };
1176} 1506 die if $@;
1507};
1508
1509sub sig2num ($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2num }
1510sub sig2name($) { &$_sig_name_init; &sig2name }
1177 1511
1178sub signal { 1512sub signal {
1179 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1513 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1514 # probe for availability of Async::Interrupt
1515 if (_have_async_interrupt) {
1516 warn "AnyEvent: using Async::Interrupt for race-free signal handling.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1180 1517
1181 unless ($SIGPIPE_R) { 1518 $SIGPIPE_R = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
1182 require Fcntl; 1519 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R->fileno, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1183 1520
1184 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1185 require AnyEvent::Util;
1186
1187 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1188 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1189 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1190 } else { 1521 } else {
1522 warn "AnyEvent: using emulated perl signal handling with latency timer.\n" if $VERBOSE >= 8;
1523
1524 if (AnyEvent::WIN32) {
1525 require AnyEvent::Util;
1526
1527 ($SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W) = AnyEvent::Util::portable_pipe ();
1528 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_R, 1) if $SIGPIPE_R;
1529 AnyEvent::Util::fh_nonblocking ($SIGPIPE_W, 1) if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1530 } else {
1191 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W; 1531 pipe $SIGPIPE_R, $SIGPIPE_W;
1192 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R; 1532 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_R;
1193 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFL, &Fcntl::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case 1533 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFL, AnyEvent::O_NONBLOCK if $SIGPIPE_W; # just in case
1194 1534
1195 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure... 1535 # not strictly required, as $^F is normally 2, but let's make sure...
1196 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC; 1536 fcntl $SIGPIPE_R, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1197 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, &Fcntl::F_SETFD, &Fcntl::FD_CLOEXEC; 1537 fcntl $SIGPIPE_W, AnyEvent::F_SETFD, AnyEvent::FD_CLOEXEC;
1538 }
1539
1540 $SIGPIPE_R
1541 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n";
1542
1543 $SIG_IO = AE::io $SIGPIPE_R, 0, \&_signal_exec;
1198 } 1544 }
1199 1545
1200 $SIGPIPE_R 1546 *signal = $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1201 or Carp::croak "AnyEvent: unable to create a signal reporting pipe: $!\n"; 1547 ? sub {
1548 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1202 1549
1203 $SIG_IO = AnyEvent->io (fh => $SIGPIPE_R, poll => "r", cb => \&_signal_exec); 1550 # async::interrupt
1204 }
1205
1206 my $signal = uc $arg{signal} 1551 my $signal = sig2num $arg{signal};
1207 or Carp::croak "required option 'signal' is missing";
1208
1209 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1552 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1553
1554 $SIG_ASY{$signal} ||= new Async::Interrupt
1555 cb => sub { undef $SIG_EV{$signal} },
1556 signal => $signal,
1557 pipe => [$SIGPIPE_R->filenos],
1558 pipe_autodrain => 0,
1559 ;
1560
1561 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1562 }
1563 : sub {
1564 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1565
1566 # pure perl
1567 my $signal = sig2name $arg{signal};
1568 $SIG_CB{$signal}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1569
1210 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub { 1570 $SIG{$signal} ||= sub {
1211 local $!; 1571 local $!;
1212 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV; 1572 syswrite $SIGPIPE_W, "\x00", 1 unless %SIG_EV;
1213 undef $SIG_EV{$signal}; 1573 undef $SIG_EV{$signal};
1574 };
1575
1576 # can't do signal processing without introducing races in pure perl,
1577 # so limit the signal latency.
1578 _sig_add;
1579
1580 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal"
1581 }
1582 ;
1583
1584 *AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY = sub {
1585 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1586
1587 _sig_del;
1588
1589 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1590
1591 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1592 ? delete $SIG_ASY{$signal}
1593 : # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1594 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1595 # instead of getting the default action.
