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Revision 1.248 by root, Mon Dec 15 15:03:31 2008 UTC

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 coro
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 in
35the form of cooperative threads (also called coros, or simply "coro"
36in the documentation). They are similar to kernel threads but don't (in
37general) run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines. The
38specific flavor of thread offered by this module also guarantees you that
39it will not switch between threads unless necessary, at easily-identified
40points in your program, so locking and parallel access are rarely an
41issue, making thread programming much safer and easier than using other
42thread models.
43
44Unlike the so-called "Perl threads" (which are not actually real threads
45but only the windows process emulation ported to unix), Coro provides a
46full shared address space, which makes communication between threads
47very easy. And threads are fast, too: disabling the Windows process
48emulation code in your perl and using Coro can easily result in a two to
49four times speed increase for your programs.
50
51Coro achieves that by supporting multiple running interpreters that share
52data, which is especially useful to code pseudo-parallel processes and
53for event-based programming, such as multiple HTTP-GET requests running
54concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to learn more on how to integrate Coro
55into an event-based environment.
56
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 57In this module, a thread is defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 58@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + 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 59its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 60variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration and background info).
61
62See also the C<SEE ALSO> section at the end of this document - the Coro
63module family is quite large.
30 64
31=cut 65=cut
32 66
33package Coro; 67package Coro;
34 68
35use strict; 69use strict qw(vars subs);
36no warnings "uninitialized"; 70no warnings "uninitialized";
37 71
72use Guard ();
73
38use Coro::State; 74use Coro::State;
39 75
40use base qw(Coro::State Exporter); 76use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 77
42our $idle; # idle handler 78our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 79our $main; # main coro
44our $current; # current coroutine 80our $current; # current coro
45 81
46our $VERSION = '3.0'; 82our $VERSION = 5.13;
47 83
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 84our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 85our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 86 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 87);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 88our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53 89
54{ 90=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 91
88=over 4 92=over 4
89 93
90=item $main 94=item $Coro::main
91 95
92This coroutine represents the main program. 96This variable stores the Coro object that represents the main
97program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
98coro, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
99whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 100
94=cut 101=cut
95 102
96$main = new Coro; 103# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
97 104
98=item $current (or as function: current) 105=item $Coro::current
99 106
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 107The Coro object representing the current coro (the last
108coro that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
101is C<$main> (of course). 109C<$Coro::main> (of course).
102 110
103This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 111This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
104reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 112value stored in it and use it as any other Coro object, but you must
105C<Coro::current> function instead. 113not otherwise modify the variable itself.
106 114
107=cut 115=cut
108 116
109# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
110if ($current) {
111 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
112}
113
114$current = $main;
115
116sub current() { $current } 117sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
117 118
118=item $idle 119=item $Coro::idle
119 120
121This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
122usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or L<Coro::EV>, as this is
123pretty low-level functionality.
124
125This variable stores either a Coro object or a callback.
126
120A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 127If it is a callback, the it is called whenever the scheduler finds no
121to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 128ready coros to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
122exits. 129deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way to
130continue.
123 131
132If it is a coro object, then this object will be readied (without
133invoking any ready hooks, however) when the scheduler finds no other ready
134coros to run.
135
124This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 136This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::EV> and
125C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wakes up some 137C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
126coroutine. 138coro so the scheduler can run it.
139
140Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
141the current coro. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
142coro" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
143readying that coro in the idle handler, or by simply placing the idle
144coro in this variable.
145
146See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
147technique.
148
149Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
150handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
127 151
128=cut 152=cut
129 153
130$idle = sub { 154$idle = sub {
131 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 155 require Carp;
132 exit (51); 156 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
133}; 157};
134 158
135# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 159# this coro is necessary because a coro
136# cannot destroy itself. 160# cannot destroy itself.
