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Revision 1.42 by root, Tue Nov 6 20:37:20 2001 UTC vs.
Revision 1.224 by root, Wed Nov 19 05:52:42 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 process 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@_ + $_ + $@ + $/ + C stack), that is, a coroutine has its own callchain,
28callchain, it's own set of lexicals and it's own set of perl's most 54its own set of lexicals and its own set of perls most important global
29important global variables. 55variables (see L<Coro::State> for more configuration).
30 56
31=cut 57=cut
32 58
33package Coro; 59package Coro;
34 60
61use strict qw(vars subs);
35no warnings qw(uninitialized); 62no warnings "uninitialized";
36 63
37use Coro::State; 64use Coro::State;
38 65
39use base Exporter; 66use base qw(Coro::State Exporter);
40 67
41$VERSION = 0.52; 68our $idle; # idle handler
69our $main; # main coroutine
70our $current; # current coroutine
42 71
72our $VERSION = 5.0;
73
43@EXPORT = qw(async cede schedule terminate current); 74our @EXPORT = qw(async async_pool cede schedule terminate current unblock_sub);
44%EXPORT_TAGS = ( 75our %EXPORT_TAGS = (
45 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)], 76 prio => [qw(PRIO_MAX PRIO_HIGH PRIO_NORMAL PRIO_LOW PRIO_IDLE PRIO_MIN)],
46); 77);
47@EXPORT_OK = @{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}; 78our @EXPORT_OK = (@{$EXPORT_TAGS{prio}}, qw(nready));
48 79
49{ 80=over 4
50 my @async;
51 my $init;
52 81
53 # this way of handling attributes simply is NOT scalable ;()
54 sub import {
55 Coro->export_to_level(1, @_);
56 my $old = *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"}{CODE};
57 *{(caller)[0]."::MODIFY_CODE_ATTRIBUTES"} = sub {
58 my ($package, $ref) = (shift, shift);
59 my @attrs;
60 for (@_) {
61 if ($_ eq "Coro") {
62 push @async, $ref;
63 unless ($init++) {
64 eval q{
65 sub INIT {
66 &async(pop @async) while @async;
67 }
68 };
69 }
70 } else {
71 push @attrs, $_;
72 }
73 }
74 return $old ? $old->($package, $ref, @attrs) : @attrs;
75 };
76 }
77
78}
79
80=item $main 82=item $Coro::main
81 83
82This coroutine represents the main program. 84This variable stores the coroutine object that represents the main
85program. While you cna C<ready> it and do most other things you can do to
86coroutines, it is mainly useful to compare again C<$Coro::current>, to see
87whether you are running in the main program or not.
83 88
84=cut 89=cut
85 90
86our $main = new Coro; 91# $main is now being initialised by Coro::State
87 92
88=item $current (or as function: current) 93=item $Coro::current
89 94
90The current coroutine (the last coroutine switched to). The initial value is C<$main> (of course). 95The coroutine object representing the current coroutine (the last
96coroutine that the Coro scheduler switched to). The initial value is
97C<$Coro::main> (of course).
91 98
92=cut 99This variable is B<strictly> I<read-only>. You can take copies of the
100value stored in it and use it as any other coroutine object, but you must
101not otherwise modify the variable itself.
93 102
94# maybe some other module used Coro::Specific before... 103=cut
95if ($current) {
96 $main->{specific} = $current->{specific};
97}
98 104
99our $current = $main;
100
101sub current() { $current } 105sub current() { $current } # [DEPRECATED]
102 106
103=item $idle 107=item $Coro::idle
104 108
105The coroutine to switch to when no other coroutine is running. The default 109This variable is mainly useful to integrate Coro into event loops. It is
106implementation prints "FATAL: deadlock detected" and exits. 110usually better to rely on L<Coro::AnyEvent> or LC<Coro::EV>, as this is
111pretty low-level functionality.
107 112
108=cut 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.
