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Revision 1.12 by root, Sat Nov 24 07:20:42 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.58 by root, Sat Dec 22 16:53:56 2007 UTC

126. ds Ae AE 126. ds Ae AE
127.\} 127.\}
128.rm #[ #] #H #V #F C 128.rm #[ #] #H #V #F C
129.\" ======================================================================== 129.\" ========================================================================
130.\" 130.\"
131.IX Title ""<STANDARD INPUT>" 1" 131.IX Title "EV 1"
132.TH "<STANDARD INPUT>" 1 "2007-11-24" "perl v5.8.8" "User Contributed Perl Documentation" 132.TH EV 1 "2007-12-22" "perl v5.8.8" "User Contributed Perl Documentation"
133.SH "NAME" 133.SH "NAME"
134libev \- a high performance full\-featured event loop written in C 134libev \- a high performance full\-featured event loop written in C
135.SH "SYNOPSIS" 135.SH "SYNOPSIS"
136.IX Header "SYNOPSIS" 136.IX Header "SYNOPSIS"
137.Vb 1 137.Vb 1
138\& #include <ev.h> 138\& #include <ev.h>
139.Ve 139.Ve
140.SH "EXAMPLE PROGRAM"
141.IX Header "EXAMPLE PROGRAM"
142.Vb 1
143\& #include <ev.h>
144.Ve
145.PP
146.Vb 2
147\& ev_io stdin_watcher;
148\& ev_timer timeout_watcher;
149.Ve
150.PP
151.Vb 8
152\& /* called when data readable on stdin */
153\& static void
154\& stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
155\& {
156\& /* puts ("stdin ready"); */
157\& ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */
158\& ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */
159\& }
160.Ve
161.PP
162.Vb 6
163\& static void
164\& timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
165\& {
166\& /* puts ("timeout"); */
167\& ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */
168\& }
169.Ve
170.PP
171.Vb 4
172\& int
173\& main (void)
174\& {
175\& struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
176.Ve
177.PP
178.Vb 3
179\& /* initialise an io watcher, then start it */
180\& ev_io_init (&stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
181\& ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_watcher);
182.Ve
183.PP
184.Vb 3
185\& /* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */
186\& ev_timer_init (&timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
187\& ev_timer_start (loop, &timeout_watcher);
188.Ve
189.PP
190.Vb 2
191\& /* loop till timeout or data ready */
192\& ev_loop (loop, 0);
193.Ve
194.PP
195.Vb 2
196\& return 0;
197\& }
198.Ve
140.SH "DESCRIPTION" 199.SH "DESCRIPTION"
141.IX Header "DESCRIPTION" 200.IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
201The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
202web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
203time: <http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.
204.PP
142Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 205Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
143file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage 206file descriptor being readable or a timeout occurring), and it will manage
144these event sources and provide your program with events. 207these event sources and provide your program with events.
145.PP 208.PP
146To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process 209To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
147(or thread) by executing the \fIevent loop\fR handler, and will then 210(or thread) by executing the \fIevent loop\fR handler, and will then
148communicate events via a callback mechanism. 211communicate events via a callback mechanism.
151watchers\fR, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the 214watchers\fR, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
152details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by \fIstarting\fR the 215details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by \fIstarting\fR the
153watcher. 216watcher.
154.SH "FEATURES" 217.SH "FEATURES"
155.IX Header "FEATURES" 218.IX Header "FEATURES"
156Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 219Libev supports \f(CW\*(C`select\*(C'\fR, \f(CW\*(C`poll\*(C'\fR, the Linux-specific \f(CW\*(C`epoll\*(C'\fR, the
157kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute 220BSD-specific \f(CW\*(C`kqueue\*(C'\fR and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
158timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 221for file descriptor events (\f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR), the Linux \f(CW\*(C`inotify\*(C'\fR interface
159events (related to \s-1SIGCHLD\s0), and event watchers dealing with the event 222(for \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR), relative timers (\f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR), absolute timers
160loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite 223with customised rescheduling (\f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR), synchronous signals
161fast (see this benchmark comparing 224(\f(CW\*(C`ev_signal\*(C'\fR), process status change events (\f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR), and event
162it to libevent for example). 225watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (\f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR,
226\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR, \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers) as well as
227file watchers (\f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR) and even limited support for fork events
228(\f(CW\*(C`ev_fork\*(C'\fR).
229.PP
230It also is quite fast (see this
231benchmark comparing it to libevent
232for example).
163.SH "CONVENTIONS" 233.SH "CONVENTIONS"
164.IX Header "CONVENTIONS" 234.IX Header "CONVENTIONS"
165Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 235Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
166will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 236be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
167about various configuration options please have a look at the file 237various configuration options please have a look at \fB\s-1EMBED\s0\fR section in
168\&\fI\s-1README\s0.embed\fR in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without 238this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
169support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 239loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR
170argument of name \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR (which is always of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR) 240(which is always of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR) will not have this argument.
171will not have this argument.
172.SH "TIME REPRESENTATION" 241.SH "TIME REPRESENTATION"
173.IX Header "TIME REPRESENTATION" 242.IX Header "TIME REPRESENTATION"
174Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 243Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
175(fractional) number of seconds since the (\s-1POSIX\s0) epoch (somewhere near 244(fractional) number of seconds since the (\s-1POSIX\s0) epoch (somewhere near
176the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 245the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
177called \f(CW\*(C`ev_tstamp\*(C'\fR, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases 246called \f(CW\*(C`ev_tstamp\*(C'\fR, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
178to the \f(CW\*(C`double\*(C'\fR type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on 247to the \f(CW\*(C`double\*(C'\fR type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
179it, you should treat it as such. 248it, you should treat it as some floatingpoint value. Unlike the name
249component \f(CW\*(C`stamp\*(C'\fR might indicate, it is also used for time differences
250throughout libev.
180.SH "GLOBAL FUNCTIONS" 251.SH "GLOBAL FUNCTIONS"
181.IX Header "GLOBAL FUNCTIONS" 252.IX Header "GLOBAL FUNCTIONS"
182These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the 253These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
183library in any way. 254library in any way.
184.IP "ev_tstamp ev_time ()" 4 255.IP "ev_tstamp ev_time ()" 4
185.IX Item "ev_tstamp ev_time ()" 256.IX Item "ev_tstamp ev_time ()"
186Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the 257Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
187\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_now\*(C'\fR function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp 258\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_now\*(C'\fR function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
188you actually want to know. 259you actually want to know.
260.IP "ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)" 4
261.IX Item "ev_sleep (ev_tstamp interval)"
262Sleep for the given interval: The current thread will be blocked until
263either it is interrupted or the given time interval has passed. Basically
264this is a subsecond-resolution \f(CW\*(C`sleep ()\*(C'\fR.
189.IP "int ev_version_major ()" 4 265.IP "int ev_version_major ()" 4
190.IX Item "int ev_version_major ()" 266.IX Item "int ev_version_major ()"
191.PD 0 267.PD 0
192.IP "int ev_version_minor ()" 4 268.IP "int ev_version_minor ()" 4
193.IX Item "int ev_version_minor ()" 269.IX Item "int ev_version_minor ()"
194.PD 270.PD
195You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 271You can find out the major and minor \s-1ABI\s0 version numbers of the library
196you linked against by calling the functions \f(CW\*(C`ev_version_major\*(C'\fR and 272you linked against by calling the functions \f(CW\*(C`ev_version_major\*(C'\fR and
197\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_version_minor\*(C'\fR. If you want, you can compare against the global 273\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_version_minor\*(C'\fR. If you want, you can compare against the global
198symbols \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MAJOR\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MINOR\*(C'\fR, which specify the 274symbols \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MAJOR\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MINOR\*(C'\fR, which specify the
199version of the library your program was compiled against. 275version of the library your program was compiled against.
200.Sp 276.Sp
277These version numbers refer to the \s-1ABI\s0 version of the library, not the
278release version.
279.Sp
201Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 280Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
202as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 281as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
203compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 282compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
204not a problem. 283not a problem.
