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7 | use Async::Interrupt; |
7 | use Async::Interrupt; |
8 | |
8 | |
9 | =head1 DESCRIPTION |
9 | =head1 DESCRIPTION |
10 | |
10 | |
11 | This module implements a single feature only of interest to advanced perl |
11 | This module implements a single feature only of interest to advanced perl |
12 | modules, namely asynchronous interruptions (think "unix signals", which |
12 | modules, namely asynchronous interruptions (think "UNIX signals", which |
13 | are very similar). |
13 | are very similar). |
14 | |
14 | |
15 | Sometimes, modules wish to run code asynchronously (in another thread), |
15 | Sometimes, modules wish to run code asynchronously (in another thread, |
16 | and then signal the perl interpreter on certain events. One common way is |
16 | or from a signal handler), and then signal the perl interpreter on |
17 | to write some data to a pipe and use an event handling toolkit to watch |
17 | certain events. One common way is to write some data to a pipe and use an |
18 | for I/O events. Another way is to send a signal. Those methods are slow, |
18 | event handling toolkit to watch for I/O events. Another way is to send |
19 | and in the case of a pipe, also not asynchronous - it won't interrupt a |
19 | a signal. Those methods are slow, and in the case of a pipe, also not |
20 | running perl interpreter. |
20 | asynchronous - it won't interrupt a running perl interpreter. |
21 | |
21 | |
22 | This module implements asynchronous notifications that enable you to |
22 | This module implements asynchronous notifications that enable you to |
23 | signal running perl code form another thread, asynchronously, without |
23 | signal running perl code from another thread, asynchronously, and |
24 | issuing syscalls. |
24 | sometimes even without using a single syscall. |
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25 | |
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26 | =head2 USAGE SCENARIOS |
25 | |
27 | |
26 | =over 4 |
28 | =over 4 |
27 | |
29 | |
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30 | =item Race-free signal handling |
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31 | |
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32 | There seems to be no way to do race-free signal handling in perl: to |
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33 | catch a signal, you have to execute Perl code, and between entering the |
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34 | interpreter C<select> function (or other blocking functions) and executing |
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35 | the select syscall is a small but relevant timespan during which signals |
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36 | will be queued, but perl signal handlers will not be executed and the |
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37 | blocking syscall will not be interrupted. |
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38 | |
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39 | You can use this module to bind a signal to a callback while at the same |
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40 | time activating an event pipe that you can C<select> on, fixing the race |
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41 | completely. |
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42 | |
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43 | This can be used to implement the signal hadling in event loops, |
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44 | e.g. L<AnyEvent>, L<POE>, L<IO::Async::Loop> and so on. |
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45 | |
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46 | =item Background threads want speedy reporting |
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47 | |
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48 | Assume you want very exact timing, and you can spare an extra cpu core |
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49 | for that. Then you can run an extra thread that signals your perl |
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50 | interpreter. This means you can get a very exact timing source while your |
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51 | perl code is number crunching, without even using a syscall to communicate |
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52 | between your threads. |
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53 | |
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54 | For example the deliantra game server uses a variant of this technique |
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55 | to interrupt background processes regularly to send map updates to game |
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56 | clients. |
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57 | |
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58 | L<IO::AIO> and L<BDB> could also use this to speed up result reporting. |
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59 | |
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60 | =item Speedy event loop invocation |
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61 | |
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62 | One could use this module e.g. in L<Coro> to interrupt a running coro-thread |
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63 | and cause it to enter the event loop. |
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64 | |
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65 | Or one could bind to C<SIGIO> and tell some important sockets to send this |
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66 | signal, causing the event loop to be entered to reduce network latency. |
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67 | |
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68 | =back |
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69 | |
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70 | =head2 HOW TO USE |
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71 | |
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72 | You can use this module by creating an C<Async::Interrupt> object for each |
