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1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - the only real threads in perl
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use Coro; 7 use Coro;
8 8
9 async { 9 async {
10 # some asynchronous thread of execution 10 # some asynchronous thread of execution
11 print "2\n";
12 cede; # yield back to main
13 print "4\n";
11 }; 14 };
12 15 print "1\n";
13 # alternatively create an async process like this: 16 cede; # yield to coroutine
14 17 print "3\n";
15 sub some_func : Coro { 18 cede; # and again
16 # some more async code 19
17 } 20 # use locking
18 21 use Coro::Semaphore;
19 cede; 22 my $lock = new Coro::Semaphore;
23 my $locked;
24
25 $lock->down;
26 $locked = 1;
27 $lock->up;
20 28
21=head1 DESCRIPTION 29=head1 DESCRIPTION
22 30
23This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to 31For a tutorial-style introduction, please read the L<Coro::Intro>
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32manpage. This manpage mainly contains reference information.
25 33
34This module collection manages continuations in general, most often
35in the form of cooperative threads (also called coroutines in the
36documentation). They are similar to kernel threads but don't (in general)
37run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines. The specific flavor
38of thread offered by this module also guarantees you that it will not
39switch between threads unless necessary, at easily-identified points in
40your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an issue, making
41thread programming much safer and easier than using other thread models.
42
43Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads
44but only the windows process emulation ported to unix), Coro provides a
45full shared address space, which makes communication between threads
46very easy. And threads are fast, too: disabling the Windows process
47emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in a two to
48four times speed increase for your programs.
49
50Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share
51data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and
52for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running
53concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro
54into an event-based environment.
55
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 56In this module, a thread is defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 57@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a thread has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 58its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 59variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info).
60
61See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
62module family is quite large.
30 63
31=cut 64=cut
32 65
33package Coro; 66package Coro;
34 67
35use strict; 68use strict qw(vars subs);
36no warnings "uninitialized"; 69no warnings "uninitialized";
37 70
38use Coro::State; 71use Coro::State;
39 72
40use base qw(Coro::State Exporter); 73use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 74
42our $idle; # idle handler 75our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 76our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 77our $current; # current coroutine
45 78
46our $VERSION = '3.0'; 79our $VERSION = 5.12;
47 80
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 81our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 82our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 83 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 84);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 85our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53 86
54{ 87=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES
55 my @async;
56 my $init;
57
58 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
59 sub import {
60 no strict 'refs';
61
62 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
63
64 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
65 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
66 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
67 my @attrs;
68 for (@_) {
69 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
70 push @async, $ref;
71 unless ($init++) {
72 eval q{
73 sub INIT {
74 &async(pop @async) while @async;
75 }
76 };
77 }
78 } else {
79 push @attrs, $_;
80 }
81 }
82 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
83 };
84 }
85
86}
87 88
88=over 4 89=over 4
89 90
90=item $main 91=item $Coro::main
91 92
92This coroutine represents the main program. 93This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
94program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
95coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
96whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 97
94=cut 98=cut
95 99
96$main = new Coro; 100# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
97 101
98=item $current (or as function: current) 102=item $Coro::current
99 103
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 104The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
105coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
101is C<$main> (of course). 106C<$Coro::main> (of course).
102 107
103This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 108This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
104reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 109value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
105C<Coro::current> function instead. 110not otherwise modify the variable itself.
106 111
107=cut 112=cut
108 113
109# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
110if ($current) {
111 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
112}
113
114$current = $main;
115
116sub current() { $current } 114sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
117 115
118=item $idle 116=item $Coro::idle
119 117
118This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
119usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
120pretty low-level functionality.
121
122This variable stores either a coroutine or a callback.
123
120A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 124If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no
121to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 125ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
122exits, because the program has no other way to continue. 126deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
127continue.
123 128
129If it is a coroutine object, then this object will be readied (without
130invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
131coroutines to run.
132
124This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 133This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
125C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a 134C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
126coroutine so the scheduler can run it. 135coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
127 136
137Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
138the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
139coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
140readying that coroutine in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
141coroutine in this variable.
