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40points in your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an 40points in your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an
41issue, making thread programming much safer and easier than using other 41issue, making thread programming much safer and easier than using other
42thread models. 42thread models.
43 43
44Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads 44Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads
45but only the windows process emulation (see section of same name for more 45but only the windows process emulation (see section of same name for
46details) ported to unix, and as such act as processes), Coro provides 46more details) ported to UNIX, and as such act as processes), Coro
47a full shared address space, which makes communication between threads 47provides a full shared address space, which makes communication between
48very easy. And Coro's threads are fast, too: disabling the Windows 48threads very easy. And coro threads are fast, too: disabling the Windows
49process emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in 49process emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in
50a two to four times speed increase for your programs. A parallel matrix 50a two to four times speed increase for your programs. A parallel matrix
51multiplication benchmark runs over 300 times faster on a single core than 51multiplication benchmark (very communication-intensive) runs over 300
52perl's pseudo-threads on a quad core using all four cores. 52times faster on a single core than perls pseudo-threads on a quad core
53using all four cores.
53 54
54Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share 55Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share
55data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and 56data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and
56for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running 57for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running
57concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro 58concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro
63variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info). 64variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info).
64 65
65See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro 66See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
66module family is quite large. 67module family is quite large.
67 68
69=head1 CORO THREAD LIFE CYCLE
70
71During the long and exciting (or not) life of a coro thread, it goes
72through a number of states:
73
74=over 4
75
76=item 1. Creation
77
78The first thing in the life of a coro thread is it's creation -
79obviously. The typical way to create a thread is to call the C<async
80BLOCK> function:
81
82 async {
83 # thread code goes here
84 };
85
86You can also pass arguments, which are put in C<@_>:
87
88 async {
89 print $_[1]; # prints 2
90 } 1, 2, 3;
91
92This creates a new coro thread and puts it into the ready queue, meaning
93it will run as soon as the CPU is free for it.
94
95C<async> will return a Coro object - you can store this for future
96reference or ignore it - a thread that is running, ready to run or waiting
97for some event is alive on it's own.
98
99Another way to create a thread is to call the C<new> constructor with a
100code-reference:
101
102 new Coro sub {
103 # thread code goes here
104 }, @optional_arguments;
105
106This is quite similar to calling C<async>, but the important difference is
107that the new thread is not put into the ready queue, so the thread will
108not run until somebody puts it there. C<async> is, therefore, identical to
109this sequence:
110
111 my $coro = new Coro sub {
112 # thread code goes here
113 };
114 $coro->ready;
115 return $coro;
116
117=item 2. Startup
118
119When a new coro thread is created, only a copy of the code reference
120and the arguments are stored, no extra memory for stacks and so on is
121allocated, keeping the coro thread in a low-memory state.
122
123Only when it actually starts executing will all the resources be finally
124allocated.
125
126The optional arguments specified at coro creation are available in C<@_>,
127similar to function calls.
128
129=item 3. Running / Blocking
130
131A lot can happen after the coro thread has started running. Quite usually,
132it will not run to the end in one go (because you could use a function
133instead), but it will give up the CPU regularly because it waits for
134external events.
135
136As long as a coro thread runs, its Coro object is available in the global
137variable C<$Coro::current>.
138
139The low-level way to give up the CPU is to call the scheduler, which
140selects a new coro thread to run:
141
142 Coro::schedule;
143
144Since running threads are not in the ready queue, calling the scheduler
145without doing anything else will block the coro thread forever - you need
146to arrange either for the coro to put woken up (readied) by some other
147event or some other thread, or you can put it into the ready queue before
148scheduling:
149
150 # this is exactly what Coro::cede does
151 $Coro::current->ready;
152 Coro::schedule;
153
154All the higher-level synchronisation methods (Coro::Semaphore,
155Coro::rouse_*...) are actually implemented via C<< ->ready >> and C<<
156Coro::schedule >>.
157
158While the coro thread is running it also might get assigned a C-level
159thread, or the C-level thread might be unassigned from it, as the Coro
160runtime wishes. A C-level thread needs to be assigned when your perl
161thread calls into some C-level function and that function in turn calls
162perl and perl then wants to switch coroutines. This happens most often
163when you run an event loop and block in the callback, or when perl
164itself calls some function such as C<AUTOLOAD> or methods via the C<tie>
165mechanism.
