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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
35use strict; 68use strict qw(vars subs);
36no warnings "uninitialized"; 69no warnings "uninitialized";
37 70
38use Coro::State; 71use Coro::State;
39 72
40use base Exporter::; 73use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 74
42our $idle; # idle coroutine 75our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 76our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 77our $current; # current coroutine
45 78
46our $VERSION = '2.1'; 79our $VERSION = 5.13;
47 80
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 81our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 82our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 83 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 84);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 85our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53 86
54{ 87=head1 GLOBAL VARIABLES
55 my @async;
56 my $init;
57
58 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
59 sub import {
60 no strict 'refs';
61
62 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
63
64 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
65 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
66 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
67 my @attrs;
68 for (@_) {
69 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
70 push @async, $ref;
71 unless ($init++) {
72 eval q{
73 sub INIT {
74 &async(pop @async) while @async;
75 }
76 };
77 }
78 } else {
79 push @attrs, $_;
80 }
81 }
82 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
83 };
84 }
85
86}
87 88
88=over 4 89=over 4
89 90
90=item $main 91=item $Coro::main
91 92
92This coroutine represents the main program. 93This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
94program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
95coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
96whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 97
94=cut 98=cut
95 99
96$main = new Coro; 100# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
97 101
98=item $current (or as function: current) 102=item $Coro::current
99 103
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 104The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
105coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
106C<$Coro::main> (of course).
101 107
102=cut 108This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
109value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
110not otherwise modify the variable itself.
103 111
104# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 112=cut
105if ($current) {
106 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
107}
108 113
109$current = $main;
110
111sub current() { $current } 114sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
112 115
113=item $idle 116=item $Coro::idle
114 117
115The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 118This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
116implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 119usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
120pretty low-level functionality.
117 121
118=cut 122This variable stores either a coroutine or a callback.
119 123
120# should be done using priorities :( 124If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no
121$idle = new Coro sub { 125ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
122 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 126deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
123 exit(51); 127continue.
128
129If it is a coroutine object, then this object will be readied (without
130invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
131coroutines to run.
132
133This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
134C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
135coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
136
137Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
138the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
139coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
140readying that coroutine in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
141coroutine in this variable.
142
143See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
144technique.
145
146Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
147handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
148
149=cut
150
151$idle = sub {
152 require Carp;
153 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
124}; 154};
125 155
126# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 156# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
127# cannot destroy itself. 157# cannot destroy itself.
128my @destroy; 158our @destroy;
129my $manager; 159our $manager;
160
130$manager = new Coro sub { 161$manager = new Coro sub {
131 while () { 162 while () {
132 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 163 Coro::_cancel shift @destroy
133 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
134 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
135 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
136 # remove itself from the runqueue
137 while (@destroy) { 164 while @destroy;
138 my $coro = pop @destroy;
139 $coro->{status} ||= [];
140 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
141 165
142 # the next line destroys the _coro_state, but keeps the
143 # process itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
144 # process that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
145 # to transfer() to this process).
146 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
147 }
148 &schedule; 166 &schedule;
149 } 167 }
150}; 168};
151 169$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
152# static methods. not really. 170$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
153 171
154=back 172=back
155 173
156=head2 STATIC METHODS 174=head1 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
157
158Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
159 175
160=over 4 176=over 4
161 177
162=item async { ... } [@args...] 178=item async { ... } [@args...]
163 179
164Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 180Create a new coroutine and return its coroutine object (usually
165(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 181unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
182it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
183
184The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
185coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
166terminated. 186terminated.
167 187
188The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
189
190See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
191environment in which coroutines are executed.
192
193Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
194the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
195just as it would in the main program.
196
197If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
198simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
199
168 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 200Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
201
169 async { 202 async {
170 print "@_\n"; 203 print "@_\n";
171 } 1,2,3,4; 204 } 1,2,3,4;
172 205
173=cut 206=cut
174 207
175sub async(&@) { 208sub async(&@) {
176 my $pid = new Coro @_; 209 my $coro = new Coro @_;
177 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
178 $pid->ready; 210 $coro->ready;
179 $pid; 211 $coro
180} 212}
213
214=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
215
216Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
217terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
218coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
219or bad :).
220
221On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
222destroying) a completely new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic
223coroutines in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
224
225The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
226issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
227C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
228will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
229which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
230exceptional case).
231
232The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
233disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
234gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
235be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
236stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
237simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
238
239The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
240adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
241coros as required.
