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Revision 1.30 by root, Tue Aug 4 23:35:51 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.54 by root, Fri Aug 14 16:15:37 2009 UTC

8 8
9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef 9 $NODE # contains this node's noderef
10 NODE # returns this node's noderef 10 NODE # returns this node's noderef
11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port 11 NODE $port # returns the noderef of the port
12 12
13 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks
14
15 # initialise the node so it can send/receive messages
16 initialise_node; # -OR-
17 initialise_node "localhost:4040"; # -OR-
18 initialise_node "slave/", "localhost:4040"
19
20 # ports are message endpoints
21
22 # sending messages
13 snd $port, type => data...; 23 snd $port, type => data...;
24 snd $port, @msg;
25 snd @msg_with_first_element_being_a_port;
14 26
15 $SELF # receiving/own port id in rcv callbacks 27 # creating/using ports, the simple way
28 my $simple_port = port { my @msg = @_; 0 };
16 29
17 rcv $port, smartmatch => $cb->($port, @msg); 30 # creating/using ports, tagged message matching
18 31 my $port = port;
19 # examples:
20 rcv $port2, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 }; 32 rcv $port, ping => sub { snd $_[0], "pong"; 0 };
21 rcv $port1, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 33 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n"; 0 };
22 snd $port2, ping => $port1;
23 34
24 # more, smarter, matches (_any_ is exported by this module) 35 # create a port on another node
25 rcv $port, [child_died => $pid] => sub { ... 36 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
26 rcv $port, [_any_, _any_, 3] => sub { .. $_[2] is 3 37
38 # monitoring
39 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
40 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
41 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
42
43=head1 CURRENT STATUS
44
45 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work
46 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - outdated
47 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - WIP
48 AnyEvent::MP::Transport - mostly stable
49
50 stay tuned.
27 51
28=head1 DESCRIPTION 52=head1 DESCRIPTION
29 53
30This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 54This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
31 55
35For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> 59For an introduction to this module family, see the L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro>
36manual page. 60manual page.
37 61
38At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented, 62At the moment, this module family is severly broken and underdocumented,
39so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace - 63so do not use. This was uploaded mainly to reserve the CPAN namespace -
40stay tuned! The basic API should be finished, however. 64stay tuned!
41 65
42=head1 CONCEPTS 66=head1 CONCEPTS
43 67
44=over 4 68=over 4
45 69
46=item port 70=item port
47 71
48A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function). 72A port is something you can send messages to (with the C<snd> function).
49 73
50Some ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match specific 74Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
51messages. All C<rcv> handlers will receive messages they match, messages 75some messages. Messages will not be queued.
52will not be queued.
53 76
54=item port id - C<noderef#portname> 77=item port id - C<noderef#portname>
55 78
56A port id is normaly the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 79A port ID is the concatenation of a noderef, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
57separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An 80separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). An
58exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node 81exception is the the node port, whose ID is identical to its node
59reference. 82reference.
60 83
61=item node 84=item node
62 85
63A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node 86A node is a single process containing at least one port - the node port,
64port. You can send messages to node ports to find existing ports or to 87which provides nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
65create new ports, among other things. 88ports.
66 89
67Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a 90Nodes are either private (single-process only), slaves (connected to a
68master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes). 91master node only) or public nodes (connectable from unrelated nodes).
