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Revision 1.95 by root, Sun Dec 3 22:50:06 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.198 by root, Sun Sep 21 01:23:26 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 to 31This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32threads but don't (in general) run in parallel at the same time even
33on SMP machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module
34also guarantees you that it will not switch between coroutines unless
35necessary, at easily-identified points in your program, so locking and
36parallel access are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much
37safer and easier than threads programming.
25 38
39Unlike a normal perl program, however, coroutines allow you to have
40multiple running interpreters that share data, which is especially useful
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).
51
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 52In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 53@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
30 56
31=cut 57=cut
32 58
33package Coro; 59package Coro;
34 60
41 67
42our $idle; # idle handler 68our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 69our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 70our $current; # current coroutine
45 71
46our $VERSION = '3.01'; 72our $VERSION = 4.746;
47 73
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 77);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53
54{
55 my @async;
56 my $init;
57
58 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
59 sub import {
60 no strict 'refs';
61
62 Coro->export_to_level (1, @_);
63
64 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
65 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
66 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
67 my @attrs;
68 for (@_) {
69 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
70 push @async, $ref;
71 unless ($init++) {
72 eval q{
73 sub INIT {
74 &async(pop @async) while @async;
75 }
76 };
77 }
78 } else {
79 push @attrs, $_;
80 }
81 }
82 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
83 };
84 }
85
86}
87 79
88=over 4 80=over 4
89 81
90=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
91 83
92This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 88
94=cut 89=cut
95 90
96$main = new Coro; 91$main = new Coro;
97 92
98=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
99 94
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
101is C<$main> (of course). 97C<$main> (of course).
102 98
103This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
104reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
105C<Coro::current> function instead. 101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
106 102
107=cut 103=cut
104
105$main->{desc} = "[main::]";
108 106
109# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 107# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
110$main->{specific} = $current->{specific} 108$main->{_specific} = $current->{_specific}
111 if $current; 109 if $current;
112 110
113_set_current $main; 111_set_current $main;
114 112
115sub current() { $current } 113sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
116 114
117=item $idle 115=item $Coro::idle
118 116
119A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 117This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
120to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 118usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
121exits, because the program has no other way to continue. 119pretty low-level functionality.
120
121This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
122finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
123"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
124to continue.
122 125
123This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 126This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
124C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a 127C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
125coroutine so the scheduler can run it. 128coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
126 129
130Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
131the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
132coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
133readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
134
135See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
136technique.
137
127Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event 138Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
128handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively. 139handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
129 140
130=cut 141=cut
131 142
132$idle = sub { 143$idle = sub {
133 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 144 require Carp;
134 exit (51); 145 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
135}; 146};
147
148sub _cancel {
149 my ($self) = @_;
150
151 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed
152 $self->_destroy
153 or return;
154
155 # call all destruction callbacks
156 $_->(@{$self->{_status}})
157 for @{(delete $self->{_on_destroy}) || []};
158}
136 159
137# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 160# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
138# cannot destroy itself. 161# cannot destroy itself.
139my @destroy; 162my @destroy;
163my $manager;
164
140my $manager; $manager = new Coro sub { 165$manager = new Coro sub {
141 while () { 166 while () {
142 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 167 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
143 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
144 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
145 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
146 # remove itself from the runqueue
147 while (@destroy) { 168 while @destroy;
148 my $coro = pop @destroy;
149 $coro->{status} ||= [];
150 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
151 169
152 # the next line destroys the coro state, but keeps the
153 # coroutine itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
154 # coroutine that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
155 # to transfer() to this coroutine).
156 $coro->_clone_state_from ($manager);
157 }
158 &schedule; 170 &schedule;
159 } 171 }
160}; 172};
161 173$manager->desc ("[coro manager]");
162# static methods. not really. 174$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
163 175
164=back 176=back
165 177
166=head2 STATIC METHODS 178=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
167
168Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine only.
169 179
170=over 4 180=over 4
171 181
172=item async { ... } [@args...] 182=item async { ... } [@args...]
173 183
174Create a new asynchronous coroutine and return it's coroutine object 184Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
175(usually unused). When the sub returns the new coroutine is automatically 185unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
186it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
187
188The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
189coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
176terminated. 190terminated.
177 191
178Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 192The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
179 193
180When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 194See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
181program. 195environment in which coroutines are executed.
182 196
197Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
198the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
199just as it would in the main program.
200
201If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
202simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
203
183 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 204Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
205
184 async { 206 async {
185 print "@_\n"; 207 print "@_\n";
186 } 1,2,3,4; 208 } 1,2,3,4;
187 209
188=cut 210=cut
189 211
190sub async(&@) { 212sub async(&@) {
191 my $pid = new Coro @_; 213 my $coro = new Coro @_;
192 $pid->ready; 214 $coro->ready;
193 $pid 215 $coro
194} 216}
217
218=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
219
220Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
221terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
222coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
223or bad :).
