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Revision 1.66 by root, Thu Mar 3 17:20:31 2005 UTC vs.
Revision 1.232 by root, Fri Nov 21 02:39:40 2008 UTC

2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - coroutine process abstraction
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use Coro; 7 use Coro;
8 8
9 async { 9 async {
10 # some asynchronous thread of execution 10 # some asynchronous thread of execution
11 print "2\n";
12 cede; # yield back to main
13 print "4\n";
11 }; 14 };
12 15 print "1\n";
13 # alternatively create an async process like this: 16 cede; # yield to coroutine
14 17 print "3\n";
15 sub some_func : Coro { 18 cede; # and again
16 # some more async code 19
17 } 20 # use locking
18 21 use Coro::Semaphore;
19 cede; 22 my $lock = new Coro::Semaphore;
23 my $locked;
24
25 $lock->down;
26 $locked = 1;
27 $lock->up;
20 28
21=head1 DESCRIPTION 29=head1 DESCRIPTION
22 30
23This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to 31This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32threads but don't (in general) run in parallel at the same time even
33on SMP machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module
34also guarantees you that it will not switch between coroutines unless
35necessary, at easily-identified points in your program, so locking and
36parallel access are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much
37safer and easier than threads programming.
25 38
39Unlike a normal perl program, however, coroutines allow you to have
40multiple running interpreters that share data, which is especially useful
41to code pseudo-parallel processes and for event-based programming, such as
42multiple HTTP-GET requests running concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to
43learn more.
44
45Coroutines are also useful because Perl has no support for threads (the so
46called "threads" that perl offers are nothing more than the (bad) process
47emulation coming from the Windows platform: On standard operating systems
48they serve no purpose whatsoever, except by making your programs slow and
49making them use a lot of memory. Best disable them when building perl, or
50aks your software vendor/distributor to do it for you).
51
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 52In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 53@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
30 56
31=cut 57=cut
32 58
33package Coro; 59package Coro;
34 60
35BEGIN { eval { require warnings } && warnings->unimport ("uninitialized") } 61use strict qw(vars subs);
62no warnings "uninitialized";
36 63
37use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
38 65
39use vars qw($idle $main $current); 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 67
41use base Exporter; 68our $idle; # idle handler
69our $main; # main coroutine
70our $current; # current coroutine
42 71
43$VERSION = 1.11; 72our $VERSION = "5.0";
44 73
45@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
46%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
47 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
48); 77);
49@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
50
51{
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 79
82=over 4 80=over 4
83 81
84=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
85 83
86This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
87 88
88=cut 89=cut
89 90
90$main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
91 92
92=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
93 94
94The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
95 98
96=cut 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
97 102
98# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 103=cut
99if ($current) {
100 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
101}
102 104
103$current = $main;
104
105sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
106 106
107=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
108 108
109The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
110implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
111pretty low-level functionality.
111 112
112=cut 113This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
114finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
115"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
116to continue.
113 117
114# should be done using priorities :( 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
115$idle = new Coro sub { 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
116 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
117 exit(51); 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
132
133=cut
134
135$idle = sub {
136 require Carp;
137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
118}; 138};
119 139
120# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 140# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
121# cannot destroy itself. 141# cannot destroy itself.
122my @destroy; 142our @destroy;
123my $manager; 143our $manager;
144
124$manager = new Coro sub { 145$manager = new Coro sub {
125 while () { 146 while () {
126 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 147 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) { 148 while @destroy;
132 my $coro = pop @destroy;
133 $coro->{status} ||= [];
134 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
135 149
136 # the next line destroys the _coro_state, but keeps the
137 # process itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
138 # process that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
139 # to transfer() to this process).
140 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
141 }
142 &schedule; 150 &schedule;
143 } 151 }
144}; 152};
145 153$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
146# static methods. not really. 154$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
147 155
148=back 156=back
149 157
150=head2 STATIC METHODS 158=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
151
152Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
153 159
154=over 4 160=over 4
155 161
156=item async { ... } [@args...] 162=item async { ... } [@args...]
157 163
158Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 164Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
159(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 165unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
166it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
167
168The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
169coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
160terminated. 170terminated.
161 171
172The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
173
174See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
175environment in which coroutines are executed.
176
177Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
178the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
179just as it would in the main program.
