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Revision 1.20 by root, Sat Jul 21 18:21:45 2001 UTC vs.
Revision 1.228 by root, Thu Nov 20 03:14:49 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 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 yield; 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
26This module is still experimental, see the BUGS section below. 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.
27 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
28In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 52In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
29+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W), that is, a coroutine has it's own callchain, it's 53@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
30own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most important global 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
31variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
32 56
33=cut 57=cut
34 58
35package Coro; 59package Coro;
36 60
61use strict qw(vars subs);
62no warnings "uninitialized";
63
37use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
38 65
39use base Exporter; 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 67
68our $idle; # idle handler
69our $main; # main coroutine
70our $current; # current coroutine
71
41$VERSION = 0.10; 72our $VERSION = 5.0;
42 73
43@EXPORT = qw(async yield schedule terminate current); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
44@EXPORT_OK = qw($current); 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
77);
78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
45 79
46{ 80=over 4
47 my @async;
48 81
49 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
50 sub import {
51 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
52 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
53 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
54 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
55 my @attrs;
56 for (@_) {
57 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
58 push @async, $ref;
59 } else {
60 push @attrs, $_;
61 }
62 }
63 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
64 };
65 }
66
67 sub INIT {
68 &async(pop @async) while @async;
69 }
70}
71
72=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
73 83
74This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
75 88
76=cut 89=cut
77 90
78our $main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
79 92
80=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
81 94
82The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
83 98
84=cut 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
85 102
86# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 103=cut
87if ($current) {
88 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
89}
90 104
91our $current = $main;
92
93sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
94 106
95=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
96 108
97The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
98implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
111pretty low-level functionality.
99 112
100=cut 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.
101 117
102# should be done using priorities :( 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
103our $idle = new Coro sub { 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
104 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
105 exit(51); 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
132
133=cut
134
135$idle = sub {
136 require Carp;
137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
106}; 138};
107 139
108# we really need priorities... 140sub _cancel {
109my @ready; # the ready queue. hehe, rather broken ;) 141 my ($self) = @_;
110 142
111# static methods. not really. 143 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed
144 $self->_destroy
145 or return;
112 146
113=head2 STATIC METHODS 147 # call all destruction callbacks
148 $_->(@{$self->{_status}})
149 for @{ delete $self->{_on_destroy} || [] };
150}
114 151
115Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only. 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
153# cannot destroy itself.
154our @destroy;
155our $manager;
156
157$manager = new Coro sub {
158 while () {
159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
160 while @destroy;
161
162 &schedule;
163 }
164};
165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
167
168=back
169
170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
116 171
117=over 4 172=over 4
118 173
119=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
120 175
121Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
122(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process 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
123terminated. 182terminated.
124 183
184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
185
186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
187environment in which coroutines are executed.
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
125 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
126 async { 198 async {
127 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
128 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
129 201
130The coderef you submit MUST NOT be a closure that refers to variables
131in an outer scope. This does NOT work. Pass arguments into it instead.
132
133=cut 202=cut
134 203
135sub async(&@) { 204sub async(&@) {
136 my $pid = new Coro @_; 205 my $coro = new Coro @_;
137 $pid->ready; 206 $coro->ready;
138 $pid; 207 $coro
139} 208}
209
210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
211
212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
216
217On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
218destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
219coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
227
228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
233simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
234
235The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
236adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
237coros as required.
238
239If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
240single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_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.
244
245=cut
246
247our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
248our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
249our @async_pool;
250
251sub pool_handler {
252 while () {
253 eval {
254 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
255 };
256
257 warn $@ if $@;
258 }
259}
260
261=back
262
263=head2 STATIC METHODS
264
265Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
266
267=over 4
140 268
141=item schedule 269=item schedule
142 270
143Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 271Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
272to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
273to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
274in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
275C<$Coro::idle> hook.
276
277Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
144into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 278queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
145never be called again. 279again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
280thus waking you up.
