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Revision 1.37 by root, Fri Aug 7 16:47:23 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.81 by root, Mon Sep 7 18:33:44 2009 UTC

4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's node ID
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's node ID
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 11
12 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
13
14 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
15 configure;
16
17 # ports are message destinations
18
19 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 20 snd $port, type => data...;
21 snd $port, @msg;
22 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 23
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 24 # creating/using ports, the simple way
25 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_ };
16 26
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 27 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 28 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 29 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong" };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 31
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 32 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3
27 34
28 # monitoring 35 # monitoring
29 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 36 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
30 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
31 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
32 39
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41
42 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable but incomplete, protocol not yet final.
47
48stay tuned.
49
33=head1 DESCRIPTION 50=head1 DESCRIPTION
34 51
35This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
36 53
37Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running 54Despite its simplicity, you can securely message other processes running
38on the same or other hosts. 55on the same or other hosts, and you can supervise entities remotely.
39 56
40For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 57For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
41manual page. 58manual page and the examples under F<eg/>.
42
43At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
44so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
45stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however.
46 59
47=head1 CONCEPTS 60=head1 CONCEPTS
48 61
49=over 4 62=over 4
50 63
51=item port 64=item port
52 65
53A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 66Not to be confused with a TCP port, a "port" is something you can send
67messages to (with the C<snd> function).
54 68
55Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 69Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
56messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 70some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
57will not be queued. 71anything was listening for them or not.
58 72
59=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 73=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
60 74
61A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 75A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
62separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 76separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
63exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
64reference.
65 77
66=item node 78=item node
67 79
68A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 80A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
69port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 81which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
70create new ports, among other things. 82ports.
71 83
72Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 84Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
73master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 85(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
86currently.
74 87
75=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 88=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+>
76 89
77A node reference is a string that either simply identifies the node (for 90A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
78private and slave nodes), or contains a recipe on how to reach a given 91network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
79node (for public nodes). 92hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
93doesn't interpret node IDs in any way.
80 94
81This recipe is simply a comma-separated list of C<address:port> pairs (for 95=item binds - C<ip:port>
82TCP/IP, other protocols might look different).
83 96
84Node references come in two flavours: resolved (containing only numerical 97Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
85addresses) or unresolved (where hostnames are used instead of addresses). 98each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
99endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can
100be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on.
86 101
87Before using an unresolved node reference in a message you first have to 102=item seeds - C<host:port>
88resolve it. 103
104When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node
105about the network it first has to contact some other node within the
106network. This node is called a seed.
107
108Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes
109are expected to be long-running, and at least one of those should always
110be available. When nodes run out of connections (e.g. due to a network
111error), they try to re-establish connections to some seednodes again to
112join the network.
113
114Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way -
115every public node can be a seednode.
89 116
90=back 117=back
91 118
92=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 119=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
93 120
95 122
96=cut 123=cut
97 124
98package AnyEvent::MP; 125package AnyEvent::MP;
99 126
100use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 127use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
101 128
102use common::sense; 129use common::sense;
103 130
104use Carp (); 131use Carp ();
105 132
106use AE (); 133use AE ();
107 134
108use base "Exporter"; 135use base "Exporter";
109 136
110our $VERSION = '0.1'; 137our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
138
111our @EXPORT = qw( 139our @EXPORT = qw(
112 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 140 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
113 resolve_node initialise_node 141 configure
114 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 142 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn
115 port 143 port
116); 144);
117 145
118our $SELF; 146our $SELF;
119 147
123 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 151 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
124} 152}
125 153
126=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 154=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
127 155
128The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 156The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains, the node
129the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 157ID of the node running in the current process. This value is initialised by
130to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 158a call to C<configure>.
131identifiers become invalid.
132 159
133=item $noderef = node_of $port 160=item $nodeid = node_of $port
134 161
135Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 162Extracts and returns the node ID from a port ID or a node ID.
136 163
137=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode... 164=item configure $profile, key => value...
138 165
139=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master... 166=item configure key => value...
