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Revision 1.31 by root, Wed Nov 19 10:33:32 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.35 by root, Thu Dec 31 06:59:47 2009 UTC

2 EV - perl interface to libev, a high performance full-featured event 2 EV - perl interface to libev, a high performance full-featured event
3 loop 3 loop
4 4
5SYNOPSIS 5SYNOPSIS
6 use EV; 6 use EV;
7 7
8 # TIMERS 8 # TIMERS
9 9
10 my $w = EV::timer 2, 0, sub { 10 my $w = EV::timer 2, 0, sub {
11 warn "is called after 2s"; 11 warn "is called after 2s";
12 }; 12 };
13 13
14 my $w = EV::timer 2, 2, sub { 14 my $w = EV::timer 2, 2, sub {
15 warn "is called roughly every 2s (repeat = 2)"; 15 warn "is called roughly every 2s (repeat = 2)";
16 }; 16 };
17 17
18 undef $w; # destroy event watcher again 18 undef $w; # destroy event watcher again
19 19
20 my $w = EV::periodic 0, 60, 0, sub { 20 my $w = EV::periodic 0, 60, 0, sub {
21 warn "is called every minute, on the minute, exactly"; 21 warn "is called every minute, on the minute, exactly";
22 }; 22 };
23
23 24 # IO
24 # IO 25
25
26 my $w = EV::io *STDIN, EV::READ, sub { 26 my $w = EV::io *STDIN, EV::READ, sub {
27 my ($w, $revents) = @_; # all callbacks receive the watcher and event mask 27 my ($w, $revents) = @_; # all callbacks receive the watcher and event mask
28 warn "stdin is readable, you entered: ", <STDIN>; 28 warn "stdin is readable, you entered: ", <STDIN>;
29 }; 29 };
30 30
31 # SIGNALS 31 # SIGNALS
32 32
33 my $w = EV::signal 'QUIT', sub { 33 my $w = EV::signal 'QUIT', sub {
34 warn "sigquit received\n"; 34 warn "sigquit received\n";
35 }; 35 };
36 36
37 # CHILD/PID STATUS CHANGES 37 # CHILD/PID STATUS CHANGES
38 38
39 my $w = EV::child 666, 0, sub { 39 my $w = EV::child 666, 0, sub {
40 my ($w, $revents) = @_; 40 my ($w, $revents) = @_;
41 my $status = $w->rstatus; 41 my $status = $w->rstatus;
42 }; 42 };
43 43
44 # STAT CHANGES 44 # STAT CHANGES
45 my $w = EV::stat "/etc/passwd", 10, sub { 45 my $w = EV::stat "/etc/passwd", 10, sub {
46 my ($w, $revents) = @_; 46 my ($w, $revents) = @_;
47 warn $w->path, " has changed somehow.\n"; 47 warn $w->path, " has changed somehow.\n";
48 }; 48 };
49 49
50 # MAINLOOP 50 # MAINLOOP
51 EV::loop; # loop until EV::unloop is called or all watchers stop 51 EV::loop; # loop until EV::unloop is called or all watchers stop
52 EV::loop EV::LOOP_ONESHOT; # block until at least one event could be handled 52 EV::loop EV::LOOP_ONESHOT; # block until at least one event could be handled
53 EV::loop EV::LOOP_NONBLOCK; # try to handle same events, but do not block 53 EV::loop EV::LOOP_NONBLOCK; # try to handle same events, but do not block
54 54
55DESCRIPTION 55DESCRIPTION
91 *embed* a kqueue loop into the default loop: running the default loop 91 *embed* a kqueue loop into the default loop: running the default loop
92 will then also service the kqueue loop to some extent. See the example 92 will then also service the kqueue loop to some extent. See the example
93 in the section about embed watchers for an example on how to achieve 93 in the section about embed watchers for an example on how to achieve
94 that. 94 that.
95 95
96 $loop = new EV::loop [$flags] 96 $loop = new EV::Loop [$flags]
97 Create a new event loop as per the specified flags. Please refer to 97 Create a new event loop as per the specified flags. Please refer to
98 the "ev_loop_new ()" function description in the libev documentation 98 the "ev_loop_new ()" function description in the libev documentation
99 (<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#GLOBAL_FUNCTI 99 (<http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#GLOBAL_FUNCTI
100 ONS>, or locally-installed as EV::libev manpage) for more info. 100 ONS>, or locally-installed as EV::libev manpage) for more info.
