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51 # MAINLOOP 51 # MAINLOOP
52 EV::loop; # loop until EV::unloop is called or all watchers stop 52 EV::loop; # loop until EV::unloop is called or all watchers stop
53 EV::loop EV::LOOP_ONESHOT; # block until at least one event could be handled 53 EV::loop EV::LOOP_ONESHOT; # block until at least one event could be handled
54 EV::loop EV::LOOP_NONBLOCK; # try to handle same events, but do not block 54 EV::loop EV::LOOP_NONBLOCK; # try to handle same events, but do not block
55 55
56=head1 BEFORE YOU START USING THIS MODULE
57
58If you only need timer, I/O, signal, child and idle watchers and not the
59advanced functionality of this module, consider using L<AnyEvent> instead,
60specifically the simplified API described in L<AE>.
61
62When used with EV as backend, the L<AE> API is as fast as the native L<EV>
63API, but your programs/modules will still run with many other event loops.
64
56=head1 DESCRIPTION 65=head1 DESCRIPTION
57 66
58This module provides an interface to libev 67This module provides an interface to libev
59(L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/libev.html>). While the documentation 68(L<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/libev.html>). While the documentation
60below is comprehensive, one might also consult the documentation of 69below is comprehensive, one might also consult the documentation of
68can use it through the L<AnyEvent> module, stay portable to other event 77can use it through the L<AnyEvent> module, stay portable to other event
69loops (if you don't rely on any watcher types not available through it) 78loops (if you don't rely on any watcher types not available through it)
70and still be faster than with any other event loop currently supported in 79and still be faster than with any other event loop currently supported in
71Perl. 80Perl.
72 81
82=head2 PORTING FROM EV 3.X to 4.X
83
84EV version 4 introduces a number of incompatible changes summarised
85here. According to the depreciation strategy used by libev, there is a
86compatibility layer in place so programs should continue to run unchanged
87(the XS interface lacks this layer, so programs using that one need to be
88updated).
89
90This compatibility layer will be switched off in some future release.
91
92All changes relevant to Perl are renames of symbols, functions and
93methods:
94
95 EV::loop => EV::run
96 EV::LOOP_NONBLOCK => EV::RUN_NOWAIT
97 EV::LOOP_ONESHOT => EV::RUN_ONCE
98
99 EV::unloop => EV::break
100 EV::UNLOOP_CANCEL => EV::BREAK_CANCEL
101 EV::UNLOOP_ONE => EV::BREAK_ONE
102 EV::UNLOOP_ALL => EV::BREAK_ALL
103
104 EV::TIMEOUT => EV::TIMER
105
106 EV::loop_count => EV::iteration
107 EV::loop_depth => EV::depth
108 EV::loop_verify => EV::verify
109
110The loop object methods corresponding to the functions above have been
111similarly renamed.
112
113=head2 MODULE EXPORTS
114
115This module does not export any symbols.
116
73=cut 117=cut
74 118
75package EV; 119package EV;
76 120
77no warnings; 121use common::sense;
78use strict;
79 122
80BEGIN { 123BEGIN {
81 our $VERSION = '3.44'; 124 our $VERSION = '4.02';
82 use XSLoader; 125 use XSLoader;
83 XSLoader::load "EV", $VERSION; 126 XSLoader::load "EV", $VERSION;
84} 127}
85 128
86@EV::IO::ISA = 129@EV::IO::ISA =
113default loop as this is fastest (perl-wise), best supported by other 156default loop as this is fastest (perl-wise), best supported by other
114modules (e.g. AnyEvent or Coro) and most portable event loop. 157modules (e.g. AnyEvent or Coro) and most portable event loop.
115 158
116For specific programs you can create additional event loops dynamically. 159For specific programs you can create additional event loops dynamically.
117 160
118If you want to take avdantage of kqueue (which often works properly for 161If you want to take advantage of kqueue (which often works properly for
119sockets only) even though the default loop doesn't enable it, you can 162sockets only) even though the default loop doesn't enable it, you can
120I<embed> a kqueue loop into the default loop: running the default loop 163I<embed> a kqueue loop into the default loop: running the default loop
121will then also service the kqueue loop to some extent. See the example in 164will then also service the kqueue loop to some extent. See the example in
122the section about embed watchers for an example on how to achieve that. 165the section about embed watchers for an example on how to achieve that.
123 166
124=over 4 167=over 4
125 168
126=item $loop = new EV::loop [$flags] 169=item $loop = new EV::Loop [$flags]
127 170
128Create a new event loop as per the specified flags. Please refer to 171Create a new event loop as per the specified flags. Please refer to
129the C<ev_loop_new ()> function description in the libev documentation 172the C<ev_loop_new ()> function description in the libev documentation
130(L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS>, 173(L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS>,
131or locally-installed as F<EV::libev> manpage) for more info. 174or locally-installed as F<EV::libev> manpage) for more info.