140 167
141Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise 168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
142itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally 169"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
143it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network. 170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
144 172
145This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or 173This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
146never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
147 175
148All arguments are noderefs, which can be either resolved or unresolved.
149
150There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
151
152=over 4 176=over 4
153 177
154=item public nodes 178=item step 1, gathering configuration from profiles
155 179
156For public nodes, C<$noderef> must either be a (possibly unresolved) 180The function first looks up a profile in the aemp configuration (see the
157noderef, in which case it will be resolved, or C<undef> (or missing), in 181L<aemp> commandline utility). The profile name can be specified via the
158which case the noderef will be guessed. 182named C<profile> parameter or can simply be the first parameter). If it is
183missing, then the nodename (F<uname -n>) will be used as profile name.
159 184
160Afterwards, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to connect 185The profile data is then gathered as follows:
161to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are optional
162and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing network.
163 186
164=item slave nodes 187First, all remaining key => value pairs (all of which are conveniently
188undocumented at the moment) will be interpreted as configuration
189data. Then they will be overwritten by any values specified in the global
190default configuration (see the F<aemp> utility), then the chain of
191profiles chosen by the profile name (and any C<parent> attributes).
165 192
166When the C<$noderef> is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will 193That means that the values specified in the profile have highest priority
167become a slave node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will 194and the values specified directly via C<configure> have lowest priority,
168route most of their traffic to the master node that they attach to. 195and can only be used to specify defaults.
169 196
170At least one additional noderef is required: The node will try to connect 197If the profile specifies a node ID, then this will become the node ID of
171to all of them and will become a slave attached to the first node it can 198this process. If not, then the profile name will be used as node ID. The
172successfully connect to. 199special node ID of C<anon/> will be replaced by a random node ID.
200
201=item step 2, bind listener sockets
202
203The next step is to look up the binds in the profile, followed by binding
204aemp protocol listeners on all binds specified (it is possible and valid
205to have no binds, meaning that the node cannot be contacted form the
206outside. This means the node cannot talk to other nodes that also have no
207binds, but it can still talk to all "normal" nodes).
208
209If the profile does not specify a binds list, then a default of C<*> is
210used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
211local IP address it finds.
212
213=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
214
215As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the
216L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
217connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
173 218
174=back 219=back
175 220
176This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave 221Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile.
177nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master 222This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
178server.
179 223
180Example: become a public node listening on the default node. 224 configure
181 225
182 initialise_node; 226Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
227clients.
183 228
184Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master 229 configure nodeid => "anon/";
185servers to become part of the network.
186 230
187 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2"; 231Example: configure a node using a profile called seed, which si suitable
232for a seed node as it binds on all local addresses on a fixed port (4040,
233customary for aemp).
188 234
189Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>. 235 # use the aemp commandline utility
236 # aemp profile seed nodeid anon/ binds '*:4040'
190 237
191 initialise_node 4041; 238 # then use it
239 configure profile => "seed";
192 240
193Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044. 241 # or simply use aemp from the shell again:
242 # aemp run profile seed
194 243
195 initialise_node "locahost:4044"; 244 # or provide a nicer-to-remember nodeid
196 245 # aemp run profile seed nodeid "$(hostname)"
197Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers.
198
199 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
200
201=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
202
203Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
204abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
205reference.
206
207In addition to C<address:port> pairs allowed in resolved noderefs, the
208following forms are supported:
209
210=over 4
211
212=item the empty string
213
214An empty-string component gets resolved as if the default port (4040) was
215specified.
216
217=item naked port numbers (e.g. C<1234>)
218
219These are resolved by prepending the local nodename and a colon, to be
220further resolved.
221
222=item hostnames (e.g. C<localhost:1234>, C<localhost>)
223
224These are resolved by using AnyEvent::DNS to resolve them, optionally
225looking up SRV records for the C<aemp=4040> port, if no port was
226specified.
227
228=back
229 246
230=item $SELF 247=item $SELF
231 248
232Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub> 249Contains the current port id while executing C<rcv> callbacks or C<psub>
233blocks. 250blocks.
