ViewVC Help
View File | Revision Log | Show Annotations | Download File
/cvs/Coro/Coro.pm
(Generate patch)

Comparing Coro/Coro.pm (file contents):
Revision 1.54 by pcg, Sun Sep 28 09:00:48 2003 UTC vs.
Revision 1.234 by root, Fri Nov 21 06:52:10 2008 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - the real perl threads
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, that is, cooperative
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32threads. Coroutines are similar to kernel threads but don't (in general)
33run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines. The specific flavor
34of coroutine used in this module also guarantees you that it will not
35switch between coroutines unless necessary, at easily-identified points
36in your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an issue,
37making coroutine programming much safer and easier than using other thread
38models.
25 39
40Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads
41but only the windows process emulation ported to unix), Coro provides a
42full shared address space, which makes communication between coroutines
43very easy. And coroutines are fast, too: disabling the Windows process
44emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in a two to
45four times speed increase for your programs.
46
47Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share
48data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and
49for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running
50concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro
51into an event-based environment.
52
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 53In this module, a coroutines is defined as "callchain + lexical variables
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 54+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 55callchain, its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important
29important global variables. 56global variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background
57info).
58
59See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
60module family is quite large.
30 61
31=cut 62=cut
32 63
33package Coro; 64package Coro;
34 65
66use strict qw(vars subs);
35no warnings qw(uninitialized); 67no warnings "uninitialized";
36 68
37use Coro::State; 69use Coro::State;
38 70
39use base Exporter; 71use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 72
41$VERSION = 0.7; 73our $idle; # idle handler
74our $main; # main coroutine
75our $current; # current coroutine
42 76
77our $VERSION = "5.0";
78
43@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 79our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
44%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 80our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
45 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 81 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
46); 82);
47@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 83our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
48 84
49{ 85=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES
50 my @async;
51 my $init;
52
53 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
54 sub import {
55 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
56 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
57 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
58 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
59 my @attrs;
60 for (@_) {
61 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
62 push @async, $ref;
63 unless ($init++) {
64 eval q{
65 sub INIT {
66 &async(pop @async) while @async;
67 }
68 };
69 }
70 } else {
71 push @attrs, $_;
72 }
73 }
74 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
75 };
76 }
77
78}
79 86
80=over 4 87=over 4
81 88
82=item $main 89=item $Coro::main
83 90
84This coroutine represents the main program. 91This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
92program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
93coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
94whether you are running in the main program or not.
85 95
86=cut 96=cut
87 97
88our $main = new Coro; 98# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
89 99
90=item $current (or as function: current) 100=item $Coro::current
91 101
92The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 102The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
103coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
104C<$Coro::main> (of course).
93 105
94=cut 106This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
107value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
108not otherwise modify the variable itself.
95 109
96# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 110=cut
97if ($current) {
98 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
99}
100 111
101our $current = $main;
102
103sub current() { $current } 112sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
104 113
105=item $idle 114=item $Coro::idle
106 115
107The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 116This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
108implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 117usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
118pretty low-level functionality.
109 119
110=cut 120This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
121finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
122"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
123to continue.
111 124
112# should be done using priorities :( 125This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
113our $idle = new Coro sub { 126C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
114 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 127coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
115 exit(51); 128
129Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
130the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
131coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
132readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
133
134See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
135technique.
136
137Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
138handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
139
140=cut
141
142$idle = sub {
143 require Carp;
144 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
116}; 145};
117 146
118# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 147# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
119# cannot destroy itself. 148# cannot destroy itself.
120my @destroy; 149our @destroy;
121my $manager; 150our $manager;
151
122$manager = new Coro sub { 152$manager = new Coro sub {
123 while() { 153 while () {
124 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 154 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) { 155 while @destroy;
130 my $coro = pop @destroy; 156
131 $coro->{status} ||= [];
132 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
133 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
134 }
135 &schedule; 157 &schedule;
136 } 158 }
137}; 159};
138 160$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
139# static methods. not really. 161$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
140 162
141=back 163=back
142 164
143=head2 STATIC METHODS 165=head1 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
144
145Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
146 166
147=over 4 167=over 4
148 168
149=item async { ... } [@args...] 169=item async { ... } [@args...]
150 170
151Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 171Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
152(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 172unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
173it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
174
175The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
176coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
153terminated. 177terminated.
154 178
179The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
180
181See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
182environment in which coroutines are executed.
183
184Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
185the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
186just as it would in the main program.
