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Revision 1.128 by root, Wed Sep 19 21:39:15 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.220 by root, Sun Nov 16 11:12:57 2008 UTC

2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - coroutine process abstraction
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 coroutine 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 31This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to
24to threads but don't run in parallel at the same time even on SMP 32threads but don't (in general) run in parallel at the same time even
25machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module also 33on SMP machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module
26guarantees you that it will not switch between coroutines unless 34also guarantees you that it will not switch between coroutines unless
27necessary, at easily-identified points in your program, so locking and 35necessary, at easily-identified points in your program, so locking and
28parallel access are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much 36parallel access are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much
29safer than threads programming. 37safer and easier than threads programming.
30 38
31(Perl, however, does not natively support real threads but instead does a 39Unlike a normal perl program, however, coroutines allow you to have
32very slow and memory-intensive emulation of processes using threads. This 40multiple running interpreters that share data, which is especially useful
33is a performance win on Windows machines, and a loss everywhere else). 41to code pseudo-parallel processes and for event-based programming, such as
42multiple HTTP-GET requests running concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to
43learn more.
44
45Coroutines are also useful because Perl has no support for threads (the so
46called "threads" that perl offers are nothing more than the (bad) process
47emulation coming from the Windows platform: On standard operating systems
48they serve no purpose whatsoever, except by making your programs slow and
49making them use a lot of memory. Best disable them when building perl, or
50aks your software vendor/distributor to do it for you).
34 51
35In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables + 52In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
36@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain, 53@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
37its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
38variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
39 56
40=cut 57=cut
41 58
42package Coro; 59package Coro;
43 60
44use strict; 61use strict qw(vars subs);
45no warnings "uninitialized"; 62no warnings "uninitialized";
46 63
47use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
48 65
49use base qw(Coro::State Exporter); 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
50 67
51our $idle; # idle handler 68our $idle; # idle handler
52our $main; # main coroutine 69our $main; # main coroutine
53our $current; # current coroutine 70our $current; # current coroutine
54 71
55our $VERSION = '3.7'; 72our $VERSION = 5.0;
56 73
57our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
58our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
59 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
60); 77);
61our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready)); 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
62 79
63{
64 my @async;
65 my $init;
66
67 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
68 sub import {
69 no strict 'refs';
70
71 Coro->export_to_level (1, @_);
72
73 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
74 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
75 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
76 my @attrs;
77 for (@_) {
78 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
79 push @async, $ref;
80 unless ($init++) {
81 eval q{
82 sub INIT {
83 &async(pop @async) while @async;
84 }
85 };
86 }
87 } else {
88 push @attrs, $_;
89 }
90 }
91 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
92 };
93 }
94
95}
96
97=over 4 80=over 4
98 81
99=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
100 83
101This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
102 88
103=cut 89=cut
104 90
105$main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
106 92
107=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
108 94
109The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
110is C<$main> (of course). 97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
111 98
112This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
113reasons. If performance is not essential you are encouraged to use the 100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
114C<Coro::current> function instead. 101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
115 102
116=cut 103=cut
117 104
118# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
119$main->{specific} = $current->{specific}
120 if $current;
121
122_set_current $main;
123
124sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
125 106
126=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
127 108
128A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
129to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
130exits, because the program has no other way to continue. 111pretty low-level functionality.
112
113This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
114finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
115"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
116to continue.
131 117
132This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
133C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
134coroutine so the scheduler can run it. 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
135 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
136Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event 130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
137handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively. 131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
138 132
139=cut 133=cut
140 134
141$idle = sub { 135$idle = sub {
142 require Carp; 136 require Carp;
149 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed 143 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed
150 $self->_destroy 144 $self->_destroy
151 or return; 145 or return;
152 146
153 # call all destruction callbacks 147 # call all destruction callbacks
154 $_->(@{$self->{status}}) 148 $_->(@{$self->{_status}})
155 for @{(delete $self->{destroy_cb}) || []}; 149 for @{ delete $self->{_on_destroy} || [] };
156} 150}
157 151
158# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
159# cannot destroy itself. 153# cannot destroy itself.
160my @destroy; 154my @destroy;
166 while @destroy; 160 while @destroy;
167 161
168 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
169 } 163 }
170}; 164};
171 165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
172$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX); 166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
173 167
174# static methods. not really.
175
176=back 168=back
177 169
178=head2 STATIC METHODS 170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
179
180Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine only.
181 171
182=over 4 172=over 4
183 173
184=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
185 175
186Create a new asynchronous coroutine and return it's coroutine object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
187(usually unused). When the sub returns the new coroutine is automatically 177unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
178it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
179
180The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
181coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
188terminated. 182terminated.
183
184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
185
186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
187environment in which coroutines are executed.
189 188
190Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside 189Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
191the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit, 190the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
192just as it would in the main program. 191just as it would in the main program.
