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Revision 1.5 by root, Mon Dec 4 22:06:02 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.10 by root, Fri Oct 5 10:57:40 2007 UTC

17 cede; 17 cede;
18 18
19DESCRIPTION 19DESCRIPTION
20 This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to 20 This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to
21 threads but don't run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines. 21 threads but don't run in parallel at the same time even on SMP machines.
22 The specific flavor of coroutine use din this module also guarentees you 22 The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module also guarantees you
23 that it will not switch between coroutines unless necessary, at 23 that it will not switch between coroutines unless necessary, at
24 easily-identified points in your program, so locking and parallel access 24 easily-identified points in your program, so locking and parallel access
25 are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much safer than 25 are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much safer than
26 threads programming. 26 threads programming.
27 27
41 $current (or as function: current) 41 $current (or as function: current)
42 The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial 42 The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial
43 value is $main (of course). 43 value is $main (of course).
44 44
45 This variable is strictly *read-only*. It is provided for 45 This variable is strictly *read-only*. It is provided for
46 performance reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are 46 performance reasons. If performance is not essential you are
47 encouraged to use the "Coro::current" function instead. 47 encouraged to use the "Coro::current" function instead.
48 48
49 $idle 49 $idle
50 A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready 50 A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready
51 coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: 51 coroutines to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL:
66 async { ... } [@args...] 66 async { ... } [@args...]
67 Create a new asynchronous coroutine and return it's coroutine object 67 Create a new asynchronous coroutine and return it's coroutine object
68 (usually unused). When the sub returns the new coroutine is 68 (usually unused). When the sub returns the new coroutine is
69 automatically terminated. 69 automatically terminated.
70 70
71 Calling "exit" in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do 71 See the "Coro::State::new" constructor for info about the coroutine
72 that. 72 environment.
73 73
74 When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 74 Calling "exit" in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit
75 program. 75 outside the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the
76 program will exit, just as it would in the main program.
76 77
77 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 78 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments
78 async { 79 async {
79 print "@_\n"; 80 print "@_\n";
80 } 1,2,3,4; 81 } 1,2,3,4;
82
83 async_pool { ... } [@args...]
84 Similar to "async", but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not
85 call terminate or join (although you are allowed to), and you get a
86 coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be
87 good or bad :).
88
89 Also, the block is executed in an "eval" context and a warning will
90 be issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the
91 program, as "async" does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff
92 like "on_destroy" will not work in the expected way, unless you call
93 terminate or cancel, which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling.
94
95 The priority will be reset to 0 after each job, tracing will be
96 disabled, the description will be reset and the default output
97 filehandle gets restored, so you can change alkl these. Otherwise
98 the coroutine will be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change
99 other per-coroutine global stuff such as $/ you need to revert that
100 change, which is most simply done by using local as in " local $/ ".
101
102 The pool size is limited to 8 idle coroutines (this can be adjusted
103 by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), and there can be as many non-idle
104 coros as required.
105
106 If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
107 single "async_pool" used a lot of stackspace you can e.g.
108 "async_pool { terminate }" once per second or so to slowly replenish
109 the pool. In addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler
110 grows larger than 16kb (adjustable with $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will
111 also exit.
81 112
82 schedule 113 schedule
83 Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not 114 Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not
84 be put into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means 115 be put into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means
85 you will never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event 116 you will never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event
96 # wake up sleeping coroutine 127 # wake up sleeping coroutine
97 $current->ready; 128 $current->ready;
98 undef $current; 129 undef $current;
99 }; 130 };
100 131
101 # call schedule until event occured. 132 # call schedule until event occurred.
102 # in case we are woken up for other reasons 133 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
103 # (current still defined), loop. 134 # (current still defined), loop.
104 Coro::schedule while $current; 135 Coro::schedule while $current;
105 } 136 }
106 137
108 "Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine 139 "Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine
109 into the ready queue and calls "schedule", which has the effect of 140 into the ready queue and calls "schedule", which has the effect of
110 giving up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or 141 giving up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or
111 higher priority. 142 higher priority.
112 143
144 Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened.
145
146 Coro::cede_notself
147 Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to any
148 coroutine, regardless of priority, once.
149
150 Returns true if at least one coroutine switch has happened.
151
113 terminate [arg...] 152 terminate [arg...]
114 Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see 153 Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see
115 cancel). 154 cancel).