1596 undef $SIG{$signal}
1597 unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1598 };
1599
1600 *_signal_exec = sub {
1601 $HAVE_ASYNC_INTERRUPT
1602 ? $SIGPIPE_R->drain
1603 : sysread $SIGPIPE_R, (my $dummy), 9;
1604
1605 while (%SIG_EV) {
1606 for (keys %SIG_EV) {
1607 delete $SIG_EV{$_};
1608 $_->() for values %{ $SIG_CB{$_} || {} };
1609 }
1610 }
1611 };
1214 }; 1612 };
1613 die if $@;
1215 1614
1216 bless [$signal, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::signal" 1615 &signal
1217}
1218
1219sub AnyEvent::Base::signal::DESTROY {
1220 my ($signal, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1221
1222 delete $SIG_CB{$signal}{$cb};
1223
1224 # delete doesn't work with older perls - they then
1225 # print weird messages, or just unconditionally exit
1226 # instead of getting the default action.
1227 undef $SIG{$signal} unless keys %{ $SIG_CB{$signal} };
1228} 1616}
1229 1617
1230# default implementation for ->child 1618# default implementation for ->child
1231 1619
1232our %PID_CB; 1620our %PID_CB;
1233our $CHLD_W; 1621our $CHLD_W;
1234our $CHLD_DELAY_W; 1622our $CHLD_DELAY_W;
1235our $WNOHANG;
1236 1623
1237sub _sigchld { 1624# used by many Impl's
1238 while (0 < (my $pid = waitpid -1, $WNOHANG)) { 1625sub _emit_childstatus($$) {
1626 my (undef, $rpid, $rstatus) = @_;
1627
1628 $_->($rpid, $rstatus)
1239 $_->($pid, $?) for (values %{ $PID_CB{$pid} || {} }), 1629 for values %{ $PID_CB{$rpid} || {} },
1240 (values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} }); 1630 values %{ $PID_CB{0} || {} };
1241 }
1242} 1631}
1243 1632
1244sub child { 1633sub child {
1634 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1635 *_sigchld = sub {
1636 my $pid;
1637
1638 AnyEvent->_emit_childstatus ($pid, $?)
1639 while ($pid = waitpid -1, WNOHANG) > 0;
1640 };
1641
1642 *child = sub {
1245 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1643 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1246 1644
1247 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0) 1645 defined (my $pid = $arg{pid} + 0)
1248 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing"; 1646 or Carp::croak "required option 'pid' is missing";
1249 1647
1250 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb}; 1648 $PID_CB{$pid}{$arg{cb}} = $arg{cb};
1251 1649
1252 $WNOHANG ||= eval { local $SIG{__DIE__}; require POSIX; &POSIX::WNOHANG } || 1;
1253
1254 unless ($CHLD_W) { 1650 unless ($CHLD_W) {
1255 $CHLD_W = AnyEvent->signal (signal => 'CHLD', cb => \&_sigchld); 1651 $CHLD_W = AE::signal CHLD => \&_sigchld;
1256 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round 1652 # child could be a zombie already, so make at least one round
1257 &_sigchld; 1653 &_sigchld;
1258 } 1654 }
1259 1655
1260 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::child" 1656 bless [$pid, $arg{cb}], "AnyEvent::Base::child"
1261} 1657 };
1262 1658
1263sub AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY { 1659 *AnyEvent::Base::child::DESTROY = sub {
1264 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]}; 1660 my ($pid, $cb) = @{$_[0]};
1265 1661
1266 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb}; 1662 delete $PID_CB{$pid}{$cb};
1267 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} }; 1663 delete $PID_CB{$pid} unless keys %{ $PID_CB{$pid} };
1268 1664
1269 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB; 1665 undef $CHLD_W unless keys %PID_CB;
1666 };
1667 };
1668 die if $@;
1669
1670 &child
1270} 1671}
1271 1672
1272# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless 1673# idle emulation is done by simply using a timer, regardless
1273# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting 1674# of whether the process is idle or not, and not letting
1274# the callback use more than 50% of the time. 1675# the callback use more than 50% of the time.
