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Revision 1.21 by root, Thu Jul 30 03:59:47 2009 UTC

53 53
54For example the deliantra game server uses a variant of this technique 54For example the deliantra game server uses a variant of this technique
55to interrupt background processes regularly to send map updates to game 55to interrupt background processes regularly to send map updates to game
56clients. 56clients.
57 57
58Or L<EV::Loop::Async> uses an interrupt object to wake up perl when new
59events have arrived.
60
58L<IO::AIO> and L<BDB> could also use this to speed up result reporting. 61L<IO::AIO> and L<BDB> could also use this to speed up result reporting.
59 62
60=item Speedy event loop invocation 63=item Speedy event loop invocation
61 64
62One could use this module e.g. in L<Coro> to interrupt a running coro-thread 65One could use this module e.g. in L<Coro> to interrupt a running coro-thread
88I<running> interpreter, there is optional support for signalling a pipe 91I<running> interpreter, there is optional support for signalling a pipe
89- that means you can also wait for the pipe to become readable (e.g. via 92- that means you can also wait for the pipe to become readable (e.g. via
90L<EV> or L<AnyEvent>). This, of course, incurs the overhead of a C<read> 93L<EV> or L<AnyEvent>). This, of course, incurs the overhead of a C<read>
91and C<write> syscall. 94and C<write> syscall.
92 95
96=head1 USAGE EXAMPLES
97
98=head2 Implementing race-free signal handling
99
100This example uses a single event pipe for all signals, and one
101Async::Interrupt per signal. This code is actually what the L<AnyEvent>
102module uses itself when Async::Interrupt is available.
103
104First, create the event pipe and hook it into the event loop
105
106 $SIGPIPE = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
107 $SIGPIPE_W = AnyEvent->io (
108 fh => $SIGPIPE->fileno,
109 poll => "r",
110 cb => \&_signal_check, # defined later
111 );
112
113Then, for each signal to hook, create an Async::Interrupt object. The
114callback just sets a global variable, as we are only interested in
115synchronous signals (i.e. when the event loop polls), which is why the
116pipe draining is not done automatically.
117
118 my $interrupt = new Async::Interrupt
119 cb => sub { undef $SIGNAL_RECEIVED{$signum} }
120 signal => $signum,
121 pipe => [$SIGPIPE->filenos],
122 pipe_autodrain => 0,
123 ;
124
125Finally, the I/O callback for the event pipe handles the signals:
126
127 sub _signal_check {
128 # drain the pipe first
129 $SIGPIPE->drain;
130
131 # two loops, just to be sure
132 while (%SIGNAL_RECEIVED) {
133 for (keys %SIGNAL_RECEIVED) {
134 delete $SIGNAL_RECEIVED{$_};
135 warn "signal $_ received\n";
136 }
137 }
138 }
139
140=head2 Interrupt perl from another thread
141
142This example interrupts the Perl interpreter from another thread, via the
143XS API. This is used by e.g. the L<EV::Loop::Async> module.
144
145On the Perl level, a new loop object (which contains the thread)
146is created, by first calling some XS constructor, querying the
147C-level callback function and feeding that as the C<c_cb> into the
148Async::Interrupt constructor:
149
150 my $self = XS_thread_constructor;
151 my ($c_func, $c_arg) = _c_func $self; # return the c callback
152 my $asy = new Async::Interrupt c_cb => [$c_func, $c_arg];
153
154Then the newly created Interrupt object is queried for the signaling
155function that the newly created thread should call, and this is in turn
156told to the thread object:
157
158 _attach $self, $asy->signal_func;
159
160So to repeat: first the XS object is created, then it is queried for the
161callback that should be called when the Interrupt object gets signalled.
162
163Then the interrupt object is queried for the callback fucntion that the
164thread should call to signal the Interrupt object, and this callback is
165then attached to the thread.
166
167You have to be careful that your new thread is not signalling before the
168signal function was configured, for example by starting the background
169thread only within C<_attach>.
170
171That concludes the Perl part.
172
173The XS part consists of the actual constructor which creates a thread,
174which is not relevant for this example, and two functions, C<_c_func>,
175which returns the Perl-side callback, and C<_attach>, which configures
176the signalling functioon that is safe toc all from another thread. For
177simplicity, we will use global variables to store the functions, normally
178you would somehow attach them to C<$self>.
179
180The C<c_func> simply returns the address of a static function and arranges
181for the object pointed to by C<$self> to be passed to it, as an integer:
182
183 void
184 _c_func (SV *loop)
185 PPCODE:
186 EXTEND (SP, 2);
187 PUSHs (sv_2mortal (newSViv (PTR2IV (c_func))));
188 PUSHs (sv_2mortal (newSViv (SvRV (loop))));
189
190This would be the callback (since it runs in a normal Perl context, it is
191permissible to manipulate Perl values):
192
193 static void
194 c_func (pTHX_ void *loop_, int value)
195 {
196 SV *loop_object = (SV *)loop_;
197 ...