205.Sp 284.Sp
206Example: make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong 285Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
207version: 286version.
208.Sp 287.Sp
209.Vb 3 288.Vb 3
210\& assert (("libev version mismatch", 289\& assert (("libev version mismatch",
211\& ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR 290\& ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
212\& && ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR)); 291\& && ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
242recommended ones. 321recommended ones.
243.Sp 322.Sp
244See the description of \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR watchers for more info. 323See the description of \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR watchers for more info.
245.IP "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))" 4 324.IP "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))" 4
246.IX Item "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))" 325.IX Item "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))"
247Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 326Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar \- the
248realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 327semantics is identical \- to the realloc C function). It is used to
249and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 328allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
250needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 329memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
251destructive action. The default is your system realloc function. 330potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
331function.
252.Sp 332.Sp
253You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 333You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
254free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 334free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
255or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available. 335or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
256.Sp 336.Sp
257Example: replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then 337Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
258retries: better than mine). 338retries).
259.Sp 339.Sp
260.Vb 6 340.Vb 6
261\& static void * 341\& static void *
262\& persistent_realloc (void *ptr, long size) 342\& persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
263\& { 343\& {
264\& for (;;) 344\& for (;;)
265\& { 345\& {
266\& void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size); 346\& void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
267.Ve 347.Ve
289callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 369callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
290matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 370matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
291requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 371requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
292(such as abort). 372(such as abort).
293.Sp 373.Sp
294Example: do the same thing as libev does internally: 374Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
295.Sp 375.Sp
296.Vb 6 376.Vb 6
297\& static void 377\& static void
298\& fatal_error (const char *msg) 378\& fatal_error (const char *msg)
299\& { 379\& {
345or setgid) then libev will \fInot\fR look at the environment variable 425or setgid) then libev will \fInot\fR look at the environment variable
346\&\f(CW\*(C`LIBEV_FLAGS\*(C'\fR. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 426\&\f(CW\*(C`LIBEV_FLAGS\*(C'\fR. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
347override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 427override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
348useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 428useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
349around bugs. 429around bugs.
430.ie n .IP """EVFLAG_FORKCHECK""" 4
431.el .IP "\f(CWEVFLAG_FORKCHECK\fR" 4
432.IX Item "EVFLAG_FORKCHECK"
433Instead of calling \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_fork\*(C'\fR manually after
434a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
435enabling this flag.
436.Sp
437This works by calling \f(CW\*(C`getpid ()\*(C'\fR on every iteration of the loop,
438and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
439iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
440Linux system for example, \f(CW\*(C`getpid\*(C'\fR is actually a simple 5\-insn sequence
441without a syscall and thus \fIvery\fR fast, but my Linux system also has
442\&\f(CW\*(C`pthread_atfork\*(C'\fR which is even faster).
443.Sp
444The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
445forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
446flag.
447.Sp
448This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the \f(CW\*(C`LIBEV_FLAGS\*(C'\fR
449environment variable.
350.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_SELECT"" (value 1, portable select backend)" 4 450.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_SELECT"" (value 1, portable select backend)" 4
351.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_SELECT\fR (value 1, portable select backend)" 4 451.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_SELECT\fR (value 1, portable select backend)" 4
352.IX Item "EVBACKEND_SELECT (value 1, portable select backend)" 452.IX Item "EVBACKEND_SELECT (value 1, portable select backend)"
353This is your standard \fIselect\fR\|(2) backend. Not \fIcompletely\fR standard, as 453This is your standard \fIselect\fR\|(2) backend. Not \fIcompletely\fR standard, as
354libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds, 454libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
355but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when 455but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
356using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its usually 456using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its
357the fastest backend for a low number of fds. 457usually the fastest backend for a low number of (low\-numbered :) fds.
458.Sp
459To get good performance out of this backend you need a high amount of
460parallelity (most of the file descriptors should be busy). If you are
461writing a server, you should \f(CW\*(C`accept ()\*(C'\fR in a loop to accept as many
462connections as possible during one iteration. You might also want to have
463a look at \f(CW\*(C`ev_set_io_collect_interval ()\*(C'\fR to increase the amount of
464readyness notifications you get per iteration.
358.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_POLL"" (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)" 4 465.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_POLL"" (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)" 4
359.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_POLL\fR (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)" 4 466.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_POLL\fR (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)" 4
360.IX Item "EVBACKEND_POLL (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)" 467.IX Item "EVBACKEND_POLL (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)"
361And this is your standard \fIpoll\fR\|(2) backend. It's more complicated than 468And this is your standard \fIpoll\fR\|(2) backend. It's more complicated
362select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial limit on the 469than select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial
363number of fds you can use (except it will slow down considerably with a 470limit on the number of fds you can use (except it will slow down
364lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select, i.e. O(total_fds). 471considerably with a lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select,
472i.e. O(total_fds). See the entry for \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR, above, for
473performance tips.
365.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_EPOLL"" (value 4, Linux)" 4 474.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_EPOLL"" (value 4, Linux)" 4
366.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_EPOLL\fR (value 4, Linux)" 4 475.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_EPOLL\fR (value 4, Linux)" 4
367.IX Item "EVBACKEND_EPOLL (value 4, Linux)" 476.IX Item "EVBACKEND_EPOLL (value 4, Linux)"
368For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select, 477For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
369but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like 478but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale
370O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), epoll scales 479like O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd),
371either O(1) or O(active_fds). 480epoll scales either O(1) or O(active_fds). The epoll design has a number
481of shortcomings, such as silently dropping events in some hard-to-detect
482cases and rewiring a syscall per fd change, no fork support and bad
483support for dup.
372.Sp 484.Sp
373While stopping and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration will 485While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration
374result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident 486will result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident
375(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its 487(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
376best to avoid that. Also, \fIdup()\fRed file descriptors might not work very 488best to avoid that. Also, \f(CW\*(C`dup ()\*(C'\fR'ed file descriptors might not work
377well if you register events for both fds. 489very well if you register events for both fds.
378.Sp 490.Sp
379Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you 491Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
380need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data 492need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
381(or space) is available. 493(or space) is available.
494.Sp
495Best performance from this backend is achieved by not unregistering all
496watchers for a file descriptor until it has been closed, if possible, i.e.
497keep at least one watcher active per fd at all times.
498.Sp
499While nominally embeddeble in other event loops, this feature is broken in
500all kernel versions tested so far.
382.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_KQUEUE"" (value 8, most \s-1BSD\s0 clones)" 4 501.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_KQUEUE"" (value 8, most \s-1BSD\s0 clones)" 4
383.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_KQUEUE\fR (value 8, most \s-1BSD\s0 clones)" 4 502.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_KQUEUE\fR (value 8, most \s-1BSD\s0 clones)" 4
384.IX Item "EVBACKEND_KQUEUE (value 8, most BSD clones)" 503.IX Item "EVBACKEND_KQUEUE (value 8, most BSD clones)"
385Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it 504Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
386was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work with 505was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work reliably
387anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course its 506with anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course
388completely useless). For this reason its not being \*(L"autodetected\*(R" 507it's completely useless). For this reason it's not being \*(L"autodetected\*(R"
389unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using 508unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
390\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_KQUEUE\*(C'\fR). 509\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_KQUEUE\*(C'\fR) or libev was compiled on a known-to-be-good (\-enough)
510system like NetBSD.
511.Sp
512You still can embed kqueue into a normal poll or select backend and use it
513only for sockets (after having made sure that sockets work with kqueue on
514the target platform). See \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR watchers for more info.
391.Sp 515.Sp
392It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the 516It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
393kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of 517kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
394course). While starting and stopping an I/O watcher does not cause an 518course). While stopping, setting and starting an I/O watcher does never
395extra syscall as with epoll, it still adds up to four event changes per 519cause an extra syscall as with \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_EPOLL\*(C'\fR, it still adds up to
396incident, so its best to avoid that. 520two event changes per incident, support for \f(CW\*(C`fork ()\*(C'\fR is very bad and it
521drops fds silently in similarly hard-to-detect cases.