1275sub idle { 1676sub idle {
1677 eval q{ # poor man's autoloading {}
1678 *idle = sub {
1276 my (undef, %arg) = @_; 1679 my (undef, %arg) = @_;
1277 1680
1278 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb}; 1681 my ($cb, $w, $rcb) = $arg{cb};
1279 1682
1280 $rcb = sub { 1683 $rcb = sub {
1281 if ($cb) { 1684 if ($cb) {
1282 $w = _time; 1685 $w = _time;
1283 &$cb; 1686 &$cb;
1284 $w = _time - $w; 1687 $w = _time - $w;
1285 1688
1286 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher, 1689 # never use more then 50% of the time for the idle watcher,
1287 # within some limits 1690 # within some limits
1288 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001; 1691 $w = 0.0001 if $w < 0.0001;
1289 $w = 5 if $w > 5; 1692 $w = 5 if $w > 5;
1290 1693
1291 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => $w, cb => $rcb); 1694 $w = AE::timer $w, 0, $rcb;
1292 } else { 1695 } else {
1293 # clean up... 1696 # clean up...
1294 undef $w; 1697 undef $w;
1295 undef $rcb; 1698 undef $rcb;
1699 }
1700 };
1701
1702 $w = AE::timer 0.05, 0, $rcb;
1703
1704 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1296 } 1705 };
1706
1707 *AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY = sub {
1708 undef $${$_[0]};
1709 };
1297 }; 1710 };
1711 die if $@;
1298 1712
1299 $w = AnyEvent->timer (after => 0.05, cb => $rcb); 1713 &idle
1300
1301 bless \\$cb, "AnyEvent::Base::idle"
1302}
1303
1304sub AnyEvent::Base::idle::DESTROY {
1305 undef $${$_[0]};
1306} 1714}
1307 1715
1308package AnyEvent::CondVar; 1716package AnyEvent::CondVar;
1309 1717
1310our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::; 1718our @ISA = AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::;
1311 1719
1720# only to be used for subclassing
1721sub new {
1722 my $class = shift;
1723 bless AnyEvent->condvar (@_), $class
1724}
1725
1312package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base; 1726package AnyEvent::CondVar::Base;
1313 1727
1314use overload 1728#use overload
1315 '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }, 1729# '&{}' => sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } },
1316 fallback => 1; 1730# fallback => 1;
1731
1732# save 300+ kilobytes by dirtily hardcoding overloading
1733${"AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::OVERLOAD"}{dummy}++; # Register with magic by touching.
1734*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = sub { }; # "Make it findable via fetchmethod."
1735*{'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::(&{}'} = sub { my $self = shift; sub { $self->send (@_) } }; # &{}
1736${'AnyEvent::CondVar::Base::()'} = 1; # fallback
1737
1738our $WAITING;
1317 1739
1318sub _send { 1740sub _send {
1319 # nop 1741 # nop
1742}
1743
1744sub _wait {
1745 Carp::croak "$AnyEvent::MODEL does not support blocking waits. Caught";
1320} 1746}
1321 1747
1322sub send { 1748sub send {
1323 my $cv = shift; 1749 my $cv = shift;
1324 $cv->{_ae_sent} = [@_]; 1750 $cv->{_ae_sent} = [@_];
1333 1759
1334sub ready { 1760sub ready {
1335 $_[0]{_ae_sent} 1761 $_[0]{_ae_sent}
1336} 1762}
1337 1763
1338sub _wait {
1339 AnyEvent->one_event while !$_[0]{_ae_sent};
1340}
1341
1342sub recv { 1764sub recv {
1765 unless ($_[0]{_ae_sent}) {
1766 $WAITING
1767 and Carp::croak "AnyEvent::CondVar: recursive blocking wait detected";
1768
1769 local $WAITING = 1;
1343 $_[0]->_wait; 1770 $_[0]->_wait;
1771 }
1344 1772
1345 Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak} if $_[0]{_ae_croak}; 1773 $_[0]{_ae_croak}
1346 wantarray ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} } : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0] 1774 and Carp::croak $_[0]{_ae_croak};
1775
1776 wantarray
1777 ? @{ $_[0]{_ae_sent} }
1778 : $_[0]{_ae_sent}[0]
1347} 1779}
1348 1780
1349sub cb { 1781sub cb {
1350 $_[0]{_ae_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1782 my $cv = shift;
1783
1784 @_
1785 and $cv->{_ae_cb} = shift
1786 and $cv->{_ae_sent}
1787 and (delete $cv->{_ae_cb})->($cv);
1788
1351 $_[0]{_ae_cb} 1789 $cv->{_ae_cb}
1352} 1790}
1353 1791
1354sub begin { 1792sub begin {
1355 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter}; 1793 ++$_[0]{_ae_counter};
1356 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 1794 $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
1361 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} || sub { $_[0]->send } }; 1799 &{ $_[0]{_ae_end_cb} || sub { $_[0]->send } };
1362} 1800}
1363 1801
1364# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4 1802# undocumented/compatibility with pre-3.4
1365*broadcast = \&send; 1803*broadcast = \&send;
1366*wait = \&_wait; 1804*wait = \&recv;
1367 1805
1368=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING 1806=head1 ERROR AND EXCEPTION HANDLING
1369 1807
1370In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the 1808In general, AnyEvent does not do any error handling - it relies on the
1371caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also 1809caller to do that if required. The L<AnyEvent::Strict> module (see also
1405C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>. 1843C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>.