198 }
199
200And this attaches the signalling callback:
201
202 static void (*my_sig_func) (void *signal_arg, int value);
203 static void *my_sig_arg;
204
205 void
206 _attach (SV *loop_, IV sig_func, void *sig_arg)
207 CODE:
208 {
209 my_sig_func = sig_func;
210 my_sig_arg = sig_arg;
211
212 /* now run the thread */
213 thread_create (&u->tid, l_run, 0);
214 }
215
216And C<l_run> (the background thread) would eventually call the signaling
217function:
218
219 my_sig_func (my_sig_arg, 0);
220
221You can have a look at L<EV::Loop::Async> for an actual example using
222intra-thread communication, locking and so on.
223
224
225=head1 THE Async::Interrupt CLASS
226
93=over 4 227=over 4
94 228
95=cut 229=cut
96 230
97package Async::Interrupt; 231package Async::Interrupt;
98 232
99use common::sense; 233use common::sense;
100 234
101BEGIN { 235BEGIN {
102 # the next line forces initialisation of internal 236 # the next line forces initialisation of internal
103 # signal handling # variables 237 # signal handling variables, otherwise, PL_sig_pending
238 # etc. will be null pointers.
104 $SIG{KILL} = sub { }; 239 $SIG{KILL} = sub { };
105 240
106 our $VERSION = '0.501'; 241 our $VERSION = '1.0';
107 242
108 require XSLoader; 243 require XSLoader;
109 XSLoader::load ("Async::Interrupt", $VERSION); 244 XSLoader::load ("Async::Interrupt", $VERSION);
110} 245}
111 246
134The exceptions are C<$!> and C<$@>, which are saved and restored by 269The exceptions are C<$!> and C<$@>, which are saved and restored by
135Async::Interrupt. 270Async::Interrupt.
136 271
137If the callback should throw an exception, then it will be caught, 272If the callback should throw an exception, then it will be caught,
138and C<$Async::Interrupt::DIED> will be called with C<$@> containing 273and C<$Async::Interrupt::DIED> will be called with C<$@> containing
139the exception. The default will simply C<warn> about the message and 274the exception. The default will simply C<warn> about the message and
140continue. 275continue.
141 276
142=item c_cb => [$c_func, $c_arg] 277=item c_cb => [$c_func, $c_arg]
143 278
144Registers a C callback the be invoked whenever the async interrupt is 279Registers a C callback the be invoked whenever the async interrupt is
160which case the requirements set out for C<cb> apply as well). 295which case the requirements set out for C<cb> apply as well).
161 296
162=item var => $scalar_ref 297=item var => $scalar_ref
163 298
164When specified, then the given argument must be a reference to a 299When specified, then the given argument must be a reference to a
165scalar. The scalar will be set to C<0> intiially. Signalling the interrupt 300scalar. The scalar will be set to C<0> initially. Signalling the interrupt
166object will set it to the passed value, handling the interrupt will reset 301object will set it to the passed value, handling the interrupt will reset
167it to C<0> again. 302it to C<0> again.
168 303
169Note that the only thing you are legally allowed to do is to is to check 304Note that the only thing you are legally allowed to do is to is to check
170the variable in a boolean or integer context (e.g. comparing it with a 305the variable in a boolean or integer context (e.g. comparing it with a
177given signal, that is, it will effectively call C<< ->signal (0) >> each time 312given signal, that is, it will effectively call C<< ->signal (0) >> each time
178the given signal is caught by the process. 313the given signal is caught by the process.
179 314
180Only one async can hook a given signal, and the signal will be restored to 315Only one async can hook a given signal, and the signal will be restored to
181defaults when the Async::Interrupt object gets destroyed. 316defaults when the Async::Interrupt object gets destroyed.
317
318=item signal_hysteresis => $boolean
319
320Sets the initial signal hysteresis state, see the C<signal_hysteresis>
321method, below.
182 322
183=item pipe => [$fileno_or_fh_for_reading, $fileno_or_fh_for_writing] 323=item pipe => [$fileno_or_fh_for_reading, $fileno_or_fh_for_writing]
184 324
185Specifies two file descriptors (or file handles) that should be signalled 325Specifies two file descriptors (or file handles) that should be signalled
186whenever the async interrupt is signalled. This means a single octet will 326whenever the async interrupt is signalled. This means a single octet will
194This can be used to ensure that async notifications will interrupt event 334This can be used to ensure that async notifications will interrupt event
195frameworks as well. 335frameworks as well.