242
243If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
244single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
245{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
246addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
247(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
248
249=cut
250
251our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
252our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
253our @async_pool;
254
255sub pool_handler {
256 while () {
257 eval {
258 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
259 };
260
261 warn $@ if $@;
262 }
263}
264
265=back
266
267=head1 STATIC METHODS
268
269Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
270current coroutine.
271
272=over 4
181 273
182=item schedule 274=item schedule
183 275
184Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 276Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
277to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
278to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
279in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
280C<$Coro::idle> hook.
281
282Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
185into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 283queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
186never be called again. 284again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
285thus waking you up.
187 286
188=cut 287This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
288coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
289a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
290>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
291yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
292so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
293status in a variable.
294
295See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
189 296
190=item cede 297=item cede
191 298
192"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 299"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
193ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 300the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
194current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 301up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
302priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
303resumed.
195 304
196=cut 305This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
306
307=item Coro::cede_notself
308
309Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
310coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
311progress is made.
197 312
198=item terminate [arg...] 313=item terminate [arg...]
199 314
200Terminates the current process with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 315Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
201 316
202=cut 317=item killall
203 318
204sub terminate { 319Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
205 $current->cancel (@_); 320one. This can be useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent,
321as usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
322
323Note that in the implementation, destructors run as normal, making this
324function not so useful after a fork. Future versions of this function
325might try to free resources without running any code.
326
327Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
328you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
329program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
330
331=cut
332
333sub killall {
334 for (Coro::State::list) {
335 $_->cancel
336 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
337 }
206} 338}
207 339
208=back 340=back
209 341
210# dynamic methods 342=head1 COROUTINE OBJECT METHODS
211 343
212=head2 PROCESS METHODS
213
214These are the methods you can call on process objects. 344These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
345them).
215 346
216=over 4 347=over 4
217 348
218=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 349=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
219 350
220Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 351Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
221automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 352automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
222called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 353called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
223by calling the ready method. 354queue by calling the ready method.
224 355
225=cut 356See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
357coroutine environment.
226 358
359=cut
360
227sub _newcoro { 361sub _coro_run {
228 terminate &{+shift}; 362 terminate &{+shift};
229} 363}
230 364
231sub new { 365=item $success = $coroutine->ready
232 my $class = shift;
233 bless {
234 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
235 }, $class;
236}
237 366
238=item $process->ready 367Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
368queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
369the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
239 370
240Put the given process into the ready queue. 371This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
372once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
373priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
241 374
242=cut 375=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
243 376
377Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
378
244=item $process->cancel (arg...) 379=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
245 380
246Temrinates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as 381Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
247status (default: the empty list). 382status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
383current coroutine.
248 384
249=cut 385=cut
250 386
251sub cancel { 387sub cancel {
252 my $self = shift; 388 my $self = shift;
389
390 if ($current == $self) {
391 terminate @_;
392 } else {
253 $self->{status} = [@_]; 393 $self->{_status} = [@_];
254 push @destroy, $self; 394 $self->_cancel;
255 $manager->ready; 395 }
256 &schedule if $current == $self;
257} 396}
258 397
398=item $coroutine->schedule_to
399
400Puts the current coroutine to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
401of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
402the given coroutine object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
403state of that coroutine isn't changed.
404
405This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
406uses for this one.
407
408=item $coroutine->cede_to
409
410Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coroutine into the ready
411queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
412coroutine, and continuing some time later.
413
414This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
415uses for this one.
416
417=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
418
419If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
420inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
421clears the exception object.
422
423Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
424returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
425>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
426detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
427
428The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
429C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
430(unlike with C<die>).
431
432This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
433end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
434termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
435program.
436
437You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
438C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
439
259=item $process->join 440=item $coroutine->join
260 441
261Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 442Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
262C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 443C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
263from multiple processes. 444from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
445return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
264 446
265=cut 447=cut
266 448
267sub join { 449sub join {
268 my $self = shift; 450 my $self = shift;
451
269 unless ($self->{status}) { 452 unless ($self->{_status}) {
270 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 453 my $current = $current;
271 &schedule; 454
455 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
456 $current->ready;
457 undef $current;
458 };
459
460 &schedule while $current;
272 } 461 }
462
273 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 463 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
274} 464}
275 465
466=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
467
468Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
469but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
470if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
471
472=cut
473
474sub on_destroy {
475 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
476
477 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
478}
479
276=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 480=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
277 481
278Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 482Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
279process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 483coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
280processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 484coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
281that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 485that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
282to get then): 486to get then):
283 487
284 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 488 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
285 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 489 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
288 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 492 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
289 493
290The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 494The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
291existing coroutine. 495existing coroutine.