166
167=item 4. Termination
168
169Many threads actually terminate after some time. There are a number of
170ways to terminate a coro thread, the simplest is returning from the
171top-level code reference:
172
173 async {
174 # after returning from here, the coro thread is terminated
175 };
176
177 async {
178 return if 0.5 < rand; # terminate a little earlier, maybe
179 print "got a chance to print this\n";
180 # or here
181 };
182
183Any values returned from the coroutine can be recovered using C<< ->join
184>>:
185
186 my $coro = async {
187 "hello, world\n" # return a string
188 };
189
190 my $hello_world = $coro->join;
191
192 print $hello_world;
193
194Another way to terminate is to call C<< Coro::terminate >>, which at any
195subroutine call nesting level:
196
197 async {
198 Coro::terminate "return value 1", "return value 2";
199 };
200
201And yet another way is to C<< ->cancel >> (or C<< ->safe_cancel >>) the
202coro thread from another thread:
203
204 my $coro = async {
205 exit 1;
206 };
207
208 $coro->cancel; # also accepts values for ->join to retrieve
209
210Cancellation I<can> be dangerous - it's a bit like calling C<exit> without
211actually exiting, and might leave C libraries and XS modules in a weird
212state. Unlike other thread implementations, however, Coro is exceptionally
213safe with regards to cancellation, as perl will always be in a consistent
214state, and for those cases where you want to do truly marvellous things
215with your coro while it is being cancelled - that is, make sure all
216cleanup code is executed from the thread being cancelled - there is even a
217C<< ->safe_cancel >> method.
218
219So, cancelling a thread that runs in an XS event loop might not be the
220best idea, but any other combination that deals with perl only (cancelling
221when a thread is in a C<tie> method or an C<AUTOLOAD> for example) is
222safe.
223
224Lastly, a coro thread object that isn't referenced is C<< ->cancel >>'ed
225automatically - just like other objects in Perl. This is not such a common
226case, however - a running thread is referencedy b C<$Coro::current>, a
227thread ready to run is referenced by the ready queue, a thread waiting
228on a lock or semaphore is referenced by being in some wait list and so
229on. But a thread that isn't in any of those queues gets cancelled:
230
231 async {
232 schedule; # cede to other coros, don't go into the ready queue
233 };
234
235 cede;
236 # now the async above is destroyed, as it is not referenced by anything.
237
238=item 5. Cleanup
239
240Threads will allocate various resources. Most but not all will be returned
241when a thread terminates, during clean-up.
242
243Cleanup is quite similar to throwing an uncaught exception: perl will
244work it's way up through all subroutine calls and blocks. On it's way, it
245will release all C<my> variables, undo all C<local>'s and free any other
246resources truly local to the thread.
247
248So, a common way to free resources is to keep them referenced only by my
249variables:
250
251 async {
252 my $big_cache = new Cache ...;
253 };
254
255If there are no other references, then the C<$big_cache> object will be
256freed when the thread terminates, regardless of how it does so.
257
258What it does C<NOT> do is unlock any Coro::Semaphores or similar
259resources, but that's where the C<guard> methods come in handy:
260
261 my $sem = new Coro::Semaphore;
262
263 async {
264 my $lock_guard = $sem->guard;
265 # if we reutrn, or die or get cancelled, here,
266 # then the semaphore will be "up"ed.
267 };
268
269The C<Guard::guard> function comes in handy for any custom cleanup you
270might want to do (but you cannot switch to other coroutines form those
271code blocks):
272
273 async {
274 my $window = new Gtk2::Window "toplevel";
275 # The window will not be cleaned up automatically, even when $window
276 # gets freed, so use a guard to ensure it's destruction
277 # in case of an error:
278 my $window_guard = Guard::guard { $window->destroy };
279
280 # we are safe here
281 };
282
283Last not least, C<local> can often be handy, too, e.g. when temporarily
284replacing the coro thread description:
285
286 sub myfunction {
287 local $Coro::current->{desc} = "inside myfunction(@_)";
288
289 # if we return or die here, the description will be restored
290 }
291
292=item 6. Viva La Zombie Muerte
293
294Even after a thread has terminated and cleaned up its resources, the Coro
295object still is there and stores the return values of the thread.
296
297The means the Coro object gets freed automatically when the thread has
298terminated and cleaned up and there arenot other references.
