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Revision 1.52 by root, Tue May 27 00:26:34 2003 UTC vs.
Revision 1.233 by root, Fri Nov 21 06:02:07 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 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@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
30 56
31=cut 57=cut
32 58
33package Coro; 59package Coro;
34 60
61use strict qw(vars subs);
35no warnings qw(uninitialized); 62no warnings "uninitialized";
36 63
37use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
38 65
39use base Exporter; 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 67
41$VERSION = 0.652; 68our $idle; # idle handler
69our $main; # main coroutine
70our $current; # current coroutine
42 71
72our $VERSION = "5.0";
73
43@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
44%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
45 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
46); 77);
47@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
48
49{
50 my @async;
51 my $init;
52
53 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
54 sub import {
55 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
56 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
57 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
58 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
59 my @attrs;
60 for (@_) {
61 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
62 push @async, $ref;
63 unless ($init++) {
64 eval q{
65 sub INIT {
66 &async(pop @async) while @async;
67 }
68 };
69 }
70 } else {
71 push @attrs, $_;
72 }
73 }
74 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
75 };
76 }
77
78}
79 79
80=over 4 80=over 4
81 81
82=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
83 83
84This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
85 88
86=cut 89=cut
87 90
88our $main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
89 92
90=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
91 94
92The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
93 98
94=cut 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
95 102
96# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 103=cut
97if ($current) {
98 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
99}
100 104
101our $current = $main;
102
103sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
104 106
105=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
106 108
107The 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
108implementation 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.
109 112
110=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.
111 117
112# should be done using priorities :( 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
113our $idle = new Coro sub { 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
114 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
115 exit(51); 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
132
133=cut
134
135$idle = sub {
136 require Carp;
137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
116}; 138};
117 139
118# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 140# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
119# cannot destroy itself. 141# cannot destroy itself.
120my @destroy; 142our @destroy;
121my $manager; 143our $manager;
144
122$manager = new Coro sub { 145$manager = new Coro sub {
123 while() { 146 while () {
124 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 147 Coro::_cancel shift @destroy
125 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
126 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
127 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
128 # remove itself from the runqueue
129 while (@destroy) { 148 while @destroy;
130 my $coro = pop @destroy; 149
131 $coro->{status} ||= [];
132 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
133 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
134 }
135 &schedule; 150 &schedule;
136 } 151 }
137}; 152};
138 153$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
139# static methods. not really. 154$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
140 155
141=back 156=back
142 157
143=head2 STATIC METHODS 158=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
144
145Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
146 159
147=over 4 160=over 4
148 161
149=item async { ... } [@args...] 162=item async { ... } [@args...]
150 163
151Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 164Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
152(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 165unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
166it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
167
168The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
169coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
153terminated. 170terminated.
154 171
172The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
173
174See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
175environment in which coroutines are executed.
176
177Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
178the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
179just as it would in the main program.
180
181If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
182simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
183
155 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 184Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
185
156 async { 186 async {
157 print "@_\n"; 187 print "@_\n";
158 } 1,2,3,4; 188 } 1,2,3,4;
159 189
160The coderef you submit MUST NOT be a closure that refers to variables
161in an outer scope. This does NOT work. Pass arguments into it instead.
162
163=cut 190=cut
164 191
165sub async(&@) { 192sub async(&@) {
166 my $pid = new Coro @_; 193 my $coro = new Coro @_;
167 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
168 $pid->ready; 194 $coro->ready;
169 $pid; 195 $coro
170} 196}
197
198=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
199
200Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
201terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
202coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
203or bad :).
204
205On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
206destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
207coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
208
209The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
210issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
211C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
212will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
213which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
214exceptional case).
215
216The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
217disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
218gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
219be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
220stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
221simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
222
223The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
224adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
225coros as required.
226
227If 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
229{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
230addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
231(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
232
233=cut
234
235our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
236our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
237our @async_pool;
238
239sub pool_handler {
240 while () {
241 eval {
242 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
243 };
244
245 warn $@ if $@;
246 }
247}
248
249=back
250
251=head2 STATIC METHODS
252
253Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
254
255=over 4
171 256
172=item schedule 257=item schedule
173 258
174Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 259Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
260to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
261to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
262in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
263C<$Coro::idle> hook.