522.Sp
523This backend usually performs well under most conditions.
524.Sp
525While nominally embeddable in other event loops, this doesn't work
526everywhere, so you might need to test for this. And since it is broken
527almost everywhere, you should only use it when you have a lot of sockets
528(for which it usually works), by embedding it into another event loop
529(e.g. \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR) and using it only for
530sockets.
397.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL"" (value 16, Solaris 8)" 4 531.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL"" (value 16, Solaris 8)" 4
398.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_DEVPOLL\fR (value 16, Solaris 8)" 4 532.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_DEVPOLL\fR (value 16, Solaris 8)" 4
399.IX Item "EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL (value 16, Solaris 8)" 533.IX Item "EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL (value 16, Solaris 8)"
400This is not implemented yet (and might never be). 534This is not implemented yet (and might never be, unless you send me an
535implementation). According to reports, \f(CW\*(C`/dev/poll\*(C'\fR only supports sockets
536and is not embeddable, which would limit the usefulness of this backend
537immensely.
401.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_PORT"" (value 32, Solaris 10)" 4 538.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_PORT"" (value 32, Solaris 10)" 4
402.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_PORT\fR (value 32, Solaris 10)" 4 539.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_PORT\fR (value 32, Solaris 10)" 4
403.IX Item "EVBACKEND_PORT (value 32, Solaris 10)" 540.IX Item "EVBACKEND_PORT (value 32, Solaris 10)"
404This uses the Solaris 10 port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris, 541This uses the Solaris 10 event port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
405it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)). 542it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).
406.Sp 543.Sp
407Please note that solaris ports can result in a lot of spurious 544Please note that solaris event ports can deliver a lot of spurious
408notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid 545notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
409blocking when no data (or space) is available. 546blocking when no data (or space) is available.
547.Sp
548While this backend scales well, it requires one system call per active
549file descriptor per loop iteration. For small and medium numbers of file
550descriptors a \*(L"slow\*(R" \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR backend
551might perform better.
410.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_ALL""" 4 552.ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_ALL""" 4
411.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_ALL\fR" 4 553.el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_ALL\fR" 4
412.IX Item "EVBACKEND_ALL" 554.IX Item "EVBACKEND_ALL"
413Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried 555Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
414with \f(CW\*(C`EVFLAG_AUTO\*(C'\fR). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as 556with \f(CW\*(C`EVFLAG_AUTO\*(C'\fR). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
415\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE\*(C'\fR. 557\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_ALL & ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE\*(C'\fR.
558.Sp
559It is definitely not recommended to use this flag.
416.RE 560.RE
417.RS 4 561.RS 4
418.Sp 562.Sp
419If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these 563If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these
420backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are 564backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are
448Similar to \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_loop\*(C'\fR, but always creates a new event loop that is 592Similar to \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_loop\*(C'\fR, but always creates a new event loop that is
449always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 593always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
450handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 594handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
451undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled). 595undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
452.Sp 596.Sp
453Example: try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else. 597Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
454.Sp 598.Sp
455.Vb 3 599.Vb 3
456\& struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV); 600\& struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
457\& if (!epoller) 601\& if (!epoller)
458\& fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair"); 602\& fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
462Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 606Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
463etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal 607etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
464sense, so e.g. \f(CW\*(C`ev_is_active\*(C'\fR might still return true. It is your 608sense, so e.g. \f(CW\*(C`ev_is_active\*(C'\fR might still return true. It is your
465responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef \fIbefore\fR 609responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef \fIbefore\fR
466calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually 610calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
467the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR them 611the easiest thing, you can just ignore the watchers and/or \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR them
468for example). 612for example).
613.Sp
614Note that certain global state, such as signal state, will not be freed by
615this function, and related watchers (such as signal and child watchers)
616would need to be stopped manually.
617.Sp
618In general it is not advisable to call this function except in the
619rare occasion where you really need to free e.g. the signal handling
620pipe fds. If you need dynamically allocated loops it is better to use
621\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_destroy\*(C'\fR).
469.IP "ev_loop_destroy (loop)" 4 622.IP "ev_loop_destroy (loop)" 4
470.IX Item "ev_loop_destroy (loop)" 623.IX Item "ev_loop_destroy (loop)"
471Like \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_destroy\*(C'\fR, but destroys an event loop created by an 624Like \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_destroy\*(C'\fR, but destroys an event loop created by an
472earlier call to \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR. 625earlier call to \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR.
473.IP "ev_default_fork ()" 4 626.IP "ev_default_fork ()" 4
495.IP "ev_loop_fork (loop)" 4 648.IP "ev_loop_fork (loop)" 4
496.IX Item "ev_loop_fork (loop)" 649.IX Item "ev_loop_fork (loop)"
497Like \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR, but acts on an event loop created by 650Like \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR, but acts on an event loop created by
498\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 651\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
499after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem. 652after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
653.IP "unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)" 4
654.IX Item "unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)"
655Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
656the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at \f(CW0\fR and
657happily wraps around with enough iterations.
658.Sp
659This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
660\&\*(L"ticks\*(R" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
661\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR calls.
500.IP "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)" 4 662.IP "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)" 4
501.IX Item "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)" 663.IX Item "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)"
502Returns one of the \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_*\*(C'\fR flags indicating the event backend in 664Returns one of the \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_*\*(C'\fR flags indicating the event backend in
503use. 665use.
504.IP "ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)" 4 666.IP "ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)" 4
505.IX Item "ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)" 667.IX Item "ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)"
506Returns the current \*(L"event loop time\*(R", which is the time the event loop 668Returns the current \*(L"event loop time\*(R", which is the time the event loop
507received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not 669received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
508change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base 670change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
509time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the 671time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
510event occuring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it). 672event occurring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).
511.IP "ev_loop (loop, int flags)" 4 673.IP "ev_loop (loop, int flags)" 4
512.IX Item "ev_loop (loop, int flags)" 674.IX Item "ev_loop (loop, int flags)"
513Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 675Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
514after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 676after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
515events. 677events.
535libev watchers. However, a pair of \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR/\f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers is 697libev watchers. However, a pair of \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR/\f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers is
536usually a better approach for this kind of thing. 698usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
537.Sp 699.Sp
538Here are the gory details of what \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR does: 700Here are the gory details of what \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR does:
539.Sp 701.Sp
540.Vb 18 702.Vb 19
703\& - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
541\& * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return. 704\& * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
542\& - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers. 705\& - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
543\& - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state. 706\& - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
544\& - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes. 707\& - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
545\& - Update the "event loop time". 708\& - Update the "event loop time".
546\& - Calculate for how long to block. 709\& - Calculate for how long to block.
547\& - Block the process, waiting for any events. 710\& - Block the process, waiting for any events.
556\& be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed. 719\& be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
557\& - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK 720\& - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
558\& were used, return, otherwise continue with step *. 721\& were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
559.Ve 722.Ve
560.Sp 723.Sp
561Example: queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding 724Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
562anymore. 725anymore.
563.Sp 726.Sp
564.Vb 4 727.Vb 4
565\& ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long 728\& ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
566\& ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..) 729\& ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
588visible to the libev user and should not keep \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR from exiting if 751visible to the libev user and should not keep \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR from exiting if
589no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent 752no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
590way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party 753way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
591libraries. Just remember to \fIunref after start\fR and \fIref before stop\fR. 754libraries. Just remember to \fIunref after start\fR and \fIref before stop\fR.
592.Sp 755.Sp
593Example: create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR 756Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR
594running when nothing else is active. 757running when nothing else is active.