146 281
147=cut 282This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
283coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
284a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
285>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
286yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
287so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
288status in a variable.
148 289
149my $prev; 290See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
150 291
151sub schedule {
152 # should be done using priorities :(
153 ($prev, $current) = ($current, shift @ready || $idle);
154 Coro::State::transfer($prev, $current);
155}
156
157=item yield 292=item cede
158 293
159Yield to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 294"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
160ready queue and calls C<schedule>. 295the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
296up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
297priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
298resumed.
161 299
162=cut 300This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
163 301
164sub yield { 302=item Coro::cede_notself
165 $current->ready;
166 &schedule;
167}
168 303
304Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
305coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
306progress is made.
307
169=item terminate 308=item terminate [arg...]
170 309
171Terminates the current process. 310Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
172 311
173Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 312=item killall
313
314Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
315one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
316usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
317
318Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
319you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
320program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
174 321
175=cut 322=cut
176 323
177sub terminate { 324sub terminate {
178 $current->{_results} = [@_]; 325 $current->{_status} = [@_];
179 &schedule; 326 push @destroy, $current;
327 $manager->ready;
328 do { &schedule } while 1;
329}
330
331sub killall {
332 for (Coro::State::list) {
333 $_->cancel
334 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
335 }
180} 336}
181 337
182=back 338=back
183 339
184# dynamic methods
185
186=head2 PROCESS METHODS 340=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
187 341
188These are the methods you can call on process objects. 342These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
343them).
189 344
190=over 4 345=over 4
191 346
192=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 347=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
193 348
194Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 349Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
195automatically terminates. To start the process you must first put it into 350automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
351called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
196the ready queue by calling the ready method. 352queue by calling the ready method.
197 353
198The coderef you submit MUST NOT be a closure that refers to variables 354See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
199in an outer scope. This does NOT work. Pass arguments into it instead. 355coroutine environment.
200 356
201=cut 357=cut
202 358
203sub _newcoro { 359sub _terminate {
204 terminate &{+shift}; 360 terminate &{+shift};
205} 361}
206 362
363=item $success = $coroutine->ready
364
365Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
366queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
367the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
368
369This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
370once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
371priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
372
373=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
374
375Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
376
377=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
378
379Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
380status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
381current coroutine.
382
383=cut
384
207sub new { 385sub cancel {
208 my $class = shift; 386 my $self = shift;
209 bless {
210 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
211 }, $class;
212}
213 387
214=item $process->ready 388 if ($current == $self) {
389 terminate @_;
390 } else {
391 $self->{_status} = [@_];
392 $self->_cancel;
393 }
394}
215 395
216Put the current process into the ready queue. 396=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
217 397
218=cut 398If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
399inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
400clears the exception object.
219 401
220sub ready { 402Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
221 push @ready, $_[0]; 403returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
404>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
405detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
406
407The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
408C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
409(unlike with C<die>).
410
411This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
412end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
413termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
414program.
415
416You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
417C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
418
419=item $coroutine->join
420
421Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
422C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
423from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
424return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
425
426=cut
427
428sub join {
429 my $self = shift;
430
431 unless ($self->{_status}) {
432 my $current = $current;
433
434 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
435 $current->ready;
436 undef $current;
437 };
438
439 &schedule while $current;
440 }
441
442 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
443}
444
445=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
446
447Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
448but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
449if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
450
451=cut
452
453sub on_destroy {
454 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
455
456 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
457}
458
459=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
460
461Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
462coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
463coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
464that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
465to get then):
466
467 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
468 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
469
470 # set priority to HIGH
471 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
472
473The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
474existing coroutine.
475
476Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
477but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
478running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
479coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
480
481=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
482
483Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
484higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
485
486=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
487
488Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
489coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
490coroutine.