196 336
197Note that C<Async::Interrupt> will create a suitable signal fd 337Note that C<Async::Interrupt> will create a suitable signal fd
198automatically when your program requests one, so you don't have to specify 338automatically when your program requests one, so you don't have to specify
199this agrument when all you want is an extra file descriptor to watch. 339this argument when all you want is an extra file descriptor to watch.
340
341If you want to share a single event pipe between multiple Async::Interrupt
342objects, you can use the C<Async::Interrupt::EventPipe> class to manage
343those.
344
345=item pipe_autodrain => $boolean
346
347Sets the initial autodrain state, see the C<pipe_autodrain> method, below.
200 348
201=back 349=back
202 350
203=cut 351=cut
204 352
205sub new { 353sub new {
206 my ($class, %arg) = @_; 354 my ($class, %arg) = @_;
207 355
208 bless \(_alloc $arg{cb}, @{$arg{c_cb}}[0,1], @{$arg{pipe}}[0,1], $arg{signal}, $arg{var}), $class 356 my $self = bless \(_alloc $arg{cb}, @{$arg{c_cb}}[0,1], @{$arg{pipe}}[0,1], $arg{signal}, $arg{var}), $class;
357
358 # urgs, reminds me of Event
359 for my $attr (qw(pipe_autodrain signal_hysteresis)) {
360 $self->$attr ($arg{$attr}) if exists $arg{$attr};
361 }
362
363 $self
209} 364}
210 365
211=item ($signal_func, $signal_arg) = $async->signal_func 366=item ($signal_func, $signal_arg) = $async->signal_func
212 367
213Returns the address of a function to call asynchronously. The function has 368Returns the address of a function to call asynchronously. The function
214the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified C<$c_arg>, 369has the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified
215which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>: 370C<$signal_arg>, which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>:
216 371
217 void (*signal_func) (void *signal_arg, int value) 372 void (*signal_func) (void *signal_arg, int value)
218 373
219An example call would look like: 374An example call would look like:
220 375
253 CODE: 408 CODE:
254 valuep = (IV *)addr; 409 valuep = (IV *)addr;
255 410
256 // code in a loop, waiting 411 // code in a loop, waiting
257 while (!*valuep) 412 while (!*valuep)
258 ; // do soemthing 413 ; // do something
259 414
260=item $async->signal ($value=1) 415=item $async->signal ($value=1)
261 416
262This signals the given async object from Perl code. Semi-obviously, this 417This signals the given async object from Perl code. Semi-obviously, this
263will instantly trigger the callback invocation. 418will instantly trigger the callback invocation (it does not, as the name
419might imply, do anything with POSIX signals).
264 420
265C<$value> must be in the valid range for a C<sig_atomic_t>, except C<0> 421C<$value> must be in the valid range for a C<sig_atomic_t>, except C<0>
266(1..127 is portable). 422(1..127 is portable).
423
424=item $async->signal_hysteresis ($enable)
425
426Enables or disables signal hysteresis (default: disabled). If a POSIX
427signal is used as a signal source for the interrupt object, then enabling
428signal hysteresis causes Async::Interrupt to reset the signal action to
429C<SIG_IGN> in the signal handler and restore it just before handling the
430interruption.
431
432When you expect a lot of signals (e.g. when using SIGIO), then enabling
433signal hysteresis can reduce the number of handler invocations
434considerably, at the cost of two extra syscalls.
435
436Note that setting the signal to C<SIG_IGN> can have unintended side
437effects when you fork and exec other programs, as often they do nto expect
438signals to be ignored by default.
267 439
268=item $async->block 440=item $async->block
269 441
270=item $async->unblock 442=item $async->unblock
271 443
286This call C<< $async->block >> and installs a handler that is called when 458This call C<< $async->block >> and installs a handler that is called when
287the current scope is exited (via an exception, by canceling the Coro 459the current scope is exited (via an exception, by canceling the Coro
288thread, by calling last/goto etc.). 460thread, by calling last/goto etc.).
289 461
290This is the recommended (and fastest) way to implement critical sections. 462This is the recommended (and fastest) way to implement critical sections.
463
464=item ($block_func, $block_arg) = $async->scope_block_func
465
466Returns the address of a function that implements the C<scope_block>
467functionality.
468
469It has the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified
470C<$block_arg>, which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>:
471
472 void (*block_func) (void *block_arg)
473
474An example call would look like:
475
476 block_func (block_arg);
477
478The function is safe to call only from within the toplevel of a perl XS
479function and will call C<LEAVE> and C<ENTER> (in this order!).