187
188If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
189simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
190
155 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 191Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
192
156 async { 193 async {
157 print "@_\n"; 194 print "@_\n";
158 } 1,2,3,4; 195 } 1,2,3,4;
159 196
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 197=cut
164 198
165sub async(&@) { 199sub async(&@) {
166 my $pid = new Coro @_; 200 my $coro = new Coro @_;
167 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
168 $pid->ready; 201 $coro->ready;
169 $pid; 202 $coro
170} 203}
204
205=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
206
207Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
208terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
209coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
210or bad :).
211
212On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
213destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
214coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
215
216The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
217issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
218C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
219will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
220which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
221exceptional case).
222
223The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
224disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
225gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
226be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
227stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
228simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
229
230The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
231adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
232coros as required.
233
234If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
235single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
236{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
237addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
238(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
239
240=cut
241
242our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
243our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
244our @async_pool;
245
246sub pool_handler {
247 while () {
248 eval {
249 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
250 };
251
252 warn $@ if $@;
253 }
254}
255
256=back
257
258=head1 STATIC METHODS
259
260Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
261current coroutine.
262
263=over 4
171 264
172=item schedule 265=item schedule
173 266
174Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 267Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
268to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
269to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
270in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
271C<$Coro::idle> hook.
272
273Please 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 274queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
176never be called again. 275again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
276thus waking you up.
177 277
178=cut 278This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
279coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
280a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
281>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
282yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
283so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
284status in a variable.
285
286See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
179 287
180=item cede 288=item cede
181 289
182"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 290"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 291the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
184current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 292up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
293priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
294resumed.
185 295
186=cut 296This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
297
298=item Coro::cede_notself
299
300Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
301coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
302progress is made.
187 303
188=item terminate [arg...] 304=item terminate [arg...]
189 305
190Terminates the current process. 306Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
191 307
192Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 308=item killall
193 309
194=cut 310Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
311one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
312usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
195 313
196sub terminate { 314Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
197 $current->{status} = [@_]; 315you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
198 $current->cancel; 316program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
199 &schedule; 317
200 die; # NORETURN 318=cut
319
320sub killall {
321 for (Coro::State::list) {
322 $_->cancel
323 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
324 }
201} 325}
202 326
203=back 327=back
204 328
205# dynamic methods 329=head1 COROUTINE OBJECT METHODS
206 330
207=head2 PROCESS METHODS
208
209These are the methods you can call on process objects. 331These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
332them).
210 333
211=over 4 334=over 4
212 335
213=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 336=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
214 337
215Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 338Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
216automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 339automatically 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 340called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
218by calling the ready method. 341queue by calling the ready method.
219 342
220=cut 343See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
344coroutine environment.
221 345
222sub _newcoro { 346=cut
347
348sub _terminate {
223 terminate &{+shift}; 349 terminate &{+shift};
224} 350}
225 351
226sub new { 352=item $success = $coroutine->ready
227 my $class = shift;
228 bless {
229 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
230 }, $class;
231}
232 353
233=item $process->ready 354Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
355queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
356the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
234 357
235Put the given process into the ready queue. 358This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
359once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
360priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
236 361
237=cut 362=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
238 363
239=item $process->cancel 364Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
240 365
241Like C<terminate>, but terminates the specified process instead. 366=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
367
368Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
369status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
370current coroutine.
242 371
243=cut 372=cut
244 373
245sub cancel { 374sub cancel {
246 push @destroy, $_[0]; 375 my $self = shift;
247 $manager->ready;
248 &schedule if $current == $_[0];
249}
250 376
377 if ($current == $self) {
378 terminate @_;
379 } else {
380 $self->{_status} = [@_];
381 $self->_cancel;
382 }
383}
384
385=item $coroutine->schedule_to
386
387Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
388of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
389the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
390state of that coroutine isn't changed.
391
392This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
393uses for this one.
394
395=item $coroutine->cede_to
396
397Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
398queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
399coroutine, and continuing some time later.
400
401This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
402uses for this one.
403
404=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
405
406If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
407inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
408clears the exception object.
409
410Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
411returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
412>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
413detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
414
415The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
416C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
417(unlike with C<die>).
418
419This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
420end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
421termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
422program.
423
424You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
425C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
426
251=item $process->join 427=item $coroutine->join
252 428
253Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 429Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
254C<terminate> function. C<join> can be called multiple times from multiple 430C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
255processes. 431from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
432return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
256 433
257=cut 434=cut
258 435
259sub join { 436sub join {
260 my $self = shift; 437 my $self = shift;
438
261 unless ($self->{status}) { 439 unless ($self->{_status}) {
262 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 440 my $current = $current;
263 &schedule; 441
442 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
443 $current->ready;
444 undef $current;
445 };
446
447 &schedule while $current;
264 } 448 }
449
265 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 450 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
266} 451}
267 452
453=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
454
455Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
456but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
457if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
458
459=cut
460
461sub on_destroy {
462 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
463
464 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
465}
466
268=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 467=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
269 468
270Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 469Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
271process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 470coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
272processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 471coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
273that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 472that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
274to get then): 473to get then):
275 474
276 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 475 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
277 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 476 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
280 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 479 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
281 480
282The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 481The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
283existing coroutine. 482existing coroutine.