155
156 killall
157 Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
158 one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent,
159 as usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
116 160
117 # dynamic methods 161 # dynamic methods
118 162
119 COROUTINE METHODS 163 COROUTINE METHODS
120 These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects. 164 These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects.
123 Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the 167 Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the
124 coroutine automatically terminates as if "terminate" with the 168 coroutine automatically terminates as if "terminate" with the
125 returned values were called. To make the coroutine run you must 169 returned values were called. To make the coroutine run you must
126 first put it into the ready queue by calling the ready method. 170 first put it into the ready queue by calling the ready method.
127 171
128 Calling "exit" in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do 172 See "async" and "Coro::State::new" for additional info about the
129 that. 173 coroutine environment.
130 174
131 $success = $coroutine->ready 175 $success = $coroutine->ready
132 Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's 176 Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's
133 priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready 177 priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready
134 queue, do nothing and return false. 178 queue, do nothing and return false.
136 $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready 180 $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
137 Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not, 181 Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
138 182
139 $coroutine->cancel (arg...) 183 $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
140 Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given 184 Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given
141 arguments as status (default: the empty list). 185 arguments as status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the
186 coroutine is the current coroutine.
142 187
143 $coroutine->join 188 $coroutine->join
144 Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to 189 Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to
145 the "terminate" or "cancel" functions. "join" can be called multiple 190 the "terminate" or "cancel" functions. "join" can be called
146 times from multiple coroutine. 191 concurrently from multiple coroutines.
192
193 $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
194 Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets
195 destroyed, but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the
196 terminate arguments, if any.
147 197
148 $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio) 198 $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
149 Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 199 Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
150 coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority 200 coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
151 coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. 201 coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 ..
174 $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc) 224 $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
175 Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for 225 Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for
176 this coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate 226 this coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate
177 with a coroutine. 227 with a coroutine.
178 228
229 This method simply sets the "$coroutine->{desc}" member to the given
230 string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
231
179 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS 232 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
180 Coro::nready 233 Coro::nready
181 Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready 234 Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready
182 state, i.e. that can be swicthed to. The value 0 means that the only 235 state, i.e. that can be switched to. The value 0 means that the only
183 runnable coroutine is the currently running one, so "cede" would 236 runnable coroutine is the currently running one, so "cede" would
184 have no effect, and "schedule" would cause a deadlock unless there 237 have no effect, and "schedule" would cause a deadlock unless there
185 is an idle handler that wakes up some coroutines. 238 is an idle handler that wakes up some coroutines.
239
240 my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
241 This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the
242 object gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument
243 will be executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in
244 case of a runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in
245 both cases the guard block will be executed. The guard object
246 supports only one method, "->cancel", which will keep the codeblock
247 from being executed.
248
249 Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets
250 canceled or the function returns:
251
252 sub do_something {
253 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
254 $busy = 1;
255
256 # do something that requires $busy to be true
257 }
186 258
187 unblock_sub { ... } 259 unblock_sub { ... }
188 This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" 260 This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks"
189 it, returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will 261 it, returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will
190 return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the 262 return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
191 original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within its 263 original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within its
192 own coroutine. 264 own coroutine.
193 265
194 The reason this fucntion exists is that many event libraries (such 266 The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such
195 as the venerable Event module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form 267 as the venerable Event module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
196 of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event 268 of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event
197 callbacks, otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. 269 callbacks, otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse.
198 270
199 This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in 271 This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in
207BUGS/LIMITATIONS 279BUGS/LIMITATIONS
208 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 280 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global
209 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults). 281 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
210 282
211 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 283 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module
212 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 284 from the same thread (this requirement might be loosened in the future
213 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 285 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
214 this). 286 this).
215 287
216SEE ALSO 288SEE ALSO
217 Support/Utility: Coro::Cont, Coro::Specific, Coro::State, Coro::Util. 289 Support/Utility: Coro::Specific, Coro::State, Coro::Util.
218 290
219 Locking/IPC: Coro::Signal, Coro::Channel, Coro::Semaphore, 291 Locking/IPC: Coro::Signal, Coro::Channel, Coro::Semaphore,
220 Coro::SemaphoreSet, Coro::RWLock. 292 Coro::SemaphoreSet, Coro::RWLock.
221 293
222 Event/IO: Coro::Timer, Coro::Event, Coro::Handle, Coro::Socket, 294 Event/IO: Coro::Timer, Coro::Event, Coro::Handle, Coro::Socket,

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