142
143See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
144technique.
145
128Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event 146Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
129handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively. 147handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
130 148
131=cut 149=cut
132 150
133$idle = sub { 151$idle = sub {
134 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 152 require Carp;
135 exit (51); 153 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
136}; 154};
137 155
138# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 156# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
139# cannot destroy itself. 157# cannot destroy itself.
140my @destroy; 158our @destroy;
159our $manager;
160
141my $manager; $manager = new Coro sub { 161$manager = new Coro sub {
142 while () { 162 while () {
143 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 163 Coro::_cancel shift @destroy
144 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
145 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
146 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
147 # remove itself from the runqueue
148 while (@destroy) { 164 while @destroy;
149 my $coro = pop @destroy;
150 $coro->{status} ||= [];
151 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
152 165
153 # the next line destroys the coro state, but keeps the
154 # process itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
155 # process that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
156 # to transfer() to this process).
157 $coro->_clone_state_from ($manager);
158 }
159 &schedule; 166 &schedule;
160 } 167 }
161}; 168};
162 169$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
163# static methods. not really. 170$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
164 171
165=back 172=back
166 173
167=head2 STATIC METHODS 174=head1 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
168
169Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
170 175
171=over 4 176=over 4
172 177
173=item async { ... } [@args...] 178=item async { ... } [@args...]
174 179
175Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 180Create a new coroutine and return its coroutine object (usually
176(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 181unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
182it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
183
184The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
185coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
177terminated. 186terminated.
178 187
179Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 188The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
180 189
181When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 190See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
182program. 191environment in which coroutines are executed.
183 192
193Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
194the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
195just as it would in the main program.
196
197If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
198simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
199
184 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 200Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
201
185 async { 202 async {
186 print "@_\n"; 203 print "@_\n";
187 } 1,2,3,4; 204 } 1,2,3,4;
188 205
189=cut 206=cut
190 207
191sub async(&@) { 208sub async(&@) {
192 my $pid = new Coro @_; 209 my $coro = new Coro @_;
193 $pid->ready; 210 $coro->ready;
194 $pid 211 $coro
195} 212}
213
214=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
215
216Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
217terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
218coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
219or bad :).
220
221On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
222destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
223coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
224
225The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
226issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
227C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
228will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
229which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
230exceptional case).
231
232The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
233disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
234gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
235be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
236stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
237simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
238
239The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
240adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
241coros as required.
242
243If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
244single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
245{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
246addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
247(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
248
249=cut
250
251our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
252our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
253our @async_pool;
254
255sub pool_handler {
256 while () {
257 eval {
258 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
259 };
260
261 warn $@ if $@;
262 }
263}
264
265=back
266
267=head1 STATIC METHODS
268
269Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
270current coroutine.
271
272=over 4
196 273
197=item schedule 274=item schedule
198 275
199Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 276Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
277to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
278to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
279in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
280C<$Coro::idle> hook.
281
282Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
200into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 283queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
201never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls 284again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
202ready. 285thus waking you up.
203 286
204The canonical way to wait on external events is this: 287This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
288coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
289a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
290>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
291yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
292so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
293status in a variable.
205 294
295See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
296
297=item cede
298
299"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
300the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
301up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
302priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
303resumed.
304
305This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
306
307=item Coro::cede_notself
308
309Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
310coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
311progress is made.
312
313=item terminate [arg...]
314
315Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
316
317=item killall
318
319Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
320one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
321usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
322
323Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
324you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
325program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
326
327=cut
328
329sub killall {
330 for (Coro::State::list) {
331 $_->cancel
332 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
206 { 333 }
207 # remember current process 334}
335
336=back
337
338=head1 COROUTINE OBJECT METHODS
339
340These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
341them).
342
343=over 4
344
345=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
346
347Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
348automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
349called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
350queue by calling the ready method.
351
352See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
353coroutine environment.