137my @destroy; 161our @destroy;
162our $manager;
163
138my $manager; $manager = new Coro sub { 164$manager = new Coro sub {
139 while () { 165 while () {
140 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 166 Coro::State::cancel shift @destroy
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) { 167 while @destroy;
146 my $coro = pop @destroy;
147 $coro->{status} ||= [];
148 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
149 168
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; 169 &schedule;
157 } 170 }
158}; 171};
159 172$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
160# static methods. not really. 173$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
161 174
162=back 175=back
163 176
164=head2 STATIC METHODS 177=head1 SIMPLE CORO CREATION
165
166Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
167 178
168=over 4 179=over 4
169 180
170=item async { ... } [@args...] 181=item async { ... } [@args...]
171 182
172Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 183Create a new coro and return its Coro object (usually
173(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process is automatically 184unused). The coro will be put into the ready queue, so
185it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
186
187The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
188coro. When it returns argument returns the coro is automatically
174terminated. 189terminated.
175 190
176When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 191The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
177program.
178 192
193See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coro
194environment in which coro are executed.
195
196Calling C<exit> in a coro will do the same as calling exit outside
197the coro. Likewise, when the coro dies, the program will exit,
198just as it would in the main program.
199
200If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
201simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
202
179 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 203Example: Create a new coro that just prints its arguments.
204
180 async { 205 async {
181 print "@_\n"; 206 print "@_\n";
182 } 1,2,3,4; 207 } 1,2,3,4;
183 208
184=cut 209=cut
185 210
186sub async(&@) { 211sub async(&@) {
187 my $pid = new Coro @_; 212 my $coro = new Coro @_;
188 $pid->ready; 213 $coro->ready;
189 $pid 214 $coro
190} 215}
216
217=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
218
219Similar to C<async>, but uses a coro pool, so you should not call
220terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
221coro that might have executed other code already (which can be good
222or bad :).
223
224On the plus side, this function is about twice as fast as creating (and
225destroying) a completely new coro, so if you need a lot of generic
226coros in quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
227
228The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
229issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
230C<async> does. As the coro is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
231will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
232which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
233exceptional case).
234
235The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
236disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
237gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coro will
238be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coro global
239stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
240simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
241
242The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coros (this can be
243adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
244coros as required.
245
246If you are concerned about pooled coros growing a lot because a
247single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
248{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
249addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 32kb
250(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
251
252=cut
253
254our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
255our $POOL_RSS = 32 * 1024;
256our @async_pool;
257
258sub pool_handler {
259 while () {
260 eval {
261 &{&_pool_handler} while 1;
262 };
263
264 warn $@ if $@;
265 }
266}
267
268=back
269
270=head1 STATIC METHODS
271
272Static methods are actually functions that implicitly operate on the
273current coro.
274
275=over 4
191 276
192=item schedule 277=item schedule
193 278
194Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 279Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coro that is
280to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coro
281to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
282in its ready queue. If there is no coro ready, it will clal the
283C<$Coro::idle> hook.
284
285Please note that the current coro will I<not> be put into the ready
195into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 286queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
196never be called again. 287again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
288thus waking you up.
197 289
198=cut 290This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
291coro and wait for events: first you remember the current coro in
292a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
293>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
294yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coro up,
295so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
296status in a variable.
297
298See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
199 299
200=item cede 300=item cede
201 301
202"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 302"Cede" to other coros. This function puts the current coro into
203ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 303the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
204current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 304up the current "timeslice" to other coros of the same or higher
305priority. Once your coro gets its turn again it will automatically be
306resumed.
205 307
206=cut 308This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
309
310=item Coro::cede_notself
311
312Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
313coro, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
314progress is made.
207 315
208=item terminate [arg...] 316=item terminate [arg...]
209 317
210Terminates the current process with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 318Terminates the current coro with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
211 319
212=cut 320=item Coro::on_enter BLOCK, Coro::on_leave BLOCK
213 321
214sub terminate { 322These function install enter and leave winders in the current scope. The
215 $current->cancel (@_); 323enter block will be executed when on_enter is called and whenever the
324current coro is re-entered by the scheduler, while the leave block is
325executed whenever the current coro is blocked by the scheduler, and
326also when the containing scope is exited (by whatever means, be it exit,
327die, last etc.).