69 92
70=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id> 93=item noderef - C<host:port,host:port...>, C<id@noderef>, C<id>
90 113
91=cut 114=cut
92 115
93package AnyEvent::MP; 116package AnyEvent::MP;
94 117
95use AnyEvent::MP::Base; 118use AnyEvent::MP::Kernel;
96 119
97use common::sense; 120use common::sense;
98 121
99use Carp (); 122use Carp ();
100 123
101use AE (); 124use AE ();
102 125
103use base "Exporter"; 126use base "Exporter";
104 127
105our $VERSION = '0.1'; 128our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION;
129
106our @EXPORT = qw( 130our @EXPORT = qw(
107 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_ 131 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of _any_
108 resolve_node 132 resolve_node initialise_node
109 become_slave become_public
110 snd rcv mon kil reg psub 133 snd rcv mon kil reg psub spawn
111 port 134 port
112); 135);
113 136
114our $SELF; 137our $SELF;
115 138
119 kil $SELF, die => $msg; 142 kil $SELF, die => $msg;
120} 143}
121 144
122=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE 145=item $thisnode = NODE / $NODE
123 146
124The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains 147The C<NODE> function returns, and the C<$NODE> variable contains the
125the noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call 148noderef of the local node. The value is initialised by a call to
126to C<become_public> or C<become_slave>, after which all local port 149C<initialise_node>.
127identifiers become invalid.
128 150
129=item $noderef = node_of $portid 151=item $noderef = node_of $port
130 152
131Extracts and returns the noderef from a portid or a noderef. 153Extracts and returns the noderef from a port ID or a noderef.
154
155=item initialise_node $noderef, $seednode, $seednode...
156
157=item initialise_node "slave/", $master, $master...
158
159Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network it has to initialise
160itself - the minimum a node needs to know is it's own name, and optionally
161it should know the noderefs of some other nodes in the network.
162
163This function initialises a node - it must be called exactly once (or
164never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
165
166All arguments (optionally except for the first) are noderefs, which can be
167either resolved or unresolved.
168
169The first argument will be looked up in the configuration database first
170(if it is C<undef> then the current nodename will be used instead) to find
171the relevant configuration profile (see L<aemp>). If none is found then
172the default configuration is used. The configuration supplies additional
173seed/master nodes and can override the actual noderef.
174
175There are two types of networked nodes, public nodes and slave nodes:
176
177=over 4
178
179=item public nodes
180
181For public nodes, C<$noderef> (supplied either directly to
182C<initialise_node> or indirectly via a profile or the nodename) must be a
183noderef (possibly unresolved, in which case it will be resolved).
184
185After resolving, the node will bind itself on all endpoints and try to
186connect to all additional C<$seednodes> that are specified. Seednodes are
187optional and can be used to quickly bootstrap the node into an existing
188network.
189
190=item slave nodes
191
192When the C<$noderef> (either as given or overriden by the config file)
193is the special string C<slave/>, then the node will become a slave
194node. Slave nodes cannot be contacted from outside and will route most of
195their traffic to the master node that they attach to.
196
197At least one additional noderef is required (either by specifying it
198directly or because it is part of the configuration profile): The node
199will try to connect to all of them and will become a slave attached to the
200first node it can successfully connect to.
201
202=back
203
204This function will block until all nodes have been resolved and, for slave
205nodes, until it has successfully established a connection to a master
206server.
207
208Example: become a public node listening on the guessed noderef, or the one
209specified via C<aemp> for the current node. This should be the most common
210form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
211
212 initialise_node;
213
214Example: become a slave node to any of the the seednodes specified via
215C<aemp>. This form is often used for commandline clients.
216
217 initialise_node "slave/";
218
219Example: become a slave node to any of the specified master servers. This
220form is also often used for commandline clients.
221
222 initialise_node "slave/", "master1", "192.168.13.17", "mp.example.net";
223
224Example: become a public node, and try to contact some well-known master
225servers to become part of the network.
226
227 initialise_node undef, "master1", "master2";
228
229Example: become a public node listening on port C<4041>.
230
231 initialise_node 4041;
232
233Example: become a public node, only visible on localhost port 4044.
234
235 initialise_node "localhost:4044";
132 236
133=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef 237=item $cv = resolve_node $noderef
134 238
135Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and 239Takes an unresolved node reference that may contain hostnames and
136abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node 240abbreviated IDs, resolves all of them and returns a resolved node
168 272
169Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to 273Due to some quirks in how perl exports variables, it is impossible to
170just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this 274just export C<$SELF>, all the symbols called C<SELF> are exported by this
171module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used. 275module, but only C<$SELF> is currently used.
