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Revision 1.246 by root, Mon Dec 15 00:30:40 2008 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - the only real threads in perl
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 31For a tutorial-style introduction, please read the L<Coro::Intro>
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32manpage. This manpage mainly contains reference information.
25 33
34This module collection manages continuations in general, most often
35in the form of cooperative threads (also called coroutines in the
36documentation). They are similar to kernel threads but don't (in general)
37run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines. The specific flavor
38of thread offered by this module also guarantees you that it will not
39switch between threads unless necessary, at easily-identified points in
40your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an issue, making
41thread programming much safer and easier than using other thread models.
42
43Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads
44but only the windows process emulation ported to unix), Coro provides a
45full shared address space, which makes communication between threads
46very easy. And threads are fast, too: disabling the Windows process
47emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in a two to
48four times speed increase for your programs.
49
50Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share
51data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and
52for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running
53concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro
54into an event-based environment.
55
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 56In this module, a thread is defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 57@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a thread has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 58its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 59variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info).
60
61See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
62module family is quite large.
30 63
31=cut 64=cut
32 65
33package Coro; 66package Coro;
34 67
35BEGIN { eval { require warnings } && warnings->unimport ("uninitialized") } 68use strict qw(vars subs);
69no warnings "uninitialized";
70
71use Guard ();
36 72
37use Coro::State; 73use Coro::State;
38 74
39use vars qw($idle $main $current); 75use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 76
41use base Exporter; 77our $idle; # idle handler
78our $main; # main coroutine
79our $current; # current coroutine
42 80
43$VERSION = 0.95; 81our $VERSION = 5.13;
44 82
45@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 83our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
46%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 84our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
47 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 85 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
48); 86);
49@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 87our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
50 88
51{ 89=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES
52 my @async;
53 my $init;
54
55 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
56 sub import {
57 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
58 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
59 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
60 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
61 my @attrs;
62 for (@_) {
63 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
64 push @async, $ref;
65 unless ($init++) {
66 eval q{
67 sub INIT {
68 &async(pop @async) while @async;
69 }
70 };
71 }
72 } else {
73 push @attrs, $_;
74 }
75 }
76 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
77 };
78 }
79
80}
81 90
82=over 4 91=over 4
83 92
84=item $main 93=item $Coro::main
85 94
86This coroutine represents the main program. 95This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
96program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
97coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
98whether you are running in the main program or not.
87 99
88=cut 100=cut
89 101
90$main = new Coro; 102# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
91 103
92=item $current (or as function: current) 104=item $Coro::current
93 105
94The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 106The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
107coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
108C<$Coro::main> (of course).
95 109
96=cut 110This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
111value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
112not otherwise modify the variable itself.
97 113
98# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 114=cut
99if ($current) {
100 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
101}
102 115
103$current = $main;
104
105sub current() { $current } 116sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
106 117
107=item $idle 118=item $Coro::idle
108 119
109The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 120This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
110implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 121usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
122pretty low-level functionality.
111 123
112=cut 124This variable stores either a coroutine or a callback.
113 125
114# should be done using priorities :( 126If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no
115$idle = new Coro sub { 127ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
116 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 128deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
117 exit(51); 129continue.
130
131If it is a coroutine object, then this object will be readied (without
132invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
133coroutines to run.
134
135This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
136C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
137coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
138
139Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
140the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
141coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
142readying that coroutine in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
143coroutine in this variable.
144
145See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
146technique.
147
148Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
149handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
150
151=cut
152
153$idle = sub {
154 require Carp;
155 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
118}; 156};
119 157
120# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 158# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
121# cannot destroy itself. 159# cannot destroy itself.
122my @destroy; 160our @destroy;
123my $manager; 161our $manager;
162
124$manager = new Coro sub { 163$manager = new Coro sub {
125 while () { 164 while () {
126 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 165 Coro::_cancel shift @destroy
127 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
128 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
129 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
130 # remove itself from the runqueue
131 while (@destroy) { 166 while @destroy;
132 my $coro = pop @destroy; 167
133 $coro->{status} ||= [];
134 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
135 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
136 }
137 &schedule; 168 &schedule;
138 } 169 }
139}; 170};
140 171$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
141# static methods. not really. 172$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
142 173
143=back 174=back
144 175
145=head2 STATIC METHODS 176=head1 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
146
147Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
148 177
149=over 4 178=over 4
150 179
151=item async { ... } [@args...] 180=item async { ... } [@args...]
152 181
153Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 182Create a new coroutine and return its coroutine object (usually
154(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 183unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
184it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
185
186The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
187coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
155terminated. 188terminated.
156 189
190The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
191
192See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
193environment in which coroutines are executed.
194
195Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
196the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
197just as it would in the main program.