109 117
110# should be done using priorities :( 118This hook is overwritten by modules such as C<Coro::Timer> and
111our $idle = new Coro sub { 119C<Coro::AnyEvent> to wait on an external event that hopefully wake up a
112 print STDERR "FATAL: deadlock detected\n"; 120coroutine so the scheduler can run it.
113 exit(51); 121
122Note that the callback I<must not>, under any circumstances, block
123the current coroutine. Normally, this is achieved by having an "idle
124coroutine" that calls the event loop and then blocks again, and then
125readying that coroutine in the idle handler.
126
127See L<Coro::Event> or L<Coro::AnyEvent> for examples of using this
128technique.
129
130Please note that if your callback recursively invokes perl (e.g. for event
131handlers), then it must be prepared to be called recursively itself.
132
133=cut
134
135$idle = sub {
136 require Carp;
137 Carp::croak ("FATAL: deadlock detected");
114}; 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}
115 151
116# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine 152# this coroutine is necessary because a coroutine
117# cannot destroy itself. 153# cannot destroy itself.
118my @destroy; 154my @destroy;
119my $manager; 155my $manager;
156
120$manager = new Coro sub { 157$manager = new Coro sub {
121 while() { 158 while () {
122 # by overwriting the state object with the manager we destroy it 159 (shift @destroy)->_cancel
123 # while still being able to schedule this coroutine (in case it has
124 # been readied multiple times. this is harmless since the manager
125 # can be called as many times as neccessary and will always
126 # remove itself from the runqueue
127 while (@destroy) { 160 while @destroy;
128 my $coro = pop @destroy; 161
129 $coro->{status} ||= [];
130 $_->ready for @{delete $coro->{join} || []};
131 $coro->{_coro_state} = $manager->{_coro_state};
132 }
133 &schedule; 162 &schedule;
134 } 163 }
135}; 164};
165$manager->{desc} = "[coro manager]";
166$manager->prio (PRIO_MAX);
136 167
137# static methods. not really. 168=back
138 169
139=head2 STATIC METHODS 170=head2 SIMPLE COROUTINE CREATION
140
141Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current process only.
142 171
143=over 4 172=over 4
144 173
145=item async { ... } [@args...] 174=item async { ... } [@args...]
146 175
147Create a new asynchronous process and return it's process object 176Create a new coroutine and return it's coroutine object (usually
148(usually unused). When the sub returns the new process 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
149terminated. 182terminated.
150 183
184The remaining arguments are passed as arguments to the closure.
185
186See the C<Coro::State::new> constructor for info about the coroutine
187environment in which coroutines are executed.
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
151 # create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments 196Example: Create a new coroutine that just prints its arguments.
197
152 async { 198 async {
153 print "@_\n"; 199 print "@_\n";
154 } 1,2,3,4; 200 } 1,2,3,4;
155 201
156The coderef you submit MUST NOT be a closure that refers to variables
157in an outer scope. This does NOT work. Pass arguments into it instead.
158
159=cut 202=cut
160 203
161sub async(&@) { 204sub async(&@) {
162 my $pid = new Coro @_; 205 my $coro = new Coro @_;
163 $manager->ready; # this ensures that the stack is cloned from the manager
164 $pid->ready; 206 $coro->ready;
165 $pid; 207 $coro
166} 208}
209
210=item async_pool { ... } [@args...]
211
212Similar to C<async>, but uses a coroutine pool, so you should not call
213terminate or join on it (although you are allowed to), and you get a
214coroutine that might have executed other code already (which can be good
215or bad :).
216
217On the plus side, this function is faster than creating (and destroying)
218a completly new coroutine, so if you need a lot of generic coroutines in
219quick successsion, use C<async_pool>, not C<async>.
220
221The code block is executed in an C<eval> context and a warning will be
222issued in case of an exception instead of terminating the program, as
223C<async> does. As the coroutine is being reused, stuff like C<on_destroy>
224will not work in the expected way, unless you call terminate or cancel,
225which somehow defeats the purpose of pooling (but is fine in the
226exceptional case).