101 101
151 $time = EV::now 151 $time = EV::now
152 $time = $loop->now 152 $time = $loop->now
153 Returns the time the last event loop iteration has been started. 153 Returns the time the last event loop iteration has been started.
154 This is the time that (relative) timers are based on, and referring 154 This is the time that (relative) timers are based on, and referring
155 to it is usually faster then calling EV::time. 155 to it is usually faster then calling EV::time.
156
157 EV::now_update
158 $loop->now_update
159 Establishes the current time by querying the kernel, updating the
160 time returned by "EV::now" in the progress. This is a costly
161 operation and is usually done automatically within "EV::loop".
162
163 This function is rarely useful, but when some event callback runs
164 for a very long time without entering the event loop, updating
165 libev's idea of the current time is a good idea.
166
167 EV::suspend
168 $loop->suspend
169 EV::resume
170 $loop->resume
171 These two functions suspend and resume a loop, for use when the loop
172 is not used for a while and timeouts should not be processed.
173
174 A typical use case would be an interactive program such as a game:
175 When the user presses "^Z" to suspend the game and resumes it an
176 hour later it would be best to handle timeouts as if no time had
177 actually passed while the program was suspended. This can be
178 achieved by calling "suspend" in your "SIGTSTP" handler, sending
179 yourself a "SIGSTOP" and calling "resume" directly afterwards to
180 resume timer processing.
181
182 Effectively, all "timer" watchers will be delayed by the time spend
183 between "suspend" and "resume", and all "periodic" watchers will be
184 rescheduled (that is, they will lose any events that would have
185 occured while suspended).
186
187 After calling "suspend" you must not call *any* function on the
188 given loop other than "resume", and you must not call "resume"
189 without a previous call to "suspend".
190
191 Calling "suspend"/"resume" has the side effect of updating the event
192 loop time (see "now_update").
156 193
157 $backend = EV::backend 194 $backend = EV::backend
158 $backend = $loop->backend 195 $backend = $loop->backend
159 Returns an integer describing the backend used by libev 196 Returns an integer describing the backend used by libev
160 (EV::BACKEND_SELECT or EV::BACKEND_EPOLL). 197 (EV::BACKEND_SELECT or EV::BACKEND_EPOLL).
226 the libev documentation at 263 the libev documentation at
227 <http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#FUNCTIONS_CONT 264 <http://pod.tst.eu/http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.pod#FUNCTIONS_CONT
228 ROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP> (locally installed as EV::libev) for a more 265 ROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP> (locally installed as EV::libev) for a more
229 detailed discussion. 266 detailed discussion.
230 267
268 $count = EV::pending_count
269 $count = $loop->pending_count
270 Returns the number of currently pending watchers.
271
272 EV::invoke_pending
273 $loop->invoke_pending
274 Invoke all currently pending watchers.
275
231WATCHER OBJECTS 276WATCHER OBJECTS
232 A watcher is an object that gets created to record your interest in some 277 A watcher is an object that gets created to record your interest in some
233 event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to become readable, 278 event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to become readable,
234 you would create an EV::io watcher for that: 279 you would create an EV::io watcher for that:
235 280
321 the watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns 0. 366 the watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns 0.
322 367
323 $previous_state = $w->keepalive ($bool) 368 $previous_state = $w->keepalive ($bool)
324 Normally, "EV::loop" will return when there are no active watchers 369 Normally, "EV::loop" will return when there are no active watchers
325 (which is a "deadlock" because no progress can be made anymore). 370 (which is a "deadlock" because no progress can be made anymore).
326 This is convinient because it allows you to start your watchers (and 371 This is convenient because it allows you to start your watchers (and
327 your jobs), call "EV::loop" once and when it returns you know that 372 your jobs), call "EV::loop" once and when it returns you know that
328 all your jobs are finished (or they forgot to register some watchers 373 all your jobs are finished (or they forgot to register some watchers
329 for their task :). 374 for their task :).
330 375
331 Sometimes, however, this gets in your way, for example when the 376 Sometimes, however, this gets in your way, for example when the
522 Return the time that the watcher is expected to trigger next. 567 Return the time that the watcher is expected to trigger next.
523 568
524 SIGNAL WATCHERS - signal me when a signal gets signalled! 569 SIGNAL WATCHERS - signal me when a signal gets signalled!
525 $w = EV::signal $signal, $callback 570 $w = EV::signal $signal, $callback
526 $w = EV::signal_ns $signal, $callback 571 $w = EV::signal_ns $signal, $callback
572 $w = $loop->signal ($signal, $callback)
573 $w = $loop->signal_ns ($signal, $callback)
527 Call the callback when $signal is received (the signal can be 574 Call the callback when $signal is received (the signal can be
528 specified by number or by name, just as with "kill" or %SIG). 575 specified by number or by name, just as with "kill" or %SIG).
