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Revision 1.1 by root, Sat Dec 13 17:37:22 2008 UTC vs.
Revision 1.22 by root, Sun Jul 26 08:07:11 2009 UTC

2 2
3Guard - safe cleanup blocks 3Guard - safe cleanup blocks
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use Guard; 7 use Guard;
8
9 # temporarily chdir to "/etc" directory, but make sure
10 # to go back to "/" no matter how myfun exits:
11 sub myfun {
12 scope_guard { chdir "/" };
13 chdir "/etc";
14
15 code_that_might_die_or_does_other_fun_stuff;
16 }
17
18 # create an object that, when the last reference to it is gone,
19 # invokes the given codeblock:
20 my $guard = guard { print "destroyed!\n" };
21 undef $guard; # probably destroyed here
8 22
9=head1 DESCRIPTION 23=head1 DESCRIPTION
10 24
11This module implements so-called "guards". A guard is something (usually 25This module implements so-called "guards". A guard is something (usually
12an object) that "guards" a resource, ensuring that it is cleaned up when 26an object) that "guards" a resource, ensuring that it is cleaned up when
14 28
15Specifically, this module supports two different types of guards: guard 29Specifically, this module supports two different types of guards: guard
16objects, which execute a given code block when destroyed, and scoped 30objects, which execute a given code block when destroyed, and scoped
17guards, which are tied to the scope exit. 31guards, which are tied to the scope exit.
18 32
33=head1 FUNCTIONS
34
35This module currently exports the C<scope_guard> and C<guard> functions by
36default.
37
19=over 4 38=over 4
20 39
21=cut 40=cut
22 41
23package Guard; 42package Guard;
24 43
44no warnings;
45
25BEGIN { 46BEGIN {
26 $VERSION = '0.01'; 47 $VERSION = '1.021';
27 @ISA = qw(Exporter); 48 @ISA = qw(Exporter);
28 @EXPORT = qw(guard scope_guard cancel); 49 @EXPORT = qw(guard scope_guard);
29 50
30 require Exporter; 51 require Exporter;
31 52
32 require XSLoader; 53 require XSLoader;
33 XSLoader::load Guard, $VERSION; 54 XSLoader::load Guard, $VERSION;
38=item scope_guard BLOCK 59=item scope_guard BLOCK
39 60
40Registers a block that is executed when the current scope (block, 61Registers a block that is executed when the current scope (block,
41function, method, eval etc.) is exited. 62function, method, eval etc.) is exited.
42 63
64See the EXCEPTIONS section for an explanation of how exceptions
65(i.e. C<die>) are handled inside guard blocks.
66
67The description below sounds a bit complicated, but that's just because
68C<scope_guard> tries to get even corner cases "right": the goal is to
69provide you with a rock solid clean up tool.
70
43This is similar to this code fragment: 71The behaviour is similar to this code fragment:
44 72
45 eval ... code following scope_guard ... 73 eval ... code following scope_guard ...
46 { 74 {
47 local $@; 75 local $@;
48 eval BLOCK; 76 eval BLOCK;
49 eval { $Guard::DIED->() } if $@; 77 eval { $Guard::DIED->() } if $@;
50 } 78 }
79 die if $@;
51 80
52Except it is much faster, and the whole thing gets executed even when the 81Except it is much faster, and the whole thing gets executed even when the
53BLOCK calls C<exit>, C<goto>, C<last> or escapes via other means. 82BLOCK calls C<exit>, C<goto>, C<last> or escapes via other means.
54 83
55See B<EXCEPTIONS>, below, for an explanation of exception handling 84If multiple BLOCKs are registered to the same scope, they will be executed
56(C<die>) within guard blocks. 85in reverse order. Other scope-related things such as C<local> are managed
86via the same mechanism, so variables C<local>ised I<after> calling
87C<scope_guard> will be restored when the guard runs.
57 88
58Example: Temporarily change the directory to F</etc> and make sure it's 89Example: temporarily change the timezone for the current process,
59set back to F</> when the function returns: 90ensuring it will be reset when the C<if> scope is exited:
60 91
61 sub dosomething { 92 use Guard;
62 scope_guard { chdir "/" }; 93 use POSIX ();
63 chdir "/etc";
64 94
65 ... 95 if ($need_to_switch_tz) {
96 # make sure we call tzset after $ENV{TZ} has been restored
97 scope_guard { POSIX::tzset };
98
99 # localise after the scope_guard, so it gets undone in time
100 local $ENV{TZ} = "Europe/London";
101 POSIX::tzset;
102
103 # do something with the new timezone
66 } 104 }
67 105
68=item my $guard = guard BLOCK 106=item my $guard = guard BLOCK
69 107
70Behaves the same as C<scope_guard>, except that instead of executing 108Behaves the same as C<scope_guard>, except that instead of executing
71the block on scope exit, it returns an object whose lifetime determines 109the block on scope exit, it returns an object whose lifetime determines
72when the BLOCK gets executed: when the last reference to the object gets 110when the BLOCK gets executed: when the last reference to the object gets
73destroyed, the BLOCK gets executed as with C<scope_guard>. 111destroyed, the BLOCK gets executed as with C<scope_guard>.
74 112
75The returned object can be copied as many times as you want. 113See the EXCEPTIONS section for an explanation of how exceptions
76 114(i.e. C<die>) are handled inside guard blocks.
77See B<EXCEPTIONS>, below, for an explanation of exception handling
78(C<die>) within guard blocks.
