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Revision 1.82 by root, Mon Sep 7 18:42:09 2009 UTC vs.
Revision 1.119 by root, Sun Feb 26 10:29:59 2012 UTC

1=head1 NAME 1=head1 NAME
2 2
3AnyEvent::MP - multi-processing/message-passing framework 3AnyEvent::MP - erlang-style multi-processing/message-passing framework
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use AnyEvent::MP; 7 use AnyEvent::MP;
8 8
30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" }; 30 rcv $port, pong => sub { warn "pong received\n" };
31 31
32 # create a port on another node 32 # create a port on another node
33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata; 33 my $port = spawn $node, $initfunc, @initdata;
34 34
35 # destroy a port again
36 kil $port; # "normal" kill
37 kil $port, my_error => "everything is broken"; # error kill
38
35 # monitoring 39 # monitoring
36 mon $port, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death 40 mon $localport, $cb->(@msg) # callback is invoked on death
37 mon $port, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death 41 mon $localport, $otherport # kill otherport on abnormal death
38 mon $port, $otherport, @msg # send message on death 42 mon $localport, $otherport, @msg # send message on death
43
44 # temporarily execute code in port context
45 peval $port, sub { die "kill the port!" };
46
47 # execute callbacks in $SELF port context
48 my $timer = AE::timer 1, 0, psub {
49 die "kill the port, delayed";
50 };
39 51
40=head1 CURRENT STATUS 52=head1 CURRENT STATUS
41 53
42 bin/aemp - stable. 54 bin/aemp - stable.
43 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work. 55 AnyEvent::MP - stable API, should work.
44 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts. 56 AnyEvent::MP::Intro - explains most concepts.
45 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable. 57 AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - mostly stable API.
46 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable but incomplete, protocol not yet final. 58 AnyEvent::MP::Global - stable API.
47
48stay tuned.
49 59
50=head1 DESCRIPTION 60=head1 DESCRIPTION
51 61
52This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework. 62This module (-family) implements a simple message passing framework.
53 63
68 78
69Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just 79Ports allow you to register C<rcv> handlers that can match all or just
70some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of 80some messages. Messages send to ports will not be queued, regardless of
71anything was listening for them or not. 81anything was listening for them or not.
72 82
83Ports are represented by (printable) strings called "port IDs".
84
73=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname> 85=item port ID - C<nodeid#portname>
74 86
75A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as 87A port ID is the concatenation of a node ID, a hash-mark (C<#>) as
76separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format). 88separator, and a port name (a printable string of unspecified format).
77 89
81which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new 93which enables nodes to manage each other remotely, and to create new
82ports. 94ports.
83 95
84Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private 96Nodes are either public (have one or more listening ports) or private
85(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes 97(no listening ports). Private nodes cannot talk to other private nodes
86currently. 98currently, but all nodes can talk to public nodes.
87 99
100Nodes is represented by (printable) strings called "node IDs".
101
88=item node ID - C<[a-za-Z0-9_\-.:]+> 102=item node ID - C<[A-Za-z0-9_\-.:]*>
89 103
90A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a 104A node ID is a string that uniquely identifies the node within a
91network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a 105network. Depending on the configuration used, node IDs can look like a
92hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself 106hostname, a hostname and a port, or a random string. AnyEvent::MP itself
93doesn't interpret node IDs in any way. 107doesn't interpret node IDs in any way except to uniquely identify a node.
94 108
95=item binds - C<ip:port> 109=item binds - C<ip:port>
96 110
97Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to 111Nodes can only talk to each other by creating some kind of connection to
98each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport 112each other. To do this, nodes should listen on one or more local transport
113endpoints - binds.
114
99endpoints - binds. Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can 115Currently, only standard C<ip:port> specifications can be used, which
100be used, which specify TCP ports to listen on. 116specify TCP ports to listen on. So a bind is basically just a tcp socket
117in listening mode thta accepts conenctions form other nodes.