1406 1844
1407When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event 1845When set to C<2> or higher, cause AnyEvent to report to STDERR which event
1408model it chooses. 1846model it chooses.
1409 1847
1848When set to C<8> or higher, then AnyEvent will report extra information on
1849which optional modules it loads and how it implements certain features.
1850
1410=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT> 1851=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT>
1411 1852
1412AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough 1853AnyEvent does not do much argument checking by default, as thorough
1413argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value 1854argument checking is very costly. Setting this variable to a true value
1414will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly 1855will cause AnyEvent to load C<AnyEvent::Strict> and then to thoroughly
1415check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems, 1856check the arguments passed to most method calls. If it finds any problems,
1416it will croak. 1857it will croak.
1417 1858
1418In other words, enables "strict" mode. 1859In other words, enables "strict" mode.
1419 1860
1420Unlike C<use strict>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in 1861Unlike C<use strict> (or its modern cousin, C<< use L<common::sense>
1421production. Keeping C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while 1862>>, it is definitely recommended to keep it off in production. Keeping
1422developing programs can be very useful, however. 1863C<PERL_ANYEVENT_STRICT=1> in your environment while developing programs
1864can be very useful, however.
1423 1865
1424=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL> 1866=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MODEL>
1425 1867
1426This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before 1868This can be used to specify the event model to be used by AnyEvent, before
1427auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting 1869auto detection and -probing kicks in. It must be a string consisting
1470 1912
1471=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS> 1913=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_FORKS>
1472 1914
1473The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call> 1915The maximum number of child processes that C<AnyEvent::Util::fork_call>
1474will create in parallel. 1916will create in parallel.
1917
1918=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_MAX_OUTSTANDING_DNS>
1919
1920The default value for the C<max_outstanding> parameter for the default DNS
1921resolver - this is the maximum number of parallel DNS requests that are
1922sent to the DNS server.
1923
1924=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_RESOLV_CONF>
1925
1926The file to use instead of F</etc/resolv.conf> (or OS-specific
1927configuration) in the default resolver. When set to the empty string, no
1928default config will be used.
1929
1930=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_FILE>, C<PERL_ANYEVENT_CA_PATH>.
1931
1932When neither C<ca_file> nor C<ca_path> was specified during
1933L<AnyEvent::TLS> context creation, and either of these environment
1934variables exist, they will be used to specify CA certificate locations
1935instead of a system-dependent default.
1936
1937=item C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_GUARD> and C<PERL_ANYEVENT_AVOID_ASYNC_INTERRUPT>
1938
1939When these are set to C<1>, then the respective modules are not
1940loaded. Mostly good for testing AnyEvent itself.