299
300If there are, the Coro object will stay around, and you can call C<<
301->join >> as many times as you wish to retrieve the result values:
302
303 async {
304 print "hi\n";
305 1
306 };
307
308 # run the async above, and free everything before returning
309 # from Coro::cede:
310 Coro::cede;
311
312 {
313 my $coro = async {
314 print "hi\n";
315 1
316 };
317
318 # run the async above, and clean up, but do not free the coro
319 # object:
320 Coro::cede;
321
322 # optionally retrieve the result values
323 my @results = $coro->join;
324
325 # now $coro goes out of scope, and presumably gets freed
326 };
327
328=back
329
68=cut 330=cut
69 331
70package Coro; 332package Coro;
71 333
72use common::sense; 334use common::sense;
81 343
82our $idle; # idle handler 344our $idle; # idle handler
83our $main; # main coro 345our $main; # main coro
84our $current; # current coro 346our $current; # current coro
85 347
86our $VERSION = 5.17; 348our $VERSION = 5.372;
87 349
88our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub); 350our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub rouse_cb rouse_wait);
89our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 351our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
90 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 352 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
91); 353);
92our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready)); 354our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
93 355
124 386
125This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is 387This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
126usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is 388usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
127pretty low-level functionality. 389pretty low-level functionality.
128 390
129This variable stores either a Coro object or a callback. 391This variable stores a Coro object that is put into the ready queue when
392there are no other ready threads (without invoking any ready hooks).
130 393
131If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no 394The default implementation dies with "FATAL: deadlock detected.", followed
132ready coros to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: 395by a thread listing, because the program has no other way to continue.
133deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
134continue.
135
136If it is a coro object, then this object will be readied (without
137invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
138coros to run.
139 396
140This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and 397This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
141C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a 398C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wakes up a
142coro so the scheduler can run it. 399coro so the scheduler can run it.
143 400
144Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
145the current coro. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
146coro" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
147readying that coro in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
148coro in this variable.
149
150See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this 401See L<Coro::EV> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this technique.
151technique.
152
153Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
154handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
155 402
156=cut 403=cut
157 404
158$idle = sub { 405# ||= because other modules could have provided their own by now
159 warn "oi\n";#d# 406$idle ||= new Coro sub {
160 Carp::confess ("FATAL: deadlock detected"); 407 require Coro::Debug;
408 die "FATAL: deadlock detected.\n"
409 . Coro::Debug::ps_listing ();
161}; 410};
162 411
163# this coro is necessary because a coro 412# this coro is necessary because a coro
164# cannot destroy itself. 413# cannot destroy itself.
165our @destroy; 414our @destroy;
166our $manager; 415our $manager;
167 416
168$manager = new Coro sub { 417$manager = new Coro sub {
169 while () { 418 while () {
170 Coro::State::cancel shift @destroy 419 _destroy shift @destroy
171 while @destroy; 420 while @destroy;
172 421
173 &schedule; 422 &schedule;
174 } 423 }
175}; 424};
273=item schedule 522=item schedule
274 523
275Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coro that is 524Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coro that is
276to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coro 525to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coro
277to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest 526to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
278in its ready queue. If there is no coro ready, it will clal the 527in its ready queue. If there is no coro ready, it will call the
279C<$Coro::idle> hook. 528C<$Coro::idle> hook.
280 529
281Please note that the current coro will I<not> be put into the ready 530Please note that the current coro will I<not> be put into the ready
282queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called 531queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
283again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>, 532again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
309coro, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure 558coro, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
310progress is made. 559progress is made.
311 560
312=item terminate [arg...] 561=item terminate [arg...]
313 562
314Terminates the current coro with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 563Terminates the current coro with the given status values (see
564L<cancel>). The values will not be copied, but referenced directly.
315 565
316=item Coro::on_enter BLOCK, Coro::on_leave BLOCK 566=item Coro::on_enter BLOCK, Coro::on_leave BLOCK
317 567
318These function install enter and leave winders in the current scope. The 568These function install enter and leave winders in the current scope. The
319enter block will be executed when on_enter is called and whenever the 569enter block will be executed when on_enter is called and whenever the
475To avoid this, it is best to put a suspended coro into the ready queue 725To avoid this, it is best to put a suspended coro into the ready queue
476unconditionally, as every synchronisation mechanism must protect itself 726unconditionally, as every synchronisation mechanism must protect itself
477against spurious wakeups, and the one in the Coro family certainly do 727against spurious wakeups, and the one in the Coro family certainly do
478that. 728that.