172 276
173=item snd $portid, type => @data 277=item snd $port, type => @data
174 278
175=item snd $portid, @msg 279=item snd $port, @msg
176 280
177Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either 281Send the given message to the given port ID, which can identify either
178a local or a remote port, and can be either a string or soemthignt hat 282a local or a remote port, and must be a port ID.
179stringifies a sa port ID (such as a port object :).
180 283
181While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a 284While the message can be about anything, it is highly recommended to use a
182string as first element (a portid, or some word that indicates a request 285string as first element (a port ID, or some word that indicates a request
183type etc.). 286type etc.).
184 287
185The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this 288The message data effectively becomes read-only after a call to this
186function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many 289function: modifying any argument is not allowed and can cause many
187problems. 290problems.
190JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting 293JSON is used, then only strings, numbers and arrays and hashes consisting
191of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything 294of those are allowed (no objects). When Storable is used, then anything
192that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local 295that Storable can serialise and deserialise is allowed, and for the local
193node, anything can be passed. 296node, anything can be passed.
194 297
195=item kil $portid[, @reason] 298=item $local_port = port
196 299
197Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 300Create a new local port object and returns its port ID. Initially it has
301no callbacks set and will throw an error when it receives messages.
198 302
199If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked 303=item $local_port = port { my @msg = @_ }
200ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
201 304
202Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 305Creates a new local port, and returns its ID. Semantically the same as
203C<mon>, see below). 306creating a port and calling C<rcv $port, $callback> on it.
204 307
205Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 308The block will be called for every message received on the port, with the
206will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 309global variable C<$SELF> set to the port ID. Runtime errors will cause the
310port to be C<kil>ed. The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument
311(i.e. no port ID) will be passed to the callback.
207 312
208Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 313If you want to stop/destroy the port, simply C<kil> it:
209$message >>.
210 314
315 my $port = port {
316 my @msg = @_;
317 ...
318 kil $SELF;
319 };
320
321=cut
322
323sub rcv($@);
324
325sub _kilme {
326 die "received message on port without callback";
327}
328
329sub port(;&) {
330 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
331 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
332
333 rcv $port, shift || \&_kilme;
334
335 $port
336}
337
338=item rcv $local_port, $callback->(@msg)
339
340Replaces the default callback on the specified port. There is no way to
341remove the default callback: use C<sub { }> to disable it, or better
342C<kil> the port when it is no longer needed.
343
344The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$port> while
345executing the callback. Runtime errors during callback execution will
346result in the port being C<kil>ed.
347
348The default callback received all messages not matched by a more specific
349C<tag> match.
350
351=item rcv $local_port, tag => $callback->(@msg_without_tag), ...
352
353Register (or replace) callbacks to be called on messages starting with the
354given tag on the given port (and return the port), or unregister it (when
355C<$callback> is C<$undef> or missing). There can only be one callback
356registered for each tag.
357
358The original message will be passed to the callback, after the first
359element (the tag) has been removed. The callback will use the same
360environment as the default callback (see above).
361
362Example: create a port and bind receivers on it in one go.
363
364 my $port = rcv port,
365 msg1 => sub { ... },
366 msg2 => sub { ... },
367 ;
368
369Example: create a port, bind receivers and send it in a message elsewhere
370in one go:
371
372 snd $otherport, reply =>
373 rcv port,
374 msg1 => sub { ... },
375 ...
