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Revision 1.95 by root, Sun Dec 3 22:50:06 2006 UTC vs.
Revision 1.222 by root, Tue Nov 18 08:59:46 2008 UTC

2 2
3Coro - coroutine process abstraction 3Coro - coroutine process abstraction
4 4
5=head1 SYNOPSIS 5=head1 SYNOPSIS
6 6
7 use Coro; 7 use Coro;
8 8
9 async { 9 async {
10 # some asynchronous thread of execution 10 # some asynchronous thread of execution
11 print "2\n";
12 cede; # yield back to main
13 print "4\n";
11 }; 14 };
12 15 print "1\n";
13 # alternatively create an async coroutine like this: 16 cede; # yield to coroutine
14 17 print "3\n";
15 sub some_func : Coro { 18 cede; # and again
16 # some more async code 19
17 } 20 # use locking
18 21 use Coro::Semaphore;
19 cede; 22 my $lock = new Coro::Semaphore;
23 my $locked;
24
25 $lock->down;
26 $locked = 1;
27 $lock->up;
20 28
21=head1 DESCRIPTION 29=head1 DESCRIPTION
22 30
23This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to 31This module collection manages coroutines. Coroutines are similar to
24threads but don't run in parallel. 32threads but don't (in general) run in parallel at the same time even
33on SMP machines. The specific flavor of coroutine used in this module
34also guarantees you that it will not switch between coroutines unless
35necessary, at easily-identified points in your program, so locking and
36parallel access are rarely an issue, making coroutine programming much
37safer and easier than threads programming.
25 38
39Unlike a normal perl program, however, coroutines allow you to have
40multiple running interpreters that share data, which is especially useful
41to code pseudo-parallel processes and for event-based programming, such as
42multiple HTTP-GET requests running concurrently. See L<Coro::AnyEvent> to
43learn more.
44
45Coroutines are also useful because Perl has no support for threads (the so
46called "threads" that perl offers are nothing more than the (bad) process
47emulation coming from the Windows platform: On standard operating systems
48they serve no purpose whatsoever, except by making your programs slow and
49making them use a lot of memory. Best disable them when building perl, or
50aks your software vendor/distributor to do it for you).
51
26In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables 52In this module, coroutines are defined as "callchain + lexical variables +
27+ @_ + $_ + $@ + $^W + C stack), that is, a coroutine has it's own 53@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
30 56
31=cut 57=cut
32 58
33package Coro; 59package Coro;
34 60
35use strict; 61use strict qw(vars subs);
36no warnings "uninitialized"; 62no warnings "uninitialized";
37 63
38use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
39 65
40use base qw(Coro::State Exporter); 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
41 67
42our $idle; # idle handler 68our $idle; # idle handler
43our $main; # main coroutine 69our $main; # main coroutine
44our $current; # current coroutine 70our $current; # current coroutine
45 71
46our $VERSION = '3.01'; 72our $VERSION = 5.0;
47 73
48our @EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
49our %EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
50 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
51); 77);
52our @EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
53
54{
55 my @async;
56 my $init;
57
58 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
59 sub import {
60 no strict 'refs';
61
62 Coro->export_to_level (1, @_);
63
64 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
65 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
66 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
67 my @attrs;
68 for (@_) {
69 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
70 push @async, $ref;
71 unless ($init++) {
72 eval q{
73 sub INIT {
74 &async(pop @async) while @async;
75 }
76 };
77 }
78 } else {
79 push @attrs, $_;
80 }
81 }
82 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
83 };
84 }
85
86}
87 79
88=over 4 80=over 4
89 81
90=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
91 83
92This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
93 88
94=cut 89=cut
95 90
96$main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
97 92
98=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
99 94
100The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
101is C<$main> (of course). 97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
102 98
103This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. It is provided for performance 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
104reasons. If performance is not essentiel you are encouraged to use the 100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
105C<Coro::current> function instead. 101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
106 102
107=cut 103=cut
108 104
109# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before...
110$main->{specific} = $current->{specific}
111 if $current;
112
113_set_current $main;
114
115sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
116 106
117=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
118 108
119A callback that is called whenever the scheduler finds no ready coroutines 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
120to run. The default implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
121exits, because the program has no other way to continue. 111pretty low-level functionality.
112
113This variable stores a callback that is called whenever the scheduler
114finds no ready coroutines to run. The default implementation prints
115"FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits, because the program has no other way
116to continue.