227
228The priority will be reset to C<0> after each run, tracing will be
229disabled, the description will be reset and the default output filehandle
230gets restored, so you can change all these. Otherwise the coroutine will
231be re-used "as-is": most notably if you change other per-coroutine global
232stuff such as C<$/> 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 $coro
279}
280
281=back
282
283=head2 STATIC METHODS
284
285Static methods are actually functions that operate on the current coroutine.
286
287=over 4
167 288
168=item schedule 289=item schedule
169 290
170Calls the scheduler. Please note that the current process will not be put 291Calls the scheduler. The scheduler will find the next coroutine that is
292to be run from the ready queue and switches to it. The next coroutine
293to be run is simply the one with the highest priority that is longest
294in its ready queue. If there is no coroutine ready, it will clal the
295C<$Coro::idle> hook.
296
297Please note that the current coroutine will I<not> be put into the ready
171into the ready queue, so calling this function usually means you will 298queue, so calling this function usually means you will never be called
172never be called again. 299again unless something else (e.g. an event handler) calls C<< ->ready >>,
300thus waking you up.
173 301
174=cut 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.
309
310See B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK>, below, for some ways to wait for callbacks.
175 311
176=item cede 312=item cede
177 313
178"Cede" to other processes. This function puts the current process into the 314"Cede" to other coroutines. This function puts the current coroutine into
179ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving up the 315the ready queue and calls C<schedule>, which has the effect of giving
180current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher priority. 316up the current "timeslice" to other coroutines of the same or higher
317priority. Once your coroutine gets its turn again it will automatically be
318resumed.
181 319
182=cut 320This function is often called C<yield> in other languages.
321
322=item Coro::cede_notself
323
324Works like cede, but is not exported by default and will cede to I<any>
325coroutine, regardless of priority. This is useful sometimes to ensure
326progress is made.
183 327
184=item terminate [arg...] 328=item terminate [arg...]
185 329
186Terminates the current process. 330Terminates the current coroutine with the given status values (see L<cancel>).
187 331
188Future versions of this function will allow result arguments. 332=item killall
333
334Kills/terminates/cancels all coroutines except the currently running
335one. This is useful after a fork, either in the child or the parent, as
336usually only one of them should inherit the running coroutines.
337
338Note that while this will try to free some of the main programs resources,
339you cannot free all of them, so if a coroutine that is not the main
340program calls this function, there will be some one-time resource leak.
189 341
190=cut 342=cut
191 343
192sub terminate { 344sub terminate {
193 $current->{status} = [@_];
194 $current->cancel; 345 $current->cancel (@_);
195 &schedule; 346}
196 die; # NORETURN 347
348sub killall {
349 for (Coro::State::list) {
350 $_->cancel
351 if $_ != $current && UNIVERSAL::isa $_, "Coro";
352 }
197} 353}
198 354
199=back 355=back
200 356
201# dynamic methods
202
203=head2 PROCESS METHODS 357=head2 COROUTINE METHODS
204 358
205These are the methods you can call on process objects. 359These are the methods you can call on coroutine objects (or to create
360them).
206 361
207=over 4 362=over 4
208 363
209=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...] 364=item new Coro \&sub [, @args...]
210 365
211Create a new process and return it. When the sub returns the process 366Create a new coroutine and return it. When the sub returns, the coroutine
212automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were 367automatically terminates as if C<terminate> with the returned values were
213called. To make the process run you must first put it into the ready queue 368called. To make the coroutine run you must first put it into the ready
214by calling the ready method. 369queue by calling the ready method.
215 370
216=cut 371See C<async> and C<Coro::State::new> for additional info about the
372coroutine environment.