180
181If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
182simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
183
162 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 184Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
185
163 async { 186 async {
164 print "@_\n"; 187 print "@_\n";
165 } 1,2,3,4; 188 } 1,2,3,4;
166 189
167=cut 190=cut
168 191
169sub async(&@) { 192sub async(&@) {
170 my $pid = new Coro @_; 193 my $coro = new Coro @_;
171 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
172 $pid->ready; 194 $coro->ready;
173 $pid; 195 $coro
174} 196}
197
198=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
199
200Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
201terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
202coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
203or bad :).
204
205On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
206destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
207coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
208
209The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
210issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
211C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
212will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
213which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
214exceptional case).
215
216The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
217disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
218gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
219be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
220stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
221simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
222
223The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
224adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
225coros as required.
226
227If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
228single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
229{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
230addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
231(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
232
233=cut
234
235our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
236our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
237our @async_pool;
238
239sub pool_handler {
240 while () {
241 eval {
242 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
243 };
244
245 warn $@ if $@;
246 }
247}
248
249=back
250
251=head2 STATIC METHODS
252
253Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
254
255=over 4
175 256
176=item schedule 257=item schedule
177 258
178Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 259Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
260to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
261to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
262in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
263C<$Coro::idle> hook.
264
265Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
179into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 266queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
180never be called again. 267again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
268thus waking you up.
181 269
182=cut 270This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
271coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
272a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
273>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
274yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
275so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
276status in a variable.
277
278See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
183 279
184=item cede 280=item cede
185 281
186"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 282"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
187ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 283the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
188current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 284up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
285priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
286resumed.
189 287
190=cut 288This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
289
290=item Coro::cede_notself
291
292Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
293coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
294progress is made.
191 295
192=item terminate [arg...] 296=item terminate [arg...]
193 297
194Terminates the current process with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 298Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
195 299
196=cut 300=item killall
197 301
198sub terminate { 302Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
199 $current->cancel (@_); 303one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
304usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
305
306Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
307you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
308program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
309
310=cut
311
312sub killall {
313 for (Coro::State::list) {
314 $_->cancel
315 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
316 }
200} 317}
201 318
202=back 319=back
203 320
204# dynamic methods
205
206=head2 PROCESS METHODS 321=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
207 322
208These are the methods you can call on process objects. 323These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
324them).
209 325
210=over 4 326=over 4
211 327
212=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 328=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
213 329
214Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 330Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
215automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 331automatically 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 332called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
217by calling the ready method. 333queue by calling the ready method.
218 334
219=cut 335See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
336coroutine environment.
220 337
221sub _newcoro { 338=cut
339
340sub _terminate {
222 terminate &{+shift}; 341 terminate &{+shift};
223} 342}
224 343
225sub new { 344=item $success = $coroutine->ready
226 my $class = shift;
227 bless {
228 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
229 }, $class;
230}
231 345
232=item $process->ready 346Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
347queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
348the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
233 349
234Put the given process into the ready queue. 350This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
351once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
352priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
235 353
236=cut 354=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
237 355
356Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
357
238=item $process->cancel (arg...) 358=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
239 359
240Temrinates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as 360Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
241status (default: the empty list). 361status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
362current coroutine.
242 363
243=cut 364=cut
244 365
245sub cancel { 366sub cancel {
246 my $self = shift; 367 my $self = shift;
368
369 if ($current == $self) {
370 terminate @_;
371 } else {
247 $self->{status} = [@_]; 372 $self->{_status} = [@_];
248 push @destroy, $self; 373 $self->_cancel;
249 $manager->ready; 374 }
250 &schedule if $current == $self;
251} 375}
252 376
377=item $coroutine->schedule_to
378
379Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
380of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
381the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
382state of that coroutine isn't changed.
383
384This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
385uses for this one.
386
387=item $coroutine->cede_to
388
389Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
390queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
391coroutine, and continuing some time later.
392
393This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
394uses for this one.
395
396=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
397
398If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
399inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
400clears the exception object.
401
402Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
403returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
404>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
405detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
406
407The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
408C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
409(unlike with C<die>).
410
411This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
412end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
413termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
414program.
415
416You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
417C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
418
253=item $process->join 419=item $coroutine->join
254 420
255Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 421Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
256C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 422C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
257from multiple processes. 423from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
424return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
258 425
259=cut 426=cut
260 427
261sub join { 428sub join {
262 my $self = shift; 429 my $self = shift;
430
263 unless ($self->{status}) { 431 unless ($self->{_status}) {
264 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 432 my $current = $current;
265 &schedule; 433
434 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
435 $current->ready;
436 undef $current;
437 };
438
439 &schedule while $current;
266 } 440 }
441
267 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 442 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
268} 443}
269 444
445=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
446
447Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
448but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
449if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
450
451=cut
452
453sub on_destroy {
454 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
455
456 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
457}
458
270=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 459=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
271 460
272Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 461Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
273process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 462coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
274processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 463coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
275that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 464that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
276to get then): 465to get then):
277 466
278 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 467 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
279 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 468 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
282 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 471 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
283 472
284The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 473The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
285existing coroutine. 474existing coroutine.