1475 1941
1476=back 1942=back
1477 1943
1478=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE 1944=head1 SUPPLYING YOUR OWN EVENT MODEL INTERFACE
1479 1945
1537 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read 2003 warn "read: $input\n"; # output what has been read
1538 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i 2004 $cv->send if $input =~ /^q/i; # quit program if /^q/i
1539 }, 2005 },
1540 ); 2006 );
1541 2007
1542 my $time_watcher; # can only be used once
1543
1544 sub new_timer {
1545 $timer = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, cb => sub { 2008 my $time_watcher = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, interval => 1, cb => sub {
1546 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' about every second 2009 warn "timeout\n"; # print 'timeout' at most every second
1547 &new_timer; # and restart the time
1548 }); 2010 });
1549 }
1550
1551 new_timer; # create first timer
1552 2011
1553 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i 2012 $cv->recv; # wait until user enters /^q/i
1554 2013
1555=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE 2014=head1 REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
1556 2015
1629 2088
1630The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions) 2089The actual code goes further and collects all errors (C<die>s, exceptions)
1631that occurred during request processing. The C<result> method detects 2090that occurred during request processing. The C<result> method detects
1632whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object) 2091whether an exception as thrown (it is stored inside the $txn object)
1633and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other 2092and just throws the exception, which means connection errors and other
1634problems get reported tot he code that tries to use the result, not in a 2093problems get reported to the code that tries to use the result, not in a
1635random callback. 2094random callback.
1636 2095
1637All of this enables the following usage styles: 2096All of this enables the following usage styles:
1638 2097
16391. Blocking: 20981. Blocking:
1687through AnyEvent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero 2146through AnyEvent. The benchmark creates a lot of timers (with a zero
1688timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable, 2147timeout) and I/O watchers (watching STDOUT, a pty, to become writable,
1689which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again. 2148which it is), lets them fire exactly once and destroys them again.
1690 2149
1691Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent 2150Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench> in the AnyEvent
1692distribution. 2151distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2152for the EV and Perl backends only.
1693 2153
1694=head3 Explanation of the columns 2154=head3 Explanation of the columns
1695 2155
1696I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since 2156I<watcher> is the number of event watchers created/destroyed. Since
1697different event models feature vastly different performances, each event 2157different event models feature vastly different performances, each event
1718watcher. 2178watcher.
1719 2179
1720=head3 Results 2180=head3 Results
1721 2181
1722 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment 2182 name watchers bytes create invoke destroy comment
1723 EV/EV 400000 224 0.47 0.35 0.27 EV native interface 2183 EV/EV 100000 223 0.47 0.43 0.27 EV native interface
1724 EV/Any 100000 224 2.88 0.34 0.27 EV + AnyEvent watchers 2184 EV/Any 100000 223 0.48 0.42 0.26 EV + AnyEvent watchers
1725 CoroEV/Any 100000 224 2.85 0.35 0.28 coroutines + Coro::Signal 2185 Coro::EV/Any 100000 223 0.47 0.42 0.26 coroutines + Coro::Signal
1726 Perl/Any 100000 452 4.13 0.73 0.95 pure perl implementation 2186 Perl/Any 100000 431 2.70 0.74 0.92 pure perl implementation
1727 Event/Event 16000 517 32.20 31.80 0.81 Event native interface 2187 Event/Event 16000 516 31.16 31.84 0.82 Event native interface
1728 Event/Any 16000 590 35.85 31.55 1.06 Event + AnyEvent watchers 2188 Event/Any 16000 1203 42.61 34.79 1.80 Event + AnyEvent watchers
1729 IOAsync/Any 16000 989 38.10 32.77 11.13 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll 2189 IOAsync/Any 16000 1911 41.92 27.45 16.81 via IO::Async::Loop::IO_Poll
1730 IOAsync/Any 16000 990 37.59 29.50 10.61 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll 2190 IOAsync/Any 16000 1726 40.69 26.37 15.25 via IO::Async::Loop::Epoll
1731 Glib/Any 16000 1357 102.33 12.31 51.00 quadratic behaviour 2191 Glib/Any 16000 1118 89.00 12.57 51.17 quadratic behaviour
1732 Tk/Any 2000 1860 27.20 66.31 14.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers 2192 Tk/Any 2000 1346 20.96 10.75 8.00 SEGV with >> 2000 watchers
1733 POE/Event 2000 6328 109.99 751.67 14.02 via POE::Loop::Event 2193 POE/Any 2000 6951 108.97 795.32 14.24 via POE::Loop::Event
1734 POE/Select 2000 6027 94.54 809.13 579.80 via POE::Loop::Select 2194 POE/Any 2000 6648 94.79 774.40 575.51 via POE::Loop::Select
1735 2195
1736=head3 Discussion 2196=head3 Discussion
1737 2197
1738The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very 2198The benchmark does I<not> measure scalability of the event loop very
1739well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one) 2199well. For example, a select-based event loop (such as the pure perl one)
1751benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with 2211benchmark machine, handling an event takes roughly 1600 CPU cycles with
1752EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU 2212EV, 3100 CPU cycles with AnyEvent's pure perl loop and almost 3000000 CPU
1753cycles with POE. 2213cycles with POE.