198
199If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
200simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
201
157 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 202Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
203
158 async { 204 async {
159 print "@_\n"; 205 print "@_\n";
160 } 1,2,3,4; 206 } 1,2,3,4;
161 207
162=cut 208=cut
163 209
164sub async(&@) { 210sub async(&@) {
165 my $pid = new Coro @_; 211 my $coro = new Coro @_;
166 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
167 $pid->ready; 212 $coro->ready;
168 $pid; 213 $coro
169} 214}
215
216=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
217
218Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
219terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
220coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
221or bad :).
222
223On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
224destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
225coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
226
227The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
228issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
229C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
230will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
231which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
232exceptional case).
233
234The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
235disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
236gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
237be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
238stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
239simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
240
241The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
242adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
243coros as required.
244
245If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
246single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
247{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
248addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
249(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
250
251=cut
252
253our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
254our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
255our @async_pool;
256
257sub pool_handler {
258 while () {
259 eval {
260 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
261 };
262
263 warn $@ if $@;
264 }
265}
266
267=back
268
269=head1 STATIC METHODS
270
271Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
272current coroutine.
273
274=over 4
170 275
171=item schedule 276=item schedule
172 277
173Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 278Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
279to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
280to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
281in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
282C<$Coro::idle> hook.
283
284Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
174into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 285queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
175never be called again. 286again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
287thus waking you up.
176 288
177=cut 289This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
290coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
291a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
292>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
293yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
294so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
295status in a variable.
296
297See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
178 298
179=item cede 299=item cede
180 300
181"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 301"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
182ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 302the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
183current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 303up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
304priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
305resumed.
184 306
185=cut 307This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
308
309=item Coro::cede_notself
310
311Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
312coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
313progress is made.
186 314
187=item terminate [arg...] 315=item terminate [arg...]
188 316
189Terminates the current process. 317Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
190 318
191Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 319=item killall
192 320
193=cut 321Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
322one. This can be useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent,
323as usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
194 324
195sub terminate { 325Note that in the implementation, destructors run as normal, making this
196 $current->{status} = [@_]; 326function not so useful after a fork. Future versions of this function
197 $current->cancel; 327might try to free resources without running any code.
198 &schedule; 328
199 die; # NORETURN 329Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
330you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
331program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
332
333=cut
334
335sub killall {
336 for (Coro::State::list) {
337 $_->cancel
338 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
339 }
200} 340}
201 341
202=back 342=back
203 343
204# dynamic methods 344=head1 COROUTINE OBJECT METHODS
205 345
206=head2 PROCESS METHODS
207
208These are the methods you can call on process objects. 346These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
347them).
209 348
210=over 4 349=over 4
211 350
212=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 351=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
213 352
214Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 353Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
215automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 354automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
216called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 355called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
217by calling the ready method. 356queue by calling the ready method.
218 357
219=cut 358See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
359coroutine environment.
220 360
361=cut
362
221sub _newcoro { 363sub _coro_run {
222 terminate &{+shift}; 364 terminate &{+shift};
223} 365}
224 366
225sub new { 367=item $success = $coroutine->ready
226 my $class = shift;
227 bless {
228 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
229 }, $class;
230}
231 368
232=item $process->ready 369Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
370queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
371the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
233 372
234Put the given process into the ready queue. 373This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
374once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
375priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
235 376
236=cut 377=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
237 378
238=item $process->cancel 379Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
239 380
240Like C<terminate>, but terminates the specified process instead. 381=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
382
383Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
384status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
385current coroutine.
241 386
242=cut 387=cut
243 388
244sub cancel { 389sub cancel {
245 push @destroy, $_[0]; 390 my $self = shift;
246 $manager->ready;
247 &schedule if $current == $_[0];
248}
249 391
392 if ($current == $self) {
393 terminate @_;
394 } else {
395 $self->{_status} = [@_];
396 $self->_cancel;
397 }
398}
399
400=item $coroutine->schedule_to
401
402Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
403of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
404the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
405state of that coroutine isn't changed.
406
407This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
408uses for this one.
409
410=item $coroutine->cede_to
411
412Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
413queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
414coroutine, and continuing some time later.
415
416This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
417uses for this one.
418
419=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
420
421If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
422inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
423clears the exception object.
424
425Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
426returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
427>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
428detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
429
430The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
431C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
432(unlike with C<die>).
433
434This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
435end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
436termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
437program.
438
439You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
440C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
441
250=item $process->join 442=item $coroutine->join
251 443
252Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 444Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
253C<terminate> function. C<join> can be called multiple times from multiple 445C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
254processes. 446from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
447return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
255 448
256=cut 449=cut
257 450
258sub join { 451sub join {
259 my $self = shift; 452 my $self = shift;
453
260 unless ($self->{status}) { 454 unless ($self->{_status}) {
261 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 455 my $current = $current;
262 &schedule; 456
457 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
458 $current->ready;
459 undef $current;
460 };
461
462 &schedule while $current;
263 } 463 }
464
264 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 465 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
265} 466}
266 467
468=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
469
470Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
471but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
472if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
473
474=cut
475
476sub on_destroy {
477 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
478
479 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
480}
481
267=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 482=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
268 483
269Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 484Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
270process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 485coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
271processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 486coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
272that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 487that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
273to get then): 488to get then):
274 489
275 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 490 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
276 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 491 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
279 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 494 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
280 495
281The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 496The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
282existing coroutine. 497existing coroutine.