595.Sp 758.Sp
596.Vb 4 759.Vb 4
597\& struct dv_signal exitsig; 760\& struct ev_signal exitsig;
598\& ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT); 761\& ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
599\& ev_signal_start (myloop, &exitsig); 762\& ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
600\& evf_unref (myloop); 763\& evf_unref (loop);
601.Ve 764.Ve
602.Sp 765.Sp
603Example: for some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again. 766Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
604.Sp 767.Sp
605.Vb 2 768.Vb 2
606\& ev_ref (myloop); 769\& ev_ref (loop);
607\& ev_signal_stop (myloop, &exitsig); 770\& ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
608.Ve 771.Ve
772.IP "ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
773.IX Item "ev_set_io_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)"
774.PD 0
775.IP "ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
776.IX Item "ev_set_timeout_collect_interval (loop, ev_tstamp interval)"
777.PD
778These advanced functions influence the time that libev will spend waiting
779for events. Both are by default \f(CW0\fR, meaning that libev will try to
780invoke timer/periodic callbacks and I/O callbacks with minimum latency.
781.Sp
782Setting these to a higher value (the \f(CW\*(C`interval\*(C'\fR \fImust\fR be >= \f(CW0\fR)
783allows libev to delay invocation of I/O and timer/periodic callbacks to
784increase efficiency of loop iterations.
785.Sp
786The background is that sometimes your program runs just fast enough to
787handle one (or very few) event(s) per loop iteration. While this makes
788the program responsive, it also wastes a lot of \s-1CPU\s0 time to poll for new
789events, especially with backends like \f(CW\*(C`select ()\*(C'\fR which have a high
790overhead for the actual polling but can deliver many events at once.
791.Sp
792By setting a higher \fIio collect interval\fR you allow libev to spend more
793time collecting I/O events, so you can handle more events per iteration,
794at the cost of increasing latency. Timeouts (both \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR and
795\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR) will be not affected. Setting this to a non-null value will
796introduce an additional \f(CW\*(C`ev_sleep ()\*(C'\fR call into most loop iterations.
797.Sp
798Likewise, by setting a higher \fItimeout collect interval\fR you allow libev
799to spend more time collecting timeouts, at the expense of increased
800latency (the watcher callback will be called later). \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watchers
801will not be affected. Setting this to a non-null value will not introduce
802any overhead in libev.
803.Sp
804Many (busy) programs can usually benefit by setting the io collect
805interval to a value near \f(CW0.1\fR or so, which is often enough for
806interactive servers (of course not for games), likewise for timeouts. It
807usually doesn't make much sense to set it to a lower value than \f(CW0.01\fR,
808as this approsaches the timing granularity of most systems.
609.SH "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER" 809.SH "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER"
610.IX Header "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER" 810.IX Header "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER"
611A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 811A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
612interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for \s-1STDIN\s0 to 812interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for \s-1STDIN\s0 to
613become readable, you would create an \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watcher for that: 813become readable, you would create an \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watcher for that:
684The signal specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_signal\*(C'\fR watcher has been received by a thread. 884The signal specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_signal\*(C'\fR watcher has been received by a thread.
685.ie n .IP """EV_CHILD""" 4 885.ie n .IP """EV_CHILD""" 4
686.el .IP "\f(CWEV_CHILD\fR" 4 886.el .IP "\f(CWEV_CHILD\fR" 4
687.IX Item "EV_CHILD" 887.IX Item "EV_CHILD"
688The pid specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watcher has received a status change. 888The pid specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watcher has received a status change.
889.ie n .IP """EV_STAT""" 4
890.el .IP "\f(CWEV_STAT\fR" 4
891.IX Item "EV_STAT"
892The path specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR watcher changed its attributes somehow.
689.ie n .IP """EV_IDLE""" 4 893.ie n .IP """EV_IDLE""" 4
690.el .IP "\f(CWEV_IDLE\fR" 4 894.el .IP "\f(CWEV_IDLE\fR" 4
691.IX Item "EV_IDLE" 895.IX Item "EV_IDLE"
692The \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do. 896The \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.
693.ie n .IP """EV_PREPARE""" 4 897.ie n .IP """EV_PREPARE""" 4
703\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 907\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
704received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as 908received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
705many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account 909many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
706(for example, a \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watcher might start an idle watcher to keep 910(for example, a \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
707\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR from blocking). 911\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR from blocking).
912.ie n .IP """EV_EMBED""" 4
913.el .IP "\f(CWEV_EMBED\fR" 4
914.IX Item "EV_EMBED"
915The embedded event loop specified in the \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR watcher needs attention.
916.ie n .IP """EV_FORK""" 4
917.el .IP "\f(CWEV_FORK\fR" 4
918.IX Item "EV_FORK"
919The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
920\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_fork\*(C'\fR).
708.ie n .IP """EV_ERROR""" 4 921.ie n .IP """EV_ERROR""" 4
709.el .IP "\f(CWEV_ERROR\fR" 4 922.el .IP "\f(CWEV_ERROR\fR" 4
710.IX Item "EV_ERROR" 923.IX Item "EV_ERROR"
711An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 924An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
712happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 925happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
717Libev will usually signal a few \*(L"dummy\*(R" events together with an error, 930Libev will usually signal a few \*(L"dummy\*(R" events together with an error,
718for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if 931for example it might indicate that a fd is readable or writable, and if
719your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope 932your callbacks is well-written it can just attempt the operation and cope
720with the error from \fIread()\fR or \fIwrite()\fR. This will not work in multithreaded 933with the error from \fIread()\fR or \fIwrite()\fR. This will not work in multithreaded
721programs, though, so beware. 934programs, though, so beware.
722.Sh "\s-1SUMMARY\s0 \s-1OF\s0 \s-1GENERIC\s0 \s-1WATCHER\s0 \s-1FUNCTIONS\s0" 935.Sh "\s-1GENERIC\s0 \s-1WATCHER\s0 \s-1FUNCTIONS\s0"
723.IX Subsection "SUMMARY OF GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS" 936.IX Subsection "GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS"
724In the following description, \f(CW\*(C`TYPE\*(C'\fR stands for the watcher type, 937In the following description, \f(CW\*(C`TYPE\*(C'\fR stands for the watcher type,
725e.g. \f(CW\*(C`timer\*(C'\fR for \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR watchers and \f(CW\*(C`io\*(C'\fR for \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watchers. 938e.g. \f(CW\*(C`timer\*(C'\fR for \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR watchers and \f(CW\*(C`io\*(C'\fR for \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watchers.
726.ie n .IP """ev_init"" (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4 939.ie n .IP """ev_init"" (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4
727.el .IP "\f(CWev_init\fR (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4 940.el .IP "\f(CWev_init\fR (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4
728.IX Item "ev_init (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 941.IX Item "ev_init (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)"
734which rolls both calls into one. 947which rolls both calls into one.
735.Sp 948.Sp
736You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped 949You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
737(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding. 950(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.
738.Sp 951.Sp
739The callbakc is always of type \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, 952The callback is always of type \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
740int revents)\*(C'\fR. 953int revents)\*(C'\fR.
741.ie n .IP """ev_TYPE_set"" (ev_TYPE *, [args])" 4 954.ie n .IP """ev_TYPE_set"" (ev_TYPE *, [args])" 4
742.el .IP "\f(CWev_TYPE_set\fR (ev_TYPE *, [args])" 4 955.el .IP "\f(CWev_TYPE_set\fR (ev_TYPE *, [args])" 4
743.IX Item "ev_TYPE_set (ev_TYPE *, [args])" 956.IX Item "ev_TYPE_set (ev_TYPE *, [args])"
744This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to 957This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
777.IP "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4 990.IP "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
778.IX Item "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 991.IX Item "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
779Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding 992Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
780events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher 993events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
781is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but 994is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
782\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR is safe) and you must make sure the watcher is available to 995\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
783libev (e.g. you cnanot \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR it). 996make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR
997it).
784.IP "callback = ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4 998.IP "callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
785.IX Item "callback = ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 999.IX Item "callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
786Returns the callback currently set on the watcher. 1000Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
787.IP "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4 1001.IP "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4
788.IX Item "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 1002.IX Item "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)"
789Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time 1003Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
790(modulo threads). 1004(modulo threads).
1005.IP "ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)" 4
1006.IX Item "ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)"
1007.PD 0
1008.IP "int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
1009.IX Item "int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
1010.PD
1011Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
1012integer between \f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR (default: \f(CW2\fR) and \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR
1013(default: \f(CW\*(C`\-2\*(C'\fR). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
1014before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
1015from being executed (except for \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watchers).