491
492This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
493string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
494
495=cut
496
497sub desc {
498 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
499 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
500 $old;
222} 501}
223 502
224=back 503=back
225 504
505=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
506
507=over 4
508
509=item Coro::nready
510
511Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
512i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
513indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
514currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
515would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
516coroutines.
517
518=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
519
520This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
521gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
522executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
523runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
524guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
525C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
526
527Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
528or the function returns:
529
530 sub do_something {
531 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
532 $busy = 1;
533
534 # do something that requires $busy to be true
535 }
536
537=cut
538
539sub guard(&) {
540 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
541}
542
543sub Coro::guard::cancel {
544 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
545}
546
547sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
548 ${$_[0]}->();
549}
550
551
552=item unblock_sub { ... }
553
554This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
555returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
556will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
557original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
558coroutine.
559
560The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
561venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
562of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
563otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
564currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
565
566This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
567coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
568is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
569disk, for example.
570
571In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
572creating event callbacks that want to block.
573
574If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
575another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
576there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
577
578Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
579are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
580use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
581provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
582must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
583
584=cut
585
586our @unblock_queue;
587
588# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
589# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
590# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
591# inside an event callback.
592our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
593 while () {
594 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
595 &async_pool (@$cb);
596
597 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
598 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
599 # in the idle state when cede returns
600 cede;
601 }
602 schedule; # sleep well
603 }
604};
605$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
606
607sub unblock_sub(&) {
608 my $cb = shift;
609
610 sub {
611 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
612 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
613 }
614}
615
616=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
617
618Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
619called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
620callback.
621
622See the next function.
623
624=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
625
626Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
627this coroutine).
628
629As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
630C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
631to the rouse callback.
632
633See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
634
635=back
636
226=cut 637=cut
227 638
2281; 6391;
229 640
641=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
642
643It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
644called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
645event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
646
647These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
648when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
649just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
650
651For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
652a specific child has exited:
653
654 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
655
656But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
657
658 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
659
660Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
661C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
662
663The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
664when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
665created the callback.
666
667The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
668(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
669originally passed to the callback.
670
671Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
672function mentioned above:
673
674 sub wait_for_child($) {
675 my ($pid) = @_;
676
677 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
678
679 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
680 $rstatus
681 }
682
683In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
684you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
685
686 sub wait_for_child($) {
687 my ($pid) = @_;
688
689 # store the current coroutine in $current,
690 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
691 my $current = $Coro::current;
692 my ($done, $rstatus);
693
694 # pass a closure to ->child
695 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
696 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
697 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
698 });
699
700 # wait until the closure has been called
701 schedule while !$done;
702
703 $rstatus
704 }
705
706
230=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 707=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
231 708
232 - could be faster, especially when the core would introduce special 709=over 4
233 support for coroutines (like it does for threads). 710
234 - there is still a memleak on coroutine termination that I could not 711=item fork with pthread backend
235 identify. Could be as small as a single SV. 712
236 - this module is not well-tested. 713When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
237 - if variables or arguments "disappear" (become undef) or become 714but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
238 corrupted please contact the author so he cen iron out the 715coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
239 remaining bugs. 716fix your libc and use a saner backend.
240 - this module is not thread-safe. You must only ever use this module from 717
718=item perl process emulation ("threads")
719
720This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
241 the same thread (this requirement might be loosened in the future to 721module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
242 allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow this). 722future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
723this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
724the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
725performance, even when not used.
726
727=item coroutine switching not signal safe
728
729You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
730(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
731
732That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
733current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
734anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
735works.
736
737=back
738
243 739
244=head1 SEE ALSO 740=head1 SEE ALSO
245 741
246L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 742Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
247L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Event>. 743
744Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
745
746Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
747
748Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
749
750IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
751
752Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
753
754XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
755
756Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
248 757
249=head1 AUTHOR 758=head1 AUTHOR
250 759
251 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 760 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
252 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 761 http://home.schmorp.de/
253 762
254=cut 763=cut
255 764

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