328
329I<Neither invoking the scheduler, nor exceptions, are allowed within those
330BLOCKs>. That means: do not even think about calling C<die> without an
331eval, and do not even think of entering the scheduler in any way.
332
333Since both BLOCKs are tied to the current scope, they will automatically
334be removed when the current scope exits.
335
336These functions implement the same concept as C<dynamic-wind> in scheme
337does, and are useful when you want to localise some resource to a specific
338coro.
339
340They slow down coro switching considerably for coros that use
341them (But coro switching is still reasonably fast if the handlers are
342fast).
343
344These functions are best understood by an example: The following function
345will change the current timezone to "Antarctica/South_Pole", which
346requires a call to C<tzset>, but by using C<on_enter> and C<on_leave>,
347which remember/change the current timezone and restore the previous
348value, respectively, the timezone is only changes for the coro that
349installed those handlers.
350
351 use POSIX qw(tzset);
352
353 async {
354 my $old_tz; # store outside TZ value here
355
356 Coro::on_enter {
357 $old_tz = $ENV{TZ}; # remember the old value
358
359 $ENV{TZ} = "Antarctica/South_Pole";
360 tzset; # enable new value
361 };
362
363 Coro::on_leave {
364 $ENV{TZ} = $old_tz;
365 tzset; # restore old value
366 };
367
368 # at this place, the timezone is Antarctica/South_Pole,
369 # without disturbing the TZ of any other coro.
370 };
371
372This can be used to localise about any resource (locale, uid, current
373working directory etc.) to a block, despite the existance of other
374coros.
375
376=item killall
377
378Kills/terminates/cancels all coros except the currently running one.
379
380Note that while this will try to free some of the main interpreter
381resources if the calling coro isn't the main coro, but one
382cannot free all of them, so if a coro that is not the main coro
383calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
384
385=cut
386
387sub killall {
388 for (Coro::State::list) {
389 $_->cancel
390 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
391 }
216} 392}
217 393
218=back 394=back
219 395
220# dynamic methods 396=head1 CORO OBJECT METHODS
221 397
222=head2 PROCESS METHODS
223
224These are the methods you can call on process objects. 398These are the methods you can call on coro objects (or to create
399them).
225 400
226=over 4 401=over 4
227 402
228=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 403=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
229 404
230Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 405Create a new coro and return it. When the sub returns, the coro
231automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 406automatically 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 407called. To make the coro run you must first put it into the ready
233by calling the ready method. 408queue by calling the ready method.
234 409
235=cut 410See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
411coro environment.
236 412
237sub _new_coro { 413=cut
414
415sub _coro_run {
238 terminate &{+shift}; 416 terminate &{+shift};
239} 417}
240 418
241sub new { 419=item $success = $coro->ready
242 my $class = shift;
243 420
244 $class->SUPER::new (\&_new_coro, @_) 421Put the given coro into the end of its ready queue (there is one
245} 422queue for each priority) and return true. If the coro is already in
423the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
246 424
247=item $process->ready 425This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coro automatically
426once all the coro of higher priority and all coro of the same
427priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
248 428
249Put the given process into the ready queue. 429=item $is_ready = $coro->is_ready
250 430
251=cut 431Returns true iff the Coro object is in the ready queue. Unless the Coro
432object gets destroyed, it will eventually be scheduled by the scheduler.
252 433
434=item $is_running = $coro->is_running
435
436Returns true iff the Coro object is currently running. Only one Coro object
437can ever be in the running state (but it currently is possible to have
438multiple running Coro::States).
439
440=item $is_suspended = $coro->is_suspended
441
442Returns true iff this Coro object has been suspended. Suspended Coros will
443not ever be scheduled.
444
253=item $process->cancel (arg...) 445=item $coro->cancel (arg...)