1016.Sp
1017This means that priorities are \fIonly\fR used for ordering callback
1018invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
1019example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
1020watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
1021.Sp
1022If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
1023you need to look at \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watchers, which provide this functionality.
1024.Sp
1025You \fImust not\fR change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
1026pending.
1027.Sp
1028The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
1029always \f(CW0\fR, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
1030.Sp
1031Setting a priority outside the range of \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR to \f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR is
1032fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
1033or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
1034.IP "ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)" 4
1035.IX Item "ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)"
1036Invoke the \f(CW\*(C`watcher\*(C'\fR with the given \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR. Neither
1037\&\f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR nor \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
1038can deal with that fact.
1039.IP "int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
1040.IX Item "int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)"
1041If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
1042and returns its \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
1043watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns \f(CW0\fR.
791.Sh "\s-1ASSOCIATING\s0 \s-1CUSTOM\s0 \s-1DATA\s0 \s-1WITH\s0 A \s-1WATCHER\s0" 1044.Sh "\s-1ASSOCIATING\s0 \s-1CUSTOM\s0 \s-1DATA\s0 \s-1WITH\s0 A \s-1WATCHER\s0"
792.IX Subsection "ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER" 1045.IX Subsection "ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER"
793Each watcher has, by default, a member \f(CW\*(C`void *data\*(C'\fR that you can change 1046Each watcher has, by default, a member \f(CW\*(C`void *data\*(C'\fR that you can change
794and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used 1047and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
795to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and 1048to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
816\& struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 1069\& struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
817\& ... 1070\& ...
818\& } 1071\& }
819.Ve 1072.Ve
820.PP 1073.PP
821More interesting and less C\-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 1074More interesting and less C\-conformant ways of casting your callback type
822have been omitted.... 1075instead have been omitted.
1076.PP
1077Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
1078watchers:
1079.PP
1080.Vb 6
1081\& struct my_biggy
1082\& {
1083\& int some_data;
1084\& ev_timer t1;
1085\& ev_timer t2;
1086\& }
1087.Ve
1088.PP
1089In this case getting the pointer to \f(CW\*(C`my_biggy\*(C'\fR is a bit more complicated,
1090you need to use \f(CW\*(C`offsetof\*(C'\fR:
1091.PP
1092.Vb 1
1093\& #include <stddef.h>
1094.Ve
1095.PP
1096.Vb 6
1097\& static void
1098\& t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1099\& {
1100\& struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
1101\& (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
1102\& }
1103.Ve
1104.PP
1105.Vb 6
1106\& static void
1107\& t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1108\& {
1109\& struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
1110\& (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
1111\& }
1112.Ve
823.SH "WATCHER TYPES" 1113.SH "WATCHER TYPES"
824.IX Header "WATCHER TYPES" 1114.IX Header "WATCHER TYPES"
825This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 1115This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
826information given in the last section. 1116information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
1117functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.
1118.PP
1119Members are additionally marked with either \fI[read\-only]\fR, meaning that,
1120while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
1121sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
1122watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or \fI[read\-write]\fR, which
1123means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
1124is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
1125sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
1126not crash or malfunction in any way.
827.ie n .Sh """ev_io"" \- is this file descriptor readable or writable" 1127.ie n .Sh """ev_io"" \- is this file descriptor readable or writable?"
828.el .Sh "\f(CWev_io\fP \- is this file descriptor readable or writable" 1128.el .Sh "\f(CWev_io\fP \- is this file descriptor readable or writable?"
829.IX Subsection "ev_io - is this file descriptor readable or writable" 1129.IX Subsection "ev_io - is this file descriptor readable or writable?"
830I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 1130I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
831in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 1131in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
832level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 1132would not block the process and writing would at least be able to write
833condition persists. Remember you can stop the watcher if you don't want to 1133some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
834act on the event and neither want to receive future events). 1134receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
1135the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
1136receive future events.
835.PP 1137.PP
836In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per 1138In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
837fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 1139fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
838descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 1140descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
839required if you know what you are doing). 1141required if you know what you are doing).
840.PP 1142.PP
841You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends 1143You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
842(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file 1144(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
843descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing 1145descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
844to the same underlying file/socket etc. description (that is, they share 1146to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
845the same underlying \*(L"file open\*(R"). 1147the same underlying \*(L"file open\*(R").
846.PP 1148.PP
847If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend 1149If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
848(at the time of this writing, this includes only \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR and 1150(at the time of this writing, this includes only \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR and
849\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR). 1151\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR).
1152.PP
1153Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
1154receive \*(L"spurious\*(R" readyness notifications, that is your callback might
1155be called with \f(CW\*(C`EV_READ\*(C'\fR but a subsequent \f(CW\*(C`read\*(C'\fR(2) will actually block
1156because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
1157lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
1158this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
1159it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra \f(CW\*(C`read\*(C'\fR(2) returning
1160\&\f(CW\*(C`EAGAIN\*(C'\fR is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
1161.PP
1162If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
1163play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
1164whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
1165such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
1166its own, so its quite safe to use).
1167.PP
1168\fIThe special problem of disappearing file descriptors\fR
1169.IX Subsection "The special problem of disappearing file descriptors"
1170.PP
1171Some backends (e.g. kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
1172descriptor (either by calling \f(CW\*(C`close\*(C'\fR explicitly or by any other means,
1173such as \f(CW\*(C`dup\*(C'\fR). The reason is that you register interest in some file
1174descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
1175this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
1176registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
1177fact, a different file descriptor.
1178.PP
1179To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
1180the following policy: Each time \f(CW\*(C`ev_io_set\*(C'\fR is being called, libev
1181will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
1182it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
1183you \fIhave\fR to call \f(CW\*(C`ev_io_set\*(C'\fR (or \f(CW\*(C`ev_io_init\*(C'\fR) when you change the
1184descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
1185.PP
1186This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
1187the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
1188optimisations to libev.
1189.PP
1190\fIThe special problem of dup'ed file descriptors\fR
1191.IX Subsection "The special problem of dup'ed file descriptors"
1192.PP
1193Some backends (e.g. epoll), cannot register events for file descriptors,
1194but only events for the underlying file descriptions. That menas when you
1195have \f(CW\*(C`dup ()\*(C'\fR'ed file descriptors and register events for them, only one
1196file descriptor might actually receive events.
1197.PP
1198There is no workaorund possible except not registering events
1199for potentially \f(CW\*(C`dup ()\*(C'\fR'ed file descriptors or to resort to
1200\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR.
1201.PP
1202\fIThe special problem of fork\fR
1203.IX Subsection "The special problem of fork"
1204.PP
1205Some backends (epoll, kqueue) do not support \f(CW\*(C`fork ()\*(C'\fR at all or exhibit
1206useless behaviour. Libev fully supports fork, but needs to be told about
1207it in the child.
1208.PP
1209To support fork in your programs, you either have to call
1210\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork ()\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_fork ()\*(C'\fR after a fork in the child,
1211enable \f(CW\*(C`EVFLAG_FORKCHECK\*(C'\fR, or resort to \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR or
1212\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR.
1213.PP
1214\fIWatcher-Specific Functions\fR
1215.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions"
850.IP "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)" 4 1216.IP "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)" 4
851.IX Item "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)" 1217.IX Item "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)"
852.PD 0 1218.PD 0
853.IP "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)" 4 1219.IP "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)" 4
854.IX Item "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)" 1220.IX Item "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)"
855.PD 1221.PD
856Configures an \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 1222Configures an \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watcher. The \f(CW\*(C`fd\*(C'\fR is the file descriptor to
857events for and events is either \f(CW\*(C`EV_READ\*(C'\fR, \f(CW\*(C`EV_WRITE\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`EV_READ | 1223rceeive events for and events is either \f(CW\*(C`EV_READ\*(C'\fR, \f(CW\*(C`EV_WRITE\*(C'\fR or
858EV_WRITE\*(C'\fR to receive the given events. 1224\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_READ | EV_WRITE\*(C'\fR to receive the given events.