291 480
292=item $async->pipe_enable 481=item $async->pipe_enable
293 482
294=item $async->pipe_disable 483=item $async->pipe_disable
295 484
311Note that the only valid oepration on this file descriptor is to wait 500Note that the only valid oepration on this file descriptor is to wait
312until it is readable. The fd might belong currently to a pipe, a tcp 501until it is readable. The fd might belong currently to a pipe, a tcp
313socket, or an eventfd, depending on the platform, and is guaranteed to be 502socket, or an eventfd, depending on the platform, and is guaranteed to be
314C<select>able. 503C<select>able.
315 504
505=item $async->pipe_autodrain ($enable)
506
507Enables (C<1>) or disables (C<0>) automatic draining of the pipe (default:
508enabled). When automatic draining is enabled, then Async::Interrupt will
509automatically clear the pipe. Otherwise the user is responsible for this
510draining.
511
512This is useful when you want to share one pipe among many Async::Interrupt
513objects.
514
316=item $async->post_fork 515=item $async->post_fork
317 516
318The object will not normally be usable after a fork (as the pipe fd is 517The object will not normally be usable after a fork (as the pipe fd is
319shared between processes). Calling this method after a fork in the child 518shared between processes). Calling this method after a fork in the child
320ensures that the object will work as expected again. It only needs to be 519ensures that the object will work as expected again. It only needs to be
323This only works when the pipe was created by Async::Interrupt. 522This only works when the pipe was created by Async::Interrupt.
324 523
325Async::Interrupt ensures that the reading file descriptor does not change 524Async::Interrupt ensures that the reading file descriptor does not change
326it's value. 525it's value.
327 526
527=item $signum = Async::Interrupt::sig2num $signame_or_number
528
529=item $signame = Async::Interrupt::sig2name $signame_or_number
530
531These two convenience functions simply convert a signal name or number to
532the corresponding name or number. They are not used by this module and
533exist just because perl doesn't have a nice way to do this on its own.
534
535They will return C<undef> on illegal names or numbers.
536
537=back
538
539=head1 THE Async::Interrupt::EventPipe CLASS
540
541Pipes are the predominent utility to make asynchronous signals
542synchronous. However, pipes are hard to come by: they don't exist on the
543broken windows platform, and on GNU/Linux systems, you might want to use
544an C<eventfd> instead.
545
546This class creates selectable event pipes in a portable fashion: on
547windows, it will try to create a tcp socket pair, on GNU/Linux, it will
548try to create an eventfd and everywhere else it will try to use a normal
549pipe.
550
551=over 4
552
553=item $epipe = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe
554
555This creates and returns an eventpipe object. This object is simply a
556blessed array reference:
557
558=item ($r_fd, $w_fd) = $epipe->filenos
559
560Returns the read-side file descriptor and the write-side file descriptor.
561
562Example: pass an eventpipe object as pipe to the Async::Interrupt
563constructor, and create an AnyEvent watcher for the read side.
564
565 my $epipe = new Async::Interrupt::EventPipe;
566 my $asy = new Async::Interrupt pipe => [$epipe->filenos];
567 my $iow = AnyEvent->io (fh => $epipe->fileno, poll => 'r', cb => sub { });
568
569=item $r_fd = $epipe->fileno
570
571Return only the reading/listening side.
572
573=item $epipe->signal
574
575Write something to the pipe, in a portable fashion.
576
577=item $epipe->drain
578
579Drain (empty) the pipe.
580
581=item ($c_func, $c_arg) = $epipe->drain_func
582
583Returns a function pointer and C<void *> argument that can be called to
584have the effect of C<< $epipe->drain >> on the XS level.
585
586It has the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified
587C<$c_arg>, which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>:
588
589 void (*c_func) (void *c_arg)
590
591An example call would look like:
592
593 c_func (c_arg);
594
595=item $epipe->renew
596
597Recreates the pipe (useful after a fork). The reading side will not change
598it's file descriptor number, but the writing side might.
599
600=item $epipe->wait
601
602This method blocks the process until there are events on the pipe. This is
603not a very event-based or ncie way of usign an event pipe, but it can be
604occasionally useful.
605
606=back
607
328=cut 608=cut
329 609
3301; 6101;
331
332=back
333
334=head1 EXAMPLE
335
336There really should be a complete C/XS example. Bug me about it. Better
337yet, create one.
338 611
339=head1 IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS AND LIMITATIONS 612=head1 IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS AND LIMITATIONS
340 613
341This module works by "hijacking" SIGKILL, which is guaranteed to always 614This module works by "hijacking" SIGKILL, which is guaranteed to always
342exist, but also cannot be caught, so is always available. 615exist, but also cannot be caught, so is always available.

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