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Revision 1.119 by root, Wed Mar 28 14:24:17 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.226 by root, Wed Nov 19 16:01:32 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 use din this module also 33on SMP machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module
26guarentees 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 = '3.55'; 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<$Coro::main> (of course).
111 98
112This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
113reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
114C<Coro::current> function instead. 101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
115 102
116=cut 103=cut
117 104
118# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
119$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; 154our @destroy;
161my $manager; 155our $manager;
162 156
163$manager = new Coro sub { 157$manager = new Coro sub {
164 while () { 158 while () {
165 (shift @destroy)->_cancel 159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
166 while @destroy; 160 while @destroy;
167 161
168 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
169 } 163 }
170}; 164};
171 165$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.
189 183
190Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
191 185
192When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
193program. 187environment in which coroutines are executed.
194 188
189Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
190the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
191just as it would in the main program.
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
195 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
196 async { 198 async {
197 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
198 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
199 201
200=cut 202=cut
206} 208}
207 209
208=item async_pool { ... } [@args...] 210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
209 211
210Similar 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
211terminate 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
212that 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 :).
213 216
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
214Also, 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
215issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as 222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
216C<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>
217will 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,
218which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling. 225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
219 227
220The 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
221will 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 $/ >>.
222 234
223The 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
224changing $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
225required. 237coros as required.
226 238
227If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a 239If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
228single 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
229terminate }> 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.
230 244
231=cut 245=cut
232 246
233our $POOL_SIZE = 8; 247our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
248our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
234our @pool; 249our @async_pool;
235 250
236sub pool_handler { 251sub pool_handler {
252 my $cb;
253
237 while () { 254 while () {
238 eval { 255 eval {
239 my ($cb, @arg) = @{ delete $current->{_invoke} or return }; 256 while () {
240 $cb->(@arg); 257 _pool_1 $cb;
258 &$cb;
259 _pool_2 $cb;
260 &schedule;
261 }
241 }; 262 };
263
264 if ($@) {
265 last if $@ eq "\3async_pool terminate\2\n";
242 warn $@ if $@; 266 warn $@;
243 267 }
244 last if @pool >= $POOL_SIZE;
245 push @pool, $current;
246
247 $current->save (Coro::State::SAVE_DEF);
248 $current->prio (0);
249 schedule;
250 } 268 }
251} 269}
252 270
253sub async_pool(&@) { 271sub async_pool(&@) {
254 # this is also inlined into the unlock_scheduler 272 # this is also inlined into the unblock_scheduler
255 my $coro = (pop @pool or new Coro \&pool_handler); 273 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
256 274
257 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_]; 275 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_];
258 $coro->ready; 276 $coro->ready;
259 277
260 $coro 278 $coro
261} 279}
262 280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
288
263=item schedule 289=item schedule
264 290
265Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
266into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
267never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
268ready. 300thus waking you up.
269 301
270The canonical way to wait on external events is this: 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.
271 309
310See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
311
312=item cede
313
314"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
315the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
316up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
317priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
318resumed.
319
320This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
321
322=item Coro::cede_notself
323
324Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
325coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
326progress is made.
327
328=item terminate [arg...]
329
330Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
331
332=item killall
333
334Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
335one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
336usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
337
338Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
339you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
340program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
341
342=cut
343
344sub terminate {
345 $current->{_status} = [@_];
346 push @destroy, $current;
347 $manager->ready;
348 do { &schedule } while 1;
349}
350
351sub killall {
352 for (Coro::State::list) {
353 $_->cancel
354 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
272 { 355 }
273 # remember current coroutine 356}
357
358=back
359
360=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
361
362These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
363them).
364
365=over 4
366
367=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
368
369Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
370automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
371called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
372queue by calling the ready method.
373
374See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
375coroutine environment.