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73 | such event source. This object stores a perl and/or a C-level callback |
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74 | that is invoked when the C<Async::Interrupt> object gets signalled. It is |
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75 | executed at the next time the perl interpreter is running (i.e. it will |
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76 | interrupt a computation, but not an XS function or a syscall). |
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77 | |
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78 | You can signal the C<Async::Interrupt> object either by calling it's C<< |
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79 | ->signal >> method, or, more commonly, by calling a C function. There is |
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80 | also the built-in (POSIX) signal source. |
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81 | |
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82 | The C<< ->signal_func >> returns the address of the C function that is to |
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83 | be called (plus an argument to be used during the call). The signalling |
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84 | function also takes an integer argument in the range SIG_ATOMIC_MIN to |
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85 | SIG_ATOMIC_MAX (guaranteed to allow at least 0..127). |
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86 | |
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87 | Since this kind of interruption is fast, but can only interrupt a |
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88 | I<running> interpreter, there is optional support for signalling a pipe |
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89 | - that means you can also wait for the pipe to become readable (e.g. via |
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90 | L<EV> or L<AnyEvent>). This, of course, incurs the overhead of a C<read> |
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91 | and C<write> syscall. |
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92 | |
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93 | =over 4 |
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94 | |
28 | =cut |
95 | =cut |
29 | |
96 | |
30 | package Async::Interrupt; |
97 | package Async::Interrupt; |
31 | |
98 | |
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99 | no warnings; |
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100 | |
32 | BEGIN { |
101 | BEGIN { |
33 | $VERSION = '0.02'; |
102 | $VERSION = '0.04'; |
34 | |
103 | |
35 | require XSLoader; |
104 | require XSLoader; |
36 | XSLoader::load Async::Interrupt::, $VERSION; |
105 | XSLoader::load Async::Interrupt::, $VERSION; |
37 | } |
106 | } |
38 | |
107 | |
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108 | our $DIED = sub { warn "$@" }; |
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109 | |
39 | =item $async = new Async::Interrupt key => value... |
110 | =item $async = new Async::Interrupt key => value... |
40 | |
111 | |
41 | Creates a new Async::Interrupt object. You may only use async |
112 | Creates a new Async::Interrupt object. You may only use async |
42 | notifications on this object while it exists, so you need to keep a |
113 | notifications on this object while it exists, so you need to keep a |
43 | reference to it at all times while it is used. |
114 | reference to it at all times while it is used. |
… | |
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51 | |
122 | |
52 | Registers a perl callback to be invoked whenever the async interrupt is |
123 | Registers a perl callback to be invoked whenever the async interrupt is |
53 | signalled. |
124 | signalled. |
54 | |
125 | |
55 | Note that, since this callback can be invoked at basically any time, it |
126 | Note that, since this callback can be invoked at basically any time, it |
56 | must not modify any well-known global variables such as C<$/>, C<$@> or |
127 | must not modify any well-known global variables such as C<$/> without |
57 | C<$!>, without restoring them again before returning. |
128 | restoring them again before returning. |
58 | |
129 | |
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130 | The exceptions are C<$!> and C<$@>, which are saved and restored by |
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131 | Async::Interrupt. |
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132 | |
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133 | If the callback should throw an exception, then it will be caught, |
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134 | and C<$Async::Interrupt::DIED> will be called with C<$@> containing |
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135 | the exception. The default will simply C<warn> about the message and |
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136 | continue. |
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137 | |
59 | =item c_cb => [$c_func, $c_data] |
138 | =item c_cb => [$c_func, $c_arg] |
60 | |
139 | |
61 | Registers a C callback the be invoked whenever the async interrupt is |
140 | Registers a C callback the be invoked whenever the async interrupt is |
62 | signalled. |
141 | signalled. |
63 | |
142 | |
64 | The C callback must have the following prototype: |
143 | The C callback must have the following prototype: |
65 | |
144 | |
66 | void c_func (pTHX_ void *c_data, int value); |
145 | void c_func (pTHX_ void *c_arg, int value); |
67 | |
146 | |
68 | Both C<$c_func> and C<$c_data> must be specified as integers/IVs. |
147 | Both C<$c_func> and C<$c_arg> must be specified as integers/IVs, and |
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148 | C<$value> is the C<value> passed to some earlier call to either C<$signal> |
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149 | or the C<signal_func> function. |
69 | |
150 | |
70 | Note that, because the callback can be invoked at almost any time, you |
151 | Note that, because the callback can be invoked at almost any time, you |
71 | have to be careful at saving and restoring global variables that Perl |
152 | have to be careful at saving and restoring global variables that Perl |