193 192
193If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
194simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
195
194 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
195 async { 198 async {
196 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
197 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
198 201
199=cut 202=cut
205} 208}
206 209
207=item async_pool { ... } [@args...] 210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
208 211
209Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call 212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
210terminate or join (although you are allowed to), and you get a coroutine 213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
211that might have executed other code already (which can be good or bad :). 214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
212 216
217On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
218a completly new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
219quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
213Also, the block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be 221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
214issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as 222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
215C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy> 223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
216will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel, 224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
217which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling. 225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
218 227
219The priority will be reset to C<0> after each job, otherwise the coroutine 228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
220will be re-used "as-is". 229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
233simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
221 234
222The pool size is limited to 8 idle coroutines (this can be adjusted by 235The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
223changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), and there can be as many non-idle coros as 236adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
224required. 237coros as required.
225 238
226If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a 239If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
227single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool { 240single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
228terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. 241{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
242addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 16kb
243(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
229 244
230=cut 245=cut
231 246
232our $POOL_SIZE = 8; 247our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
248our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
233our @pool; 249our @async_pool;
234 250
235sub pool_handler { 251sub pool_handler {
252 my $cb;
253
236 while () { 254 while () {
237 eval { 255 eval {
238 my ($cb, @arg) = @{ delete $current->{_invoke} or return }; 256 while () {
239 $cb->(@arg); 257 _pool_1 $cb;
258 &$cb;
259 _pool_2 $cb;
260 &schedule;
261 }
240 }; 262 };
263
264 if ($@) {
265 last if $@ eq "\3async_pool terminate\2\n";
241 warn $@ if $@; 266 warn $@;
242 267 }
243 last if @pool >= $POOL_SIZE;
244 push @pool, $current;
245
246 $current->save (Coro::State::SAVE_DEF);
247 $current->prio (0);
248 schedule;
249 } 268 }
250} 269}
251 270
252sub async_pool(&@) { 271sub async_pool(&@) {
253 # this is also inlined into the unlock_scheduler 272 # this is also inlined into the unblock_scheduler
254 my $coro = (pop @pool) || do {
255 my $coro = new Coro \&pool_handler; 273 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
256 $coro->{desc} = "async_pool";
257 $coro
258 };
259 274
260 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_]; 275 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_];
261 $coro->ready; 276 $coro->ready;
262 277
263 $coro 278 $coro
264} 279}
265 280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
288
266=item schedule 289=item schedule
267 290
268Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
269into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
270never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
271ready. 300thus waking you up.
301
302This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
303coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
304a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
305>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
306yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
307so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
308status in a variable.
272 309
273The canonical way to wait on external events is this: 310The canonical way to wait on external events is this:
274 311
275 { 312 {
276 # remember current coroutine 313 # remember current coroutine
289 Coro::schedule while $current; 326 Coro::schedule while $current;
290 } 327 }
291 328
292=item cede 329=item cede
293 330
294"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into the 331"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
295ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 332the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
296current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 333up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
334priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
335resumed.
297 336
298Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened. 337This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
299 338
300=item Coro::cede_notself 339=item Coro::cede_notself
301 340
302Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to any 341Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
303coroutine, regardless of priority, once. 342coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
304 343progress is made.
305Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened.
306 344
307=item terminate [arg...] 345=item terminate [arg...]
308 346
309Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 347Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
348
349=item killall
350
351Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
352one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
353usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
354
355Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
356you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
357program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
310 358
311=cut 359=cut
312 360
313sub terminate { 361sub terminate {
314 $current->cancel (@_); 362 $current->cancel (@_);
315} 363}
316 364
365sub killall {
366 for (Coro::State::list) {
367 $_->cancel
368 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
369 }
370}
371
317=back 372=back
318 373
319# dynamic methods
320
321=head2 COROUTINE METHODS 374=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
322 375
323These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects. 376These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
377them).
324 378
325=over 4 379=over 4
326 380
327=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 381=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
328 382
329Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the coroutine 383Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
330automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 384automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
331called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready queue 385called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
332by calling the ready method. 386queue by calling the ready method.
333 387
334See C<async> for additional discussion. 388See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
389coroutine environment.
335 390
336=cut 391=cut
337 392
338sub _run_coro { 393sub _run_coro {
339 terminate &{+shift}; 394 terminate &{+shift};
345 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_) 400 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
346} 401}
347 402
348=item $success = $coroutine->ready 403=item $success = $coroutine->ready
349 404
350Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's priority) 405Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
351and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready queue, do nothing 406queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
352and return false. 407the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
408
409This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
410once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
411priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
353 412
354=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready 413=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
355 414
356Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not, 415Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
357 416
358=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...) 417=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
359 418
360Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as 419Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
361status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the 420status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
363 422
364=cut 423=cut
365 424
366sub cancel { 425sub cancel {
367 my $self = shift; 426 my $self = shift;
368 $self->{status} = [@_]; 427 $self->{_status} = [@_];
369 428
370 if ($current == $self) { 429 if ($current == $self) {
371 push @destroy, $self; 430 push @destroy, $self;
372 $manager->ready; 431 $manager->ready;
373 &schedule while 1; 432 &schedule while 1;
374 } else { 433 } else {
375 $self->_cancel; 434 $self->_cancel;
376 } 435 }
377} 436}
378 437
438=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
439
440If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
441inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time (usually after
442it gains control at the next schedule/transfer/cede). Otherwise clears the
443exception object.
