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Revision 1.88 by root, Sun Nov 26 02:54:55 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.221 by root, Tue Nov 18 05:51:38 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 qw(Coro::State Exporter); 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 67
42our $idle; # idle handler 68our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 69our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 70our $current; # current coroutine
45 71
46our $VERSION = '3.0'; 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 $Coro::current
99 94
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
101is C<$main> (of course). 97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
102 98
103This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
104reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
105C<Coro::current> function instead. 101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
106 102
107=cut 103=cut
108 104
109# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
110if ($current) {
111 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
112}
113
114$current = $main;
115
116sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
117 106
118=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
119 108
120A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
121to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
122exits. 111pretty low-level functionality.
112
113This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
114finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
115"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
116to continue.
123 117
124This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
125C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wakes up some 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
126coroutine. 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
127 132
128=cut 133=cut
129 134
130$idle = sub { 135$idle = sub {
131 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 136 require Carp;
132 exit (51); 137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
133}; 138};
139
140sub _cancel {
141 my ($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}
134 151
135# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
136# cannot destroy itself. 153# cannot destroy itself.
137my @destroy; 154my @destroy;
155my $manager;
156
138my $manager; $manager = new Coro sub { 157$manager = new Coro sub {
139 while () { 158 while () {
140 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
141 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
142 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
143 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
144 # remove itself from the runqueue
145 while (@destroy) { 160 while @destroy;
146 my $coro = pop @destroy;
147 $coro->{status} ||= [];
148 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
149 161
150 # the next line destroys the coro state, but keeps the
151 # process itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
152 # process that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
153 # to transfer() to this process).
154 $coro->_clone_state_from ($manager);
155 }
156 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
157 } 163 }
158}; 164};
159 165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
160# static methods. not really. 166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
161 167
162=back 168=back
163 169
164=head2 STATIC METHODS 170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
165
166Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
167 171
168=over 4 172=over 4
169 173
170=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
171 175
172Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
173(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
174terminated. 182terminated.
175 183
176When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
177program.
178 185
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
179 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
180 async { 198 async {
181 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
182 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
183 201
184=cut 202=cut
185 203
186sub async(&@) { 204sub async(&@) {
187 my $pid = new Coro @_; 205 my $coro = new Coro @_;
188 $pid->ready; 206 $coro->ready;
189 $pid 207 $coro
190} 208}
209
210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
211
212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
216
217On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
218a completly new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
219quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
227
228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> 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 $coro
279}
280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
191 288
192=item schedule 289=item schedule
193 290
194Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
195into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
196never be called again. 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
300thus waking you up.
197 301
198=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 }
199 328
200=item cede 329=item cede
201 330
202"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 331"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
203ready 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
204current "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.
205 336
206=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.
207 344
208=item terminate [arg...] 345=item terminate [arg...]
209 346
210Terminates 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.
211 358
212=cut 359=cut
213 360
214sub terminate { 361sub terminate {
215 $current->cancel (@_); 362 $current->cancel (@_);
216} 363}
217 364
365sub killall {
366 for (Coro::State::list) {
367 $_->cancel
368 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
369 }
370}
371
218=back 372=back
219 373
220# dynamic methods
221
222=head2 PROCESS METHODS 374=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
223 375
224These are the methods you can call on process objects. 376These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
377them).
225 378
226=over 4 379=over 4
227 380
228=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 381=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
229 382
230Create 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
231automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 384automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
232called. 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
233by calling the ready method. 386queue by calling the ready method.
234 387
235=cut 388See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
389coroutine environment.
236 390
391=cut
392
237sub _new_coro { 393sub _run_coro {
238 terminate &{+shift}; 394 terminate &{+shift};
239} 395}
240 396
241sub new { 397sub new {
242 my $class = shift; 398 my $class = shift;
243 399
244 $class->SUPER::new (\&_new_coro, @_) 400 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
245} 401}
246 402
247=item $process->ready 403=item $success = $coroutine->ready
248 404
249Put the given process into the ready queue. 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.
250 408
251=cut 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.
252 412
413=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
414
415Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
416
253=item $process->cancel (arg...) 417=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
254 418
255Terminates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as 419Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
256status (default: the empty list). 420status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
421current coroutine.