217 373
374=cut
375
218sub _newcoro { 376sub _run_coro {
219 terminate &{+shift}; 377 terminate &{+shift};
220} 378}
221 379
222sub new { 380sub new {
223 my $class = shift; 381 my $class = shift;
224 bless {
225 _coro_state => (new Coro::State $_[0] && \&_newcoro, @_),
226 }, $class;
227}
228 382
229=item $process->ready 383 $class->SUPER::new (\&_run_coro, @_)
384}
230 385
231Put the given process into the ready queue. 386=item $success = $coroutine->ready
232 387
233=cut 388Put the given coroutine into the end of its ready queue (there is one
389queue for each priority) and return true. If the coroutine is already in
390the ready queue, do nothing and return false.
234 391
235=item $process->cancel 392This ensures that the scheduler will resume this coroutine automatically
393once all the coroutines of higher priority and all coroutines of the same
394priority that were put into the ready queue earlier have been resumed.
236 395
237Like C<terminate>, but terminates the specified process instead. 396=item $is_ready = $coroutine->is_ready
397
398Return whether the coroutine is currently the ready queue or not,
399
400=item $coroutine->cancel (arg...)
401
402Terminates the given coroutine and makes it return the given arguments as
403status (default: the empty list). Never returns if the coroutine is the
404current coroutine.
238 405
239=cut 406=cut
240 407
241sub cancel { 408sub cancel {
409 my $self = shift;
410 $self->{_status} = [@_];
411
412 if ($current == $self) {
242 push @destroy, $_[0]; 413 push @destroy, $self;
243 $manager->ready; 414 $manager->ready;
244 &schedule if $current == $_[0]; 415 &schedule while 1;
416 } else {
417 $self->_cancel;
418 }
245} 419}
246 420
421=item $coroutine->throw ([$scalar])
422
423If C<$throw> is specified and defined, it will be thrown as an exception
424inside the coroutine at the next convenient point in time. Otherwise
425clears the exception object.
426
427Coro will check for the exception each time a schedule-like-function
428returns, i.e. after each C<schedule>, C<cede>, C<< Coro::Semaphore->down
429>>, C<< Coro::Handle->readable >> and so on. Most of these functions
430detect this case and return early in case an exception is pending.
431
432The exception object will be thrown "as is" with the specified scalar in
433C<$@>, i.e. if it is a string, no line number or newline will be appended
434(unlike with C<die>).
435
436This can be used as a softer means than C<cancel> to ask a coroutine to
437end itself, although there is no guarantee that the exception will lead to
438termination, and if the exception isn't caught it might well end the whole
439program.
440
441You might also think of C<throw> as being the moral equivalent of
442C<kill>ing a coroutine with a signal (in this case, a scalar).
443
247=item $process->join 444=item $coroutine->join
248 445
249Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the 446Wait until the coroutine terminates and return any values given to the
250C<terminate> function. C<join> can be called multiple times from multiple 447C<terminate> or C<cancel> functions. C<join> can be called concurrently
251processes. 448from multiple coroutines, and all will be resumed and given the status
449return once the C<$coroutine> terminates.
252 450
253=cut 451=cut
254 452
255sub join { 453sub join {
256 my $self = shift; 454 my $self = shift;
455
257 unless ($self->{status}) { 456 unless ($self->{_status}) {
258 push @{$self->{join}}, $current; 457 my $current = $current;
259 &schedule; 458
459 push @{$self->{_on_destroy}}, sub {
460 $current->ready;
461 undef $current;
462 };
463
464 &schedule while $current;
260 } 465 }
466
261 wantarray ? @{$self->{status}} : $self->{status}[0]; 467 wantarray ? @{$self->{_status}} : $self->{_status}[0];
262} 468}
263 469
470=item $coroutine->on_destroy (\&cb)
471
472Registers a callback that is called when this coroutine gets destroyed,
473but before it is joined. The callback gets passed the terminate arguments,
474if any, and I<must not> die, under any circumstances.