1754 2214
1755C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both 2215C<EV> is the sole leader regarding speed and memory use, which are both
1756maximal/minimal, respectively. Even when going through AnyEvent, it uses 2216maximal/minimal, respectively. When using the L<AE> API there is zero
2217overhead (when going through the AnyEvent API create is about 5-6 times
2218slower, with other times being equal, so still uses far less memory than
1757far less memory than any other event loop and is still faster than Event 2219any other event loop and is still faster than Event natively).
1758natively.
1759 2220
1760The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the 2221The pure perl implementation is hit in a few sweet spots (both the
1761constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl 2222constant timeout and the use of a single fd hit optimisations in the perl
1762interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it 2223interpreter and the backend itself). Nevertheless this shows that it
1763adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its 2224adds very little overhead in itself. Like any select-based backend its
1837In this benchmark, we use 10000 socket pairs (20000 sockets), of which 100 2298In this benchmark, we use 10000 socket pairs (20000 sockets), of which 100
1838(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many 2299(1%) are active. This mirrors the activity of large servers with many
1839connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time. 2300connections, most of which are idle at any one point in time.
1840 2301
1841Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent 2302Source code for this benchmark is found as F<eg/bench2> in the AnyEvent
1842distribution. 2303distribution. It uses the L<AE> interface, which makes a real difference
2304for the EV and Perl backends only.
1843 2305
1844=head3 Explanation of the columns 2306=head3 Explanation of the columns
1845 2307
1846I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as 2308I<sockets> is the number of sockets, and twice the number of "servers" (as
1847each server has a read and write socket end). 2309each server has a read and write socket end).
1855a new one that moves the timeout into the future. 2317a new one that moves the timeout into the future.
1856 2318
1857=head3 Results 2319=head3 Results
1858 2320
1859 name sockets create request 2321 name sockets create request
1860 EV 20000 69.01 11.16 2322 EV 20000 62.66 7.99
1861 Perl 20000 73.32 35.87 2323 Perl 20000 68.32 32.64
1862 IOAsync 20000 157.00 98.14 epoll 2324 IOAsync 20000 174.06 101.15 epoll
1863 IOAsync 20000 159.31 616.06 poll 2325 IOAsync 20000 174.67 610.84 poll
1864 Event 20000 212.62 257.32 2326 Event 20000 202.69 242.91
1865 Glib 20000 651.16 1896.30 2327 Glib 20000 557.01 1689.52
1866 POE 20000 349.67 12317.24 uses POE::Loop::Event 2328 POE 20000 341.54 12086.32 uses POE::Loop::Event
1867 2329
1868=head3 Discussion 2330=head3 Discussion
1869 2331
1870This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the 2332This benchmark I<does> measure scalability and overall performance of the
1871particular event loop. 2333particular event loop.
1997As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the 2459As you can see, the AnyEvent + EV combination even beats the
1998hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl 2460hand-optimised "raw sockets benchmark", while AnyEvent + its pure perl
1999backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE. 2461backend easily beats IO::Lambda and POE.
2000 2462
2001And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and 2463And even the 100% non-blocking version written using the high-level (and
2002slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda by a 2464slow :) L<AnyEvent::Handle> abstraction beats both POE and IO::Lambda
2003large margin, even though it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O 2465higher level ("unoptimised") abstractions by a large margin, even though
2004in a non-blocking way. 2466it does all of DNS, tcp-connect and socket I/O in a non-blocking way.