234 251
235=item SELF, %SELF, @SELF... 252=item *SELF, SELF, %SELF, @SELF...
236 253
237Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 254Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
238just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 255just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols named C<SELF> are exported by this
239module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 256module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
240 257
241=item snd $port, type => @data 258=item snd $port, type => @data
242 259
243=item snd $port, @msg 260=item snd $port, @msg
244 261
245Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 262Send the given message to the given port, which can identify either a
246a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 263local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
247stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
248 264
249While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 265While the message can be almost anything, it is highly recommended to
250string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 266use a string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a
251type etc.). 267request type etc.) and to consist if only simple perl values (scalars,
268arrays, hashes) - if you think you need to pass an object, think again.
252 269
253The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 270The message data logically becomes read-only after a call to this
254function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 271function: modifying any argument (or values referenced by them) is
255problems. 272forbidden, as there can be considerable time between the call to C<snd>
273and the time the message is actually being serialised - in fact, it might
274never be copied as within the same process it is simply handed to the
275receiving port.
256 276
257The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when 277The type of data you can transfer depends on the transport protocol: when
258JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 278JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
259of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 279of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
260that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 280that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
261node, anything can be passed. 281node, anything can be passed. Best rely only on the common denominator of
282these.
262 283
263=item $local_port = port 284=item $local_port = port
264 285
265Create a new local port object that can be used either as a pattern 286Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
266matching port ("full port") or a single-callback port ("miniport"), 287no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
267depending on how C<rcv> callbacks are bound to the object.
268 288
269=item $port = port { my @msg = @_; $finished } 289=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
270 290
271Creates a "miniport", that is, a very lightweight port without any pattern 291Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
272matching behind it, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as creating
273a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it. 292creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
274 293
275The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the 294The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
276callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port 295global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
277will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive. 296port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
297(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
278 298
279The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will 299If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
280be passed to the callback.
281 300
282If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely: 301 my $port = port {
283 302 my @msg = @_;
284 my $port; $port = port { 303 ...
285 snd $otherport, reply => $port; 304 kil $SELF;
286 }; 305 };
287 306
288=cut 307=cut
289 308
290sub rcv($@); 309sub rcv($@);
310
311sub _kilme {
312 die "received message on port without callback";
313}
291 314
292sub port(;&) { 315sub port(;&) {
293 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++; 316 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
294 my $port = "$NODE#$id"; 317 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
295 318
296 if (@_) { 319 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
297 rcv $port, shift;
298 } else {
299 $PORT{$id} = sub { }; # nop
300 }
301 320
302 $port 321 $port
303} 322}
304 323
305=item reg $port, $name
306
307=item reg $name
308
309Registers the given port (or C<$SELF><<< if missing) under the name
310C<$name>. If the name already exists it is replaced.
311
312A port can only be registered under one well known name.
313
314A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed.
315
316=cut
317
318sub reg(@) {
319 my $port = @_ > 1 ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'reg: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
320
321 $REG{$_[0]} = $port;
322}
323
324=item rcv $port, $callback->(@msg) 324=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
325 325
326Replaces the callback on the specified miniport (after converting it to 326Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
327one if required). 327remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
328 328C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
329=item rcv $port, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
330
331=item rcv $port, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
332
333=item rcv $port, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
334
335Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given full
336port (after converting it to one if required) and return the port.
337
338The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
339which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
340registered.
341 329
342The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while 330The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
343executing the callback. 331executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
332result in the port being C<kil>ed.
344 333
345Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being 334The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
346C<kil>ed. 335C<tag> match.
347 336
348If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the 337=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
349first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
350matched.
351 338
352Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function 339Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
353exported by this module) matches any single element of the message. 340given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
341C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
342registered for each tag.
354 343
355While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching 344The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
356element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is 345element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
357also the most efficient match (by far). 346environment as the default callback (see above).