354
355=cut
356
357sub _coro_run {
358 terminate &{+shift};
359}
360
361=item $success = $coroutine->ready
362
363Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
364queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
365the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
366
367This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
368once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
369priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
370
371=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
372
373Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
374
375=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
376
377Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
378status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
379current coroutine.
380
381=cut
382
383sub cancel {
384 my $self = shift;
385
386 if ($current == $self) {
387 terminate @_;
388 } else {
389 $self->{_status} = [@_];
390 $self->_cancel;
391 }
392}
393
394=item $coroutine->schedule_to
395
396Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
397of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
398the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
399state of that coroutine isn't changed.
400
401This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
402uses for this one.
403
404=item $coroutine->cede_to
405
406Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
407queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
408coroutine, and continuing some time later.
409
410This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
411uses for this one.
412
413=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
414
415If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
416inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
417clears the exception object.
418
419Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
420returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
421>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
422detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
423
424The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
425C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
426(unlike with C<die>).
427
428This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
429end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
430termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
431program.
432
433You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
434C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
435
436=item $coroutine->join
437
438Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
439C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
440from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
441return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
442
443=cut
444
445sub join {
446 my $self = shift;
447
448 unless ($self->{_status}) {
208 my $current = $Coro::current; 449 my $current = $current;
209 450
210 # register a hypothetical event handler 451 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
211 on_event_invoke sub {
212 # wake up sleeping coroutine
213 $current->ready; 452 $current->ready;
214 undef $current; 453 undef $current;
215 }; 454 };
216 455
217 # call schedule until event occured.
218 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
219 # (current still defined), loop.
220 Coro::schedule while $current; 456 &schedule while $current;
221 } 457 }
222 458
223=cut
224
225=item cede
226
227"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the
228ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the
229current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority.
230
231=cut
232
233=item terminate [arg...]
234
235Terminates the current process with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
236
237=cut
238
239sub terminate {
240 $current->cancel (@_);
241}
242
243=back
244
245# dynamic methods
246
247=head2 PROCESS METHODS
248
249These are the methods you can call on process objects.
250
251=over 4
252
253=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
254
255Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process
256automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
257called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue
258by calling the ready method.
259
260Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that.
261
262=cut
263
264sub _new_coro {
265 terminate &{+shift};
266}
267
268sub new {
269 my $class = shift;
270
271 $class->SUPER::new (\&_new_coro, @_)
272}
273
274=item $success = $process->ready
275
276Put the given process into the ready queue (according to it's priority)
277and return true. If the process is already in the ready queue, do nothing
278and return false.
279
280=item $is_ready = $process->is_ready
281
282Return wether the process is currently the ready queue or not,
283
284=item $process->cancel (arg...)
285
286Terminates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as
287status (default: the empty list).
288
289=cut
290
291sub cancel {
292 my $self = shift;
293 $self->{status} = [@_];
294 push @destroy, $self;
295 $manager->ready;
296 &schedule if $current == $self;
297}
298
299=item $process->join
300
301Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
302C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times
303from multiple processes.
304
305=cut
306
307sub join {
308 my $self = shift;
309 unless ($self->{status}) {
310 push @{$self->{join}}, $current;
311 &schedule;
312 }
313 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 459 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
314} 460}
315 461
462=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
463
464Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
465but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
466if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
467
468=cut
469
470sub on_destroy {
471 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
472
473 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
474}
475
316=item $oldprio = $process->prio ($newprio) 476=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
317 477
318Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 478Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
319process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 479coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
320processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 480coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
321that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 481that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
322to get then): 482to get then):
323 483
324 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 484 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
325 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 485 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
328 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 488 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
329 489
330The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 490The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
331existing coroutine. 491existing coroutine.
332 492
333Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 493Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
334but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 494but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
335running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 495running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
336process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 496coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
337 497
338=item $newprio = $process->nice ($change) 498=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
339 499
340Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 500Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
341higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 501higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
342 502
343=item $olddesc = $process->desc ($newdesc) 503=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
344 504
345Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 505Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
346process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 506coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
507coroutine.