376 ;
377
378Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port
379(e.g. for a rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
380
381 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
382 my @reply = @_;
383
384 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
385 };
386
387=cut
388
389sub rcv($@) {
390 my $port = shift;
391 my ($noderef, $portid) = split /#/, $port, 2;
392
393 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
394 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
395
396 while (@_) {
397 if (ref $_[0]) {
398 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
399 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
400 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
401
402 $self->[2] = shift;
403 } else {
404 my $cb = shift;
405 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
406 local $SELF = $port;
407 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
408 };
409 }
410 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
411 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
412 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
413
414 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
415 local $SELF = $port;
416
417 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
418 shift;
419 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
420 } else {
421 &{ $self->[0] };
422 }
423 };
424
425 $self
426 };
427
428 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
429 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
430
431 my ($tag, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
432
433 if (defined $cb) {
434 $self->[1]{$tag} = $cb;
435 } else {
436 delete $self->[1]{$tag};
437 }
438 }
439 }
440
441 $port
442}
443
444=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
445
446Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
447closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
448callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
449
450This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
451
452 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
453 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
454 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
455 snd @reply, $SELF;
456 };
457 };
458
459=cut
460
461sub psub(&) {
462 my $cb = shift;
463
464 my $port = $SELF
465 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
466
467 sub {
468 local $SELF = $port;
469
470 if (wantarray) {
471 my @res = eval { &$cb };
472 _self_die if $@;
473 @res
474 } else {
475 my $res = eval { &$cb };
476 _self_die if $@;
477 $res
478 }
479 }
480}
481
211=item $guard = mon $portid, $cb->(@reason) 482=item $guard = mon $port, $cb->(@reason)
212 483
213=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport 484=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport
214 485
486=item $guard = mon $port
487
215=item $guard = mon $portid, $otherport, @msg 488=item $guard = mon $port, $rcvport, @msg
216 489
217Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed. 490Monitor the given port and do something when the port is killed or
491messages to it were lost, and optionally return a guard that can be used
492to stop monitoring again.
218 493
494C<mon> effectively guarantees that, in the absence of hardware failures,
495that after starting the monitor, either all messages sent to the port
496will arrive, or the monitoring action will be invoked after possible
497message loss has been detected. No messages will be lost "in between"
498(after the first lost message no further messages will be received by the
499port). After the monitoring action was invoked, further messages might get
500delivered again.
501
219In the first form, the callback is simply called with any number 502In the first form (callback), the callback is simply called with any
220of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted 503number of C<@reason> elements (no @reason means that the port was deleted
221"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use 504"normally"). Note also that I<< the callback B<must> never die >>, so use
222C<eval> if unsure. 505C<eval> if unsure.
223 506
224In the second form, the other port will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff 507In the second form (another port given), the other port (C<$rcvport>)
225a @reason was specified, i.e. on "normal" kils nothing happens, while 508will be C<kil>'ed with C<@reason>, iff a @reason was specified, i.e. on
226under all other conditions, the other port is killed with the same reason. 509"normal" kils nothing happens, while under all other conditions, the other
510port is killed with the same reason.
227 511
512The third form (kill self) is the same as the second form, except that
513C<$rvport> defaults to C<$SELF>.
514
228In the last form, a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be C<snd>. 515In the last form (message), a message of the form C<@msg, @reason> will be
516C<snd>.
517
518As a rule of thumb, monitoring requests should always monitor a port from
519a local port (or callback). The reason is that kill messages might get
520lost, just like any other message. Another less obvious reason is that
521even monitoring requests can get lost (for exmaple, when the connection
522to the other node goes down permanently). When monitoring a port locally
523these problems do not exist.
229 524
230Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed. 525Example: call a given callback when C<$port> is killed.
231 526
232 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" }; 527 mon $port, sub { warn "port died because of <@_>\n" };
233 528
234Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally. 529Example: kill ourselves when C<$port> is killed abnormally.
235 530
236 mon $port, $self; 531 mon $port;
237 532
238Example: send us a restart message another C<$port> is killed. 533Example: send us a restart message when another C<$port> is killed.
239 534
240 mon $port, $self => "restart"; 535 mon $port, $self => "restart";
241 536
242=cut 537=cut
243 538
244sub mon { 539sub mon {
245 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2; 540 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
246 541
247 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef; 542 my $node = $NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef;
248 543
249 my $cb = shift; 544 my $cb = @_ ? shift : $SELF || Carp::croak 'mon: called with one argument only, but $SELF not set,';
250 545
251 unless (ref $cb) { 546 unless (ref $cb) {
252 if (@_) { 547 if (@_) {
253 # send a kill info message 548 # send a kill info message
254 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_); 549 my (@msg) = ($cb, @_);
285=cut 580=cut
286 581
287sub mon_guard { 582sub mon_guard {
288 my ($port, @refs) = @_; 583 my ($port, @refs) = @_;
289 584
585 #TODO: mon-less form?