358 347
359Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go. 348Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
360 349
361 my $port = rcv port, 350 my $port = rcv port,
362 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 351 msg1 => sub { ... },
363 msg2 => sub { ...; 0 }, 352 msg2 => sub { ... },
364 ; 353 ;
365 354
366Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere 355Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
367in one go: 356in one go:
368 357
369 snd $otherport, reply => 358 snd $otherport, reply =>
370 rcv port, 359 rcv port,
371 msg1 => sub { ...; 0 }, 360 msg1 => sub { ... },
372 ... 361 ...
373 ; 362 ;
374 363
364Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
365(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
366
367 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
368 my @reply = @_;
369
370 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
371 };
372
375=cut 373=cut
376 374
377sub rcv($@) { 375sub rcv($@) {
378 my $port = shift; 376 my $port = shift;
379 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2; 377 my ($nodeid, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
380 378
381 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""} 379 $NODE{$nodeid} == $NODE{""}
382 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught"; 380 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
383 381
384 if (@_ == 1) { 382 while (@_) {
383 if (ref $_[0]) {
384 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
385 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
387
388 $self->[2] = shift;
389 } else {
385 my $cb = shift; 390 my $cb = shift;
386 delete $PORT_DATA{$portid};
387 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 391 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
388 local $SELF = $port; 392 local $SELF = $port;
389 eval { 393 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
390 &$cb 394 };
391 and kil $port;
392 }; 395 }
393 _self_die if $@; 396 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
394 };
395 } else {
396 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 397 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
397 my $self = bless { 398 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
398 id => $port,
399 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
400 399
401 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 400 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
402 local $SELF = $port; 401 local $SELF = $port;
403 402
404 eval {
405 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) { 403 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
406 $_ && &{$_->[0]} 404 shift;
407 && undef $_; 405 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 } 406 } else {
409
410 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
411 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
412 && &{$_->[0]} 407 &{ $self->[0] };
413 && undef $_;
414 }
415
416 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
417 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
418 && &{$_->[0]}
419 && undef $_;
420 } 408 }
421 }; 409 };
422 _self_die if $@; 410
411 $self
423 }; 412 };
424 413
425 $self
426 };
427
428 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 414 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
429 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 415 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430 416
431 while (@_) {
432 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2; 417 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
433 418
434 if (!ref $match) { 419 if (defined $cb) {
435 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb]; 420 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
436 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
437 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
438 @match
439 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
440 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
441 } else { 421 } else {
442 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match]; 422 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
443 } 423 }
444 } 424 }
445 } 425 }
446 426
447 $port 427 $port
483 $res 463 $res
484 } 464 }
485 } 465 }
486} 466}
487 467
488=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) 468=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason) # call $cb when $port dies
489 469
490=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport 470=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport # kill $rcvport when $port dies
491 471
492=item $guard = mon $port 472=item $guard = mon $port # kill $SELF when $port dies
493 473
494=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg 474=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg # send a message when $port dies
495 475
496Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed, and 476Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
497optionally return a guard that can be used to stop monitoring again. 477messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
478to stop monitoring again.
498 479
499In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any 480In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
500number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 481number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
501"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 482"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
502C<eval> if unsure. 483C<eval> if unsure.
503 484
504In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport) 485In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
505will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on 486will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, if a @reason was specified, i.e. on
506"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other 487"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
507port is killed with the same reason. 488port is killed with the same reason.
508 489
509The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that 490The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
510C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>. 491C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
511 492
512In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be 493In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
513C<snd>. 494C<snd>.
495
496Monitoring-actions are one-shot: once messages are lost (and a monitoring
497alert was raised), they are removed and will not trigger again.
514 498
515As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from 499As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
516a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get 500a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
517lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that 501lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
518even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection 502even monitoring requests can get lost (for example, when the connection
519to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally 503to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
520these problems do not exist. 504these problems do not exist.
521 505
506C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
507after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port will
508arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible message
509loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between" (after
510the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
511port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
512delivered again.
513
514Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
515used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP
516relies on TCP to detect node-downs (this can take 10-15 minutes on a
517non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle conenctions).
518
519This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
520stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
521to ensure some maximum latency.