2005 2467
2006The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and 2468The two AnyEvent benchmarks programs can be found as F<eg/ae0.pl> and
2007F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are 2469F<eg/ae2.pl> in the AnyEvent distribution, the remaining benchmarks are
2008part of the IO::lambda distribution and were used without any changes. 2470part of the IO::Lambda distribution and were used without any changes.
2009 2471
2010 2472
2011=head1 SIGNALS 2473=head1 SIGNALS
2012 2474
2013AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals: 2475AnyEvent currently installs handlers for these signals:
2018 2480
2019A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher 2481A handler for C<SIGCHLD> is installed by AnyEvent's child watcher
2020emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some 2482emulation for event loops that do not support them natively. Also, some
2021event loops install a similar handler. 2483event loops install a similar handler.
2022 2484
2023If, when AnyEvent is loaded, SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then AnyEvent will 2485Additionally, when AnyEvent is loaded and SIGCHLD is set to IGNORE, then
2024reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses. 2486AnyEvent will reset it to default, to avoid losing child exit statuses.
2025 2487
2026=item SIGPIPE 2488=item SIGPIPE
2027 2489
2028A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef> 2490A no-op handler is installed for C<SIGPIPE> when C<$SIG{PIPE}> is C<undef>
2029when AnyEvent gets loaded. 2491when AnyEvent gets loaded.
2047 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE'; 2509 if $SIG{CHLD} eq 'IGNORE';
2048 2510
2049$SIG{PIPE} = sub { } 2511$SIG{PIPE} = sub { }
2050 unless defined $SIG{PIPE}; 2512 unless defined $SIG{PIPE};
2051 2513
2514=head1 RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL MODULES
2515
2516One of AnyEvent's main goals is to be 100% Pure-Perl(tm): only perl (and
2517its built-in modules) are required to use it.
2518
2519That does not mean that AnyEvent won't take advantage of some additional
2520modules if they are installed.
2521
2522This section explains which additional modules will be used, and how they
2523affect AnyEvent's operation.
2524
2525=over 4
2526
2527=item L<Async::Interrupt>
2528
2529This slightly arcane module is used to implement fast signal handling: To
2530my knowledge, there is no way to do completely race-free and quick
2531signal handling in pure perl. To ensure that signals still get
2532delivered, AnyEvent will start an interval timer to wake up perl (and
2533catch the signals) with some delay (default is 10 seconds, look for
2534C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>).
2535
2536If this module is available, then it will be used to implement signal
2537catching, which means that signals will not be delayed, and the event loop
2538will not be interrupted regularly, which is more efficient (and good for
2539battery life on laptops).
2540
2541This affects not just the pure-perl event loop, but also other event loops
2542that have no signal handling on their own (e.g. Glib, Tk, Qt).
2543
2544Some event loops (POE, Event, Event::Lib) offer signal watchers natively,
2545and either employ their own workarounds (POE) or use AnyEvent's workaround
2546(using C<$AnyEvent::MAX_SIGNAL_LATENCY>). Installing L<Async::Interrupt>
2547does nothing for those backends.
2548
2549=item L<EV>
2550
2551This module isn't really "optional", as it is simply one of the backend
2552event loops that AnyEvent can use. However, it is simply the best event
2553loop available in terms of features, speed and stability: It supports
2554the AnyEvent API optimally, implements all the watcher types in XS, does
2555automatic timer adjustments even when no monotonic clock is available,
2556can take avdantage of advanced kernel interfaces such as C<epoll> and
2557C<kqueue>, and is the fastest backend I<by far>. You can even embed
2558L<Glib>/L<Gtk2> in it (or vice versa, see L<EV::Glib> and L<Glib::EV>).
2559
2560If you only use backends that rely on another event loop (e.g. C<Tk>),
2561then this module will do nothing for you.
2562
2563=item L<Guard>
2564
2565The guard module, when used, will be used to implement
2566C<AnyEvent::Util::guard>. This speeds up guards considerably (and uses a
2567lot less memory), but otherwise doesn't affect guard operation much. It is
2568purely used for performance.
2569
2570=item L<JSON> and L<JSON::XS>
2571
2572One of these modules is required when you want to read or write JSON data
2573via L<AnyEvent::Handle>. L<JSON> is also written in pure-perl, but can take
2574advantage of the ultra-high-speed L<JSON::XS> module when it is installed.