264
265Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
175into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 266queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
176never be called again. 267again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
268thus waking you up.
177 269
178=cut 270This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
271coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
272a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
273>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
274yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
275so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
276status in a variable.
277
278See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
179 279
180=item cede 280=item cede
181 281
182"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 282"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
183ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 283the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
184current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 284up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
285priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
286resumed.
185 287
186=cut 288This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
289
290=item Coro::cede_notself
291
292Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
293coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
294progress is made.
187 295
188=item terminate [arg...] 296=item terminate [arg...]
189 297
190Terminates the current process. 298Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
191 299
192Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 300=item killall
193 301
194=cut 302Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
303one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
304usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
195 305
196sub terminate { 306Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
197 $current->{status} = [@_]; 307you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
198 $current->cancel; 308program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
199 &schedule; 309
200 die; # NORETURN 310=cut
311
312sub killall {
313 for (Coro::State::list) {
314 $_->cancel
315 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
316 }
201} 317}
202 318
203=back 319=back
204 320
205# dynamic methods
206
207=head2 PROCESS METHODS 321=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
208 322
209These are the methods you can call on process objects. 323These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
324them).
210 325
211=over 4 326=over 4
212 327
213=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 328=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
214 329
215Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 330Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
216automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 331automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
217called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 332called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
218by calling the ready method. 333queue by calling the ready method.
219 334
220=cut 335See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
336coroutine environment.
221 337
222sub _newcoro { 338=cut
339
340sub _terminate {
223 terminate &{+shift}; 341 terminate &{+shift};
224} 342}
225 343
226sub new { 344=item $success = $coroutine->ready
227 my $class = shift;
228 bless {
229 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
230 }, $class;
231}
232 345
233=item $process->ready 346Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
347queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
348the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
234 349
235Put the given process into the ready queue. 350This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
351once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
352priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
236 353
237=cut 354=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
238 355
239=item $process->cancel 356Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
240 357
241Like C<terminate>, but terminates the specified process instead. 358=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
359
360Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
361status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
362current coroutine.
242 363
243=cut 364=cut
244 365
245sub cancel { 366sub cancel {
246 push @destroy, $_[0]; 367 my $self = shift;
247 $manager->ready;
248 &schedule if $current == $_[0];
249}
250 368
369 if ($current == $self) {
370 terminate @_;
371 } else {
372 $self->{_status} = [@_];
373 $self->_cancel;
374 }
375}
376
377=item $coroutine->schedule_to
378
379Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
380of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
381the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
382state of that coroutine isn't changed.
383
384This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
385uses for this one.
386
387=item $coroutine->cede_to
388
389Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
390queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
391coroutine, and continuing some time later.
392
393This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
394uses for this one.
395
396=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
397
398If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
399inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
400clears the exception object.
401
402Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
403returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
404>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
405detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
406
407The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
408C<$@>, 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
251=item $process->join 419=item $coroutine->join
252 420
253Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 421Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
254C<terminate> function. C<join> can be called multiple times from multiple 422C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
255processes. 423from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
424return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
256 425
257=cut 426=cut
258 427
259sub join { 428sub join {
260 my $self = shift; 429 my $self = shift;
430
261 unless ($self->{status}) { 431 unless ($self->{_status}) {
262 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 432 my $current = $current;
263 &schedule; 433
434 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
435 $current->ready;
436 undef $current;
437 };
438
439 &schedule while $current;
264 } 440 }
441
265 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 442 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
266} 443}
267 444
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
268=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 459=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
269 460
270Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 461Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
271process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 462coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
272processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 463coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
273that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 464that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
274to get then): 465to get then):
275 466
276 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 467 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
277 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 468 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
280 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 471 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
281 472
282The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 473The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
283existing coroutine. 474existing coroutine.