101 118
119=item seed nodes
120
121When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network it is in - it
122needs to connect to at least one other node that is already in the
123network. These other nodes are called "seed nodes".
124
125Seed nodes themselves are not special - they are seed nodes only because
126some other node I<uses> them as such, but any node can be used as seed
127node for other nodes, and eahc node cna use a different set of seed nodes.
128
129In addition to discovering the network, seed nodes are also used to
130maintain the network - all nodes using the same seed node form are part of
131the same network. If a network is split into multiple subnets because e.g.
132the network link between the parts goes down, then using the same seed
133nodes for all nodes ensures that eventually the subnets get merged again.
134
135Seed nodes are expected to be long-running, and at least one seed node
136should always be available. They should also be relatively responsive - a
137seed node that blocks for long periods will slow down everybody else.
138
139For small networks, it's best if every node uses the same set of seed
140nodes. For large networks, it can be useful to specify "regional" seed
141nodes for most nodes in an area, and use all seed nodes as seed nodes for
142each other. What's important is that all seed nodes connections form a
143complete graph, so that the network cannot split into separate subnets
144forever.
145
146Seed nodes are represented by seed IDs.
147
102=item seeds - C<host:port> 148=item seed IDs - C<host:port>
103 149
104When a node starts, it knows nothing about the network. To teach the node 150Seed IDs are transport endpoint(s) (usually a hostname/IP address and a
105about the network it first has to contact some other node within the 151TCP port) of nodes that should be used as seed nodes.
106network. This node is called a seed.
107 152
108Seeds are transport endpoint(s) of as many nodes as one wants. Those nodes 153=item global 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.
113 154
114Apart from being sued for seeding, seednodes are not special in any way - 155An AEMP network needs a discovery service - nodes need to know how to
115every public node can be a seednode. 156connect to other nodes they only know by name. In addition, AEMP offers a
157distributed "group database", which maps group names to a list of strings
158- for example, to register worker ports.
159
160A network needs at least one global node to work, and allows every node to
161be a global node.
162
163Any node that loads the L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module becomes a global
164node and tries to keep connections to all other nodes. So while it can
165make sense to make every node "global" in small networks, it usually makes
166sense to only make seed nodes into global nodes in large networks (nodes
167keep connections to seed nodes and global nodes, so makign them the same
168reduces overhead).
116 169
117=back 170=back
118 171
119=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS 172=head1 VARIABLES/FUNCTIONS
120 173
132 185
133use AE (); 186use AE ();
134 187
135use base "Exporter"; 188use base "Exporter";
136 189
137our $VERSION = $AnyEvent::MP::Kernel::VERSION; 190our $VERSION = '1.30';
138 191
139our @EXPORT = qw( 192our @EXPORT = qw(
140 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after 193 NODE $NODE *SELF node_of after
141 configure 194 configure
142 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil reg psub spawn 195 snd rcv mon mon_guard kil psub peval spawn cal
143 port 196 port
144); 197);
145 198
146our $SELF; 199our $SELF;
147 200
167 220
168Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter 221Before a node can talk to other nodes on the network (i.e. enter
169"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs 222"distributed mode") it has to configure itself - the minimum a node needs
170to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of 223to know is its own name, and optionally it should know the addresses of
171some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes. 224some other nodes in the network to discover other nodes.
225
226The key/value pairs are basically the same ones as documented for the
227F<aemp> command line utility (sans the set/del prefix).
172 228
173This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or 229This function configures a node - it must be called exactly once (or
174never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions. 230never) before calling other AnyEvent::MP functions.
175 231
176=over 4 232=over 4
210used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every 266used, meaning the node will bind on a dynamically-assigned port on every
211local IP address it finds. 267local IP address it finds.
212 268
213=item step 3, connect to seed nodes 269=item step 3, connect to seed nodes
214 270
215As the last step, the seeds list from the profile is passed to the 271As the last step, the seed ID list from the profile is passed to the
216L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep 272L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> module, which will then use it to keep
217connectivity with at least one node at any point in time. 273connectivity with at least one node at any point in time.