72 | might use, most notably C<errno>. The callback itself runs as part of the |
153 | might use (the exception is C<errno>, which is saved and restored by |
73 | perl context, so you can call any perl functions and modify any perl data |
154 | Async::Interrupt). The callback itself runs as part of the perl context, |
74 | structures. |
155 | so you can call any perl functions and modify any perl data structures (in |
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156 | which case the requirements set out for C<cb> apply as well). |
75 | |
157 | |
76 | =item fh => $fileno_or_fh |
158 | =item signal => $signame_or_value |
77 | |
159 | |
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160 | When this parameter is specified, then the Async::Interrupt will hook the |
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161 | given signal, that is, it will effectively call C<< ->signal (0) >> each time |
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162 | the given signal is caught by the process. |
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163 | |
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164 | Only one async can hook a given signal, and the signal will be restored to |
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165 | defaults when the Async::Interrupt object gets destroyed. |
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166 | |
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167 | =item pipe => [$fileno_or_fh_for_reading, $fileno_or_fh_for_writing] |
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168 | |
78 | Specifies a file descriptor (or file handle) that should be signalled |
169 | Specifies two file descriptors (or file handles) that should be signalled |
79 | whenever the async interrupt is signalled. This means a single octet will |
170 | whenever the async interrupt is signalled. This means a single octet will |
80 | be written to it, and before the callback is being invoked, it will be |
171 | be written to it, and before the callback is being invoked, it will be |
81 | read again. Due to races, it is unlikely but possible that multiple octets |
172 | read again. Due to races, it is unlikely but possible that multiple octets |
82 | are written, therefore, it is recommended that the file handle is in |
173 | are written. It is required that the file handles are both in nonblocking |
83 | nonblocking mode. |
174 | mode. |
84 | |
175 | |
85 | (You can get a portable pipe and set non-blocking mode portably by using |
176 | You can get a portable pipe and set non-blocking mode portably by using |
86 | e.g. L<AnyEvent::Util> from the L<AnyEvent> distro). |
177 | e.g. L<AnyEvent::Util> from the L<AnyEvent> distribution. |
87 | |
178 | |
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179 | It is also possible to pass in a linux eventfd as both read and write |
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180 | handle (which is faster than a pipe). |
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181 | |
88 | The object will keep a reference to the file handle. |
182 | The object will keep a reference to the file handles. |
89 | |
183 | |
90 | This can be used to ensure that async notifications will interrupt event |
184 | This can be used to ensure that async notifications will interrupt event |
91 | frameworks as well. |
185 | frameworks as well. |
92 | |
186 | |
93 | =back |
187 | =back |
… | |
… | |
95 | =cut |
189 | =cut |
96 | |
190 | |
97 | sub new { |
191 | sub new { |
98 | my ($class, %arg) = @_; |
192 | my ($class, %arg) = @_; |
99 | |
193 | |
100 | my $self = _alloc $arg{cb}, @{$arg{c_cb}}[0,1], $arg{fh}; |
194 | bless \(_alloc $arg{cb}, @{$arg{c_cb}}[0,1], @{$arg{pipe}}[0,1], $arg{signal}), $class |
101 | bless \$self, $class |
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102 | } |
195 | } |
103 | |
196 | |
104 | =item ($signal_func, $signal_arg) = $async->signal_cb |
197 | =item ($signal_func, $signal_arg) = $async->signal_func |
105 | |
198 | |
106 | Returns the address of a function to call asynchronously. The function has |
199 | Returns the address of a function to call asynchronously. The function has |
107 | the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified C<$c_arg>, |
200 | the following prototype and needs to be passed the specified C<$c_arg>, |
108 | which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>: |
201 | which is a C<void *> cast to C<IV>: |
109 | |
202 | |
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111 | |
204 | |
112 | An example call would look like: |
205 | An example call would look like: |
113 | |
206 | |
114 | signal_func (signal_arg, 0); |
207 | signal_func (signal_arg, 0); |
115 | |
208 | |
116 | The function is safe toc all from within signal and thread contexts, at |
209 | The function is safe to call from within signal and thread contexts, at |
117 | any time. The specified C<value> is passed to both C and Perl callback. |
210 | any time. The specified C<value> is passed to both C and Perl callback. |
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211 | |
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212 | C<$value> must be in the valid range for a C<sig_atomic_t> (0..127 is |
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213 | portable). |
118 | |
214 | |
119 | If the function is called while the Async::Interrupt object is already |
215 | If the function is called while the Async::Interrupt object is already |
120 | signaled but before the callbacks are being executed, then the stored |
216 | signaled but before the callbacks are being executed, then the stored |
121 | C<value> is being overwritten. Due to the asynchronous nature of the code, |
217 | C<value> is either the old or the new one. Due to the asynchronous |
122 | the C<value> can even be passed to two consecutive invocations of the |
218 | nature of the code, the C<value> can even be passed to two consecutive |
123 | callback. |
219 | invocations of the callback. |
124 | |
220 | |
125 | =item $async->signal ($value=0) |
221 | =item $async->signal ($value=0) |
126 | |
222 | |
127 | This signals the given async object from Perl code. Semi-obviously, this |
223 | This signals the given async object from Perl code. Semi-obviously, this |