122 117
123This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
124C<Coro::Event> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
125coroutine so the scheduler can run it. 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
126 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
127Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event 130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
128handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively. 131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
129 132
130=cut 133=cut
131 134
132$idle = sub { 135$idle = sub {
133 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 136 require Carp;
134 exit (51); 137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
135}; 138};
139
140sub _cancel {
141 my ($self) = @_;
142
143 # free coroutine data and mark as destructed
144 $self->_destroy
145 or return;
146
147 # call all destruction callbacks
148 $_->(@{$self->{_status}})
149 for @{ delete $self->{_on_destroy} || [] };
150}
136 151
137# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
138# cannot destroy itself. 153# cannot destroy itself.
139my @destroy; 154my @destroy;
155my $manager;
156
140my $manager; $manager = new Coro sub { 157$manager = new Coro sub {
141 while () { 158 while () {
142 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
143 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
144 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
145 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
146 # remove itself from the runqueue
147 while (@destroy) { 160 while @destroy;
148 my $coro = pop @destroy;
149 $coro->{status} ||= [];
150 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
151 161
152 # the next line destroys the coro state, but keeps the
153 # coroutine itself intact (we basically make it a zombie
154 # coroutine that always runs the manager thread, so it's possible
155 # to transfer() to this coroutine).
156 $coro->_clone_state_from ($manager);
157 }
158 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
159 } 163 }
160}; 164};
161 165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
162# static methods. not really. 166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
163 167
164=back 168=back
165 169
166=head2 STATIC METHODS 170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
167
168Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine only.
169 171
170=over 4 172=over 4
171 173
172=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
173 175
174Create a new asynchronous coroutine and return it's coroutine object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
175(usually unused). When the sub returns the new coroutine is automatically 177unused). The coroutine will be put into the ready queue, so
178it will start running automatically on the next scheduler run.
179
180The first argument is a codeblock/closure that should be executed in the
181coroutine. When it returns argument returns the coroutine is automatically
176terminated. 182terminated.
177 183
178Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
179 185
180When the coroutine dies, the program will exit, just as in the main 186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
181program. 187environment in which coroutines are executed.
182 188
189Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will do the same as calling exit outside
190the coroutine. Likewise, when the coroutine dies, the program will exit,
191just as it would in the main program.
192
193If you do not want that, you can provide a default C<die> handler, or
194simply avoid dieing (by use of C<eval>).
195
183 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
184 async { 198 async {
185 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
186 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
187 201
188=cut 202=cut
189 203
190sub async(&@) { 204sub async(&@) {
191 my $pid = new Coro @_; 205 my $coro = new Coro @_;
192 $pid->ready; 206 $coro->ready;
193 $pid 207 $coro
194} 208}
209
210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
211
212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
216
217On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
218a completly new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
219quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
227
228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> you I<must needs> revert that change, which is most
233simply done by using local as in: C<< local $/ >>.
234
235The idle pool size is limited to C<8> idle coroutines (this can be
236adjusted by changing $Coro::POOL_SIZE), but there can be as many non-idle
237coros as required.
238
239If you are concerned about pooled coroutines growing a lot because a
240single C<async_pool> used a lot of stackspace you can e.g. C<async_pool
241{ terminate }> once per second or so to slowly replenish the pool. In
242addition to that, when the stacks used by a handler grows larger than 16kb
243(adjustable via $Coro::POOL_RSS) it will also be destroyed.
244
245=cut
246
247our $POOL_SIZE = 8;
248our $POOL_RSS = 16 * 1024;
249our @async_pool;
250
251sub pool_handler {
252 my $cb;
253
254 while () {
255 eval {
256 while () {
257 _pool_1 $cb;
258 &$cb;
259 _pool_2 $cb;
260 &schedule;
261 }
262 };
263
264 if ($@) {
265 last if $@ eq "\3async_pool terminate\2\n";
266 warn $@;
267 }
268 }
269}
270
271sub async_pool(&@) {
272 # this is also inlined into the unblock_scheduler
273 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
274
275 $coro->{_invoke} = [@_];
276 $coro->ready;
277
278 $coro
279}
280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
195 288
196=item schedule 289=item schedule
197 290
198Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current coroutine will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
199into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
200never be called again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
201ready. 300thus waking you up.