586
290 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs } 587 mon $port, sub { 0 && @refs }
291} 588}
292 589
293=item lnk $port1, $port2 590=item kil $port[, @reason]
294 591
295Link two ports. This is simply a shorthand for: 592Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
296 593
297 mon $port1, $port2; 594If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (linked
298 mon $port2, $port1; 595ports will not be kileld, or even notified).
299 596
300It means that if either one is killed abnormally, the other one gets 597Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of
301killed as well. 598C<mon>, see below).
302 599
303=item $local_port = port 600Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
601will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
304 602
305Create a new local port object that supports message matching. 603Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
604$message >>.
306 605
307=item $portid = port { my @msg = @_; $finished }
308
309Creates a "mini port", that is, a very lightweight port without any
310pattern matching behind it, and returns its ID.
311
312The block will be called for every message received on the port. When the
313callback returns a true value its job is considered "done" and the port
314will be destroyed. Otherwise it will stay alive.
315
316The message will be passed as-is, no extra argument (i.e. no port id) will
317be passed to the callback.
318
319If you need the local port id in the callback, this works nicely:
320
321 my $port; $port = miniport {
322 snd $otherport, reply => $port;
323 };
324
325=cut 606=cut
326 607
327sub port(;&) { 608=item $port = spawn $node, $initfunc[, @initdata]
328 my $id = "$UNIQ." . $ID++;
329 my $port = "$NODE#$id";
330 609
331 if (@_) { 610Creates a port on the node C<$node> (which can also be a port ID, in which
332 my $cb = shift; 611case it's the node where that port resides).
333 $PORT{$id} = sub { 612
334 local $SELF = $port; 613The port ID of the newly created port is return immediately, and it is
335 eval { 614permissible to immediately start sending messages or monitor the port.
336 &$cb 615
337 and kil $id; 616After the port has been created, the init function is
617called. This function must be a fully-qualified function name
618(e.g. C<MyApp::Chat::Server::init>). To specify a function in the main
619program, use C<::name>.
620
621If the function doesn't exist, then the node tries to C<require>
622the package, then the package above the package and so on (e.g.
623C<MyApp::Chat::Server>, C<MyApp::Chat>, C<MyApp>) until the function
624exists or it runs out of package names.
625
626The init function is then called with the newly-created port as context
627object (C<$SELF>) and the C<@initdata> values as arguments.
628
629A common idiom is to pass your own port, monitor the spawned port, and
630in the init function, monitor the original port. This two-way monitoring
631ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem.
632
633Example: spawn a chat server port on C<$othernode>.
634
635 # this node, executed from within a port context:
636 my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF;
637 mon $server;
638
639 # init function on C<$othernode>
640 sub connect {
641 my ($srcport) = @_;
642
643 mon $srcport;
644
645 rcv $SELF, sub {
338 }; 646 ...
339 _self_die if $@;
340 };
341 } else {
342 my $self = bless {
343 id => "$NODE#$id",
344 }, "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
345
346 $PORT_DATA{$id} = $self;
347 $PORT{$id} = sub {
348 local $SELF = $port;
349
350 eval {
351 for (@{ $self->{rc0}{$_[0]} }) {
352 $_ && &{$_->[0]}
353 && undef $_;
354 }
355
356 for (@{ $self->{rcv}{$_[0]} }) {
357 $_ && [@_[1 .. @{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
358 && &{$_->[0]}
359 && undef $_;
360 }
361
362 for (@{ $self->{any} }) {
363 $_ && [@_[0 .. $#{$_->[1]}]] ~~ $_->[1]
364 && &{$_->[0]}
365 && undef $_;
366 }
367 };
368 _self_die if $@;
369 }; 647 };
370 } 648 }
371 649
372 $port 650=cut
651
652sub _spawn {
653 my $port = shift;
654 my $init = shift;
655
656 local $SELF = "$NODE#$port";
657 eval {
658 &{ load_func $init }
659 };
660 _self_die if $@;
373} 661}
374 662
375=item reg $portid, $name 663sub spawn(@) {
664 my ($noderef, undef) = split /#/, shift, 2;
376 665
377Registers the given port under the name C<$name>. If the name already 666 my $id = "$RUNIQ." . $ID++;
378exists it is replaced.