224
225On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
226a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
227quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
228
229The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
230issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
231C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
232will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
233which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
234exceptional case).
235
236The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
237disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
238gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
239be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
240stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> to revert that change, which is most
241simply done by using local as in: C< local $/ >.
242
243The pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be adjusted by
244changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), and there can be as many non-idle coros as
245required.
246
247If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
248single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
249{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
250addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 16kb
251(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
252
253=cut
254
255our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
256our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
257our @async_pool;
258
259sub pool_handler {
260 my $cb;
261
262 while () {
263 eval {
264 while () {
265 _pool_1 $cb;
266 &$cb;
267 _pool_2 $cb;
268 &schedule;
269 }
270 };
271
272 if ($@) {
273 last if $@ eq "\3async_pool terminate\2\n";
274 warn $@;
275 }
276 }
277}
278
279sub async_pool(&@) {
280 # this is also inlined into the unlock_scheduler
281 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
282
283 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_];
284 $coro->ready;
285
286 $coro
287}
288
289=back
290
291=head2 STATIC METHODS
292
293Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
294
295=over 4
195 296
196=item schedule 297=item schedule
197 298
198Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not be put 299Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
300to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
301to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
302in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
303C<$Coro::idle> hook.
304
305Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
199into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 306queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
200never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls 307again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
201ready. 308thus waking you up.
309
310This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
311coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
312a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
313>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
314yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
315so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
316status in a variable.
202 317
203The canonical way to wait on external events is this: 318The canonical way to wait on external events is this:
204 319
205 { 320 {
206 # remember current coroutine 321 # remember current coroutine
211 # wake up sleeping coroutine 326 # wake up sleeping coroutine
212 $current->ready; 327 $current->ready;
213 undef $current; 328 undef $current;
214 }; 329 };
215 330
216 # call schedule until event occured. 331 # call schedule until event occurred.
217 # in case we are woken up for other reasons 332 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
218 # (current still defined), loop. 333 # (current still defined), loop.
219 Coro::schedule while $current; 334 Coro::schedule while $current;
220 } 335 }
221 336
222=item cede 337=item cede
223 338
224"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into the 339"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
225ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 340the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
226current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 341up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
342priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
343resumed.
344
345This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
346
347=item Coro::cede_notself
348
349Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
350coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
351progress is made.
227 352
228=item terminate [arg...] 353=item terminate [arg...]
229 354
230Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 355Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
356
357=item killall
358
359Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
360one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
361usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
362
363Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
364you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
365program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
231 366
232=cut 367=cut
233 368
234sub terminate { 369sub terminate {
235 $current->cancel (@_); 370 $current->cancel (@_);
236} 371}
237 372
373sub killall {
374 for (Coro::State::list) {
375 $_->cancel
376 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
377 }
378}
379
238=back 380=back
239 381
240# dynamic methods
241
242=head2 COROUTINE METHODS 382=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
243 383
244These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects. 384These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
385them).
245 386
246=over 4 387=over 4
247 388
248=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 389=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
249 390
250Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the coroutine 391Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
251automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 392automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
252called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready queue 393called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
253by calling the ready method. 394queue by calling the ready method.
254 395
255Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 396See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
397coroutine environment.
256 398
257=cut 399=cut
258 400
259sub _run_coro { 401sub _run_coro {
260 terminate &{+shift}; 402 terminate &{+shift};
266 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_) 408 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
267} 409}
268 410
269=item $success = $coroutine->ready 411=item $success = $coroutine->ready
270 412
271Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's priority) 413Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
272and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready queue, do nothing 414queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
273and return false. 415the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
416
417This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
418once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
419priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
274 420
275=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready 421=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
276 422
277Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not, 423Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
278 424
279=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...) 425=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
280 426
281Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as 427Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
282status (default: the empty list). 428status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
429current coroutine.