479 729
730=item $state->is_new
731
732Returns true iff this Coro object is "new", i.e. has never been run
733yet. Those states basically consist of only the code reference to call and
734the arguments, but consumes very little other resources. New states will
735automatically get assigned a perl interpreter when they are transfered to.
736
737=item $state->is_zombie
738
739Returns true iff the Coro object has been cancelled, i.e.
740it's resources freed because they were C<cancel>'ed, C<terminate>'d,
741C<safe_cancel>'ed or simply went out of scope.
742
743The name "zombie" stems from UNIX culture, where a process that has
744exited and only stores and exit status and no other resources is called a
745"zombie".
746
480=item $is_ready = $coro->is_ready 747=item $is_ready = $coro->is_ready
481 748
482Returns true iff the Coro object is in the ready queue. Unless the Coro 749Returns true iff the Coro object is in the ready queue. Unless the Coro
483object gets destroyed, it will eventually be scheduled by the scheduler. 750object gets destroyed, it will eventually be scheduled by the scheduler.
484 751
493Returns true iff this Coro object has been suspended. Suspended Coros will 760Returns true iff this Coro object has been suspended. Suspended Coros will
494not ever be scheduled. 761not ever be scheduled.
495 762
496=item $coro->cancel (arg...) 763=item $coro->cancel (arg...)
497 764
498Terminates the given Coro and makes it return the given arguments as 765Terminates the given Coro thread and makes it return the given arguments as
499status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the Coro is the 766status (default: an empty list). Never returns if the Coro is the
500current Coro. 767current Coro.
501 768
502=cut 769This is a rather brutal way to free a coro, with some limitations - if
770the thread is inside a C callback that doesn't expect to be canceled,
771bad things can happen, or if the cancelled thread insists on running
772complicated cleanup handlers that rely on it'S thread context, things will
773not work.
503 774
504sub cancel { 775Any cleanup code being run (e.g. from C<guard> blocks) will be run without
505 my $self = shift; 776a thread context, and is not allowed to switch to other threads. On the
777plus side, C<< ->cancel >> will always clean up the thread, no matter
778what. If your cleanup code is complex or you want to avoid cancelling a
779C-thread that doesn't know how to clean up itself, it can be better to C<<
780->throw >> an exception, or use C<< ->safe_cancel >>.
506 781
507 if ($current == $self) { 782The arguments to C<< ->cancel >> are not copied, but instead will
508 terminate @_; 783be referenced directly (e.g. if you pass C<$var> and after the call
509 } else { 784change that variable, then you might change the return values passed to
510 $self->{_status} = [@_]; 785e.g. C<join>, so don't do that).
511 Coro::State::cancel $self; 786
787The resources of the Coro are usually freed (or destructed) before this
788call returns, but this can be delayed for an indefinite amount of time, as
789in some cases the manager thread has to run first to actually destruct the
790Coro object.
791
792=item $coro->safe_cancel ($arg...)
793
794Works mostly like C<< ->cancel >>, but is inherently "safer", and
795consequently, can fail with an exception in cases the thread is not in a
796cancellable state.
797
798This method works a bit like throwing an exception that cannot be caught
799- specifically, it will clean up the thread from within itself, so
800all cleanup handlers (e.g. C<guard> blocks) are run with full thread
801context and can block if they wish. The downside is that there is no
802guarantee that the thread can be cancelled when you call this method, and
803therefore, it might fail. It is also considerably slower than C<cancel> or
804C<terminate>.
805
806A thread is in a safe-cancellable state if it either hasn't been run yet,
807or it has no C context attached and is inside an SLF function.
808
809The latter two basically mean that the thread isn't currently inside a
810perl callback called from some C function (usually via some XS modules)
811and isn't currently executing inside some C function itself (via Coro's XS
812API).
813
814This call returns true when it could cancel the thread, or croaks with an
815error otherwise (i.e. it either returns true or doesn't return at all).
816
817Why the weird interface? Well, there are two common models on how and
818when to cancel things. In the first, you have the expectation that your
819coro thread can be cancelled when you want to cancel it - if the thread
820isn't cancellable, this would be a bug somewhere, so C<< ->safe_cancel >>
821croaks to notify of the bug.