284 483
285Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 484Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
286but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 485but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
287running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 486running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
288process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 487coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
289 488
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) 489=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
299 490
300Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 491Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
301higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 492higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
302 493
303=cut
304
305sub nice {
306 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
307}
308
309=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 494=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
310 495
311Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 496Sets (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. 497coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
498coroutine.
499
500This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
501string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
313 502
314=cut 503=cut
315 504
316sub desc { 505sub desc {
317 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 506 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
318 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 507 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
319 $old; 508 $old;
320} 509}
321 510
511sub transfer {
512 require Carp;
513 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
514}
515
322=back 516=back
323 517
518=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
519
520=over 4
521
522=item Coro::nready
523
524Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
525i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
526indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
527currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
528would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
529coroutines.
530
531=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
532
533This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
534gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
535executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
536runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
537guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
538C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
539
540Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
541or the function returns:
542
543 sub do_something {
544 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
545 $busy = 1;
546
547 # do something that requires $busy to be true
548 }
549
550=cut
551
552sub guard(&) {
553 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
554}
555
556sub Coro::guard::cancel {
557 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
558}
559
560sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
561 ${$_[0]}->();
562}
563
564
565=item unblock_sub { ... }
566
567This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
568returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
569will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
570original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
571coroutine.
572
573The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
574venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
575of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
576otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
577currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
578
579This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
580coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
581is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
582disk, for example.
583
584In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
585creating event callbacks that want to block.
586
587If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
588another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
589there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
590
591Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
592are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
593use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
594provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
595must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
596
597=cut
598
599our @unblock_queue;
600
601# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
602# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
603# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
604# inside an event callback.
605our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
606 while () {
607 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
608 &async_pool (@$cb);
609
610 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
611 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
612 # in the idle state when cede returns
613 cede;
614 }
615 schedule; # sleep well
616 }
617};
618$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
619
620sub unblock_sub(&) {
621 my $cb = shift;
622
623 sub {
624 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
625 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
626 }
627}
628
629=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
630
631Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
632called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
633callback.
634
635See the next function.
636
637=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
638
639Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
640this coroutine).
641
642As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
643C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
644to the rouse callback.
645
646See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
647
648=back
649
324=cut 650=cut
325 651
3261; 6521;
327 653
654=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
655
656It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
657called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
658event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
659
660These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
661when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
662just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
663
664For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
665a specific child has exited:
666
667 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
668
669But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
670
671 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
672
673Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
674C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
675
676The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
677when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
678created the callback.
679
680The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
681(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
682originally passed to the callback.
683
684Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
685function mentioned above:
686
687 sub wait_for_child($) {
688 my ($pid) = @_;
689
690 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
691
692 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
693 $rstatus
694 }
695
696In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
697you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
698
699 sub wait_for_child($) {
700 my ($pid) = @_;
701
702 # store the current coroutine in $current,
703 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
704 my $current = $Coro::current;
705 my ($done, $rstatus);
706
707 # pass a closure to ->child
708 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
709 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
710 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
711 });
712
713 # wait until the closure has been called
714 schedule while !$done;
715
716 $rstatus
717 }
718
719
328=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 720=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
329 721
330 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 722=over 4
331 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
332 723
724=item fork with pthread backend
725
726When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
727but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
728coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
729fix your libc and use a saner backend.
730
731=item perl process emulation ("threads")
732
333 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 733This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
334 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 734module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
335 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 735future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
336 this). 736this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
737the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
738performance, even when not used.
739
740=item coroutine switching not signal safe
741
742You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
743(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
744
745That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
746current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
747anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
748works.
749
750=back
751
337 752
338=head1 SEE ALSO 753=head1 SEE ALSO
339 754
340L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 755Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
341L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, 756
342L<Coro::L<Coro::RWLock>, Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>. 757Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
758
759Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
760
761Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
762
763IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
764
765Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
766
767XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
768
769Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
343 770
344=head1 AUTHOR 771=head1 AUTHOR
345 772
346 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 773 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
347 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 774 http://home.schmorp.de/
348 775
349=cut 776=cut
350 777

Diff Legend

Removed lines
+ Added lines
< Changed lines
> Changed lines