508
509This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
510string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
347 511
348=cut 512=cut
349 513
350sub desc { 514sub desc {
351 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 515 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
352 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 516 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
353 $old; 517 $old;
354} 518}
355 519
520sub transfer {
521 require Carp;
522 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
523}
524
356=back 525=back
357 526
527=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
528
529=over 4
530
531=item Coro::nready
532
533Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
534i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
535indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
536currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
537would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
538coroutines.
539
540=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
541
542This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
543gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
544executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
545runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
546guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
547C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
548
549Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
550or the function returns:
551
552 sub do_something {
553 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
554 $busy = 1;
555
556 # do something that requires $busy to be true
557 }
558
559=cut
560
561sub guard(&) {
562 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
563}
564
565sub Coro::guard::cancel {
566 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
567}
568
569sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
570 ${$_[0]}->();
571}
572
573
574=item unblock_sub { ... }
575
576This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
577returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
578will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
579original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
580coroutine.
581
582The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
583venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
584of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
585otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
586currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
587
588This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
589coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
590is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
591disk, for example.
592
593In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
594creating event callbacks that want to block.
595
596If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
597another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
598there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
599
600Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
601are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
602use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
603provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
604must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
605
606=cut
607
608our @unblock_queue;
609
610# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
611# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
612# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
613# inside an event callback.
614our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
615 while () {
616 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
617 &async_pool (@$cb);
618
619 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
620 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
621 # in the idle state when cede returns
622 cede;
623 }
624 schedule; # sleep well
625 }
626};
627$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
628
629sub unblock_sub(&) {
630 my $cb = shift;
631
632 sub {
633 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
634 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
635 }
636}
637
638=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
639
640Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
641when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
642coroutine of the callback.
643
644See the next function.
645
646=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
647
648Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
649this coroutine).
650
651As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
652before C<rouse_wait>), it will return the arguments originally passed to
653the rouse callback.
654
655See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
656
657=back
658
358=cut 659=cut
359 660
3601; 6611;
361 662
663=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
664
665It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
666called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
667event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
668
669These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
670when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
671just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
672
673For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
674a specific child has exited:
675
676 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
677
678But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
679
680 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
681
682Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
683C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
684
685The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
686when invoked, will save its arguments and notify the coroutine that
687created the callback.
688
689The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
690(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
691originally passed to the callback.
692
693Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
694function mentioned above:
695
696 sub wait_for_child($) {
697 my ($pid) = @_;
698
699 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
700
701 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
702 $rstatus
703 }
704
705In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
706you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
707
708 sub wait_for_child($) {
709 my ($pid) = @_;
710
711 # store the current coroutine in $current,
712 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
713 my $current = $Coro::current;
714 my ($done, $rstatus);
715
716 # pass a closure to ->child
717 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
718 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
719 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
720 });
721
722 # wait until the closure has been called
723 schedule while !$done;
724
725 $rstatus
726 }
727
728
362=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 729=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
363 730
364 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 731=over 4
365 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
366 732
733=item fork with pthread backend
734
735When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
736but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
737coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
738fix your libc and use a saner backend.
739
740=item perl process emulation ("threads")
741
367 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 742This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
368 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 743module from the first thread (this requirement might be removed in the
369 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 744future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
370 this). 745this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
746the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
747performance, even when not used.
748
749=item coroutine switching not signal safe
750
751You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
752(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
753
754That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
755current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
756anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
757works.
758
759=back
760
371 761
372=head1 SEE ALSO 762=head1 SEE ALSO
373 763
764Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
765
766Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
767
374Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 768Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
375 769
376Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 770Locking and IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>,
771L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
377 772
378Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 773I/O and Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
379 774
380Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 775Compatibility with other modules: L<Coro::LWP> (but see also L<AnyEvent::HTTP> for
776a better-working alternative), L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>,
777L<Coro::Select>.
778
779XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
780
781Low level Configuration, Thread Environment, Continuations: L<Coro::State>.
381 782
382=head1 AUTHOR 783=head1 AUTHOR
383 784
384 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 785 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
385 http://home.schmorp.de/ 786 http://home.schmorp.de/

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