576
577 Only one event loop can grab a given signal - attempting to grab the
578 same signal from two EV loops will crash the program immediately or
579 cause data corruption.
529 580
530 EV will grab the signal for the process (the kernel only allows one 581 EV will grab the signal for the process (the kernel only allows one
531 component to receive a signal at a time) when you start a signal 582 component to receive a signal at a time) when you start a signal
532 watcher, and removes it again when you stop it. Perl does the same 583 watcher, and removes it again when you stop it. Perl does the same
533 when you add/remove callbacks to %SIG, so watch out. 584 when you add/remove callbacks to %SIG, so watch out.
783 834
784 In short, this watcher is most useful on BSD systems without working 835 In short, this watcher is most useful on BSD systems without working
785 kqueue to still be able to handle a large number of sockets: 836 kqueue to still be able to handle a large number of sockets:
786 837
787 my $socket_loop; 838 my $socket_loop;
788 839
789 # check wether we use SELECT or POLL _and_ KQUEUE is supported 840 # check wether we use SELECT or POLL _and_ KQUEUE is supported
790 if ( 841 if (
791 (EV::backend & (EV::BACKEND_POLL | EV::BACKEND_SELECT)) 842 (EV::backend & (EV::BACKEND_POLL | EV::BACKEND_SELECT))
792 && (EV::supported_backends & EV::embeddable_backends & EV::BACKEND_KQUEUE) 843 && (EV::supported_backends & EV::embeddable_backends & EV::BACKEND_KQUEUE)
793 ) { 844 ) {
794 # use kqueue for sockets 845 # use kqueue for sockets
795 $socket_loop = new EV::Loop EV::BACKEND_KQUEUE | EV::FLAG_NOENV; 846 $socket_loop = new EV::Loop EV::BACKEND_KQUEUE | EV::FLAG_NOENV;
796 } 847 }
797 848
798 # use the default loop otherwise 849 # use the default loop otherwise
799 $socket_loop ||= EV::default_loop; 850 $socket_loop ||= EV::default_loop;
800 851
801 $w = EV::embed $otherloop[, $callback] 852 $w = EV::embed $otherloop[, $callback]
802 $w = EV::embed_ns $otherloop[, $callback] 853 $w = EV::embed_ns $otherloop[, $callback]
803 $w = $loop->embed ($otherloop[, $callback]) 854 $w = $loop->embed ($otherloop[, $callback])
810 The "embed_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created 861 The "embed_ns" variant doesn't start (activate) the newly created
811 watcher. 862 watcher.
812 863
813 ASYNC WATCHERS - how to wake up another event loop 864 ASYNC WATCHERS - how to wake up another event loop
814 Async watchers are provided by EV, but have little use in perl directly, 865 Async watchers are provided by EV, but have little use in perl directly,
815 as perl neither supports threads nor direct access to signal handlers or 866 as perl neither supports threads running in parallel nor direct access
816 other contexts where they could be of value. 867 to signal handlers or other contexts where they could be of value.
817 868
818 It is, however, possible to use them from the XS level. 869 It is, however, possible to use them from the XS level.
819 870
820 Please see the libev documentation for further details. 871 Please see the libev documentation for further details.
821 872
840 my $async_check = EV::check sub { }; 891 my $async_check = EV::check sub { };
841 892
842 This ensures that perl gets into control for a short time to handle any 893 This ensures that perl gets into control for a short time to handle any
843 pending signals, and also ensures (slightly) slower overall operation. 894 pending signals, and also ensures (slightly) slower overall operation.
844 895
845THREADS 896ITHREADS
846 Threads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl pseudo-threads 897 Ithreads are not supported by this module in any way. Perl
847 is evil stuff and must die. As soon as Perl gains real threads I will 898 pseudo-threads is evil stuff and must die. Real threads as provided by
848 work on thread support for it. 899 Coro are fully supported (and enhanced support is available via
900 Coro::EV).
849 901
850FORK 902FORK
851 Most of the "improved" event delivering mechanisms of modern operating 903 Most of the "improved" event delivering mechanisms of modern operating
852 systems have quite a few problems with fork(2) (to put it bluntly: it is 904 systems have quite a few problems with fork(2) (to put it bluntly: it is
853 not supported and usually destructive). Libev makes it possible to work 905 not supported and usually destructive). Libev makes it possible to work

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