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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@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a thread has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 58its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 59variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info).
60
61See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
62module family is quite large.
30 63
31=cut 64=cut
32 65
33package Coro; 66package Coro;
34 67
68use strict qw(vars subs);
35no warnings qw(uninitialized); 69no warnings "uninitialized";
36 70
37use Coro::State; 71use Coro::State;
38 72
39use base Exporter; 73use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 74
41$VERSION = 0.65; 75our $idle; # idle handler
76our $main; # main coroutine
77our $current; # current coroutine
42 78
79our $VERSION = 5.13;
80
43@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 81our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
44%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 82our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
45 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 83 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
46); 84);
47@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 85our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
48 86
49{ 87=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES
50 my @async;
51 my $init;
52
53 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
54 sub import {
55 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
56 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
57 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
58 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
59 my @attrs;
60 for (@_) {
61 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
62 push @async, $ref;
63 unless ($init++) {
64 eval q{
65 sub INIT {
66 &async(pop @async) while @async;
67 }
68 };
69 }
70 } else {
71 push @attrs, $_;
72 }
73 }
74 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
75 };
76 }
77
78}
79 88
80=over 4 89=over 4
81 90
82=item $main 91=item $Coro::main
83 92
84This coroutine represents the main program. 93This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
94program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
95coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
96whether you are running in the main program or not.
85 97
86=cut 98=cut
87 99
88our $main = new Coro; 100# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
89 101
90=item $current (or as function: current) 102=item $Coro::current
91 103
92The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 104The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
105coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
106C<$Coro::main> (of course).
93 107
94=cut 108This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
109value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
110not otherwise modify the variable itself.
95 111
96# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 112=cut
97if ($current) {
98 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
99}
100 113
101our $current = $main;
102
103sub current() { $current } 114sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
104 115
105=item $idle 116=item $Coro::idle
106 117
107The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 118This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
108implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 119usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
120pretty low-level functionality.
109 121
110=cut 122This variable stores either a coroutine or a callback.
111 123
112# should be done using priorities :( 124If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no
113our $idle = new Coro sub { 125ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
114 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 126deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
115 exit(51); 127continue.
128
129If it is a coroutine object, then this object will be readied (without
130invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
131coroutines to run.
132
133This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
134C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
135coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
136
137Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
138the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
139coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
140readying that coroutine in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
141coroutine in this variable.
142
143See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
144technique.
145
146Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
147handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
148
149=cut
150
151$idle = sub {
152 require Carp;
153 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
116}; 154};
117 155
118# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 156# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
119# cannot destroy itself. 157# cannot destroy itself.
120my @destroy; 158our @destroy;
121my $manager; 159our $manager;
160
122$manager = new Coro sub { 161$manager = new Coro sub {
123 while() { 162 while () {
124 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 163 Coro::_cancel shift @destroy
125 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
126 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
127 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
128 # remove itself from the runqueue
129 while (@destroy) { 164 while @destroy;
130 my $coro = pop @destroy; 165
131 $coro->{status} ||= [];
132 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
133 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
134 }
135 &schedule; 166 &schedule;
136 } 167 }
137}; 168};
138 169$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
139# static methods. not really. 170$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
140 171
141=back 172=back
142 173
143=head2 STATIC METHODS 174=head1 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
144
145Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
146 175
147=over 4 176=over 4
148 177
149=item async { ... } [@args...] 178=item async { ... } [@args...]
150 179
151Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 180Create a new coroutine and return its coroutine object (usually
152(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
153terminated. 186terminated.
154 187
188The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
189
190See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
191environment in which coroutines are executed.
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
155 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 200Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
201
156 async { 202 async {
157 print "@_\n"; 203 print "@_\n";
158 } 1,2,3,4; 204 } 1,2,3,4;
159 205
160The coderef you submit MUST NOT be a closure that refers to variables
161in an outer scope. This does NOT work. Pass arguments into it instead.