195=item $time = EV::now 238=item $time = EV::now
196 239
197=item $time = $loop->now 240=item $time = $loop->now
198 241
199Returns the time the last event loop iteration has been started. This 242Returns the time the last event loop iteration has been started. This
200is the time that (relative) timers are based on, and refering to it is 243is the time that (relative) timers are based on, and referring to it is
201usually faster then calling EV::time. 244usually faster then calling EV::time.
202 245
246=item EV::now_update
247
248=item $loop->now_update
249
250Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the time
251returned by C<EV::now> in the progress. This is a costly operation and
252is usually done automatically within C<EV::loop>.
253
254This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs for a
255very long time without entering the event loop, updating libev's idea of
256the current time is a good idea.
257
258=item EV::suspend
259
260=item $loop->suspend
261
262=item EV::resume
263
264=item $loop->resume
265
266These two functions suspend and resume a loop, for use when the loop is
267not used for a while and timeouts should not be processed.
268
269A typical use case would be an interactive program such as a game: When
270the user presses C<^Z> to suspend the game and resumes it an hour later it
271would be best to handle timeouts as if no time had actually passed while
272the program was suspended. This can be achieved by calling C<suspend>
273in your C<SIGTSTP> handler, sending yourself a C<SIGSTOP> and calling
274C<resume> directly afterwards to resume timer processing.
275
276Effectively, all C<timer> watchers will be delayed by the time spend
277between C<suspend> and C<resume>, and all C<periodic> watchers
278will be rescheduled (that is, they will lose any events that would have
279occured while suspended).
280
281After calling C<suspend> you B<must not> call I<any> function on the given
282loop other than C<resume>, and you B<must not> call C<resume>
283without a previous call to C<suspend>.
284
285Calling C<suspend>/C<resume> has the side effect of updating the event
286loop time (see C<now_update>).
287
203=item $backend = EV::backend 288=item $backend = EV::backend
204 289
205=item $backend = $loop->backend 290=item $backend = $loop->backend
206 291
207Returns an integer describing the backend used by libev (EV::METHOD_SELECT 292Returns an integer describing the backend used by libev (EV::BACKEND_SELECT
208or EV::METHOD_EPOLL). 293or EV::BACKEND_EPOLL).
209 294
210=item EV::loop [$flags] 295=item EV::loop [$flags]
211 296
212=item $loop->loop ([$flags]) 297=item $loop->loop ([$flags])
213 298
233=item $count = EV::loop_count 318=item $count = EV::loop_count
234 319
235=item $count = $loop->loop_count 320=item $count = $loop->loop_count
236 321
237Return the number of times the event loop has polled for new 322Return the number of times the event loop has polled for new
238events. Sometiems useful as a generation counter. 323events. Sometimes useful as a generation counter.
239 324
240=item EV::once $fh_or_undef, $events, $timeout, $cb->($revents) 325=item EV::once $fh_or_undef, $events, $timeout, $cb->($revents)
241 326
242=item $loop->once ($fh_or_undef, $events, $timeout, $cb->($revents)) 327=item $loop->once ($fh_or_undef, $events, $timeout, $cb->($revents))
243 328
254timeout. Otherwise a EV::timer with this value will be started. 339timeout. Otherwise a EV::timer with this value will be started.
255 340
256When an error occurs or either the timeout or I/O watcher triggers, then 341When an error occurs or either the timeout or I/O watcher triggers, then
257the callback will be called with the received event set (in general 342the callback will be called with the received event set (in general
258you can expect it to be a combination of C<EV::ERROR>, C<EV::READ>, 343you can expect it to be a combination of C<EV::ERROR>, C<EV::READ>,
259C<EV::WRITE> and C<EV::TIMEOUT>). 344C<EV::WRITE> and C<EV::TIMER>).
260 345
261EV::once doesn't return anything: the watchers stay active till either 346EV::once doesn't return anything: the watchers stay active till either
262of them triggers, then they will be stopped and freed, and the callback 347of them triggers, then they will be stopped and freed, and the callback
263invoked. 348invoked.
264 349
286These advanced functions set the minimum block interval when polling for I/O events and the minimum 371These advanced functions set the minimum block interval when polling for I/O events and the minimum
287wait interval for timer events. See the libev documentation at 372wait interval for timer events. See the libev documentation at
288L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP> 373L<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP>
289(locally installed as F<EV::libev>) for a more detailed discussion. 374(locally installed as F<EV::libev>) for a more detailed discussion.
290 375
376=item $count = EV::pending_count
377
378=item $count = $loop->pending_count
379
380Returns the number of currently pending watchers.