218 274
219=back 275=back
220 276
221Example: become a distributed node using the locla node name as profile. 277Example: become a distributed node using the local node name as profile.
222This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes. 278This should be the most common form of invocation for "daemon"-type nodes.
223 279
224 configure 280 configure
225 281
226Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline 282Example: become an anonymous node. This form is often used for commandline
360 msg1 => sub { ... }, 416 msg1 => sub { ... },
361 ... 417 ...
362 ; 418 ;
363 419
364Example: temporarily register a rcv callback for a tag matching some port 420Example: 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. 421(e.g. for an rpc reply) and unregister it after a message was received.
366 422
367 rcv $port, $otherport => sub { 423 rcv $port, $otherport => sub {
368 my @reply = @_; 424 my @reply = @_;
369 425
370 rcv $SELF, $otherport; 426 rcv $SELF, $otherport;
383 if (ref $_[0]) { 439 if (ref $_[0]) {
384 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) { 440 if (my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid}) {
385 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self 441 "AnyEvent::MP::Port" eq ref $self
386 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught"; 442 or Carp::croak "$port: rcv can only be called on message matching ports, caught";
387 443
388 $self->[2] = shift; 444 $self->[0] = shift;
389 } else { 445 } else {
390 my $cb = shift; 446 my $cb = shift;
391 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 447 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
392 local $SELF = $port; 448 local $SELF = $port;
393 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@; 449 eval { &$cb }; _self_die if $@;
394 }; 450 };
395 } 451 }
396 } elsif (defined $_[0]) { 452 } elsif (defined $_[0]) {
397 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do { 453 my $self = $PORT_DATA{$portid} ||= do {
398 my $self = bless [$PORT{$port} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port"; 454 my $self = bless [$PORT{$portid} || sub { }, { }, $port], "AnyEvent::MP::Port";
399 455
400 $PORT{$portid} = sub { 456 $PORT{$portid} = sub {
401 local $SELF = $port; 457 local $SELF = $port;
402 458
403 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) { 459 if (my $cb = $self->[1]{$_[0]}) {
425 } 481 }
426 482
427 $port 483 $port
428} 484}
429 485
486=item peval $port, $coderef[, @args]
487
488Evaluates the given C<$codref> within the contetx of C<$port>, that is,
489when the code throews an exception the C<$port> will be killed.
490
491Any remaining args will be passed to the callback. Any return values will
492be returned to the caller.
493
494This is useful when you temporarily want to execute code in the context of
495a port.
496
497Example: create a port and run some initialisation code in it's context.
498
499 my $port = port { ... };
500
501 peval $port, sub {
502 init
503 or die "unable to init";
504 };
505
506=cut
507
508sub peval($$) {
509 local $SELF = shift;
510 my $cb = shift;
511
512 if (wantarray) {
513 my @res = eval { &$cb };
514 _self_die if $@;
515 @res
516 } else {
517 my $res = eval { &$cb };
518 _self_die if $@;
519 $res
520 }
521}
522
430=item $closure = psub { BLOCK } 523=item $closure = psub { BLOCK }
431 524
432Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the 525Remembers C<$SELF> and creates a closure out of the BLOCK. When the
433closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv> 526closure is executed, sets up the environment in the same way as in C<rcv>
434callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed. 527callbacks, i.e. runtime errors will cause the port to get C<kil>ed.
528
529The effect is basically as if it returned C<< sub { peval $SELF, sub {
530BLOCK }, @_ } >>.
435 531
436This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks: 532This is useful when you register callbacks from C<rcv> callbacks:
437 533
438 rcv delayed_reply => sub { 534 rcv delayed_reply => sub {
439 my ($delay, @reply) = @_; 535 my ($delay, @reply) = @_;
512delivered again. 608delivered again.
513 609
514Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport 610Inter-host-connection timeouts and monitoring depend on the transport
515used. The only transport currently implemented is TCP, and AnyEvent::MP 611used. 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 612relies 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). 613non-idle connection, and usually around two hours for idle connections).