162
163=cut 206=cut
164 207
165sub async(&@) { 208sub async(&@) {
166 my $pid = new Coro @_; 209 my $coro = new Coro @_;
167 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
168 $pid->ready; 210 $coro->ready;
169 $pid; 211 $coro
170} 212}
213
214=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
215
216Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
217terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
218coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
219or bad :).
220
221On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
222destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
223coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
224
225The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
226issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
227C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
228will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
229which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
230exceptional case).
231
232The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
233disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
234gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
235be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
236stuff such as C<$/> 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 $@;
262 }
263}
264
265=back
266
267=head1 STATIC METHODS
268
269Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
270current coroutine.
271
272=over 4
171 273
172=item schedule 274=item schedule
173 275
174Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 276Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
277to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
278to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
279in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
280C<$Coro::idle> hook.
281
282Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
175into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 283queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
176never be called again. 284again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
285thus waking you up.
177 286
178=cut 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.
294
295See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
179 296
180=item cede 297=item cede
181 298
182"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 299"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
183ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 300the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
184current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 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.
185 304
186=cut 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.
187 312
188=item terminate [arg...] 313=item terminate [arg...]
189 314
190Terminates the current process. 315Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
191 316
192Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 317=item killall
193 318
194=cut 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.
195 322
196sub terminate { 323Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
197 $current->{status} = [@_]; 324you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
198 $current->cancel; 325program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
199 &schedule; 326
200 die; # NORETURN 327=cut
328
329sub killall {
330 for (Coro::State::list) {
331 $_->cancel
332 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
333 }
201} 334}
202 335
203=back 336=back
204 337
205# dynamic methods 338=head1 COROUTINE OBJECT METHODS
206 339
207=head2 PROCESS METHODS
208
209These are the methods you can call on process objects. 340These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
341them).
210 342
211=over 4 343=over 4
212 344
213=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 345=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
214 346
215Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 347Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
216automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 348automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
217called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 349called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
218by calling the ready method. 350queue by calling the ready method.
219 351
220=cut 352See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
353coroutine environment.
221 354
355=cut
356
222sub _newcoro { 357sub _coro_run {
223 terminate &{+shift}; 358 terminate &{+shift};
224} 359}
225 360
226sub new { 361=item $success = $coroutine->ready
227 my $class = shift;
228 bless {
229 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
230 }, $class;
231}
232 362
233=item $process->ready 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.
234 366
235Put the given process into the ready queue. 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.
236 370
237=cut 371=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
238 372
239=item $process->cancel 373Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
240 374
241Like C<terminate>, but terminates the specified process instead. 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.
242 380
243=cut 381=cut
244 382
245sub cancel { 383sub cancel {
246 push @destroy, $_[0]; 384 my $self = shift;
247 $manager->ready;
248 &schedule if $current == $_[0];
249}
250 385
386 if ($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
251=item $process->join 436=item $coroutine->join
252 437
253Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 438Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
254C<terminate> function. C<join> can be called multiple times from multiple 439C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
255processes. 440from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
441return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
256 442
257=cut 443=cut
258 444
259sub join { 445sub join {
260 my $self = shift; 446 my $self = shift;
447
261 unless ($self->{status}) { 448 unless ($self->{_status}) {
262 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 449 my $current = $current;
263 &schedule; 450
451 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
452 $current->ready;
453 undef $current;
454 };
455
456 &schedule while $current;
264 } 457 }
458
265 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 459 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
266} 460}
267 461
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
268=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 476=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
269 477
270Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 478Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
271process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 479coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
272processes. Priorities are smalled signed integer (currently -4 .. +3), 480coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
273that 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
274to get then): 482to get then):
275 483
276 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
277 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 485 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
280 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 488 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
281 489
282The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 490The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
283existing coroutine. 491existing coroutine.
284 492
285Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 493Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
286but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 494but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
287running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 495running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
288process). 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.
289 497
290=cut
291
292sub prio {
293 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
294 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
295 $old;
296}
297
298=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 498=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
299 499
300Similar 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.
301higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 501higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
302 502
303=cut
304
305sub nice {
306 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
307}
308
309=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 503=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
310 504
311Sets (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
312process. 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.
313 511
314=cut 512=cut
315 513
316sub desc { 514sub desc {
317 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 515 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
318 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 516 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
319 $old; 517 $old;
320} 518}
321 519
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
322=back 525=back
323 526
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 function still exists, but is deprecated. Please use the
543C<Guard::guard> function instead.
544
545=cut
546
547BEGIN { *guard = \&Guard::guard }
548
549=item unblock_sub { ... }
550
551This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
552returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
553will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
554original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
555coroutine.
556
557The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
558venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
559of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
560otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
561currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
562
563This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
564coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
565is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
566disk, for example.
567
568In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
569creating event callbacks that want to block.
570
571If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
572another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
573there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
574
575Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
576are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
577use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
578provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
579must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
580
581=cut
582
583our @unblock_queue;
584
585# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
586# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
587# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
588# inside an event callback.
589our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
590 while () {
591 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
592 &async_pool (@$cb);
593
594 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
595 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
596 # in the idle state when cede returns
597 cede;
598 }
599 schedule; # sleep well
600 }
601};
602$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
603
604sub unblock_sub(&) {
605 my $cb = shift;
606
607 sub {
608 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
609 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
610 }
611}
612
613=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
614
615Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
616when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
617coroutine of the callback.
618
619See the next function.
620
621=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
622
623Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
624this coroutine).
625
626As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
627before C<rouse_wait>), it will return the arguments originally passed to
628the rouse callback.
629
630See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
631
632=back
633
324=cut 634=cut
325 635
3261; 6361;
327 637
638=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
639
640It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
641called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
642event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
643
644These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
645when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
646just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
647
648For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
649a specific child has exited:
650
651 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
652
653But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
654
655 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
656
657Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
658C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
659
660The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
661when invoked, will save its arguments and notify the coroutine that
662created the callback.
663
664The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
665(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
666originally passed to the callback.
667
668Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
669function mentioned above:
670
671 sub wait_for_child($) {
672 my ($pid) = @_;
673
674 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
675
676 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
677 $rstatus
678 }
679
680In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
681you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
682
683 sub wait_for_child($) {
684 my ($pid) = @_;
685
686 # store the current coroutine in $current,
687 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
688 my $current = $Coro::current;
689 my ($done, $rstatus);
690
691 # pass a closure to ->child
692 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
693 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
694 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
695 });
696
697 # wait until the closure has been called
698 schedule while !$done;
699
700 $rstatus
701 }
702
703
328=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 704=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
329 705
330 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global destruction. 706=over 4
331 very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults). 707
708=item fork with pthread backend
709
710When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
711but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
712coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
713fix your libc and use a saner backend.
714
715=item perl process emulation ("threads")
716
332 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module from 717This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
333 the same thread (this requirement might be loosened in the future to 718module from the first thread (this requirement might be removed in the
334 allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow this). 719future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
720this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
721the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
722performance, even when not used.
723
724=item coroutine switching not signal safe
725
726You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
727(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
728
729That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
730current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
731anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
732works.
733
734=back
735
335 736
336=head1 SEE ALSO 737=head1 SEE ALSO
337 738
338L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 739Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
339L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::RWLock>, 740
340L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>. 741Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
742
743Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
744
745Locking and IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>,
746L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
747
748I/O and Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
749
750Compatibility with other modules: L<Coro::LWP> (but see also L<AnyEvent::HTTP> for
751a better-working alternative), L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>,
752L<Coro::Select>.
753
754XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
755
756Low level Configuration, Thread Environment, Continuations: L<Coro::State>.
341 757
342=head1 AUTHOR 758=head1 AUTHOR
343 759
344 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 760 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
345 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 761 http://home.schmorp.de/
346 762
347=cut 763=cut
348 764

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