376
377=cut
378
379sub _terminate {
380 terminate &{+shift};
381}
382
383=item $success = $coroutine->ready
384
385Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
386queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
387the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
388
389This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
390once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
391priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
392
393=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
394
395Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
396
397=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
398
399Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
400status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
401current coroutine.
402
403=cut
404
405sub cancel {
406 my $self = shift;
407
408 if ($current == $self) {
409 terminate @_;
410 } else {
411 $self->{_status} = [@_];
412 $self->_cancel;
413 }
414}
415
416=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
417
418If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
419inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
420clears the exception object.
421
422Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
423returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
424>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
425detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
426
427The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
428C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
429(unlike with C<die>).
430
431This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
432end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
433termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
434program.
435
436You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
437C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
438
439=item $coroutine->join
440
441Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
442C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
443from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
444return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
445
446=cut
447
448sub join {
449 my $self = shift;
450
451 unless ($self->{_status}) {
274 my $current = $Coro::current; 452 my $current = $current;
275 453
276 # register a hypothetical event handler 454 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
277 on_event_invoke sub {
278 # wake up sleeping coroutine
279 $current->ready; 455 $current->ready;
280 undef $current; 456 undef $current;
281 }; 457 };
282 458
283 # call schedule until event occured.
284 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
285 # (current still defined), loop.
286 Coro::schedule while $current;
287 }
288
289=item cede
290
291"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into the
292ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the
293current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority.
294
295Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened.
296
297=item Coro::cede_notself
298
299Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to any
300coroutine, regardless of priority, once.
301
302Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened.
303
304=item terminate [arg...]
305
306Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
307
308=cut
309
310sub terminate {
311 $current->cancel (@_);
312}
313
314=back
315
316# dynamic methods
317
318=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
319
320These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects.
321
322=over 4
323
324=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
325
326Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the coroutine
327automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
328called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready queue
329by calling the ready method.
330
331Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that.
332
333=cut
334
335sub _run_coro {
336 terminate &{+shift};
337}
338
339sub new {
340 my $class = shift;
341
342 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
343}
344
345=item $success = $coroutine->ready
346
347Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's priority)
348and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready queue, do nothing
349and return false.
350
351=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
352
353Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
354
355=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
356
357Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
358status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
359current coroutine.
360
361=cut
362
363sub cancel {
364 my $self = shift;
365 $self->{status} = [@_];
366
367 if ($current == $self) {
368 push @destroy, $self;
369 $manager->ready;
370 &schedule while 1;
371 } else {
372 $self->_cancel;
373 }
374}
375
376=item $coroutine->join
377
378Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
379C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times
380from multiple coroutine.
381
382=cut
383
384sub join {
385 my $self = shift;
386
387 unless ($self->{status}) {
388 my $current = $current;
389
390 push @{$self->{destroy_cb}}, sub {
391 $current->ready;
392 undef $current;
393 };
394
395 &schedule while $current; 459 &schedule while $current;
396 } 460 }
397 461
398 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 462 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
399} 463}
400 464
401=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb) 465=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
402 466
403Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed, 467Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
404but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments, 468but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
405if any. 469if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
406 470
407=cut 471=cut
408 472
409sub on_destroy { 473sub on_destroy {
410 my ($self, $cb) = @_; 474 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
411 475
412 push @{ $self->{destroy_cb} }, $cb; 476 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
413} 477}
414 478
415=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio) 479=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
416 480
417Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 481Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
440higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 504higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
441 505
442=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc) 506=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
443 507
444Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 508Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
445coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a coroutine. 509coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
510coroutine.
511
512This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
513string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
446 514
447=cut 515=cut
448 516
449sub desc { 517sub desc {
450 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 518 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
459=over 4 527=over 4
460 528
461=item Coro::nready 529=item Coro::nready
462 530
463Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state, 531Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
464i.e. that can be swicthed to. The value C<0> means that the only runnable 532i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
533indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
465coroutine is the currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, 534currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
466and C<schedule> would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler 535would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
467that wakes up some coroutines. 536coroutines.