518 614
519This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up 615This means that monitoring is good for program errors and cleaning up
520stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need 616stuff eventually, but they are no replacement for a timeout when you need
521to ensure some maximum latency. 617to ensure some maximum latency.
522 618
554 } 650 }
555 651
556 $node->monitor ($port, $cb); 652 $node->monitor ($port, $cb);
557 653
558 defined wantarray 654 defined wantarray
559 and AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) } 655 and ($cb += 0, AnyEvent::Util::guard { $node->unmonitor ($port, $cb) })
560} 656}
561 657
562=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref... 658=item $guard = mon_guard $port, $ref, $ref...
563 659
564Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port 660Monitors the given C<$port> and keeps the passed references. When the port
587 683
588=item kil $port[, @reason] 684=item kil $port[, @reason]
589 685
590Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>. 686Kill the specified port with the given C<@reason>.
591 687
592If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" (ports 688If no C<@reason> is specified, then the port is killed "normally" -
593monitoring other ports will not necessarily die because a port dies 689monitor callback will be invoked, but the kil will not cause linked ports
594"normally"). 690(C<mon $mport, $lport> form) to get killed.
595 691
596Otherwise, linked ports get killed with the same reason (second form of 692If a C<@reason> is specified, then linked ports (C<mon $mport, $lport>
597C<mon>, see above). 693form) get killed with the same reason.
598 694
599Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks 695Runtime errors while evaluating C<rcv> callbacks or inside C<psub> blocks
600will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>. 696will be reported as reason C<< die => $@ >>.
601 697
602Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error => 698Transport/communication errors are reported as C<< transport_error =>
702 ? $action[0]() 798 ? $action[0]()
703 : snd @action; 799 : snd @action;
704 }; 800 };
705} 801}
706 802
803=item cal $port, @msg, $callback[, $timeout]
804
805A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given C<$port> with the
806given contents (C<@msg>), but adds a reply port to the message.
807
808The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving
809the reply, and will be C<kil>ed when no longer needed.
810
811A reply message sent to the port is passed to the C<$callback> as-is.
812
813If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not C<undef>,
814then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out
815elapsed and the port is C<kil>ed.
816
817If no time-out is given (or it is C<undef>), then the local port will
818monitor the remote port instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up.
819
820Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature"
821might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that
822this is indeed useful for something.
823
824=cut
825
826sub cal(@) {
827 my $timeout = ref $_[-1] ? undef : pop;
828 my $cb = pop;
829
830 my $port = port {
831 undef $timeout;
832 kil $SELF;
833 &$cb;
834 };
835
836 if (defined $timeout) {
837 $timeout = AE::timer $timeout, 0, sub {
838 undef $timeout;
839 kil $port;
840 $cb->();
841 };
842 } else {
843 mon $_[0], sub {
844 kil $port;
845 $cb->();
846 };
847 }
848
849 push @_, $port;
850 &snd;
851
852 $port
853}
854
707=back 855=back
708 856
709=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang 857=head1 AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang
710 858
711AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node 859AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node
712== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and 860== aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and
713programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a 861programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a
714sample: 862sample:
715 863
716 http://www.Erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml 864 http://www.erlang.se/doc/programming_rules.shtml
717 http://Erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4 865 http://erlang.org/doc/getting_started/part_frame.html # chapters 3 and 4
718 http://Erlang.org/download/Erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6 866 http://erlang.org/download/erlang-book-part1.pdf # chapters 5 and 6
719 http://Erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5 867 http://erlang.org/download/armstrong_thesis_2003.pdf # chapters 4 and 5
720 868
721Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: 869Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences:
722 870
723=over 4 871=over 4
724 872
725=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP. 873=item * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP.
726 874
727Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same 875Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same
728way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by 876way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by
729configuration or DNS), but will otherwise discover other odes itself. 877configuration or DNS), and possibly the addresses of some seed nodes, but
878will otherwise discover other nodes (and their IDs) itself.