301
302This makes C<schedule> I<the> generic method to use to block the current
303coroutine and wait for events: first you remember the current coroutine in
304a variable, then arrange for some callback of yours to call C<< ->ready
305>> on that once some event happens, and last you call C<schedule> to put
306yourself to sleep. Note that a lot of things can wake your coroutine up,
307so you need to check whether the event indeed happened, e.g. by storing the
308status in a variable.
202 309
203The canonical way to wait on external events is this: 310The canonical way to wait on external events is this:
204 311
205 { 312 {
206 # remember current coroutine 313 # remember current coroutine
211 # wake up sleeping coroutine 318 # wake up sleeping coroutine
212 $current->ready; 319 $current->ready;
213 undef $current; 320 undef $current;
214 }; 321 };
215 322
216 # call schedule until event occured. 323 # call schedule until event occurred.
217 # in case we are woken up for other reasons 324 # in case we are woken up for other reasons
218 # (current still defined), loop. 325 # (current still defined), loop.
219 Coro::schedule while $current; 326 Coro::schedule while $current;
220 } 327 }
221 328
222=item cede 329=item cede
223 330
224"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into the 331"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
225ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 332the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
226current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 333up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
334priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
335resumed.
336
337This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
338
339=item Coro::cede_notself
340
341Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
342coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
343progress is made.
227 344
228=item terminate [arg...] 345=item terminate [arg...]
229 346
230Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>). 347Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
348
349=item killall
350
351Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
352one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
353usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
354
355Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
356you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
357program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
231 358
232=cut 359=cut
233 360
234sub terminate { 361sub terminate {
235 $current->cancel (@_); 362 $current->cancel (@_);
236} 363}
237 364
365sub killall {
366 for (Coro::State::list) {
367 $_->cancel
368 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
369 }
370}
371
238=back 372=back
239 373
240# dynamic methods
241
242=head2 COROUTINE METHODS 374=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
243 375
244These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects. 376These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
377them).
245 378
246=over 4 379=over 4
247 380
248=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 381=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
249 382
250Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns the coroutine 383Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
251automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 384automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
252called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready queue 385called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
253by calling the ready method. 386queue by calling the ready method.
254 387
255Calling C<exit> in a coroutine will not work correctly, so do not do that. 388See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
389coroutine environment.
256 390
257=cut 391=cut
258 392
259sub _run_coro { 393sub _run_coro {
260 terminate &{+shift}; 394 terminate &{+shift};
266 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_) 400 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
267} 401}
268 402
269=item $success = $coroutine->ready 403=item $success = $coroutine->ready
270 404
271Put the given coroutine into the ready queue (according to it's priority) 405Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
272and return true. If the coroutine is already in the ready queue, do nothing 406queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
273and return false. 407the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
408
409This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
410once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
411priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
274 412
275=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready 413=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
276 414
277Return wether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not, 415Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
278 416
279=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...) 417=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
280 418
281Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as 419Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
282status (default: the empty list). 420status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
421current coroutine.
283 422
284=cut 423=cut
285 424
286sub cancel { 425sub cancel {
287 my $self = shift; 426 my $self = shift;
288 $self->{status} = [@_]; 427 $self->{_status} = [@_];
428
429 if ($current == $self) {
289 push @destroy, $self; 430 push @destroy, $self;
290 $manager->ready; 431 $manager->ready;
291 &schedule if $current == $self; 432 &schedule while 1;
433 } else {
434 $self->_cancel;
435 }
292} 436}
437
438=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
439
440If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
441inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
442clears the exception object.
443
444Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
445returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
446>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Note that this means that
447when a coroutine is acquiring a lock, it might only throw after it has
448sucessfully acquired it.
449
450The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
451C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
452(unlike with C<die>).
453
454This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
455end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
456termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
457program.
458
459You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
460C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
293 461
294=item $coroutine->join 462=item $coroutine->join
295 463
296Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 464Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
297C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called multiple times 465C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
298from multiple coroutine. 466from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
467return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
299 468
300=cut 469=cut
301 470
302sub join { 471sub join {
303 my $self = shift; 472 my $self = shift;
473
304 unless ($self->{status}) { 474 unless ($self->{_status}) {
305 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 475 my $current = $current;
306 &schedule; 476
477 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
478 $current->ready;
479 undef $current;
480 };
481
482 &schedule while $current;
307 } 483 }
484
308 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 485 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
486}
487
488=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
489
490Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
491but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
492if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
493
494=cut
495
496sub on_destroy {
497 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
498
499 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
309} 500}
310 501
311=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio) 502=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
312 503
313Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 504Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
336higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 527higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
337 528
338=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc) 529=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
339 530
340Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 531Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
341coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a coroutine. 532coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
533coroutine.