254 446
255Terminates the given process and makes it return the given arguments as 447Terminates the given Coro and makes it return the given arguments as
256status (default: the empty list). 448status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the Coro is the
449current Coro.
257 450
258=cut 451=cut
259 452
260sub cancel { 453sub cancel {
261 my $self = shift; 454 my $self = shift;
455
456 if ($current == $self) {
457 terminate @_;
458 } else {
262 $self->{status} = [@_]; 459 $self->{_status} = [@_];
263 push @destroy, $self; 460 Coro::State::cancel $self;
264 $manager->ready; 461 }
265 &schedule if $current == $self;
266} 462}
267 463
464=item $coro->schedule_to
465
466Puts the current coro to sleep (like C<Coro::schedule>), but instead
467of continuing with the next coro from the ready queue, always switch to
468the given coro object (regardless of priority etc.). The readyness
469state of that coro isn't changed.
470
471This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
472uses for this one.
473
474=item $coro->cede_to
475
476Like C<schedule_to>, but puts the current coro into the ready
477queue. This has the effect of temporarily switching to the given
478coro, and continuing some time later.
479
480This is an advanced method for special cases - I'd love to hear about any
481uses for this one.
482
483=item $coro->throw ([$scalar])
484
485If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
486inside the coro at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
487clears the exception object.
488
489Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
490returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
491>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
492detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
493
494The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
495C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
496(unlike with C<die>).
497
498This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coro to
499end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
500termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
501program.
502
503You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
504C<kill>ing a coro with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
505
268=item $process->join 506=item $coro->join
269 507
270Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 508Wait until the coro terminates and return any values given to the
271C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 509C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
272from multiple processes. 510from multiple coro, and all will be resumed and given the status
511return once the C<$coro> terminates.
273 512
274=cut 513=cut
275 514
276sub join { 515sub join {
277 my $self = shift; 516 my $self = shift;
517
278 unless ($self->{status}) { 518 unless ($self->{_status}) {
279 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 519 my $current = $current;
280 &schedule; 520
521 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
522 $current->ready;
523 undef $current;
524 };
525
526 &schedule while $current;
281 } 527 }
528
282 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 529 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
283} 530}
284 531
532=item $coro->on_destroy (\&cb)
533
534Registers a callback that is called when this coro gets destroyed,
535but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
536if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
537
538=cut
539
540sub on_destroy {
541 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
542
543 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
544}
545
285=item $oldprio = $process->prio ($newprio) 546=item $oldprio = $coro->prio ($newprio)
286 547
287Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 548Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
288process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 549coro. Higher priority coro get run before lower priority
289processes. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3), 550coro. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
290that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 551that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
291to get then): 552to get then):
292 553
293 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 554 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
294 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 555 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
295 556
296 # set priority to HIGH 557 # set priority to HIGH
297 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 558 current->prio (PRIO_HIGH);
298 559
299The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 560The idle coro ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
300existing coroutine. 561existing coro.
301 562
302Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 563Changing the priority of the current coro will take effect immediately,
303but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 564but changing the priority of coro in the ready queue (but not
304running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 565running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
305process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 566coro). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
306 567
307=item $newprio = $process->nice ($change) 568=item $newprio = $coro->nice ($change)
308 569
309Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 570Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
310higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 571higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
311 572
312=item $olddesc = $process->desc ($newdesc) 573=item $olddesc = $coro->desc ($newdesc)
313 574
314Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 575Sets (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. 576coro. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
577coro.
578
579This method simply sets the C<< $coro->{desc} >> member to the given
580string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
316 581
317=cut 582=cut
318 583
319sub desc { 584sub desc {
320 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 585 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
321 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1; 586 $_[0]{desc} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
322 $old; 587 $old;
323} 588}
324 589
590sub transfer {
591 require Carp;
592 Carp::croak ("You must not call ->transfer on Coro objects. Use Coro::State objects or the ->schedule_to method. Caught");
593}
594
325=back 595=back
326 596
597=head1 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
598
599=over 4
600
601=item Coro::nready
602
603Returns the number of coro that are currently in the ready state,
604i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
605indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coro is the
606currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
607would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
608coro.