475
476=cut
477
478sub on_destroy {
479 my ($self, $cb) = @_;
480
481 push @{ $self->{_on_destroy} }, $cb;
482}
483
264=item $oldprio = $process->prio($newprio) 484=item $oldprio = $coroutine->prio ($newprio)
265 485
266Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the 486Sets (or gets, if the argument is missing) the priority of the
267process. Higher priority processes get run before lower priority 487coroutine. Higher priority coroutines get run before lower priority
268processes. Priorities are smalled signed integer (currently -4 .. +3), 488coroutines. Priorities are small signed integers (currently -4 .. +3),
269that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio 489that you can refer to using PRIO_xxx constants (use the import tag :prio
270to get then): 490to get then):
271 491
272 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN 492 PRIO_MAX > PRIO_HIGH > PRIO_NORMAL > PRIO_LOW > PRIO_IDLE > PRIO_MIN
273 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4 493 3 > 1 > 0 > -1 > -3 > -4
276 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH); 496 current->prio(PRIO_HIGH);
277 497
278The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any 498The idle coroutine ($Coro::idle) always has a lower priority than any
279existing coroutine. 499existing coroutine.
280 500
281Changing the priority of the current process will take effect immediately, 501Changing the priority of the current coroutine will take effect immediately,
282but changing the priority of processes in the ready queue (but not 502but changing the priority of coroutines in the ready queue (but not
283running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that 503running) will only take effect after the next schedule (of that
284process). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version. 504coroutine). This is a bug that will be fixed in some future version.
285 505
286=cut
287
288sub prio {
289 my $old = $_[0]{prio};
290 $_[0]{prio} = $_[1] if @_ > 1;
291 $old;
292}
293
294=item $newprio = $process->nice($change) 506=item $newprio = $coroutine->nice ($change)
295 507
296Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e. 508Similar to C<prio>, but subtract the given value from the priority (i.e.
297higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix). 509higher values mean lower priority, just as in unix).
298 510
299=cut
300
301sub nice {
302 $_[0]{prio} -= $_[1];
303}
304
305=item $olddesc = $process->desc($newdesc) 511=item $olddesc = $coroutine->desc ($newdesc)
306 512
307Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this 513Sets (or gets in case the argument is missing) the description for this
308process. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a process. 514coroutine. This is just a free-form string you can associate with a
515coroutine.
516
517This method simply sets the C<< $coroutine->{desc} >> member to the given
518string. You can modify this member directly if you wish.
309 519
310=cut 520=cut
311 521
312sub desc { 522sub desc {
313 my $old = $_[0]{desc}; 523 my $old = $_[0]{desc};
315 $old; 525 $old;
316} 526}
317 527
318=back 528=back
319 529
530=head2 GLOBAL FUNCTIONS
531
532=over 4
533
534=item Coro::nready
535
536Returns the number of coroutines that are currently in the ready state,
537i.e. that can be switched to by calling C<schedule> directory or
538indirectly. The value C<0> means that the only runnable coroutine is the
539currently running one, so C<cede> would have no effect, and C<schedule>
540would cause a deadlock unless there is an idle handler that wakes up some
541coroutines.
542
543=item my $guard = Coro::guard { ... }
544
545This creates and returns a guard object. Nothing happens until the object
546gets destroyed, in which case the codeblock given as argument will be
547executed. This is useful to free locks or other resources in case of a
548runtime error or when the coroutine gets canceled, as in both cases the
549guard block will be executed. The guard object supports only one method,
550C<< ->cancel >>, which will keep the codeblock from being executed.
551
552Example: set some flag and clear it again when the coroutine gets canceled
553or the function returns:
554
555 sub do_something {
556 my $guard = Coro::guard { $busy = 0 };
557 $busy = 1;
558
559 # do something that requires $busy to be true
560 }
561
562=cut
563
564sub guard(&) {
565 bless \(my $cb = $_[0]), "Coro::guard"
566}
567
568sub Coro::guard::cancel {
569 ${$_[0]} = sub { };
570}
571
572sub Coro::guard::DESTROY {
573 ${$_[0]}->();
574}
575
576
577=item unblock_sub { ... }
578
579This utility function takes a BLOCK or code reference and "unblocks" it,
580returning a new coderef. Unblocking means that calling the new coderef
581will return immediately without blocking, returning nothing, while the
582original code ref will be called (with parameters) from within another
583coroutine.