284 475
285Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 476Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
286but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 477but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
287running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 478running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
288process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 479coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
289 480
290=cut
291
292sub prio {
293 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
294 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
295 $old;
296}
297
298=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 481=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
299 482
300Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 483Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
301higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 484higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
302 485
303=cut
304
305sub nice {
306 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
307}
308
309=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 486=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
310 487
311Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 488Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
312process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 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.
313 494
314=cut 495=cut
315 496
316sub desc { 497sub desc {
317 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 498 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
318 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 499 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
319 $old; 500 $old;
320} 501}
321 502
503sub transfer {
504 require Carp;
505 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
506}
507
322=back 508=back
323 509
510=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
511
512=over 4
513
514=item Coro::nready
515
516Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
517i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
518indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
519currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
520would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
521coroutines.
522
523=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
524
525This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
526gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
527executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
528runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
529guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
530C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
531
532Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
533or the function returns:
534
535 sub do_something {
536 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
537 $busy = 1;
538
539 # do something that requires $busy to be true
540 }
541
542=cut
543
544sub guard(&) {
545 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
546}
547
548sub Coro::guard::cancel {
549 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
550}
551
552sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
553 ${$_[0]}->();
554}
555
556
557=item unblock_sub { ... }
558
559This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
560returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
561will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
562original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
563coroutine.
564
565The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
566venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
567of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
568otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
569currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
570
571This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
572coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
573is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
574disk, for example.
575
576In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
577creating event callbacks that want to block.
578
579If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
580another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
581there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
582
583Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
584are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
585use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
586provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
587must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
588
589=cut
590
591our @unblock_queue;
592
593# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
594# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
595# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
596# inside an event callback.
597our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
598 while () {
599 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
600 &async_pool (@$cb);
601
602 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
603 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
604 # in the idle state when cede returns
605 cede;
606 }
607 schedule; # sleep well
608 }
609};
610$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
611
612sub unblock_sub(&) {
613 my $cb = shift;
614
615 sub {
616 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
617 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
618 }
619}
620
621=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
622
623Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
624called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
625callback.
626
627See the next function.
628
629=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
630
631Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
632this coroutine).
633
634As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
635C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
636to the rouse callback.
637
638See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
639
640=back
641
324=cut 642=cut
325 643
3261; 6441;
327 645
646=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
647
648It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
649called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
650event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
651
652These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
653when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
654just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
655
656For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
657a specific child has exited:
658
659 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
660
661But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
662
663 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
664
665Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
666C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
667
668The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
669when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
670created the callback.
671
672The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
673(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
674originally passed to the callback.
675
676Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
677function mentioned above:
678
679 sub wait_for_child($) {
680 my ($pid) = @_;
681
682 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
683
684 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
685 $rstatus
686 }
687
688In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
689you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
690
691 sub wait_for_child($) {
692 my ($pid) = @_;
693
694 # store the current coroutine in $current,
695 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
696 my $current = $Coro::current;
697 my ($done, $rstatus);
698
699 # pass a closure to ->child
700 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
701 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
702 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
703 });
704
705 # wait until the closure has been called
706 schedule while !$done;
707
708 $rstatus
709 }
710
711
328=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 712=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
329 713
330 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 714=over 4
331 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults
332 or "panic: top_env").
333 715
716=item fork with pthread backend
717
718When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
719but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
720coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
721fix your libc and use a saner backend.
722
723=item perl process emulation ("threads")
724
334 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 725This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
335 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 726module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
336 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 727future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
337 this). 728this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
729the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
730performance, even when not used.
731
732=item coroutine switching not signal safe
733
734You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
735(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
736
737That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
738current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
739anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
740works.
741
742=back
743
338 744
339=head1 SEE ALSO 745=head1 SEE ALSO
340 746
341L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 747Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
342L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::RWLock>, 748
343L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>. 749Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
750
751Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
752
753Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
754
755IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
756
757Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
758
759XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
760
761Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
344 762
345=head1 AUTHOR 763=head1 AUTHOR
346 764
347 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 765 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
348 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 766 http://home.schmorp.de/
349 767
350=cut 768=cut
351 769

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