609
610=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
611
612This function still exists, but is deprecated. Please use the
613C<Guard::guard> function instead.
614
615=cut
616
617BEGIN { *guard = \&Guard::guard }
618
619=item unblock_sub { ... }
620
621This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
622returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
623will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
624original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
625coro.
626
627The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
628venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not thread-safe (a weaker form
629of reentrancy). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
630otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
631currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
632
633This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
634coro where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
635is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
636disk, for example.
637
638In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
639creating event callbacks that want to block.
640
641If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
642another coro, or puts some other coro into the ready queue), there is
643no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
644
645Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
646are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
647use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
648provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
649must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
650
651=cut
652
653our @unblock_queue;
654
655# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
656# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
657# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
658# inside an event callback.
659our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
660 while () {
661 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
662 &async_pool (@$cb);
663
664 # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
665 # as the chance is very high that the async_poll coro will be back
666 # in the idle state when cede returns
667 cede;
668 }
669 schedule; # sleep well
670 }
671};
672$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
673
674sub unblock_sub(&) {
675 my $cb = shift;
676
677 sub {
678 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
679 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
680 }
681}
682
683=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
684
685Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that,
686when called, will remember a copy of its arguments and notify the owner
687coro of the callback.
688
689See the next function.
690
691=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
692
693Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one that was created in
694this coro).
695
696As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the callback was invoked
697before C<rouse_wait>), it will return the arguments originally passed to
698the rouse callback.
699
700See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
701
702=back
703
327=cut 704=cut
328 705
3291; 7061;
330 707
708=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
709
710It is very common for a coro to wait for some callback to be
711called. This occurs naturally when you use coro in an otherwise
712event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
713
714These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
715when the event occured. In a coro, however, you typically want to
716just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
717
718For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
719a specific child has exited:
720
721 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
722
723But from within a coro, you often just want to write this:
724
725 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
726
727Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
728C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
729
730The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
731when invoked, will save its arguments and notify the coro that
732created the callback.
733
734The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
735(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
736originally passed to the callback.
737
738Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
739function mentioned above:
740
741 sub wait_for_child($) {
742 my ($pid) = @_;
743
744 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
745
746 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
747 $rstatus
748 }
749
750In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
751you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
752
753 sub wait_for_child($) {
754 my ($pid) = @_;
755
756 # store the current coro in $current,
757 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
758 my $current = $Coro::current;
759 my ($done, $rstatus);
760
761 # pass a closure to ->child
762 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
763 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
764 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
765 });
766
767 # wait until the closure has been called
768 schedule while !$done;
769
770 $rstatus
771 }
772
773
331=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 774=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
332 775
333 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 776=over 4
334 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
335 777
778=item fork with pthread backend
779
780When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
781but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
782coro will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
783fix your libc and use a saner backend.
784
785=item perl process emulation ("threads")
786
336 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 787This 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 788module from the first thread (this requirement might be removed in the
338 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 789future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
339 this). 790this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
791the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
792performance, even when not used.
793
794=item coro switching is not signal safe
795
796You must not switch to another coro from within a signal handler
797(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
798
799That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
800current coro - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
801anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
802works.
803
804=back
805
340 806
341=head1 SEE ALSO 807=head1 SEE ALSO
342 808
809Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
810
811Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
812
343Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 813Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
344 814
345Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 815Locking and IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>,
816L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
346 817
347Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 818I/O and Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
348 819
349Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 820Compatibility with other modules: L<Coro::LWP> (but see also L<AnyEvent::HTTP> for
821a better-working alternative), L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>,
822L<Coro::Select>.
823
824XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
825
826Low level Configuration, Thread Environment, Continuations: L<Coro::State>.
350 827
351=head1 AUTHOR 828=head1 AUTHOR
352 829
353 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 830 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
354 http://home.schmorp.de/ 831 http://home.schmorp.de/

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