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Revision 1.80 by root, Mon Nov 6 19:56:26 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.222 by root, Tue Nov 18 08:59:46 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
35use strict; 61use strict qw(vars subs);
36no warnings "uninitialized"; 62no warnings "uninitialized";
37 63
38use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
39 65
40use base Exporter::; 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 67
42our $idle; # idle coroutine 68our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 69our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 70our $current; # current coroutine
45 71
46our $VERSION = '2.5'; 72our $VERSION = 5.0;
47 73
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 77);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53
54{
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 79
88=over 4 80=over 4
89 81
90=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
91 83
92This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 88
94=cut 89=cut
95 90
96$main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
97 92
98=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
99 94
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
101 98
102=cut 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
103 102
104# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 103=cut
105if ($current) {
106 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
107}
108 104
109$current = $main;
110
111sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
112 106
113=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
114 108
115The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
116implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
111pretty low-level functionality.
117 112
118=cut 113This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
114finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
115"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
116to continue.
119 117
120# should be done using priorities :( 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
121$idle = new Coro sub { 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
122 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
123 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$idle = sub {
136 require Carp;
137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
124}; 138};
139
140sub _cancel {
141 my ($self) = @_;
142
143 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed
144 $self->_destroy
145 or return;
146
147 # call all destruction callbacks
148 $_->(@{$self->{_status}})
149 for @{ delete $self->{_on_destroy} || [] };
150}
125 151
126# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
127# cannot destroy itself. 153# cannot destroy itself.
128my @destroy; 154my @destroy;
129my $manager; 155my $manager;
156
130$manager = new Coro sub { 157$manager = new Coro sub {
131 while () { 158 while () {
132 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
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) { 160 while @destroy;
138 my $coro = pop @destroy;
139 $coro->{status} ||= [];
140 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
141 161
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} = $manager->{_coro_state};
147 }
148 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
149 } 163 }
150}; 164};
151 165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
152# static methods. not really. 166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
153 167
154=back 168=back
155 169
156=head2 STATIC METHODS 170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
157
158Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
159 171
160=over 4 172=over 4
161 173
162=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
163 175
164Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
165(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 177unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
178it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
179
180The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
181coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
166terminated. 182terminated.
167 183
168When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
169program.
170 185
186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
187environment in which coroutines are executed.
188
189Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
190the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
191just as it would in the main program.
192
193If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
194simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
195
171 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
172 async { 198 async {
173 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
174 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
175 201
176=cut 202=cut
177 203
178sub async(&@) { 204sub async(&@) {
179 my $pid = new Coro @_; 205 my $coro = new Coro @_;
180 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
181 $pid->ready; 206 $coro->ready;
182 $pid; 207 $coro
183} 208}
209
210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
211
212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
216
217On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
218a completly new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
219quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
227
228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
233simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
234
235The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
236adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
237coros as required.
238
239If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
240single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
241{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
242addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 16kb
243(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
244
245=cut
246
247our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
248our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
249our @async_pool;
250
251sub pool_handler {
252 my $cb;
253
254 while () {
255 eval {
256 while () {
257 _pool_1 $cb;
258 &$cb;
259 _pool_2 $cb;
260 &schedule;
261 }
262 };
263
264 if ($@) {
265 last if $@ eq "\3async_pool terminate\2\n";
266 warn $@;
267 }
268 }
269}
270
271sub async_pool(&@) {
272 # this is also inlined into the unblock_scheduler
273 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
274
275 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_];
276 $coro->ready;
277
278 $coro
279}
280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
184 288
185=item schedule 289=item schedule
186 290
187Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
188into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
189never be called again. 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
300thus waking you up.
190 301
191=cut 302This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
303coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
304a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
305>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
306yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
307so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
308status in a variable.
309
310The canonical way to wait on external events is this:
311
312 {
313 # remember current coroutine
314 my $current = $Coro::current;
315
316 # register a hypothetical event handler
317 on_event_invoke sub {
318 # wake up sleeping coroutine
319 $current->ready;
320 undef $current;
321 };
322
323 # call schedule until event occurred.
324 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
325 # (current still defined), loop.
326 Coro::schedule while $current;
327 }
192 328
193=item cede 329=item cede
194 330
195"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 331"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
196ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 332the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
197current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 333up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
334priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
335resumed.
198 336
199=cut 337This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
338
339=item Coro::cede_notself
340
341Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
342coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
343progress is made.
200 344
201=item terminate [arg...] 345=item terminate [arg...]
202 346
203Terminates the current process with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 347Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
348
349=item killall
350
351Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
352one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
353usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
354
355Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
356you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
357program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
204 358
205=cut 359=cut
206 360
207sub terminate { 361sub terminate {
208 $current->cancel (@_); 362 $current->cancel (@_);
209} 363}
210 364
365sub killall {
366 for (Coro::State::list) {
367 $_->cancel
368 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
369 }
370}
371
211=back 372=back
212 373
213# dynamic methods
214
215=head2 PROCESS METHODS 374=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
216 375
217These are the methods you can call on process objects. 376These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
377them).
218 378
219=over 4 379=over 4
220 380
221=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 381=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
222 382
223Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 383Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
224automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 384automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
225called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 385called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
226by calling the ready method. 386queue by calling the ready method.
227 387
228=cut 388See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
389coroutine environment.