79 115
80Example: acquire a Coro::Semaphore for a second by registering a 116Example: acquire a Coro::Semaphore for a second by registering a
81timer. The timer callback references the guard used to unlock it again. 117timer. The timer callback references the guard used to unlock it
118again. (Please ignore the fact that C<Coro::Semaphore> has a C<guard>
119method that does this already):
82 120
121 use Guard;
83 use AnyEvent; 122 use Coro::AnyEvent;
84 use Coro::Semaphore; 123 use Coro::Semaphore;
85 124
86 my $sem = new Coro::Semaphore; 125 my $sem = new Coro::Semaphore;
87 126
88 sub lock_1s { 127 sub lock_for_a_second {
89 $sem->down; 128 $sem->down;
90 my $guard = guard { $sem->up }; 129 my $guard = guard { $sem->up };
91 130
92 my $timer; 131 Coro::AnyEvent::sleep 1;
93 $timer = AnyEvent->timer (after => 1, sub { 132
94 # do something 133 # $sem->up gets executed when returning
95 undef $sem;
96 undef $timer;
97 });
98 } 134 }
99 135
100The advantage of doing this with a guard instead of simply calling C<< 136The advantage of doing this with a guard instead of simply calling C<<
101$sem->down >> in the callback is that you can opt not to create the timer, 137$sem->down >> in the callback is that you can opt not to create the timer,
102or your code can throw an exception before it can create the timer, or you 138or your code can throw an exception before it can create the timer (or
103can create multiple timers or other event watchers and only when the last 139the thread gets canceled), or you can create multiple timers or other
104one gets executed will the lock be unlocked. 140event watchers and only when the last one gets executed will the lock be
141unlocked. Using the C<guard>, you do not have to worry about catching all
142the places where you have to unlock the semaphore.
105 143
106=item Guard::cancel $guard 144=item $guard->cancel
107 145
108Calling this function will "disable" the guard object returned by the 146Calling this function will "disable" the guard object returned by the
109C<guard> function, i.e. it will free the BLOCK originally passed to 147C<guard> function, i.e. it will free the BLOCK originally passed to
110C<guard >and will arrange for the BLOCK not to be executed. 148C<guard >and will arrange for the BLOCK not to be executed.
111 149
112This can be useful when you use C<guard> to create a fatal cleanup handler 150This can be useful when you use C<guard> to create a cleanup handler to be
113and later decide it is no longer needed. 151called under fatal conditions and later decide it is no longer needed.
114 152
115=cut 153=cut
116 154
1171; 1551;
118 156
119=back 157=back
120 158
121=head1 EXCEPTIONS 159=head1 EXCEPTIONS
122 160
123Guard blocks should not normally throw exceptions (e.g. C<die>), after 161Guard blocks should not normally throw exceptions (that is, C<die>). After
124all, they are usually used to clean up after such exceptions. However, if 162all, they are usually used to clean up after such exceptions. However,
125something truly exceptional is happening, a guard block should be allowed 163if something truly exceptional is happening, a guard block should of
126to die. Also, programming errors are a large source of exceptions, and the 164course be allowed to die. Also, programming errors are a large source of
127programmer certainly wants to know about those. 165exceptions, and the programmer certainly wants to know about those.
128 166
129Since in most cases, the block executing when the guard gets executes does 167Since in most cases, the block executing when the guard gets executed does
130not know or does not care about the guard blocks, it makes little sense to 168not know or does not care about the guard blocks, it makes little sense to
131let containing code handle the exception. 169let containing code handle the exception.
132 170
133Therefore, whenever a guard block throws an exception, it will be caught, 171Therefore, whenever a guard block throws an exception, it will be caught
134and this module will call the code reference stored in C<$Guard::DIED> 172by Guard, followed by calling the code reference stored in C<$Guard::DIED>
135(with C<$@> set to the actual exception), which is similar to how most 173(with C<$@> set to the actual exception), which is similar to how most
136event loops handle this case. 174event loops handle this case.
137 175
176The default for C<$Guard::DIED> is to call C<warn "$@">, i.e. the error is
177printed as a warning and the program continues.
178
179The C<$@> variable will be restored to its value before the guard call in
180all cases, so guards will not disturb C<$@> in any way.
181
138The code reference stored in C<$Guard::DIED> should not die (behaviour is 182The code reference stored in C<$Guard::DIED> should not die (behaviour is
139not guaranteed, but right now, the exception will simply be ignored). 183not guaranteed, but right now, the exception will simply be ignored).
140 184
141The default for C<$Guard::DIED> is to call C<warn "$@">.
142
143=head1 AUTHOR 185=head1 AUTHOR
144 186
145 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 187 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
146 http://home.schmorp.de/ 188 http://home.schmorp.de/
147 189
148=head1 THANKS 190=head1 THANKS
149 191
150To Marco Maisenhelder, who reminded me of the C<$Guard::DIED> solution to 192Thanks to Marco Maisenhelder, who reminded me of the C<$Guard::DIED>
151the problem of exceptions. 193solution to the problem of exceptions.
194
195=head1 SEE ALSO
196
197L<Scope::Guard> and L<Sub::ScopeFinalizer>, which actually implement
198dynamic guards only, not scoped guards, and have a lot higher CPU, memory
199and typing overhead.
200
201L<Hook::Scope>, which has apparently never been finished and can corrupt
202memory when used.
152 203
153=cut 204=cut
154 205

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