468 537
469=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... } 538=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
470 539
471This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object 540This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
472gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be 541gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
501 570
502 571
503=item unblock_sub { ... } 572=item unblock_sub { ... }
504 573
505This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it, 574This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
506returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will return 575returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
507immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the original code 576will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
508ref will be called (with parameters) from within its own coroutine. 577original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
578coroutine.
509 579
510The reason this fucntion exists is that many event libraries (such as the 580The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
511venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form 581venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
512of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks, 582of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
513otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. 583otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
584currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
514 585
515This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another 586This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
516coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy 587coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
517is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to 588is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
518disk. 589disk, for example.
519 590
520In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when 591In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
521creating event callbacks that want to block. 592creating event callbacks that want to block.
593
594If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
595another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
596there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
597
598Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
599are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
600use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
601provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
602must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
522 603
523=cut 604=cut
524 605
525our @unblock_queue; 606our @unblock_queue;
526 607
527# we create a special coro because we want to cede, 608# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
528# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks 609# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
529# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede 610# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
530# inside an event callback. 611# inside an event callback.
531our $unblock_scheduler = async { 612our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
532 while () { 613 while () {
533 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) { 614 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
534 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool 615 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
535 my $coro = (pop @pool or new Coro \&pool_handler); 616 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
536 617
537 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb; 618 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
538 $coro->ready; 619 $coro->ready;
539 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool 620 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
540 } 621 }
541 schedule; # sleep well 622 schedule; # sleep well
542 } 623 }
543}; 624};
625$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
544 626
545sub unblock_sub(&) { 627sub unblock_sub(&) {
546 my $cb = shift; 628 my $cb = shift;
547 629
548 sub { 630 sub {
549 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_]; 631 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
550 $unblock_scheduler->ready; 632 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
551 } 633 }
552} 634}
553 635
636=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
637
638Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
639called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
640callback.
641
642See the next function.
643
644=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
645
646Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
647this coroutine).
648
649As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
650C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
651to the rouse callback.
652
653See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
654
554=back 655=back
555 656
556=cut 657=cut
557 658
5581; 6591;
559 660
661=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
662
663It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
664called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
665event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
666
667These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
668when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
669just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
670
671For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
672a specific child has exited:
673
674 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
675
676But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
677
678 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
679
680Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
681C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
682
683The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
684when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
685created the callback.
686
687The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
688(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
689originally passed to the callback.
690
691Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
692function mentioned above:
693
694 sub wait_for_child($) {
695 my ($pid) = @_;
696
697 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
698
699 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
700 $rstatus
701 }
702
703In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
704you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
705
706 sub wait_for_child($) {
707 my ($pid) = @_;
708
709 # store the current coroutine in $current,
710 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
711 my $current = $Coro::current;
712 my ($done, $rstatus);
713
714 # pass a closure to ->child
715 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
716 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
717 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
718 });
719
720 # wait until the closure has been called
721 schedule while !$done;
722
723 $rstatus
724 }
725
726
560=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 727=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
561 728
562 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 729=over 4
563 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
564 730
731=item fork with pthread backend
732
733When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
734but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
735coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
736fix your libc and use a saner backend.
737
738=item perl process emulation ("threads")
739
565 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 740This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
566 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 741module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
567 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 742future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
568 this). 743this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
744the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
745performance, even when not used.
746
747=item coroutine switching not signal safe
748
749You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
750(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
751
752That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
753current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
754anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
755works.
756
757=back
758
569 759
570=head1 SEE ALSO 760=head1 SEE ALSO
571 761
762Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
763
764Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
765
572Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 766Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
573 767
574Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 768Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
575 769
576Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 770IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
577 771
578Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 772Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
773
774XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
775
776Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
579 777
580=head1 AUTHOR 778=head1 AUTHOR
581 779
582 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 780 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
583 http://home.schmorp.de/ 781 http://home.schmorp.de/

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