822
823In the second model you sometimes want to ask nicely to cancel a thread,
824but if it's not a good time, well, then don't cancel. This can be done
825relatively easy like this:
826
827 if (! eval { $coro->safe_cancel }) {
828 warn "unable to cancel thread: $@";
512 } 829 }
513} 830
831However, what you never should do is first try to cancel "safely" and
832if that fails, cancel the "hard" way with C<< ->cancel >>. That makes
833no sense: either you rely on being able to execute cleanup code in your
834thread context, or you don't. If you do, then C<< ->safe_cancel >> is the
835only way, and if you don't, then C<< ->cancel >> is always faster and more
836direct.
514 837
515=item $coro->schedule_to 838=item $coro->schedule_to
516 839
517Puts the current coro to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead 840Puts the current coro to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
518of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to 841of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
537inside the coro at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise 860inside the coro at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
538clears the exception object. 861clears the exception object.
539 862
540Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function 863Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
541returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down 864returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
542>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions 865>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of those functions (all
543detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending. 866that are part of Coro itself) detect this case and return early in case an
867exception is pending.
544 868
545The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in 869The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
546C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended 870C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
547(unlike with C<die>). 871(unlike with C<die>).
548 872
549This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coro to 873This can be used as a softer means than either C<cancel> or C<safe_cancel
550end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to 874>to ask a coro to end itself, although there is no guarantee that the
551termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole 875exception will lead to termination, and if the exception isn't caught it
552program. 876might well end the whole program.
553 877
554You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of 878You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
555C<kill>ing a coro with a signal (in this case, a scalar). 879C<kill>ing a coro with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
556 880
557=item $coro->join 881=item $coro->join
558 882
559Wait until the coro terminates and return any values given to the 883Wait until the coro terminates and return any values given to the
560C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently 884C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
561from multiple coro, and all will be resumed and given the status 885from multiple threads, and all will be resumed and given the status
562return once the C<$coro> terminates. 886return once the C<$coro> terminates.
563 887
564=cut
565
566sub join {
567 my $self = shift;
568
569 unless ($self->{_status}) {
570 my $current = $current;
571
572 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
573 $current->ready;
574 undef $current;
575 };
576
577 &schedule while $current;
578 }
579
580 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
581}
582
583=item $coro->on_destroy (\&cb) 888=item $coro->on_destroy (\&cb)
584 889
585Registers a callback that is called when this coro gets destroyed, 890Registers a callback that is called when this coro thread gets destroyed,
586but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments, 891that is, after it's resources have been freed but before it is joined. The
892callback gets passed the terminate/cancel arguments, if any, and I<must
587if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances. 893not> die, under any circumstances.
588 894
589=cut 895There can be any number of C<on_destroy> callbacks per coro, and there is
590 896no way currently to remove a callback once added.
591sub on_destroy {
592 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
593
594 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
595}
596 897
597=item $oldprio = $coro->prio ($newprio) 898=item $oldprio = $coro->prio ($newprio)
598 899
599Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 900Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
600coro. Higher priority coro get run before lower priority 901coro thread. Higher priority coro get run before lower priority
601coro. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 902coros. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
602that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 903that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
603to get then): 904to get then):
604 905
605 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 906 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
606 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 907 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
607 908
608 # set priority to HIGH 909 # set priority to HIGH
609 current->prio (PRIO_HIGH); 910 current->prio (PRIO_HIGH);
610 911
611The idle coro ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 912The idle coro thread ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
612existing coro. 913existing coro.
613 914
614Changing the priority of the current coro will take effect immediately, 915Changing the priority of the current coro will take effect immediately,
615but changing the priority of coro in the ready queue (but not 916but changing the priority of a coro in the ready queue (but not running)
616running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 917will only take effect after the next schedule (of that coro). This is a
617coro). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 918bug that will be fixed in some future version.
618 919
619=item $newprio = $coro->nice ($change) 920=item $newprio = $coro->nice ($change)
620 921
621Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 922Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
622higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 923higher values mean lower priority, just as in UNIX's nice command).
623 924
624=item $olddesc = $coro->desc ($newdesc) 925=item $olddesc = $coro->desc ($newdesc)
625 926
626Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 927Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
627coro. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a 928coro thread. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
628coro. 929coro.
