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Revision 1.15 by root, Wed Dec 5 14:06:50 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.16 by root, Fri Dec 7 18:11:23 2007 UTC

56 This module provides an interface to libev 56 This module provides an interface to libev
57 (<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/libev.html>). While the documentation 57 (<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/libev.html>). While the documentation
58 below is comprehensive, one might also consult the documentation of 58 below is comprehensive, one might also consult the documentation of
59 libev itself (<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>) for more subtle 59 libev itself (<http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>) for more subtle
60 details on watcher semantics or some discussion on the available 60 details on watcher semantics or some discussion on the available
61 backends, or how to force a specific backend with "LIBEV_FLAGS". 61 backends, or how to force a specific backend with "LIBEV_FLAGS", or just
62 about in any case because it has much more detailed information.
62 63
63BASIC INTERFACE 64BASIC INTERFACE
64 $EV::DIED 65 $EV::DIED
65 Must contain a reference to a function that is called when a 66 Must contain a reference to a function that is called when a
66 callback throws an exception (with $@ containing thr error). The 67 callback throws an exception (with $@ containing thr error). The
139 received events. 140 received events.
140 141
141 Each watcher type has its associated bit in revents, so you can use the 142 Each watcher type has its associated bit in revents, so you can use the
142 same callback for multiple watchers. The event mask is named after the 143 same callback for multiple watchers. The event mask is named after the
143 type, i..e. EV::child sets EV::CHILD, EV::prepare sets EV::PREPARE, 144 type, i..e. EV::child sets EV::CHILD, EV::prepare sets EV::PREPARE,
144 EV::periodic sets EV::PERIODIC and so on, with the exception of IO 145 EV::periodic sets EV::PERIODIC and so on, with the exception of I/O
145 events (which can set both EV::READ and EV::WRITE bits), and EV::timer 146 events (which can set both EV::READ and EV::WRITE bits), and EV::timer
146 (which uses EV::TIMEOUT). 147 (which uses EV::TIMEOUT).
147 148
148 In the rare case where one wants to create a watcher but not start it at 149 In the rare case where one wants to create a watcher but not start it at
149 the same time, each constructor has a variant with a trailing "_ns" in 150 the same time, each constructor has a variant with a trailing "_ns" in
167 stopped watchers). 168 stopped watchers).
168 169
169 $w->stop 170 $w->stop
170 Stop a watcher if it is active. Also clear any pending events 171 Stop a watcher if it is active. Also clear any pending events
171 (events that have been received but that didn't yet result in a 172 (events that have been received but that didn't yet result in a
172 callback invocation), regardless of wether the watcher was active or 173 callback invocation), regardless of whether the watcher was active
173 not. 174 or not.
174 175
175 $bool = $w->is_active 176 $bool = $w->is_active
176 Returns true if the watcher is active, false otherwise. 177 Returns true if the watcher is active, false otherwise.
177 178
178 $current_data = $w->data 179 $current_data = $w->data
227 returning. 228 returning.
228 229
229 The initial value for keepalive is true (enabled), and you cna 230 The initial value for keepalive is true (enabled), and you cna
230 change it any time. 231 change it any time.
231 232
232 Example: Register an IO watcher for some UDP socket but do not keep 233 Example: Register an I/O watcher for some UDP socket but do not keep
233 the event loop from running just because of that watcher. 234 the event loop from running just because of that watcher.
234 235
235 my $udp_socket = ... 236 my $udp_socket = ...
236 my $udp_watcher = EV::io $udp_socket, EV::READ, sub { ... }; 237 my $udp_watcher = EV::io $udp_socket, EV::READ, sub { ... };
237 $udp_watcher->keepalive (0); 238 $udp_watcher->keepalive (0);
238 239
239 WATCHER TYPES 240 WATCHER TYPES
240 Each of the following subsections describes a single watcher type. 241 Each of the following subsections describes a single watcher type.
241 242
242 IO WATCHERS - is this file descriptor readable or writable? 243 I/O WATCHERS - is this file descriptor readable or writable?