2575
2576=item L<Net::SSLeay>
2577
2578Implementing TLS/SSL in Perl is certainly interesting, but not very
2579worthwhile: If this module is installed, then L<AnyEvent::Handle> (with
2580the help of L<AnyEvent::TLS>), gains the ability to do TLS/SSL.
2581
2582=item L<Time::HiRes>
2583
2584This module is part of perl since release 5.008. It will be used when the
2585chosen event library does not come with a timing source of its own. The
2586pure-perl event loop (L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>) will additionally use it to
2587try to use a monotonic clock for timing stability.
2588
2589=back
2590
2591
2052=head1 FORK 2592=head1 FORK
2053 2593
2054Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are 2594Most event libraries are not fork-safe. The ones who are usually are
2055because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> 2595because they rely on inefficient but fork-safe C<select> or C<poll> calls
2056calls. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware. 2596- higher performance APIs such as BSD's kqueue or the dreaded Linux epoll
2597are usually badly thought-out hacks that are incompatible with fork in
2598one way or another. Only L<EV> is fully fork-aware and ensures that you
2599continue event-processing in both parent and child (or both, if you know
2600what you are doing).
2601
2602This means that, in general, you cannot fork and do event processing in
2603the child if the event library was initialised before the fork (which
2604usually happens when the first AnyEvent watcher is created, or the library
2605is loaded).
2057 2606
2058If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first 2607If you have to fork, you must either do so I<before> creating your first
2059watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child. 2608watcher OR you must not use AnyEvent at all in the child OR you must do
2609something completely out of the scope of AnyEvent.
2610
2611The problem of doing event processing in the parent I<and> the child
2612is much more complicated: even for backends that I<are> fork-aware or
2613fork-safe, their behaviour is not usually what you want: fork clones all
2614watchers, that means all timers, I/O watchers etc. are active in both
2615parent and child, which is almost never what you want. USing C<exec>
2616to start worker children from some kind of manage rprocess is usually
2617preferred, because it is much easier and cleaner, at the expense of having
2618to have another binary.
2060 2619
2061 2620
2062=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 2621=head1 SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
2063 2622
2064AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via 2623AnyEvent can be forced to load any event model via
2094pronounced). 2653pronounced).
2095 2654
2096 2655
2097=head1 SEE ALSO 2656=head1 SEE ALSO
2098 2657
2658Tutorial/Introduction: L<AnyEvent::Intro>.
2659
2660FAQ: L<AnyEvent::FAQ>.
2661
2099Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>. 2662Utility functions: L<AnyEvent::Util>.
2100 2663
2101Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>, 2664Event modules: L<EV>, L<EV::Glib>, L<Glib::EV>, L<Event>, L<Glib::Event>,
2102L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>. 2665L<Glib>, L<Tk>, L<Event::Lib>, L<Qt>, L<POE>.
2103 2666
2104Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>, 2667Implementations: L<AnyEvent::Impl::EV>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Event>,
2105L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>, 2668L<AnyEvent::Impl::Glib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Tk>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Perl>,
2106L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>, 2669L<AnyEvent::Impl::EventLib>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::Qt>,
2107L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>. 2670L<AnyEvent::Impl::POE>, L<AnyEvent::Impl::IOAsync>, L<Anyevent::Impl::Irssi>.
2108 2671
2109Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and 2672Non-blocking file handles, sockets, TCP clients and
2110servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>. 2673servers: L<AnyEvent::Handle>, L<AnyEvent::Socket>, L<AnyEvent::TLS>.
2111 2674
2112Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2675Asynchronous DNS: L<AnyEvent::DNS>.
2113 2676
2114Coroutine support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>, 2677Thread support: L<Coro>, L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
2115 2678
2116Nontrivial usage examples: L<Net::FCP>, L<Net::XMPP2>, L<AnyEvent::DNS>. 2679Nontrivial usage examples: L<AnyEvent::GPSD>, L<AnyEvent::IRC>,
2680L<AnyEvent::HTTP>.
2117 2681
2118 2682
2119=head1 AUTHOR 2683=head1 AUTHOR
2120 2684
2121 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 2685 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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