730 879
731=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP 880=item * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP
732uses "local ports are like remote ports". 881uses "local ports are like remote ports".
733 882
734The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors 883The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors
743ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot 892ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot
744occur. 893occur.
745 894
746=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. 895=item * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue.
747 896
748Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore 897Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages out of order, and
749needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no 898therefore needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve
750useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of 899no useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities
751AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to 900of AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to
752filter messages without dequeuing them. 901filter messages without dequeuing them.
753 902
754(But see L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). 903This is not a philosophical difference, but simply stems from AnyEvent::MP
904being event-based, while Erlang is process-based.
905
906You cna have a look at L<Coro::MP> for a more Erlang-like process model on
907top of AEMP and Coro threads.
755 908
756=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. 909=item * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous.
757 910
758Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and 911Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process until
912a conenction has been established and the message sent (and so does not
759so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, 913need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends return immediately, connection
760connection establishment is handled in the background. 914establishment is handled in the background.
761 915
762=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. 916=item * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not.
763 917
764Erlang makes few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost 918Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get
765without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, 919lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a,
766and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). 920b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c).
767 921
768AEMP guarantees correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message 922AEMP guarantees (modulo hardware errors) correct ordering, and the
769is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until 923guarantee that after one message is lost, all following ones sent to the
770monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message 924same port are lost as well, until monitoring raises an error, so there are
771sequence. 925no silent "holes" in the message sequence.
926
927If you want your software to be very reliable, you have to cope with
928corrupted and even out-of-order messages in both Erlang and AEMP. AEMP
929simply tries to work better in common error cases, such as when a network
930link goes down.
772 931
773=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. 932=item * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not.
774 933
775In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID 934In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses an Erlang
776known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages 935process ID known to other nodes for a completely different process,
777destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. 936causing messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated
937process.
778 938
779AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating 939AEMP does not reuse port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating
780around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. 940around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port.
781 941
782=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure 942=item * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure
783authentication and can use TLS. 943authentication and can use TLS.
784 944
787 947
788=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary 948=item * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary
789communications. 949communications.
790 950
791The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming 951The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming
792language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, 952language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging), and binary,
793language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is 953language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is
794used, the protocol is actually completely text-based. 954used, the protocol is actually completely text-based.
795 955
796It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages 956It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages
797with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the 957with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the
798protocol simple. 958protocol simple.
799 959
800=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. 960=item * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang.
801 961
802In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages 962In Erlang, you can chose to receive I<all> exit signals as messages or
803or I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is 963I<none>, there is no in-between, so monitoring single Erlang processes is
804difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in 964difficult to implement.
805Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback 965
806on a per-process basis. 966Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in Erlang, as one can choose
967between automatic kill, exit message or callback on a per-port basis.
807 968
808=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. 969=item * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not.
809 970
810Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the 971Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the
811same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). 972same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang).
833overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere. 994overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere.
834 995
835Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special 996Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special
836procedures to be "valid". 997procedures to be "valid".
837 998
838And as a result, a miniport consists of a single closure stored in a 999And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single
839global hash - it can't become much cheaper. 1000code reference stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper.
840 1001
841=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable? 1002=item Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable?
842 1003
843In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing 1004In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing
844format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by 1005format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by
860 1021
861L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction. 1022L<AnyEvent::MP::Intro> - a gentle introduction.
862 1023
863L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff. 1024L<AnyEvent::MP::Kernel> - more, lower-level, stuff.
864 1025
865L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintainance and port groups, to find 1026L<AnyEvent::MP::Global> - network maintenance and port groups, to find
866your applications. 1027your applications.
1028
1029L<AnyEvent::MP::DataConn> - establish data connections between nodes.
867 1030
868L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from 1031L<AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher> - simple service to display log messages from
869all nodes. 1032all nodes.
870 1033
871L<AnyEvent>. 1034L<AnyEvent>.

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