257 422
258=cut 423=cut
259 424
260sub cancel { 425sub cancel {
261 my $self = shift; 426 my $self = shift;
262 $self->{status} = [@_]; 427 $self->{_status} = [@_];
428
429 if ($current == $self) {
263 push @destroy, $self; 430 push @destroy, $self;
264 $manager->ready; 431 $manager->ready;
265 &schedule if $current == $self; 432 &schedule while 1;
433 } else {
434 $self->_cancel;
435 }
266} 436}
267 437
438=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
439
440If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
441inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time (usually after
442it gains control at the next schedule/transfer/cede). Otherwise clears the
443exception object.
444
445The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
446C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
447(unlike with C<die>).
448
449This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
450end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
451termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
452program.
453
454You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
455C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
456
268=item $process->join 457=item $coroutine->join
269 458
270Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 459Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
271C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 460C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
272from multiple processes. 461from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
462return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
273 463
274=cut 464=cut
275 465
276sub join { 466sub join {
277 my $self = shift; 467 my $self = shift;
468
278 unless ($self->{status}) { 469 unless ($self->{_status}) {
279 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 470 my $current = $current;
280 &schedule; 471
472 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
473 $current->ready;
474 undef $current;
475 };
476
477 &schedule while $current;
281 } 478 }
479
282 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 480 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
283} 481}
284 482
483=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
484
485Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
486but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
487if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
488
489=cut
490
491sub on_destroy {
492 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
493
494 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
495}
496
285=item $oldprio = $process->prio ($newprio) 497=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
286 498
287Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 499Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
288process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 500coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
289processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 501coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
290that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 502that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
291to get then): 503to get then):
292 504
293 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 505 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
294 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 506 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
297 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 509 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
298 510
299The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 511The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
300existing coroutine. 512existing coroutine.
301 513
302Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 514Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
303but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 515but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
304running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 516running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
305process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 517coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
306 518
307=item $newprio = $process->nice ($change) 519=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
308 520
309Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 521Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
310higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 522higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
311 523
312=item $olddesc = $process->desc ($newdesc) 524=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
313 525
314Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 526Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
315process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 527coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
528coroutine.
529
530This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
531string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
316 532
317=cut 533=cut
318 534
319sub desc { 535sub desc {
320 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 536 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
322 $old; 538 $old;
323} 539}
324 540
325=back 541=back
326 542
543=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
544
545=over 4
546
547=item Coro::nready
548
549Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
550i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
551indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
552currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
553would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
554coroutines.
555
556=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
557
558This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
559gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
560executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
561runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
562guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
563C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
564
565Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
566or the function returns:
567
568 sub do_something {
569 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
570 $busy = 1;
571
572 # do something that requires $busy to be true
573 }
574
575=cut
576
577sub guard(&) {
578 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
579}
580
581sub Coro::guard::cancel {
582 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
583}
584
585sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
586 ${$_[0]}->();
587}
588
589
590=item unblock_sub { ... }
591
592This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
593returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
594will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
595original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
596coroutine.
597
598The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
599venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
600of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
601otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
602currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
603
604This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
605coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
606is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
607disk, for example.
608
609In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
610creating event callbacks that want to block.
611
612If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
613another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
614there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
615
616Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
617are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
618use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
619provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
620must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
621
622=cut
623
624our @unblock_queue;
625
626# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
627# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
628# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
629# inside an event callback.
630our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
631 while () {
632 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
633 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
634 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
635
636 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
637 $coro->ready;
638 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
639 }
640 schedule; # sleep well
641 }
642};
643$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
644
645sub unblock_sub(&) {
646 my $cb = shift;
647
648 sub {
649 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
650 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
651 }
652}
653
654=back
655
327=cut 656=cut
328 657
3291; 6581;
330 659
331=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 660=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
332 661
333 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 662=over 4
334 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
335 663
664=item fork with pthread backend
665
666When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
667but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
668coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
669fix your libc and use a saner backend.
670
671=item perl process emulation ("threads")
672
336 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 673This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
337 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 674module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
338 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 675future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
339 this). 676this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
677the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
678performance, even when not used.
679
680=item coroutine switching not signal safe
681
682You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
683(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
684
685That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
686current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
687anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
688works.
689
690=back
691
340 692
341=head1 SEE ALSO 693=head1 SEE ALSO
342 694
695Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
696
697Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
698
343Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 699Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
344 700
345Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 701Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
346 702
347Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 703IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
348 704
349Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 705Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
706
707XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
708
709Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
350 710
351=head1 AUTHOR 711=head1 AUTHOR
352 712
353 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 713 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
354 http://home.schmorp.de/ 714 http://home.schmorp.de/

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