283 498
284Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 499Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
285but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 500but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
286running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 501running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
287process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 502coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
288 503
289=cut
290
291sub prio {
292 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
293 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
294 $old;
295}
296
297=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 504=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
298 505
299Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 506Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
300higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 507higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
301 508
302=cut
303
304sub nice {
305 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
306}
307
308=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 509=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
309 510
310Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 511Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
311process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 512coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
513coroutine.
514
515This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
516string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
312 517
313=cut 518=cut
314 519
315sub desc { 520sub desc {
316 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 521 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
317 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 522 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
318 $old; 523 $old;
319} 524}
320 525
526sub transfer {
527 require Carp;
528 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
529}
530
321=back 531=back
322 532
533=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
534
535=over 4
536
537=item Coro::nready
538
539Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
540i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
541indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
542currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
543would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
544coroutines.
545
546=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
547
548This function still exists, but is deprecated. Please use the
549C<Guard::guard> function instead.
550
551=cut
552
553BEGIN { *guard = \&Guard::guard }
554
555=item unblock_sub { ... }
556
557This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
558returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
559will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
560original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
561coroutine.
562
563The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
564venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
565of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
566otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
567currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
568
569This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
570coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
571is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
572disk, for example.
573
574In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
575creating event callbacks that want to block.
576
577If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
578another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
579there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
580
581Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
582are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
583use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
584provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
585must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
586
587=cut
588
589our @unblock_queue;
590
591# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
592# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
593# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
594# inside an event callback.
595our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
596 while () {
597 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
598 &async_pool (@$cb);
599
600 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
601 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
602 # in the idle state when cede returns
603 cede;
604 }
605 schedule; # sleep well
606 }
607};
608$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
609
610sub unblock_sub(&) {
611 my $cb = shift;
612
613 sub {
614 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
615 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
616 }
617}
618
619=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
620
621Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
622when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
623coroutine of the callback.
624
625See the next function.
626
627=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
628
629Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
630this coroutine).
631
632As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
633before C<rouse_wait>), it will return the arguments originally passed to
634the rouse callback.
635
636See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
637
638=back
639
323=cut 640=cut
324 641
3251; 6421;
326 643
644=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
645
646It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
647called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
648event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
649
650These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
651when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
652just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
653
654For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
655a specific child has exited:
656
657 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
658
659But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
660
661 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
662
663Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
664C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
665
666The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
667when invoked, will save its arguments and notify the coroutine that
668created the callback.
669
670The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
671(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
672originally passed to the callback.
673
674Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
675function mentioned above:
676
677 sub wait_for_child($) {
678 my ($pid) = @_;
679
680 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
681
682 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
683 $rstatus
684 }
685
686In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
687you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
688
689 sub wait_for_child($) {
690 my ($pid) = @_;
691
692 # store the current coroutine in $current,
693 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
694 my $current = $Coro::current;
695 my ($done, $rstatus);
696
697 # pass a closure to ->child
698 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
699 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
700 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
701 });
702
703 # wait until the closure has been called
704 schedule while !$done;
705
706 $rstatus
707 }
708
709
327=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 710=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
328 711
329 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 712=over 4
330 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
331 713
714=item fork with pthread backend
715
716When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
717but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
718coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
719fix your libc and use a saner backend.
720
721=item perl process emulation ("threads")
722
332 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 723This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
333 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 724module from the first thread (this requirement might be removed in the
334 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 725future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
335 this). 726this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
727the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
728performance, even when not used.
729
730=item coroutine switching not signal safe
731
732You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
733(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
734
735That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
736current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
737anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
738works.
739
740=back
741
336 742
337=head1 SEE ALSO 743=head1 SEE ALSO
338 744
339L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 745Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
340L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, 746
341L<Coro::L<Coro::RWLock>, Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>. 747Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
748
749Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
750
751Locking and IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>,
752L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
753
754I/O and Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
755
756Compatibility with other modules: L<Coro::LWP> (but see also L<AnyEvent::HTTP> for
757a better-working alternative), L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>,
758L<Coro::Select>.
759
760XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
761
762Low level Configuration, Thread Environment, Continuations: L<Coro::State>.
342 763
343=head1 AUTHOR 764=head1 AUTHOR
344 765
345 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 766 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
346 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 767 http://home.schmorp.de/
347 768
348=cut 769=cut
349 770

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