379 667
380A port can only be registered under one well known name. 668 $_[0] =~ /::/
669 or Carp::croak "spawn init function must be a fully-qualified name, caught";
381 670
382A port automatically becomes unregistered when it is killed. 671 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef)
672 ->send (["", "AnyEvent::MP::_spawn" => $id, @_]);
383 673
384=cut 674 "$noderef#$id"
385
386sub reg(@) {
387 my ($portid, $name) = @_;
388
389 $REG{$name} = $portid;
390} 675}
391
392=item rcv $portid, tagstring => $callback->(@msg), ...
393
394=item rcv $portid, $smartmatch => $callback->(@msg), ...
395
396=item rcv $portid, [$smartmatch...] => $callback->(@msg), ...
397
398Register callbacks to be called on matching messages on the given port.
399
400The callback has to return a true value when its work is done, after
401which is will be removed, or a false value in which case it will stay
402registered.
403
404The global C<$SELF> (exported by this module) contains C<$portid> while
405executing the callback.
406
407Runtime errors wdurign callback execution will result in the port being
408C<kil>ed.
409
410If the match is an array reference, then it will be matched against the
411first elements of the message, otherwise only the first element is being
412matched.
413
414Any element in the match that is specified as C<_any_> (a function
415exported by this module) matches any single element of the message.
416
417While not required, it is highly recommended that the first matching
418element is a string identifying the message. The one-string-only match is
419also the most efficient match (by far).
420
421=cut
422
423sub rcv($@) {
424 my ($noderef, $port) = split /#/, shift, 2;
425
426 ($NODE{$noderef} || add_node $noderef) == $NODE{""}
427 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on local ports, caught";
428
429 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$port}
430 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
431
432 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
433 or Carp::croak "$noderef#$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
434
435 while (@_) {
436 my ($match, $cb) = splice @_, 0, 2;
437
438 if (!ref $match) {
439 push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match} }, [$cb];
440 } elsif (("ARRAY" eq ref $match && !ref $match->[0])) {
441 my ($type, @match) = @$match;
442 @match
443 ? push @{ $self->{rcv}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb, \@match]
444 : push @{ $self->{rc0}{$match->[0]} }, [$cb];
445 } else {
446 push @{ $self->{any} }, [$cb, $match];
447 }
448 }
449}
450
451=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
452
453Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
454closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
455callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
456
457This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
458
459 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
460 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
461 my $timer = AE::timer $delay, 0, psub {
462 snd @reply, $SELF;
463 };
464 };
465
466=cut
467
468sub psub(&) {
469 my $cb = shift;
470
471 my $port = $SELF
472 or Carp::croak "psub can only be called from within rcv or psub callbacks, not";
473
474 sub {
475 local $SELF = $port;
476
477 if (wantarray) {
478 my @res = eval { &$cb };
479 _self_die if $@;
480 @res
481 } else {
482 my $res = eval { &$cb };
483 _self_die if $@;
484 $res
485 }
486 }
487}
488
489=back
490
491=head1 FUNCTIONS FOR NODES
492
493=over 4
494
495=item become_public $noderef
496
497Tells the node to become a public node, i.e. reachable from other nodes.
498
499The first argument is the (unresolved) node reference of the local node
500(if missing then the empty string is used).
501
502It is quite common to not specify anything, in which case the local node
503tries to listen on the default port, or to only specify a port number, in
504which case AnyEvent::MP tries to guess the local addresses.