283 430
284=cut 431=cut
285 432
286sub cancel { 433sub cancel {
287 my $self = shift; 434 my $self = shift;
288 $self->{status} = [@_]; 435 $self->{_status} = [@_];
436
437 if ($current == $self) {
289 push @destroy, $self; 438 push @destroy, $self;
290 $manager->ready; 439 $manager->ready;
291 &schedule if $current == $self; 440 &schedule while 1;
441 } else {
442 $self->_cancel;
443 }
292} 444}
293 445
294=item $coroutine->join 446=item $coroutine->join
295 447
296Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 448Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
297C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 449C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
298from multiple coroutine. 450from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
451return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
299 452
300=cut 453=cut
301 454
302sub join { 455sub join {
303 my $self = shift; 456 my $self = shift;
457
304 unless ($self->{status}) { 458 unless ($self->{_status}) {
305 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 459 my $current = $current;
306 &schedule; 460
461 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
462 $current->ready;
463 undef $current;
464 };
465
466 &schedule while $current;
307 } 467 }
468
308 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 469 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
470}
471
472=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
473
474Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
475but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
476if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
477
478=cut
479
480sub on_destroy {
481 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
482
483 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
309} 484}
310 485
311=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio) 486=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
312 487
313Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 488Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
338=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc) 513=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
339 514
340Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 515Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
341coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a coroutine. 516coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a coroutine.
342 517
518This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given string. You
519can modify this member directly if you wish.
520
521=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
522
523If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
524inside the coroutine at the next convinient point in time (usually after
525it gains control at the next schedule/transfer/cede). Otherwise clears the
526exception object.
527
528The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
529C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
530(unlike with C<die>).
531
532This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
533end itself, although there is no guarentee that the exception will lead to
534termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
535program.
536
343=cut 537=cut
344 538
345sub desc { 539sub desc {
346 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 540 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
347 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 541 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
348 $old; 542 $old;
349} 543}
350 544
351=back 545=back
352 546
353=head2 UTILITY FUNCTIONS 547=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
354 548
355=over 4 549=over 4
356 550
551=item Coro::nready
552
553Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
554i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
555indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
556currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
557would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
558coroutines.
559
560=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
561
562This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
563gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
564executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
565runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
566guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
567C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
568
569Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
570or the function returns:
571
572 sub do_something {
573 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
574 $busy = 1;
575
576 # do something that requires $busy to be true
577 }
578
579=cut
580
581sub guard(&) {
582 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
583}
584
585sub Coro::guard::cancel {
586 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
587}
588
589sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
590 ${$_[0]}->();
591}
592
593
357=item unblock_sub { ... } 594=item unblock_sub { ... }
358 595
359This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it, 596This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
360returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will return 597returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
361immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the original code 598will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
362ref will be called (with parameters) from within its own coroutine. 599original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
600coroutine.
363 601
364The reason this fucntion exists is that many event libraries (such as the 602The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
365venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form 603venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
366of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks, 604of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
367otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. 605otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
606currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
368 607
369This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another 608This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
370coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy 609coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
371is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to 610is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
372disk. 611disk, for example.
373 612
374In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when 613In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
375creating event callbacks that want to block. 614creating event callbacks that want to block.
376 615
377=cut 616If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
617another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
618there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
378 619
379our @unblock_pool; 620Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
621are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
622use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
623provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
624must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
625
626=cut
627
380our @unblock_queue; 628our @unblock_queue;
381our $UNBLOCK_POOL_SIZE = 2;
382 629
383sub unblock_handler_ { 630# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
384 while () { 631# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
385 my ($cb, @arg) = @{ delete $Coro::current->{arg} }; 632# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
386 $cb->(@arg); 633# inside an event callback.
387
388 last if @unblock_pool >= $UNBLOCK_POOL_SIZE;
389 push @unblock_pool, $Coro::current;
390 schedule;
391 }
392}
393
394our $unblock_scheduler = async { 634our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
395 while () { 635 while () {
396 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) { 636 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
397 my $handler = (pop @unblock_pool or new Coro \&unblock_handler_); 637 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
398 $handler->{arg} = $cb; 638 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
639
640 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
399 $handler->ready; 641 $coro->ready;
400 cede; 642 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
401 } 643 }
402 644 schedule; # sleep well
403 schedule;
404 } 645 }
405}; 646};
647$unblock_scheduler->desc ("[unblock_sub scheduler]");
406 648
407sub unblock_sub(&) { 649sub unblock_sub(&) {
408 my $cb = shift; 650 my $cb = shift;
409 651
410 sub { 652 sub {
411 push @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_]; 653 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
412 $unblock_scheduler->ready; 654 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
413 } 655 }
414} 656}
415 657
416=back 658=back
419 661
4201; 6621;
421 663
422=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 664=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
423 665
424 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global
425 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
426
427 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 666This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
428 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 667module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
429 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 668future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
430 this). 669this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as this
670is much faster and uses less memory.
431 671
432=head1 SEE ALSO 672=head1 SEE ALSO
433 673
674Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
675
676Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
677
434Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 678Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
435 679
436Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 680Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
437 681
438Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 682IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
439 683
440Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 684Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
685
686XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
687
688Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
441 689
442=head1 AUTHOR 690=head1 AUTHOR
443 691
444 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 692 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
445 http://home.schmorp.de/ 693 http://home.schmorp.de/

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