128 | will instantly trigger the callback invocation. |
224 | will instantly trigger the callback invocation. |
129 | |
225 | |
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226 | C<$value> must be in the valid range for a C<sig_atomic_t> (0..127 is |
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227 | portable). |
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228 | |
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229 | =item $async->block |
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230 | |
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231 | =item $async->unblock |
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232 | |
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233 | Sometimes you need a "critical section" of code that will not be |
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234 | interrupted by an Async::Interrupt. This can be implemented by calling C<< |
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235 | $async->block >> before the critical section, and C<< $async->unblock >> |
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236 | afterwards. |
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237 | |
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238 | Note that there must be exactly one call of C<unblock> for every previous |
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239 | call to C<block> (i.e. calls can nest). |
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240 | |
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241 | Since ensuring this in the presence of exceptions and threads is |
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242 | usually more difficult than you imagine, I recommend using C<< |
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243 | $async->scoped_block >> instead. |
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244 | |
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245 | =item $async->scope_block |
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246 | |
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247 | This call C<< $async->block >> and installs a handler that is called when |
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248 | the current scope is exited (via an exception, by canceling the Coro |
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249 | thread, by calling last/goto etc.). |
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250 | |
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251 | This is the recommended (and fastest) way to implement critical sections. |
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252 | |
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253 | =item $async->pipe_enable |
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254 | |
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255 | =item $async->pipe_disable |
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256 | |
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257 | Enable/disable signalling the pipe when the interrupt occurs (default is |
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258 | enabled). Writing to a pipe is relatively expensive, so it can be disabled |
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259 | when you know you are not waiting for it (for example, with L<EV> you |
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260 | could disable the pipe in a check watcher, and enable it in a prepare |
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261 | watcher). |
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262 | |
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263 | Note that when C<fd_disable> is in effect, no attempt to read from the |
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264 | pipe will be done. |
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265 | |
130 | =cut |
266 | =cut |
131 | |
267 | |
132 | 1; |
268 | 1; |
133 | |
269 | |
134 | =back |
270 | =back |
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271 | |
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272 | =head1 EXAMPLE |
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273 | |
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274 | There really should be a complete C/XS example. Bug me about it. Better |
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275 | yet, create one. |
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276 | |
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277 | =head1 IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS AND LIMITATIONS |
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278 | |
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279 | This module works by "hijacking" SIGKILL, which is guaranteed to always |
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280 | exist, but also cannot be caught, so is always available. |
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281 | |
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282 | Basically, this module fakes the occurance of a SIGKILL signal and |
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283 | then intercepts the interpreter handling it. This makes normal signal |
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284 | handling slower (probably unmeasurably, though), but has the advantage |
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285 | of not requiring a special runops function, nor slowing down normal perl |
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286 | execution a bit. |
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287 | |
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288 | It assumes that C<sig_atomic_t> and C<int> are both async-safe to modify |
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289 | (C<sig_atomic_> is used by this module, and perl itself uses C<int>, so we |
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290 | can assume that this is quite portable, at least w.r.t. signals). |
135 | |
291 | |
136 | =head1 AUTHOR |
292 | =head1 AUTHOR |
137 | |
293 | |
138 | Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> |
294 | Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> |
139 | http://home.schmorp.de/ |
295 | http://home.schmorp.de/ |