286 475
287Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 476Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
288but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 477but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
289running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 478running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
290process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 479coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
291 480
292=cut
293
294sub prio {
295 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
296 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
297 $old;
298}
299
300=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 481=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
301 482
302Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 483Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
303higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 484higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
304 485
305=cut
306
307sub nice {
308 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
309}
310
311=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 486=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
312 487
313Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 488Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
314process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 489coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
490coroutine.
491
492This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
493string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
315 494
316=cut 495=cut
317 496
318sub desc { 497sub desc {
319 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 498 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
321 $old; 500 $old;
322} 501}
323 502
324=back 503=back
325 504
505=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
506
507=over 4
508
509=item Coro::nready
510
511Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
512i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
513indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
514currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
515would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
516coroutines.
517
518=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
519
520This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
521gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
522executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
523runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
524guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
525C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
526
527Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
528or the function returns:
529
530 sub do_something {
531 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
532 $busy = 1;
533
534 # do something that requires $busy to be true
535 }
536
537=cut
538
539sub guard(&) {
540 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
541}
542
543sub Coro::guard::cancel {
544 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
545}
546
547sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
548 ${$_[0]}->();
549}
550
551
552=item unblock_sub { ... }
553
554This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
555returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
556will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
557original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
558coroutine.
559
560The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
561venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
562of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
563otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
564currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
565
566This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
567coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
568is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
569disk, for example.
570
571In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
572creating event callbacks that want to block.
573
574If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
575another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
576there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
577
578Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
579are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
580use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
581provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
582must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
583
584=cut
585
586our @unblock_queue;
587
588# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
589# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
590# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
591# inside an event callback.
592our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
593 while () {
594 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
595 &async_pool (@$cb);
596
597 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
598 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
599 # in the idle state when cede returns
600 cede;
601 }
602 schedule; # sleep well
603 }
604};
605$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
606
607sub unblock_sub(&) {
608 my $cb = shift;
609
610 sub {
611 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
612 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
613 }
614}
615
616=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
617
618Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
619called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
620callback.
621
622See the next function.
623
624=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
625
626Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
627this coroutine).
628
629As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
630C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
631to the rouse callback.
632
633See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
634
635=back
636
326=cut 637=cut
327 638
3281; 6391;
329 640
641=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
642
643It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
644called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
645event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
646
647These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
648when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
649just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
650
651For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
652a specific child has exited:
653
654 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
655
656But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
657
658 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
659
660Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
661C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
662
663The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
664when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
665created the callback.
666
667The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
668(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
669originally passed to the callback.
670
671Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
672function mentioned above:
673
674 sub wait_for_child($) {
675 my ($pid) = @_;
676
677 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
678
679 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
680 $rstatus
681 }
682
683In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
684you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
685
686 sub wait_for_child($) {
687 my ($pid) = @_;
688
689 # store the current coroutine in $current,
690 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
691 my $current = $Coro::current;
692 my ($done, $rstatus);
693
694 # pass a closure to ->child
695 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
696 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
697 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
698 });
699
700 # wait until the closure has been called
701 schedule while !$done;
702
703 $rstatus
704 }
705
706
330=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 707=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
331 708
332 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 709=over 4
333 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
334 710
711=item fork with pthread backend
712
713When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
714but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
715coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
716fix your libc and use a saner backend.
717
718=item perl process emulation ("threads")
719
335 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 720This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
336 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 721module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
337 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 722future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
338 this). 723this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
724the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
725performance, even when not used.
726
727=item coroutine switching not signal safe
728
729You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
730(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
731
732That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
733current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
734anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
735works.
736
737=back
738
339 739
340=head1 SEE ALSO 740=head1 SEE ALSO
341 741
342L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 742Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
343L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, 743
344L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::RWLock>, L<Coro::Socket>. 744Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
745
746Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
747
748Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
749
750IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
751
752Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
753
754XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
755
756Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
345 757
346=head1 AUTHOR 758=head1 AUTHOR
347 759
348 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 760 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
349 http://home.schmorp.de/ 761 http://home.schmorp.de/

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