229 390
391=cut
392
230sub _newcoro { 393sub _run_coro {
231 terminate &{+shift}; 394 terminate &{+shift};
232} 395}
233 396
234sub new { 397sub new {
235 my $class = shift; 398 my $class = shift;
236 bless {
237 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
238 }, $class;
239}
240 399
241=item $process->ready 400 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
401}
242 402
243Put the given process into the ready queue. 403=item $success = $coroutine->ready
244 404
245=cut 405Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
406queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
407the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
246 408
409This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
410once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
411priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
412
413=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
414
415Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
416
247=item $process->cancel (arg...) 417=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
248 418
249Terminates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as 419Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
250status (default: the empty list). 420status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
421current coroutine.
251 422
252=cut 423=cut
253 424
254sub cancel { 425sub cancel {
255 my $self = shift; 426 my $self = shift;
256 $self->{status} = [@_]; 427 $self->{_status} = [@_];
428
429 if ($current == $self) {
257 push @destroy, $self; 430 push @destroy, $self;
258 $manager->ready; 431 $manager->ready;
259 &schedule if $current == $self; 432 &schedule while 1;
433 } else {
434 $self->_cancel;
435 }
260} 436}
261 437
438=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
439
440If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
441inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
442clears the exception object.
443
444Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
445returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
446>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Note that this means that
447when a coroutine is acquiring a lock, it might only throw after it has
448sucessfully acquired it.
449
450The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
451C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
452(unlike with C<die>).
453
454This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
455end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
456termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
457program.
458
459You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
460C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
461
262=item $process->join 462=item $coroutine->join
263 463
264Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 464Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
265C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 465C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
266from multiple processes. 466from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
467return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
267 468
268=cut 469=cut
269 470
270sub join { 471sub join {
271 my $self = shift; 472 my $self = shift;
473
272 unless ($self->{status}) { 474 unless ($self->{_status}) {
273 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 475 my $current = $current;
274 &schedule; 476
477 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
478 $current->ready;
479 undef $current;
480 };
481
482 &schedule while $current;
275 } 483 }
484
276 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 485 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
277} 486}
278 487
488=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
489
490Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
491but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
492if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
493
494=cut
495
496sub on_destroy {
497 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
498
499 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
500}
501
279=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 502=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
280 503
281Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 504Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
282process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 505coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
283processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 506coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
284that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 507that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
285to get then): 508to get then):
286 509
287 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 510 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
288 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 511 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
291 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 514 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
292 515
293The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 516The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
294existing coroutine. 517existing coroutine.
295 518
296Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 519Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
297but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 520but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
298running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 521running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
299process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 522coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
300 523
301=cut
302
303sub prio {
304 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
305 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
306 $old;
307}
308
309=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 524=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
310 525
311Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 526Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
312higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 527higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
313 528
314=cut
315
316sub nice {
317 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
318}
319
320=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 529=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
321 530
322Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 531Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
323process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 532coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
533coroutine.
534
535This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
536string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
324 537
325=cut 538=cut
326 539
327sub desc { 540sub desc {
328 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 541 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
330 $old; 543 $old;
331} 544}
332 545
333=back 546=back
334 547
548=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
549
550=over 4
551
552=item Coro::nready
553
554Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
555i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
556indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
557currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
558would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
559coroutines.
560
561=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
562
563This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
564gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
565executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
566runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
567guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
568C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
569
570Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
571or the function returns:
572
573 sub do_something {
574 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
575 $busy = 1;
576
577 # do something that requires $busy to be true
578 }
579
580=cut
581
582sub guard(&) {
583 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
584}
585
586sub Coro::guard::cancel {
587 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
588}
589
590sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
591 ${$_[0]}->();
592}
593
594
595=item unblock_sub { ... }
596
597This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
598returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
599will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
600original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
601coroutine.
602
603The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
604venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
605of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
606otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
607currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
608
609This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
610coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
611is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
612disk, for example.
613
614In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
615creating event callbacks that want to block.
616
617If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
618another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
619there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
620
621Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
622are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
623use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
624provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
625must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
626
627=cut
628
629our @unblock_queue;
630
631# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
632# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
633# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
634# inside an event callback.
635our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
636 while () {
637 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
638 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
639 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
640
641 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
642 $coro->ready;
643 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
644 }
645 schedule; # sleep well
646 }
647};
648$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
649
650sub unblock_sub(&) {
651 my $cb = shift;
652
653 sub {
654 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
655 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
656 }
657}
658
659=back
660
335=cut 661=cut
336 662
3371; 6631;
338 664
339=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 665=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
340 666
341 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 667=over 4
342 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
343 668
669=item fork with pthread backend
670
671When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
672but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
673coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
674fix your libc and use a saner backend.
675
676=item perl process emulation ("threads")
677
344 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 678This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
345 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 679module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
346 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 680future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
347 this). 681this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
682the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
683performance, even when not used.
684
685=item coroutine switching not signal safe
686
687You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
688(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
689
690That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
691current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
692anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
693works.
694
695=back
696
348 697
349=head1 SEE ALSO 698=head1 SEE ALSO
350 699
700Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
701
702Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
703
351Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 704Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
352 705
353Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 706Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
354 707
355Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 708IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
356 709
357Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 710Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
711
712XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
713
714Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
358 715
359=head1 AUTHOR 716=head1 AUTHOR
360 717
361 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 718 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
362 http://home.schmorp.de/ 719 http://home.schmorp.de/

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