505
506=cut
507 676
508=back 677=back
509 678
510=head1 NODE MESSAGES 679=head1 NODE MESSAGES
511 680
553 722
554=back 723=back
555 724
556=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 725=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
557 726
558AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed erlang (erlang node 727AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
559== aemp node, erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 728== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
560programming techniques employed by erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 729programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
561sample: 730sample:
562 731
563 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 732 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
564 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 733 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
565 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 734 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
566 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 735 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
567 736
568Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 737Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
569 738
570=over 4 739=over 4
571 740
576convenience functionality. 745convenience functionality.
577 746
578This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the 747This means that AEMP requires a less tightly controlled environment at the
579cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead. 748cost of longer node references and a slightly higher management overhead.
580 749
750=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
751uses "local ports are like remote ports".
752
753The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
754only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you I<know> it dies,
755when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other
756port.
757
758Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when
759they are not.
760
761AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local
762ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
763occur.
764
581=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 765=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
582 766
583Erlang uses processes that selctively receive messages, and therefore 767Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore
584needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful 768needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no
585purpose. 769useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of
770AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
771filter messages without dequeing them.
586 772
587(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 773(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP).
588 774
589=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 775=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
590 776
591Sending messages in erlang is synchronous and blocks the process. AEMP 777Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and
592sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the 778so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate,
593background. 779connection establishment is handled in the background.
594 780
595=item * Erlang can silently lose messages, AEMP cannot. 781=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
596 782
597Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 783Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost
598without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 784without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b,
599and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 785and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
600 786
601AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no 787AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that there are no
602holes in the message sequence. 788holes in the message sequence.
603 789
604=item * In erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be 790=item * In Erlang, processes can be declared dead and later be found to be
605alive. 791alive.
606 792
607In erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and 793In Erlang it can happen that a monitored process is declared dead and
608linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is 794linked processes get killed, but later it turns out that the process is
609still alive - and can receive messages. 795still alive - and can receive messages.
610 796
611In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will 797In AEMP, when port monitoring detects a port as dead, then that port will
612eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead 798eventually be killed - it cannot happen that a node detects a port as dead
613and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive. 799and then later sends messages to it, finding it is still alive.
614 800
615=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 801=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
616 802
617In erlang it is quite possible that a node that restarts reuses a process 803In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID
618ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing 804known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages
619messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 805destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process.
620 806
621AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 807AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
622around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 808around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
623 809
624=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 810=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
628securely authenticate nodes. 814securely authenticate nodes.
629 815
630=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 816=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
631communications. 817communications.
632 818
633The AEMP protocol, unlike the erlang protocol, supports both 819The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both
634language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 820language-independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary,
635language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). 821language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable).
636 822
637It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 823It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
638with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the 824with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading fucntionality to make the
639protocol simple. 825protocol simple.
640 826
827=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
828
829In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages
830or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is
831difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in
832Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback
833on a per-process basis.
834
835=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
836
837Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes,
838as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
839
840In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports
841that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port
842on the remote node. The init function monitors the you, and you monitor
843the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much
844more reliable.
845
846This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port
847(hard to do in Erlang).
848
849=back
850
851=head1 RATIONALE
852
853=over 4
854
855=item Why strings for ports and noderefs, why not objects?
856
857We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods
858thatc an be called are very low. Since port IDs and noderefs travel over
859the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of
860overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object.
861
862Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
863procedures to be "valid".
864
865And a a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a global hash - it
866can't become much cheaper.
867
868=item Why favour JSON, why not real serialising format such as Storable?
869
870In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
871format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
872default.
873
874The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times
875faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of
876experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems
877than it gains: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel
878easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you
879always have to re-think your design.
880
881Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than
882objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient.
883
641=back 884=back
642 885
643=head1 SEE ALSO 886=head1 SEE ALSO
644 887
645L<AnyEvent>. 888L<AnyEvent>.

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