859.Sp 1225.IP "int fd [read\-only]" 4
860Please note that most of the more scalable backend mechanisms (for example 1226.IX Item "int fd [read-only]"
861epoll and solaris ports) can result in spurious readyness notifications 1227The file descriptor being watched.
862for file descriptors, so you practically need to use non-blocking I/O (and 1228.IP "int events [read\-only]" 4
863treat callback invocation as hint only), or retest separately with a safe 1229.IX Item "int events [read-only]"
864interface before doing I/O (XLib can do this), or force the use of either 1230The events being watched.
865\&\f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_SELECT\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_POLL\*(C'\fR, which don't suffer from this
866problem. Also note that it is quite easy to have your callback invoked
867when the readyness condition is no longer valid even when employing
868typical ways of handling events, so its a good idea to use non-blocking
869I/O unconditionally.
870.PP 1231.PP
871Example: call \f(CW\*(C`stdin_readable_cb\*(C'\fR when \s-1STDIN_FILENO\s0 has become, well 1232Example: Call \f(CW\*(C`stdin_readable_cb\*(C'\fR when \s-1STDIN_FILENO\s0 has become, well
872readable, but only once. Since it is likely line\-buffered, you could 1233readable, but only once. Since it is likely line\-buffered, you could
873attempt to read a whole line in the callback: 1234attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
874.PP 1235.PP
875.Vb 6 1236.Vb 6
876\& static void 1237\& static void
877\& stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 1238\& stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
878\& { 1239\& {
887\& struct ev_io stdin_readable; 1248\& struct ev_io stdin_readable;
888\& ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ); 1249\& ev_io_init (&stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
889\& ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable); 1250\& ev_io_start (loop, &stdin_readable);
890\& ev_loop (loop, 0); 1251\& ev_loop (loop, 0);
891.Ve 1252.Ve
892.ie n .Sh """ev_timer"" \- relative and optionally recurring timeouts" 1253.ie n .Sh """ev_timer"" \- relative and optionally repeating timeouts"
893.el .Sh "\f(CWev_timer\fP \- relative and optionally recurring timeouts" 1254.el .Sh "\f(CWev_timer\fP \- relative and optionally repeating timeouts"
894.IX Subsection "ev_timer - relative and optionally recurring timeouts" 1255.IX Subsection "ev_timer - relative and optionally repeating timeouts"
895Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 1256Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
896given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that. 1257given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.
897.PP 1258.PP
898The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 1259The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
899times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years 1260times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
912.Ve 1273.Ve
913.PP 1274.PP
914The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed, 1275The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
915but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then 1276but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
916order of execution is undefined. 1277order of execution is undefined.
1278.PP
1279\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1280.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
917.IP "ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 4 1281.IP "ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 4
918.IX Item "ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 1282.IX Item "ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)"
919.PD 0 1283.PD 0
920.IP "ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 4 1284.IP "ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 4
921.IX Item "ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)" 1285.IX Item "ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)"
933.IP "ev_timer_again (loop)" 4 1297.IP "ev_timer_again (loop)" 4
934.IX Item "ev_timer_again (loop)" 1298.IX Item "ev_timer_again (loop)"
935This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1299This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
936repeating. The exact semantics are: 1300repeating. The exact semantics are:
937.Sp 1301.Sp
1302If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
1303.Sp
938If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it. 1304If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
939.Sp 1305.Sp
940If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 1306If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
941value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value. 1307\&\f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value), or reset the running timer to the \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value.
942.Sp 1308.Sp
943This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 1309This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
944example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle 1310example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
945timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60 1311timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
946seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to 1312seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
947configure an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR with after=repeat=60 and calling ev_timer_again each 1313configure an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR with a \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value of \f(CW60\fR and then call
948time you successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle 1314\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR each time you successfully read or write some data. If
949state where you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can stop 1315you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
950the timer, and again will automatically restart it if need be. 1316socket, you can \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_stop\*(C'\fR the timer, and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR will
1317automatically restart it if need be.
1318.Sp
1319That means you can ignore the \f(CW\*(C`after\*(C'\fR value and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_start\*(C'\fR
1320altogether and only ever use the \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR:
1321.Sp
1322.Vb 8
1323\& ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1324\& ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1325\& ...
1326\& timer->again = 17.;
1327\& ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1328\& ...
1329\& timer->again = 10.;
1330\& ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1331.Ve
1332.Sp
1333This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1334you want to modify its timeout value.
1335.IP "ev_tstamp repeat [read\-write]" 4
1336.IX Item "ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]"
1337The current \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1338or \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1339which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
951.PP 1340.PP
952Example: create a timer that fires after 60 seconds. 1341Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
953.PP 1342.PP
954.Vb 5 1343.Vb 5
955\& static void 1344\& static void
956\& one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1345\& one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
957\& { 1346\& {
963\& struct ev_timer mytimer; 1352\& struct ev_timer mytimer;
964\& ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.); 1353\& ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
965\& ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer); 1354\& ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
966.Ve 1355.Ve
967.PP 1356.PP
968Example: create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of 1357Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
969inactivity. 1358inactivity.
970.PP 1359.PP
971.Vb 5 1360.Vb 5
972\& static void 1361\& static void
973\& timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1362\& timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
986.Vb 3 1375.Vb 3
987\& // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity": 1376\& // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any "activity":
988\& // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds 1377\& // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
989\& ev_timer_again (&mytimer); 1378\& ev_timer_again (&mytimer);
990.Ve 1379.Ve
991.ie n .Sh """ev_periodic"" \- to cron or not to cron" 1380.ie n .Sh """ev_periodic"" \- to cron or not to cron?"
992.el .Sh "\f(CWev_periodic\fP \- to cron or not to cron" 1381.el .Sh "\f(CWev_periodic\fP \- to cron or not to cron?"
993.IX Subsection "ev_periodic - to cron or not to cron" 1382.IX Subsection "ev_periodic - to cron or not to cron?"
994Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1383Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
995(and unfortunately a bit complex). 1384(and unfortunately a bit complex).
996.PP 1385.PP
997Unlike \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR's, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1386Unlike \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR's, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
998but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1387but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
999to trigger \*(L"at\*(R" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1388to trigger \*(L"at\*(R" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
1000periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. c<ev_now () 1389periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. \f(CW\*(C`ev_now ()
1001+ 10.>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1390+ 10.\*(C'\fR) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
1002take a year to trigger the event (unlike an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR, which would trigger 1391take a year to trigger the event (unlike an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR, which would trigger
1003roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1392roughly 10 seconds later).
1004again).
1005.PP 1393.PP
1006They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1394They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
1007triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time. 1395triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1396rules.
1008.PP 1397.PP
1009As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1398As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1010time (\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready 1399time (\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1011during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined. 1400during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
1401.PP
1402\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1403.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1012.IP "ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)" 4 1404.IP "ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)" 4
1013.IX Item "ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)" 1405.IX Item "ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)"
1014.PD 0 1406.PD 0
1015.IP "ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)" 4 1407.IP "ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)" 4
1016.IX Item "ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)" 1408.IX Item "ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)"
1017.PD 1409.PD
1018Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1410Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
1019operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex: 1411operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
1020.RS 4 1412.RS 4
1021.IP "* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)" 4 1413.IP "* absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
1022.IX Item "absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)" 1414.IX Item "absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)"
1023In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1415In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
1024\&\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1416\&\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
1025that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1417that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
1026system time reaches or surpasses this time. 1418system time reaches or surpasses this time.
1027.IP "* non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)" 4 1419.IP "* non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
1028.IX Item "non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)" 1420.IX Item "non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)"
1029In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1421In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
1030\&\f(CW\*(C`at + N * interval\*(C'\fR time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1422\&\f(CW\*(C`at + N * interval\*(C'\fR time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
1031of any time jumps. 1423and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
1032.Sp 1424.Sp
1033This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1425This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
1034time: 1426time:
1035.Sp 1427.Sp
1036.Vb 1 1428.Vb 1
1043by 3600. 1435by 3600.