534
535This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
536string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
342 537
343=cut 538=cut
344 539
345sub desc { 540sub desc {
346 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 541 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
348 $old; 543 $old;
349} 544}
350 545
351=back 546=back
352 547
353=head2 UTILITY FUNCTIONS 548=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
354 549
355=over 4 550=over 4
356 551
552=item Coro::nready
553
554Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
555i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
556indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
557currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
558would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
559coroutines.
560
561=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
562
563This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
564gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
565executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
566runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
567guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
568C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
569
570Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
571or the function returns:
572
573 sub do_something {
574 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
575 $busy = 1;
576
577 # do something that requires $busy to be true
578 }
579
580=cut
581
582sub guard(&) {
583 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
584}
585
586sub Coro::guard::cancel {
587 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
588}
589
590sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
591 ${$_[0]}->();
592}
593
594
357=item unblock_sub { ... } 595=item unblock_sub { ... }
358 596
359This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it, 597This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
360returning the new coderef. This means that the new coderef will return 598returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
361immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the original code 599will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
362ref will be called (with parameters) from within its own coroutine. 600original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
601coroutine.
363 602
364The reason this fucntion exists is that many event libraries (such as the 603The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
365venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form 604venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
366of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks, 605of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
367otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. 606otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
607currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
368 608
369This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another 609This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
370coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy 610coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
371is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to 611is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
372disk. 612disk, for example.
373 613
374In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when 614In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
375creating event callbacks that want to block. 615creating event callbacks that want to block.
376 616
377=cut 617If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
618another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
619there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
378 620
379our @unblock_pool; 621Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
622are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
623use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
624provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
625must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
626
627=cut
628
380our @unblock_queue; 629our @unblock_queue;
381our $UNBLOCK_POOL_SIZE = 2;
382 630
383sub unblock_handler_ { 631# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
384 while () { 632# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
385 my ($cb, @arg) = @{ delete $Coro::current->{arg} }; 633# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
386 $cb->(@arg); 634# inside an event callback.
387
388 last if @unblock_pool >= $UNBLOCK_POOL_SIZE;
389 push @unblock_pool, $Coro::current;
390 schedule;
391 }
392}
393
394our $unblock_scheduler = async { 635our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
395 while () { 636 while () {
396 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) { 637 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
397 my $handler = (pop @unblock_pool or new Coro \&unblock_handler_); 638 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
398 $handler->{arg} = $cb; 639 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
640
641 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
399 $handler->ready; 642 $coro->ready;
400 cede; 643 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
401 } 644 }
402 645 schedule; # sleep well
403 schedule;
404 } 646 }
405}; 647};
648$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
406 649
407sub unblock_sub(&) { 650sub unblock_sub(&) {
408 my $cb = shift; 651 my $cb = shift;
409 652
410 sub { 653 sub {
411 push @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_]; 654 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
412 $unblock_scheduler->ready; 655 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
413 } 656 }
414} 657}
415 658
416=back 659=back
419 662
4201; 6631;
421 664
422=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 665=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
423 666
424 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global 667=over 4
425 destruction. very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults).
426 668
669=item fork with pthread backend
670
671When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
672but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
673coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
674fix your libc and use a saner backend.
675
676=item perl process emulation ("threads")
677
427 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module 678This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
428 from the same thread (this requirement might be losened in the future 679module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
429 to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow 680future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
430 this). 681this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
682the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
683performance, even when not used.
684
685=item coroutine switching not signal safe
686
687You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
688(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
689
690That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
691current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
692anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
693works.
694
695=back
696
431 697
432=head1 SEE ALSO 698=head1 SEE ALSO
433 699
700Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
701
702Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
703
434Support/Utility: L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Util>. 704Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
435 705
436Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>. 706Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
437 707
438Event/IO: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::Select>. 708IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
439 709
440Embedding: L<Coro:MakeMaker> 710Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
711
712XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
713
714Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
441 715
442=head1 AUTHOR 716=head1 AUTHOR
443 717
444 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de> 718 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
445 http://home.schmorp.de/ 719 http://home.schmorp.de/

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