584
585The reason this function exists is that many event libraries (such as the
586venerable L<Event|Event> module) are not coroutine-safe (a weaker form
587of thread-safety). This means you must not block within event callbacks,
588otherwise you might suffer from crashes or worse. The only event library
589currently known that is safe to use without C<unblock_sub> is L<EV>.
590
591This function allows your callbacks to block by executing them in another
592coroutine where it is safe to block. One example where blocking is handy
593is when you use the L<Coro::AIO|Coro::AIO> functions to save results to
594disk, for example.
595
596In short: simply use C<unblock_sub { ... }> instead of C<sub { ... }> when
597creating event callbacks that want to block.
598
599If your handler does not plan to block (e.g. simply sends a message to
600another coroutine, or puts some other coroutine into the ready queue),
601there is no reason to use C<unblock_sub>.
602
603Note that you also need to use C<unblock_sub> for any other callbacks that
604are indirectly executed by any C-based event loop. For example, when you
605use a module that uses L<AnyEvent> (and you use L<Coro::AnyEvent>) and it
606provides callbacks that are the result of some event callback, then you
607must not block either, or use C<unblock_sub>.
608
609=cut
610
611our @unblock_queue;
612
613# we create a special coro because we want to cede,
614# to reduce pressure on the coro pool (because most callbacks
615# return immediately and can be reused) and because we cannot cede
616# inside an event callback.
617our $unblock_scheduler = new Coro sub {
618 while () {
619 while (my $cb = pop @unblock_queue) {
620 # this is an inlined copy of async_pool
621 my $coro = (pop @async_pool) || new Coro \&pool_handler;
622
623 $coro->{_invoke} = $cb;
624 $coro->ready;
625 cede; # for short-lived callbacks, this reduces pressure on the coro pool
626 }
627 schedule; # sleep well
628 }
629};
630$unblock_scheduler->{desc} = "[unblock_sub scheduler]";
631
632sub unblock_sub(&) {
633 my $cb = shift;
634
635 sub {
636 unshift @unblock_queue, [$cb, @_];
637 $unblock_scheduler->ready;
638 }
639}
640
641=item $cb = Coro::rouse_cb
642
643Create and return a "rouse callback". That's a code reference that, when
644called, will save its arguments and notify the owner coroutine of the
645callback.
646
647See the next function.
648
649=item @args = Coro::rouse_wait [$cb]
650
651Wait for the specified rouse callback (or the last one tht was created in
652this coroutine).
653
654As soon as the callback is invoked (or when the calback was invoked before
655C<rouse_wait>), it will return a copy of the arguments originally passed
656to the rouse callback.
657
658See the section B<HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK> for an actual usage example.
659
660=back
661
320=cut 662=cut
321 663
3221; 6641;
323 665
666=head1 HOW TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK
667
668It is very common for a coroutine to wait for some callback to be
669called. This occurs naturally when you use coroutines in an otherwise
670event-based program, or when you use event-based libraries.
671
672These typically register a callback for some event, and call that callback
673when the event occured. In a coroutine, however, you typically want to
674just wait for the event, simplyifying things.
675
676For example C<< AnyEvent->child >> registers a callback to be called when
677a specific child has exited:
678
679 my $child_watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub { ... });
680
681But from withina coroutine, you often just want to write this:
682
683 my $status = wait_for_child $pid;
684
685Coro offers two functions specifically designed to make this easy,
686C<Coro::rouse_cb> and C<Coro::rouse_wait>.
687
688The first function, C<rouse_cb>, generates and returns a callback that,
689when invoked, will save it's arguments and notify the coroutine that
690created the callback.