1044.Sp 1436.Sp
1045Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1437Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
1046\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1438\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
1047time where \f(CW\*(C`time = at (mod interval)\*(C'\fR, regardless of any time jumps. 1439time where \f(CW\*(C`time = at (mod interval)\*(C'\fR, regardless of any time jumps.
1440.Sp
1441For numerical stability it is preferable that the \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR value is near
1442\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_now ()\*(C'\fR (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1443this value.
1048.IP "* manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)" 4 1444.IP "* manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)" 4
1049.IX Item "manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)" 1445.IX Item "manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)"
1050In this mode the values for \f(CW\*(C`interval\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR are both being 1446In this mode the values for \f(CW\*(C`interval\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR are both being
1051ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1447ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
1052reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1448reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
1053current time as second argument. 1449current time as second argument.
1054.Sp 1450.Sp
1055\&\s-1NOTE:\s0 \fIThis callback \s-1MUST\s0 \s-1NOT\s0 stop or destroy any periodic watcher, 1451\&\s-1NOTE:\s0 \fIThis callback \s-1MUST\s0 \s-1NOT\s0 stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
1056ever, or make any event loop modifications\fR. If you need to stop it, 1452ever, or make any event loop modifications\fR. If you need to stop it,
1057return \f(CW\*(C`now + 1e30\*(C'\fR (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by 1453return \f(CW\*(C`now + 1e30\*(C'\fR (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
1058starting a prepare watcher). 1454starting an \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watcher, which is legal).
1059.Sp 1455.Sp
1060Its prototype is \f(CW\*(C`ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1456Its prototype is \f(CW\*(C`ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
1061ev_tstamp now)\*(C'\fR, e.g.: 1457ev_tstamp now)\*(C'\fR, e.g.:
1062.Sp 1458.Sp
1063.Vb 4 1459.Vb 4
1087.IX Item "ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)" 1483.IX Item "ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)"
1088Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1484Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
1089when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1485when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
1090a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1486a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
1091program when the crontabs have changed). 1487program when the crontabs have changed).
1488.IP "ev_tstamp offset [read\-write]" 4
1489.IX Item "ev_tstamp offset [read-write]"
1490When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1491absolute point in time (the \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR value passed to \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_set\*(C'\fR).
1492.Sp
1493Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1494timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being called.
1495.IP "ev_tstamp interval [read\-write]" 4
1496.IX Item "ev_tstamp interval [read-write]"
1497The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1498take effect when the periodic timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being
1499called.
1500.IP "ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read\-write]" 4
1501.IX Item "ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]"
1502The current reschedule callback, or \f(CW0\fR, if this functionality is
1503switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1504the periodic timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being called.
1505.IP "ev_tstamp at [read\-only]" 4
1506.IX Item "ev_tstamp at [read-only]"
1507When active, contains the absolute time that the watcher is supposed to
1508trigger next.
1092.PP 1509.PP
1093Example: call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the 1510Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1094system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have 1511system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1095potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability. 1512potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.
1096.PP 1513.PP
1097.Vb 5 1514.Vb 5
1098\& static void 1515\& static void
1106\& struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1523\& struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1107\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0); 1524\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1108\& ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick); 1525\& ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1109.Ve 1526.Ve
1110.PP 1527.PP
1111Example: the same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it: 1528Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
1112.PP 1529.PP
1113.Vb 1 1530.Vb 1
1114\& #include <math.h> 1531\& #include <math.h>
1115.Ve 1532.Ve
1116.PP 1533.PP
1124.PP 1541.PP
1125.Vb 1 1542.Vb 1
1126\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb); 1543\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1127.Ve 1544.Ve
1128.PP 1545.PP
1129Example: call a callback every hour, starting now: 1546Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
1130.PP 1547.PP
1131.Vb 4 1548.Vb 4
1132\& struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1549\& struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1133\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 1550\& ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1134\& fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0); 1551\& fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1135\& ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick); 1552\& ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
1136.Ve 1553.Ve
1137.ie n .Sh """ev_signal"" \- signal me when a signal gets signalled" 1554.ie n .Sh """ev_signal"" \- signal me when a signal gets signalled!"
1138.el .Sh "\f(CWev_signal\fP \- signal me when a signal gets signalled" 1555.el .Sh "\f(CWev_signal\fP \- signal me when a signal gets signalled!"
1139.IX Subsection "ev_signal - signal me when a signal gets signalled" 1556.IX Subsection "ev_signal - signal me when a signal gets signalled!"
1140Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1557Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
1141signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1558signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
1142will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 1559will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
1143normal event processing, like any other event. 1560normal event processing, like any other event.
1144.PP 1561.PP
1146first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher 1563first watcher gets started will libev actually register a signal watcher
1147with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long 1564with the kernel (thus it coexists with your own signal handlers as long
1148as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal 1565as you don't register any with libev). Similarly, when the last signal
1149watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to 1566watcher for a signal is stopped libev will reset the signal handler to
1150\&\s-1SIG_DFL\s0 (regardless of what it was set to before). 1567\&\s-1SIG_DFL\s0 (regardless of what it was set to before).
1568.PP
1569\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1570.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1151.IP "ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)" 4 1571.IP "ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)" 4
1152.IX Item "ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)" 1572.IX Item "ev_signal_init (ev_signal *, callback, int signum)"
1153.PD 0 1573.PD 0
1154.IP "ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)" 4 1574.IP "ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)" 4
1155.IX Item "ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)" 1575.IX Item "ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)"
1156.PD 1576.PD
1157Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1577Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
1158of the \f(CW\*(C`SIGxxx\*(C'\fR constants). 1578of the \f(CW\*(C`SIGxxx\*(C'\fR constants).
1579.IP "int signum [read\-only]" 4
1580.IX Item "int signum [read-only]"
1581The signal the watcher watches out for.
1159.ie n .Sh """ev_child"" \- wait for pid status changes" 1582.ie n .Sh """ev_child"" \- watch out for process status changes"
1160.el .Sh "\f(CWev_child\fP \- wait for pid status changes" 1583.el .Sh "\f(CWev_child\fP \- watch out for process status changes"
1161.IX Subsection "ev_child - wait for pid status changes" 1584.IX Subsection "ev_child - watch out for process status changes"
1162Child watchers trigger when your process receives a \s-1SIGCHLD\s0 in response to 1585Child watchers trigger when your process receives a \s-1SIGCHLD\s0 in response to
1163some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies). 1586some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).
1587.PP
1588\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1589.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1164.IP "ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)" 4 1590.IP "ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)" 4
1165.IX Item "ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)" 1591.IX Item "ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)"
1166.PD 0 1592.PD 0
1167.IP "ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)" 4 1593.IP "ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)" 4
1168.IX Item "ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)" 1594.IX Item "ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)"
1171\&\fIany\fR process if \f(CW\*(C`pid\*(C'\fR is specified as \f(CW0\fR). The callback can look 1597\&\fIany\fR process if \f(CW\*(C`pid\*(C'\fR is specified as \f(CW0\fR). The callback can look
1172at the \f(CW\*(C`rstatus\*(C'\fR member of the \f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watcher structure to see 1598at the \f(CW\*(C`rstatus\*(C'\fR member of the \f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watcher structure to see
1173the status word (use the macros from \f(CW\*(C`sys/wait.h\*(C'\fR and see your systems 1599the status word (use the macros from \f(CW\*(C`sys/wait.h\*(C'\fR and see your systems
1174\&\f(CW\*(C`waitpid\*(C'\fR documentation). The \f(CW\*(C`rpid\*(C'\fR member contains the pid of the 1600\&\f(CW\*(C`waitpid\*(C'\fR documentation). The \f(CW\*(C`rpid\*(C'\fR member contains the pid of the
1175process causing the status change. 1601process causing the status change.
1602.IP "int pid [read\-only]" 4
1603.IX Item "int pid [read-only]"
1604The process id this watcher watches out for, or \f(CW0\fR, meaning any process id.
1605.IP "int rpid [read\-write]" 4
1606.IX Item "int rpid [read-write]"
1607The process id that detected a status change.