444
445The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
446C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
447(unlike with C<die>).
448
449This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
450end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
451termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
452program.
453
454You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
455C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
456
379=item $coroutine->join 457=item $coroutine->join
380 458
381Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 459Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
382C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 460C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
383from multiple coroutine. 461from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
462return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
384 463
385=cut 464=cut
386 465
387sub join { 466sub join {
388 my $self = shift; 467 my $self = shift;
389 468
390 unless ($self->{status}) { 469 unless ($self->{_status}) {
391 my $current = $current; 470 my $current = $current;
392 471
393 push @{$self->{destroy_cb}}, sub { 472 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
394 $current->ready; 473 $current->ready;
395 undef $current; 474 undef $current;
396 }; 475 };
397 476
398 &schedule while $current; 477 &schedule while $current;
399 } 478 }
400 479
401 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 480 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
402} 481}
403 482
404=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb) 483=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
405 484
406Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed, 485Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
407but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments, 486but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
408if any. 487if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
409 488
410=cut 489=cut
411 490
412sub on_destroy { 491sub on_destroy {
413 my ($self, $cb) = @_; 492 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
414 493
415 push @{ $self->{destroy_cb} }, $cb; 494 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
416} 495}
417 496
418=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio) 497=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
419 498
420Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 499Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
443higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 522higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
444 523
445=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc) 524=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
446 525
447Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 526Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
448coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a coroutine. 527coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
528coroutine.
529
530This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
531string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
449 532
450=cut 533=cut
451 534
452sub desc { 535sub desc {
453 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 536 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
462=over 4 545=over 4
463 546
464=item Coro::nready 547=item Coro::nready
465 548
466Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state, 549Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
467i.e. that can be switched to. The value C<0> means that the only runnable 550i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
551indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
468coroutine is the currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, 552currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
469and C<schedule> would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler 553would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
470that wakes up some coroutines. 554coroutines.
471 555
472=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... } 556=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
473 557
474This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object 558This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
475gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be 559gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
504 588
505 589
506=item unblock_sub { ... } 590=item unblock_sub { ... }
507 591
508This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it, 592This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
509returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will return 593returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
510immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the original code 594will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
511ref will be called (with parameters) from within its own coroutine. 595original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
596coroutine.
512 597
513The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the 598The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
514venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form 599venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
515of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks, 600of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
516otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. 601otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
602currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
517 603
518This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another 604This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
519coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy 605coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
520is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to 606is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
521disk. 607disk, for example.
522 608
523In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when 609In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
524creating event callbacks that want to block. 610creating event callbacks that want to block.
611
612If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
613another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
614there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
615
616Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
617are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
618use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
619provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
620must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
525 621
526=cut 622=cut
527 623
528our @unblock_queue; 624our @unblock_queue;
529 625
530# we create a special coro because we want to cede, 626# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
531# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks 627# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
532# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede 628# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
533# inside an event callback. 629# inside an event callback.
534our $unblock_scheduler = async { 630our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
535 while () { 631 while () {
536 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) { 632 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
537 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool 633 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
538 my $coro = (pop @pool or new Coro \&pool_handler); 634 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
539 635
540 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb; 636 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
541 $coro->ready; 637 $coro->ready;
542 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool 638 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
543 } 639 }
544 schedule; # sleep well 640 schedule; # sleep well
545 } 641 }
546}; 642};
643$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
547 644
548sub unblock_sub(&) { 645sub unblock_sub(&) {
549 my $cb = shift; 646 my $cb = shift;
550 647
551 sub { 648 sub {
560 657
5611; 6581;
562 659
563=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 660=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
564 661
565 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 662=over 4
566 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
567 663
664=item fork with pthread backend
665
666When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
667but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
668coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
669fix your libc and use a saner backend.
670
671=item perl process emulation ("threads")
672
568 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 673This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
569 from the same thread (this requirement might be loosened in the future 674module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
570 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 675future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
571 this). 676this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
677the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
678performance, even when not used.
679
680=item coroutine switching not signal safe
681
682You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
683(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
684
685That means you I<MUST NOT> call any fucntion that might "block" the
686current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
687anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
688works.
689
690=back
691
572 692
573=head1 SEE ALSO 693=head1 SEE ALSO
574 694
695Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
696
697Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
698
575Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 699Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
576 700
577Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 701Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
578 702
579Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 703IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
580 704
581Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 705Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
706
707XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
708
709Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
582 710
583=head1 AUTHOR 711=head1 AUTHOR
584 712
585 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 713 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
586 http://home.schmorp.de/ 714 http://home.schmorp.de/

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