691
692The second function, C<rouse_wait>, waits for the callback to be called
693(by calling C<schedule> to go to sleep) and returns the arguments
694originally passed to the callback.
695
696Using these functions, it becomes easy to write the C<wait_for_child>
697function mentioned above:
698
699 sub wait_for_child($) {
700 my ($pid) = @_;
701
702 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => Coro::rouse_cb);
703
704 my ($rpid, $rstatus) = Coro::rouse_wait;
705 $rstatus
706 }
707
708In the case where C<rouse_cb> and C<rouse_wait> are not flexible enough,
709you can roll your own, using C<schedule>:
710
711 sub wait_for_child($) {
712 my ($pid) = @_;
713
714 # store the current coroutine in $current,
715 # and provide result variables for the closure passed to ->child
716 my $current = $Coro::current;
717 my ($done, $rstatus);
718
719 # pass a closure to ->child
720 my $watcher = AnyEvent->child (pid => $pid, cb => sub {
721 $rstatus = $_[1]; # remember rstatus
722 $done = 1; # mark $rstatus as valud
723 });
724
725 # wait until the closure has been called
726 schedule while !$done;
727
728 $rstatus
729 }
730
731
324=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS 732=head1 BUGS/LIMITATIONS
325 733
326 - you must make very sure that no coro is still active on global destruction. 734=over 4
327 very bad things might happen otherwise (usually segfaults). 735
736=item fork with pthread backend
737
738When Coro is compiled using the pthread backend (which isn't recommended
739but required on many BSDs as their libcs are completely broken), then
740coroutines will not survive a fork. There is no known workaround except to
741fix your libc and use a saner backend.
742
743=item perl process emulation ("threads")
744
328 - this module is not thread-safe. You should only ever use this module from 745This module is not perl-pseudo-thread-safe. You should only ever use this
329 the same thread (this requirement might be loosened in the future to 746module from the same thread (this requirement might be removed in the
330 allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow this). 747future to allow per-thread schedulers, but Coro::State does not yet allow
748this). I recommend disabling thread support and using processes, as having
749the windows process emulation enabled under unix roughly halves perl
750performance, even when not used.
751
752=item coroutine switching not signal safe
753
754You must not switch to another coroutine from within a signal handler
755(only relevant with %SIG - most event libraries provide safe signals).
756
757That means you I<MUST NOT> call any function that might "block" the
758current coroutine - C<cede>, C<schedule> C<< Coro::Semaphore->down >> or
759anything that calls those. Everything else, including calling C<ready>,
760works.
761
762=back
763
331 764
332=head1 SEE ALSO 765=head1 SEE ALSO
333 766
334L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Cont>, L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, 767Event-Loop integration: L<Coro::AnyEvent>, L<Coro::EV>, L<Coro::Event>.
335L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::State>, L<Coro::Event>, L<Coro::RWLock>, 768
336L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>. 769Debugging: L<Coro::Debug>.
770
771Support/Utility: L<Coro::Specific>, L<Coro::Util>.
772
773Locking/IPC: L<Coro::Signal>, L<Coro::Channel>, L<Coro::Semaphore>, L<Coro::SemaphoreSet>, L<Coro::RWLock>.
774
775IO/Timers: L<Coro::Timer>, L<Coro::Handle>, L<Coro::Socket>, L<Coro::AIO>.
776
777Compatibility: L<Coro::LWP>, L<Coro::BDB>, L<Coro::Storable>, L<Coro::Select>.
778
779XS API: L<Coro::MakeMaker>.
780
781Low level Configuration, Coroutine Environment: L<Coro::State>.
337 782
338=head1 AUTHOR 783=head1 AUTHOR
339 784
340 Marc Lehmann <pcg@goof.com> 785 Marc Lehmann <schmorp@schmorp.de>
341 http://www.goof.com/pcg/marc/ 786 http://home.schmorp.de/
342 787
343=cut 788=cut
344 789

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