522
522Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 523Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
523 524
524 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 525 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
525 526
526Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 527Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
532 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 533 mon $port, $self => "restart";
533 534
534=cut 535=cut
535 536
536sub mon { 537sub mon {
537 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 538 my ($nodeid, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
538 539
539 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 540 my $node = $NODE{$nodeid} || add_node $nodeid;
540 541
541 my $cb = @_ ? $_[0] : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,'; 542 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
542 543
543 unless (ref $cb) { 544 unless (ref $cb) {
544 if (@_) { 545 if (@_) {
545 # send a kill info message 546 # send a kill info message
546 my (@msg) = @_; 547 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
547 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ }; 548 $cb = sub { snd @msg, @_ };
548 } else { 549 } else {
549 # simply kill other port 550 # simply kill other port
550 my $port = $cb; 551 my $port = $cb;
551 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ }; 552 $cb = sub { kil $port, @_ if @_ };
564is killed, the references will be freed. 565is killed, the references will be freed.
565 566
566Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring. 567Optionally returns a guard that will stop the monitoring.
567 568
568This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and 569This function is useful when you create e.g. timers or other watchers and
569want to free them when the port gets killed: 570want to free them when the port gets killed (note the use of C<psub>):
570 571
571 $port->rcv (start => sub { 572 $port->rcv (start => sub {
572 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, sub { 573 my $timer; $timer = mon_guard $port, AE::timer 1, 1, psub {
573 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand; 574 undef $timer if 0.9 < rand;
574 }); 575 });
575 }); 576 });
576 577
577=cut 578=cut
586 587
587=item kil $port[, @reason] 588=item kil $port[, @reason]
588 589
589Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 590Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
590 591
591If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 592If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports
592ports will not be kileld, or even notified). 593monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies
594"normally").
593 595
594Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 596Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
595C<mon>, see below). 597C<mon>, see above).
596 598
597Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 599Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
598will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 600will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
599 601
600Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 602Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
601$message >>. 603$message >>.
602 604
603=back
604
605=head1 NODE MESSAGES
606
607Nodes understand the following messages sent to them. Many of them take
608arguments called C<@reply>, which will simply be used to compose a reply
609message - C<$reply[0]> is the port to reply to, C<$reply[1]> the type and
610the remaining arguments are simply the message data.
611
612While other messages exist, they are not public and subject to change.
613
614=over 4
615
616=cut 605=cut
617 606
618=item lookup => $name, @reply 607=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
619 608
620Replies with the port ID of the specified well-known port, or C<undef>. 609Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
610case it's the node where that port resides).
621 611
622=item devnull => ... 612The port ID of the newly created port is returned immediately, and it is
613possible to immediately start sending messages or to monitor the port.
623 614
624Generic data sink/CPU heat conversion. 615After the port has been created, the init function is called on the remote
616node, in the same context as a C<rcv> callback. This function must be a
617fully-qualified function name (e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To
618specify a function in the main program, use C<::name>.
625 619
626=item relay => $port, @msg 620If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
621the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
622C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
623exists or it runs out of package names.
627 624
628Simply forwards the message to the given port. 625The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
626object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
629 627
630=item eval => $string[ @reply] 628A common idiom is to pass a local port, immediately monitor the spawned
629port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed
630local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up
631when there is a problem.
631 632
632Evaluates the given string. If C<@reply> is given, then a message of the 633C<spawn> guarantees that the C<$initfunc> has no visible effects on the
633form C<@reply, $@, @evalres> is sent. 634caller before C<spawn> returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is
635called for the local node).
634 636
635Example: crash another node. 637Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
636 638
637 snd $othernode, eval => "exit"; 639 # this node, executed from within a port context:
640 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
641 mon $server;
638 642
639=item time => @reply 643 # init function on C<$othernode>
644 sub connect {
645 my ($srcport) = @_;
640 646
641Replies the the current node time to C<@reply>. 647 mon $srcport;
642 648
643Example: tell the current node to send the current time to C<$myport> in a 649 rcv $SELF, sub {
644C<timereply> message. 650 ...