629 930
630This method simply sets the C<< $coro->{desc} >> member to the given 931This method simply sets the C<< $coro->{desc} >> member to the given
631string. You can modify this member directly if you wish. 932string. You can modify this member directly if you wish, and in fact, this
933is often preferred to indicate major processing states that cna then be
934seen for example in a L<Coro::Debug> session:
935
936 sub my_long_function {
937 local $Coro::current->{desc} = "now in my_long_function";
938 ...
939 $Coro::current->{desc} = "my_long_function: phase 1";
940 ...
941 $Coro::current->{desc} = "my_long_function: phase 2";
942 ...
943 }
632 944
633=cut 945=cut
634 946
635sub desc { 947sub desc {
636 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 948 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
673returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef 985returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
674will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the 986will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
675original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another 987original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
676coro. 988coro.
677 989
678The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the 990The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as
679venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not thread-safe (a weaker form 991the venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not thread-safe (a weaker form
680of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks, 992of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
681otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library 993otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
682currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>. 994currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV> (but
995you might still run into deadlocks if all event loops are blocked).
996
997Coro will try to catch you when you block in the event loop
998("FATAL:$Coro::IDLE blocked itself"), but this is just best effort and
999only works when you do not run your own event loop.
683 1000
684This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another 1001This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
685coro where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy 1002coro where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
686is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to 1003is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
687disk, for example. 1004disk, for example.
729 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_]; 1046 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
730 $unblock_scheduler->ready; 1047 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
731 } 1048 }
732} 1049}
733 1050
734=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb 1051=item $cb = rouse_cb
735 1052
736Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, 1053Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
737when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner 1054when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
738coro of the callback. 1055coro of the callback.
739 1056
740See the next function. 1057See the next function.
741 1058
742=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb] 1059=item @args = rouse_wait [$cb]
743 1060
744Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in 1061Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
745this coro). 1062this coro).
746 1063
747As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked 1064As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
753See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example. 1070See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
754 1071
755=back 1072=back
756 1073
757=cut 1074=cut
1075
1076for my $module (qw(Channel RWLock Semaphore SemaphoreSet Signal Specific)) {
1077 my $old = defined &{"Coro::$module\::new"} && \&{"Coro::$module\::new"};
1078
1079 *{"Coro::$module\::new"} = sub {
1080 require "Coro/$module.pm";
1081
1082 # some modules have their new predefined in State.xs, some don't
1083 *{"Coro::$module\::new"} = $old
1084 if $old;
1085
1086 goto &{"Coro::$module\::new"};
1087 };
1088}
758 1089
7591; 10901;
760 1091
761=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK 1092=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
762 1093
842future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 1173future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
843this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having 1174this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
844the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl 1175the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
845performance, even when not used. 1176performance, even when not used.
846 1177
1178Attempts to use threads created in another emulated process will crash
1179("cleanly", with a null pointer exception).
1180
847=item coro switching is not signal safe 1181=item coro switching is not signal safe
848 1182
849You must not switch to another coro from within a signal handler 1183You must not switch to another coro from within a signal handler (only
850(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals). 1184relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals), I<unless>
1185you are sure you are not interrupting a Coro function.
851 1186
852That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the 1187That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
853current coro - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or 1188current coro - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
854anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>, 1189anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
855works. 1190works.
865ithreads (for example, that memory or files would be shared), showing his 1200ithreads (for example, that memory or files would be shared), showing his
866lack of understanding of this area - if it is hard to understand for Chip, 1201lack of understanding of this area - if it is hard to understand for Chip,
867it is probably not obvious to everybody). 1202it is probably not obvious to everybody).
868 1203
869What follows is an ultra-condensed version of my talk about threads in 1204What follows is an ultra-condensed version of my talk about threads in
870scripting languages given onthe perl workshop 2009: 1205scripting languages given on the perl workshop 2009:
871 1206
872The so-called "ithreads" were originally implemented for two reasons: 1207The so-called "ithreads" were originally implemented for two reasons:
873first, to (badly) emulate unix processes on native win32 perls, and 1208first, to (badly) emulate unix processes on native win32 perls, and
874secondly, to replace the older, real thread model ("5.005-threads"). 1209secondly, to replace the older, real thread model ("5.005-threads").
875 1210

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