292 496
293Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 497Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
294but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 498but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
295running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 499running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
296process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 500coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
297 501
298=cut
299
300sub prio {
301 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
302 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
303 $old;
304}
305
306=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 502=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
307 503
308Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 504Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
309higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 505higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
310 506
311=cut
312
313sub nice {
314 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
315}
316
317=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 507=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
318 508
319Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 509Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
320process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 510coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
511coroutine.
512
513This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
514string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
321 515
322=cut 516=cut
323 517
324sub desc { 518sub desc {
325 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 519 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
326 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 520 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
327 $old; 521 $old;
328} 522}
329 523
524sub transfer {
525 require Carp;
526 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
527}
528
330=back 529=back
331 530
531=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
532
533=over 4
534
535=item Coro::nready
536
537Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
538i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
539indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
540currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
541would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
542coroutines.
543
544=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
545
546This function still exists, but is deprecated. Please use the
547C<Guard::guard> function instead.
548
549=cut
550
551BEGIN { *guard = \&Guard::guard }
552
553=item unblock_sub { ... }
554
555This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
556returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
557will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
558original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
559coroutine.
560
561The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
562venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
563of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
564otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
565currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
566
567This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
568coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
569is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
570disk, for example.
571
572In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
573creating event callbacks that want to block.
574
575If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
576another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
577there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
578
579Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
580are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
581use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
582provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
583must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
584
585=cut
586
587our @unblock_queue;
588
589# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
590# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
591# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
592# inside an event callback.
593our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
594 while () {
595 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
596 &async_pool (@$cb);
597
598 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
599 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
600 # in the idle state when cede returns
601 cede;
602 }
603 schedule; # sleep well
604 }
605};
606$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
607
608sub unblock_sub(&) {
609 my $cb = shift;
610
611 sub {
612 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
613 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
614 }
615}
616
617=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
618
619Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
620when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
621coroutine of the callback.
622
623See the next function.
624
625=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
626
627Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
628this coroutine).
629
630As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
631before C<rouse_wait>), it will return the arguments originally passed to
632the rouse callback.
633
634See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
635
636=back
637
332=cut 638=cut
333 639
3341; 6401;
335 641
642=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
643
644It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
645called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
646event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
647
648These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
649when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
650just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
651
652For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
653a specific child has exited:
654
655 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
656
657But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
658
659 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
660
661Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
662C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
663
664The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
665when invoked, will save its arguments and notify the coroutine that
666created the callback.
667
668The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
669(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
670originally passed to the callback.
671
672Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
673function mentioned above:
674
675 sub wait_for_child($) {
676 my ($pid) = @_;
677
678 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
679
680 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
681 $rstatus
682 }
683
684In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
685you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
686
687 sub wait_for_child($) {
688 my ($pid) = @_;
689
690 # store the current coroutine in $current,
691 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
692 my $current = $Coro::current;
693 my ($done, $rstatus);
694
695 # pass a closure to ->child
696 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
697 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
698 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
699 });
700
701 # wait until the closure has been called
702 schedule while !$done;
703
704 $rstatus
705 }
706
707
336=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 708=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
337 709
338 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 710=over 4
339 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
340 711
712=item fork with pthread backend
713
714When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
715but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
716coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
717fix your libc and use a saner backend.
718
719=item perl process emulation ("threads")
720
341 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 721This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
342 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 722module from the first thread (this requirement might be removed in the
343 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 723future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
344 this). 724this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
725the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
726performance, even when not used.
727
728=item coroutine switching not signal safe
729
730You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
731(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
732
733That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
734current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
735anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
736works.
737
738=back
739
345 740
346=head1 SEE ALSO 741=head1 SEE ALSO
347 742
743Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
744
745Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
746
348Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 747Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
349 748
350Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 749Locking and IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>,
750L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
351 751
352Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 752I/O and Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
353 753
354Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 754Compatibility with other modules: L<Coro::LWP> (but see also L<AnyEvent::HTTP> for
755a better-working alternative), L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>,
756L<Coro::Select>.
757
758XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
759
760Low level Configuration, Thread Environment, Continuations: L<Coro::State>.
355 761
356=head1 AUTHOR 762=head1 AUTHOR
357 763
358 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 764 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
359 http://home.schmorp.de/ 765 http://home.schmorp.de/

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