381
382=item EV::invoke_pending
383
384=item $loop->invoke_pending
385
386Invoke all currently pending watchers.
387
291=back 388=back
292 389
293 390
294=head1 WATCHER OBJECTS 391=head1 WATCHER OBJECTS
295 392
307called with at least two arguments: the watcher and a bitmask of received 404called with at least two arguments: the watcher and a bitmask of received
308events. 405events.
309 406
310Each watcher type has its associated bit in revents, so you can use the 407Each watcher type has its associated bit in revents, so you can use the
311same callback for multiple watchers. The event mask is named after the 408same callback for multiple watchers. The event mask is named after the
312type, i..e. EV::child sets EV::CHILD, EV::prepare sets EV::PREPARE, 409type, i.e. EV::child sets EV::CHILD, EV::prepare sets EV::PREPARE,
313EV::periodic sets EV::PERIODIC and so on, with the exception of I/O events 410EV::periodic sets EV::PERIODIC and so on, with the exception of I/O events
314(which can set both EV::READ and EV::WRITE bits), and EV::timer (which 411(which can set both EV::READ and EV::WRITE bits).
315uses EV::TIMEOUT).
316 412
317In the rare case where one wants to create a watcher but not start it at 413In the rare case where one wants to create a watcher but not start it at
318the same time, each constructor has a variant with a trailing C<_ns> in 414the same time, each constructor has a variant with a trailing C<_ns> in
319its name, e.g. EV::io has a non-starting variant EV::io_ns and so on. 415its name, e.g. EV::io has a non-starting variant EV::io_ns and so on.
320 416
399 495
400=item $previous_state = $w->keepalive ($bool) 496=item $previous_state = $w->keepalive ($bool)
401 497
402Normally, C<EV::loop> will return when there are no active watchers 498Normally, C<EV::loop> will return when there are no active watchers
403(which is a "deadlock" because no progress can be made anymore). This is 499(which is a "deadlock" because no progress can be made anymore). This is
404convinient because it allows you to start your watchers (and your jobs), 500convenient because it allows you to start your watchers (and your jobs),
405call C<EV::loop> once and when it returns you know that all your jobs are 501call C<EV::loop> once and when it returns you know that all your jobs are
406finished (or they forgot to register some watchers for their task :). 502finished (or they forgot to register some watchers for their task :).
407 503
408Sometimes, however, this gets in your way, for example when the module 504Sometimes, however, this gets in your way, for example when the module
409that calls C<EV::loop> (usually the main program) is not the same module 505that calls C<EV::loop> (usually the main program) is not the same module
413because you happen to have this long-running UDP port watcher. 509because you happen to have this long-running UDP port watcher.
414 510
415In this case you can clear the keepalive status, which means that even 511In this case you can clear the keepalive status, which means that even
416though your watcher is active, it won't keep C<EV::loop> from returning. 512though your watcher is active, it won't keep C<EV::loop> from returning.
417 513
418The initial value for keepalive is true (enabled), and you cna change it 514The initial value for keepalive is true (enabled), and you can change it
419any time. 515any time.
420 516
421Example: Register an I/O watcher for some UDP socket but do not keep the 517Example: Register an I/O watcher for some UDP socket but do not keep the
422event loop from running just because of that watcher. 518event loop from running just because of that watcher.
423 519
641 737
642=item $w = EV::signal $signal, $callback 738=item $w = EV::signal $signal, $callback
643 739
644=item $w = EV::signal_ns $signal, $callback 740=item $w = EV::signal_ns $signal, $callback
645 741
742=item $w = $loop->signal ($signal, $callback)
743
744=item $w = $loop->signal_ns ($signal, $callback)
745
646Call the callback when $signal is received (the signal can be specified by 746Call the callback when $signal is received (the signal can be specified by
647number or by name, just as with C<kill> or C<%SIG>). 747number or by name, just as with C<kill> or C<%SIG>).
748
749Only one event loop can grab a given signal - attempting to grab the same
750signal from two EV loops will crash the program immediately or cause data
751corruption.
648 752
649EV will grab the signal for the process (the kernel only allows one 753EV will grab the signal for the process (the kernel only allows one
650component to receive a signal at a time) when you start a signal watcher, 754component to receive a signal at a time) when you start a signal watcher,
651and removes it again when you stop it. Perl does the same when you 755and removes it again when you stop it. Perl does the same when you
652add/remove callbacks to C<%SIG>, so watch out. 756add/remove callbacks to C<%SIG>, so watch out.
877=item $w = $loop->check_ns ($callback) 981=item $w = $loop->check_ns ($callback)
878 982
879Call the callback just after the process wakes up again (after it has 983Call the callback just after the process wakes up again (after it has
880gathered events), but before any other callbacks have been invoked. 984gathered events), but before any other callbacks have been invoked.