651 };
652 }
645 653
646 snd $NODE, time => $myport, timereply => 1, 2; 654=cut
647 # => snd $myport, timereply => 1, 2, <time> 655
656sub _spawn {
657 my $port = shift;
658 my $init = shift;
659
660 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
661 eval {
662 &{ load_func $init }
663 };
664 _self_die if $@;
665}
666
667sub spawn(@) {
668 my ($nodeid, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
669
670 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
671
672 $_[0] =~ /::/
673 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
674
675 snd_to_func $nodeid, "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_;
676
677 "$nodeid#$id"
678}
679
680=item after $timeout, @msg
681
682=item after $timeout, $callback
683
684Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the
685specified number of seconds.
686
687This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the
688AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though,
689so it may go away in the future.
690
691=cut
692
693sub after($@) {
694 my ($timeout, @action) = @_;
695
696 my $t; $t = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
697 undef $t;
698 ref $action[0]
699 ? $action[0]()
700 : snd @action;
701 };
702}
648 703
649=back 704=back
650 705
651=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 706=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
652 707
662 717
663Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 718Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
664 719
665=over 4 720=over 4
666 721
667=item * Node references contain the recipe on how to contact them. 722=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
668 723
669Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the 724Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
670same way. AEMP relies on each node knowing it's own address(es), with 725way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
671convenience functionality. 726configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself.
672 727
673This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 728=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
674cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 729uses "local ports are like remote ports".
730
731The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
732only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
733when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
734port.
735
736Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
737they are not.
738
739AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
740ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
741occur.
675 742
676=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 743=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
677 744
678Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 745Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
679needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 746needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
680purpose. 747useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
748AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
749filter messages without dequeuing them.
681 750
682(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 751(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
683 752
684=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 753=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
685 754
686Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 755Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
687sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 756so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
688background. 757connection establishment is handled in the background.
689 758
690=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 759=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
691 760
692Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 761Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
693without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 762without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
694and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 763and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
695 764
696AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 765AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message
697holes in the message sequence. 766is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until
698 767monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message
699=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 768sequence.
700alive.
701
702In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
703linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
704still alive - and can receive messages.
705
706In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
707eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
708and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
709 769
710=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 770=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
711 771
712In Erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 772In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
713ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 773known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
714messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 774destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
715 775
716AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 776AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
717around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 777around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
718 778
719=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 779=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
720authentication and can use TLS. 780authentication and can use TLS.
721 781
722AEMP can use a proven protocol - SSL/TLS - to protect connections and 782AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and
723securely authenticate nodes. 783securely authenticate nodes.
724 784
725=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 785=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
726communications. 786communications.
727 787
728The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both 788The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
729language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 789language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
730language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 790language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
791used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
731 792
732It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 793It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
733with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 794with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
734protocol simple. 795protocol simple.
735 796
736=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 797=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
737 798
738In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 799In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
741Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 802Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
742on a per-process basis. 803on a per-process basis.
743 804
744=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 805=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
745 806
746Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, 807Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
747as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 808same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
748 809
749In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports 810In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
750that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port 811that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
751on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor 812on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the
752the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much 813remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more
753more reliable. 814reliable (no need for C<spawn_link>).
754 815
755This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port 816This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
756(hard to do in Erlang). 817(hard to do in Erlang).
757 818
758=back 819=back
759 820
821=head1 RATIONALE
822
823=over 4
824
825=item Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects?
826
827We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
828that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over
829the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
830overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
831
832Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
833procedures to be "valid".
834
835And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a
836global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
837
838=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
839
840In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
841format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
842default (although all nodes will accept it).
843
844The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
845faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
846experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
847than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
848easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
849always have to re-think your design.
850
851Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
852objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
853
854=back
855
760=head1 SEE ALSO 856=head1 SEE ALSO
857
858L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
859
860L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
861
862L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find
863your applications.
864
865L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
866all nodes.
761 867
762L<AnyEvent>. 868L<AnyEvent>.
763 869
764=head1 AUTHOR 870=head1 AUTHOR
765 871

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