243 $w = EV::io $fileno_or_fh, $eventmask, $callback 244 $w = EV::io $fileno_or_fh, $eventmask, $callback
244 $w = EV::io_ns $fileno_or_fh, $eventmask, $callback 245 $w = EV::io_ns $fileno_or_fh, $eventmask, $callback
245 As long as the returned watcher object is alive, call the $callback 246 As long as the returned watcher object is alive, call the $callback
246 when at least one of events specified in $eventmask occurs. 247 when at least one of events specified in $eventmask occurs.
247 248
524 Can be used to query the actual interval used. 525 Can be used to query the actual interval used.
525 526
526 IDLE WATCHERS - when you've got nothing better to do... 527 IDLE WATCHERS - when you've got nothing better to do...
527 $w = EV::idle $callback 528 $w = EV::idle $callback
528 $w = EV::idle_ns $callback 529 $w = EV::idle_ns $callback
529 Call the callback when there are no pending io, timer/periodic, 530 Call the callback when there are no other pending watchers of the
530 signal or child events, i.e. when the process is idle. 531 same or higher priority (excluding check, prepare and other idle
532 watchers of the same or lower priority, of course). They are called
533 idle watchers because when the watcher is the highest priority
534 pending event in the process, the process is considered to be idle
535 at that priority.
536
537 If you want a watcher that is only ever called when *no* other
538 events are outstanding you have to set the priority to "EV::MINPRI".
531 539
532 The process will not block as long as any idle watchers are active, 540 The process will not block as long as any idle watchers are active,
533 and they will be called repeatedly until stopped. 541 and they will be called repeatedly until stopped.
542
543 For example, if you have idle watchers at priority 0 and 1, and an
544 I/O watcher at priority 0, then the idle watcher at priority 1 and
545 the I/O watcher will always run when ready. Only when the idle
546 watcher at priority 1 is stopped and the I/O watcher at priority 0
547 is not pending with the 0-priority idle watcher be invoked.
534 548
535 The "idle_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created 549 The "idle_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created
536 watcher. 550 watcher.
537 551
538 PREPARE WATCHERS - customise your event loop! 552 PREPARE WATCHERS - customise your event loop!
567 or return; 581 or return;
568 582
569 # make the dispatcher handle any outstanding stuff 583 # make the dispatcher handle any outstanding stuff
570 ... not shown 584 ... not shown
571 585
572 # create an IO watcher for each and every socket 586 # create an I/O watcher for each and every socket
573 @snmp_watcher = ( 587 @snmp_watcher = (
574 (map { EV::io $_, EV::READ, sub { } } 588 (map { EV::io $_, EV::READ, sub { } }
575 keys %{ $dispatcher->{_descriptors} }), 589 keys %{ $dispatcher->{_descriptors} }),
576 590
577 EV::timer +($event->[Net::SNMP::Dispatcher::_ACTIVE] 591 EV::timer +($event->[Net::SNMP::Dispatcher::_ACTIVE]
610 Call the callback before the event loop is resumed in the child 624 Call the callback before the event loop is resumed in the child
611 process after a fork. 625 process after a fork.
612 626
613 The "fork_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created 627 The "fork_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created
614 watcher. 628 watcher.
629
630PERL SIGNALS
631 While Perl signal handling (%SIG) is not affected by EV, the behaviour
632 with EV is as the same as any other C library: Perl-signals will only be
633 handled when Perl runs, which means your signal handler might be invoked
634 only the next time an event callback is invoked.
635
636 The solution is to use EV signal watchers (see "EV::signal"), which will
637 ensure proper operations with regards to other event watchers.
638
639 If you cannot do this for whatever reason, you can also force a watcher
640 to be called on every event loop iteration by installing a "EV::check"
641 watcher:
642
643 my $async_check = EV::check sub { };
644
645 This ensures that perl shortly gets into control for a short time, and
646 also ensures slower overall operation.
615 647
616THREADS 648THREADS
617 Threads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl pseudo-threads 649 Threads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl pseudo-threads
618 is evil stuff and must die. As soon as Perl gains real threads I will 650 is evil stuff and must die. As soon as Perl gains real threads I will
619 work on thread support for it. 651 work on thread support for it.

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