881 985
882This is used to integrate other event-based software into the EV 986This can be used to integrate other event-based software into the EV
883mainloop: You register a prepare callback and in there, you create io and 987mainloop: You register a prepare callback and in there, you create io and
884timer watchers as required by the other software. Here is a real-world 988timer watchers as required by the other software. Here is a real-world
885example of integrating Net::SNMP (with some details left out): 989example of integrating Net::SNMP (with some details left out):
886 990
887 our @snmp_watcher; 991 our @snmp_watcher;
917 # make the dispatcher handle any new stuff 1021 # make the dispatcher handle any new stuff
918 ... not shown 1022 ... not shown
919 }; 1023 };
920 1024
921The callbacks of the created watchers will not be called as the watchers 1025The callbacks of the created watchers will not be called as the watchers
922are destroyed before this cna happen (remember EV::check gets called 1026are destroyed before this can happen (remember EV::check gets called
923first). 1027first).
924 1028
925The C<check_ns> variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created watcher. 1029The C<check_ns> variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created watcher.
1030
1031=item EV::CHECK constant issues
1032
1033Like all other watcher types, there is a bitmask constant for use in
1034C<$revents> and other places. The C<EV::CHECK> is special as it has
1035the same name as the C<CHECK> sub called by Perl. This doesn't cause
1036big issues on newer perls (beginning with 5.8.9), but it means thatthe
1037constant must be I<inlined>, i.e. runtime calls will not work. That means
1038that as long as you always C<use EV> and then C<EV::CHECK> you are on the
1039safe side.
926 1040
927=back 1041=back
928 1042
929 1043
930=head3 FORK WATCHERS - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork 1044=head3 FORK WATCHERS - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork
998 1112
999=back 1113=back
1000 1114
1001=head3 ASYNC WATCHERS - how to wake up another event loop 1115=head3 ASYNC WATCHERS - how to wake up another event loop
1002 1116
1003Async watchers are provided by EV, but have little use in perl directly, as perl 1117Async watchers are provided by EV, but have little use in perl directly,
1004neither supports threads nor direct access to signal handlers or other 1118as perl neither supports threads running in parallel nor direct access to
1005contexts where they could be of value. 1119signal handlers or other contexts where they could be of value.
1006 1120
1007It is, however, possible to use them from the XS level. 1121It is, however, possible to use them from the XS level.
1008 1122
1009Please see the libev documentation for further details. 1123Please see the libev documentation for further details.
1010 1124
1038 my $async_check = EV::check sub { }; 1152 my $async_check = EV::check sub { };
1039 1153
1040This ensures that perl gets into control for a short time to handle any 1154This ensures that perl gets into control for a short time to handle any
1041pending signals, and also ensures (slightly) slower overall operation. 1155pending signals, and also ensures (slightly) slower overall operation.
1042 1156
1043=head1 THREADS 1157=head1 ITHREADS
1044 1158
1045Threads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl pseudo-threads 1159Ithreads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl pseudo-threads
1046is evil stuff and must die. As soon as Perl gains real threads I will work 1160is evil stuff and must die. Real threads as provided by Coro are fully
1047on thread support for it. 1161supported (and enhanced support is available via L<Coro::EV>).
1048 1162
1049=head1 FORK 1163=head1 FORK
1050 1164
1051Most of the "improved" event delivering mechanisms of modern operating 1165Most of the "improved" event delivering mechanisms of modern operating
1052systems have quite a few problems with fork(2) (to put it bluntly: it is 1166systems have quite a few problems with fork(2) (to put it bluntly: it is
1074 1188
10751; 11891;
1076 1190
1077=head1 SEE ALSO 1191=head1 SEE ALSO
1078 1192
1193L<EV::MakeMaker> - MakeMaker interface to XS API, L<EV::ADNS>
1079L<EV::ADNS> (asynchronous DNS), L<Glib::EV> (makes Glib/Gtk2 use EV as 1194(asynchronous DNS), L<Glib::EV> (makes Glib/Gtk2 use EV as event
1080event loop), L<EV::Glib> (embed Glib into EV), L<Coro::EV> (efficient 1195loop), L<EV::Glib> (embed Glib into EV), L<Coro::EV> (efficient thread
1081coroutines with EV), L<Net::SNMP::EV> (asynchronous SNMP), L<AnyEvent> for 1196integration), L<Net::SNMP::EV> (asynchronous SNMP), L<AnyEvent> for
1082event-loop agnostic and portable event driven programming. 1197event-loop agnostic and portable event driven programming.
1083 1198
1084=head1 AUTHOR 1199=head1 AUTHOR
1085 1200
1086 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 1201 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>

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