1608.IP "int rstatus [read\-write]" 4
1609.IX Item "int rstatus [read-write]"
1610The process exit/trace status caused by \f(CW\*(C`rpid\*(C'\fR (see your systems
1611\&\f(CW\*(C`waitpid\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`sys/wait.h\*(C'\fR documentation for details).
1176.PP 1612.PP
1177Example: try to exit cleanly on \s-1SIGINT\s0 and \s-1SIGTERM\s0. 1613Example: Try to exit cleanly on \s-1SIGINT\s0 and \s-1SIGTERM\s0.
1178.PP 1614.PP
1179.Vb 5 1615.Vb 5
1180\& static void 1616\& static void
1181\& sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents) 1617\& sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1182\& { 1618\& {
1187.Vb 3 1623.Vb 3
1188\& struct ev_signal signal_watcher; 1624\& struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1189\& ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT); 1625\& ev_signal_init (&signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1190\& ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb); 1626\& ev_signal_start (loop, &sigint_cb);
1191.Ve 1627.Ve
1628.ie n .Sh """ev_stat"" \- did the file attributes just change?"
1629.el .Sh "\f(CWev_stat\fP \- did the file attributes just change?"
1630.IX Subsection "ev_stat - did the file attributes just change?"
1631This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1632\&\f(CW\*(C`stat\*(C'\fR regularly (or when the \s-1OS\s0 says it changed) and sees if it changed
1633compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.
1634.PP
1635The path does not need to exist: changing from \*(L"path exists\*(R" to \*(L"path does
1636not exist\*(R" is a status change like any other. The condition \*(L"path does
1637not exist\*(R" is signified by the \f(CW\*(C`st_nlink\*(C'\fR field being zero (which is
1638otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1639the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
1640.PP
1641The path \fIshould\fR be absolute and \fImust not\fR end in a slash. If it is
1642relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
1643.PP
1644Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1645calls \f(CW\*(C`stat (2)\*(C'\fR regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1646can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1647a polling interval of \f(CW0\fR (highly recommended!) then a \fIsuitable,
1648unspecified default\fR value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1649five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1650impose a minimum interval which is currently around \f(CW0.1\fR, but thats
1651usually overkill.
1652.PP
1653This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1654as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1655resource\-intensive.
1656.PP
1657At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1658implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1659reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1660semantics of \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1661to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1662usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1663polling.
1664.PP
1665\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1666.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1667.IP "ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
1668.IX Item "ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)"
1669.PD 0
1670.IP "ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
1671.IX Item "ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)"
1672.PD
1673Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1674\&\f(CW\*(C`path\*(C'\fR. The \f(CW\*(C`interval\*(C'\fR is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1675be detected and should normally be specified as \f(CW0\fR to let libev choose
1676a suitable value. The memory pointed to by \f(CW\*(C`path\*(C'\fR must point to the same
1677path for as long as the watcher is active.
1678.Sp
1679The callback will be receive \f(CW\*(C`EV_STAT\*(C'\fR when a change was detected,
1680relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1681last change was detected).
1682.IP "ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)" 4
1683.IX Item "ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)"
1684Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1685watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1686detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1687useful simply to find out the new values.
1688.IP "ev_statdata attr [read\-only]" 4
1689.IX Item "ev_statdata attr [read-only]"
1690The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1691\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_statdata\*(C'\fR, this is usually the (or one of the) \f(CW\*(C`struct stat\*(C'\fR types
1692suitable for your system. If the \f(CW\*(C`st_nlink\*(C'\fR member is \f(CW0\fR, then there
1693was some error while \f(CW\*(C`stat\*(C'\fRing the file.
1694.IP "ev_statdata prev [read\-only]" 4
1695.IX Item "ev_statdata prev [read-only]"
1696The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1697\&\f(CW\*(C`prev\*(C'\fR != \f(CW\*(C`attr\*(C'\fR.
1698.IP "ev_tstamp interval [read\-only]" 4
1699.IX Item "ev_tstamp interval [read-only]"
1700The specified interval.
1701.IP "const char *path [read\-only]" 4
1702.IX Item "const char *path [read-only]"
1703The filesystem path that is being watched.
1704.PP
1705Example: Watch \f(CW\*(C`/etc/passwd\*(C'\fR for attribute changes.
1706.PP
1707.Vb 15
1708\& static void
1709\& passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1710\& {
1711\& /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1712\& if (w->attr.st_nlink)
1713\& {
1714\& printf ("passwd current size %ld\en", (long)w->attr.st_size);
1715\& printf ("passwd current atime %ld\en", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1716\& printf ("passwd current mtime %ld\en", (long)w->attr.st_mtime);
1717\& }
1718\& else
1719\& /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1720\& puts ("wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. "
1721\& "if this is windows, they already arrived\en");
1722\& }
1723.Ve
1724.PP
1725.Vb 2
1726\& ...
1727\& ev_stat passwd;
1728.Ve
1729.PP
1730.Vb 2
1731\& ev_stat_init (&passwd, passwd_cb, "/etc/passwd");
1732\& ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
1733.Ve
1192.ie n .Sh """ev_idle"" \- when you've got nothing better to do" 1734.ie n .Sh """ev_idle"" \- when you've got nothing better to do..."
1193.el .Sh "\f(CWev_idle\fP \- when you've got nothing better to do" 1735.el .Sh "\f(CWev_idle\fP \- when you've got nothing better to do..."
1194.IX Subsection "ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do" 1736.IX Subsection "ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do..."
1195Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending 1737Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
1196(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long 1738priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
1197as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals, 1739count).
1198imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle 1740.PP
1199watchers are being called again and again, once per event loop iteration \- 1741That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
1742(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1743triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1744are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
1200until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes 1745iteration \- until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
1201busy. 1746and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
1202.PP 1747.PP
1203The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1748The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
1204active, the process will not block when waiting for new events. 1749active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
1205.PP 1750.PP
1206Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1751Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
1207effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1752effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
1208\&\*(L"pseudo\-background processing\*(R", or delay processing stuff to after the 1753\&\*(L"pseudo\-background processing\*(R", or delay processing stuff to after the
1209event loop has handled all outstanding events. 1754event loop has handled all outstanding events.
1755.PP
1756\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1757.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1210.IP "ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)" 4 1758.IP "ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)" 4
1211.IX Item "ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)" 1759.IX Item "ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)"
1212Initialises and configures the idle watcher \- it has no parameters of any 1760Initialises and configures the idle watcher \- it has no parameters of any
1213kind. There is a \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle_set\*(C'\fR macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 1761kind. There is a \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle_set\*(C'\fR macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1214believe me. 1762believe me.
1215.PP 1763.PP
1216Example: dynamically allocate an \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR, start it, and in the 1764Example: Dynamically allocate an \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watcher, start it, and in the
1217callback, free it. Alos, use no error checking, as usual. 1765callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
1218.PP 1766.PP
1219.Vb 7 1767.Vb 7
1220\& static void 1768\& static void
1221\& idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents) 1769\& idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1222\& { 1770\& {
1229.Vb 3 1777.Vb 3
1230\& struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle)); 1778\& struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1231\& ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb); 1779\& ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1232\& ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb); 1780\& ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1233.Ve 1781.Ve
1234.ie n .Sh """ev_prepare""\fP and \f(CW""ev_check"" \- customise your event loop" 1782.ie n .Sh """ev_prepare""\fP and \f(CW""ev_check"" \- customise your event loop!"
1235.el .Sh "\f(CWev_prepare\fP and \f(CWev_check\fP \- customise your event loop" 1783.el .Sh "\f(CWev_prepare\fP and \f(CWev_check\fP \- customise your event loop!"
1236.IX Subsection "ev_prepare and ev_check - customise your event loop" 1784.IX Subsection "ev_prepare and ev_check - customise your event loop!"
1237Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem: 1785Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
1238prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers 1786prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
1239afterwards. 1787afterwards.
1240.PP 1788.PP
1789You \fImust not\fR call \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR or similar functions that enter
1790the current event loop from either \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR
1791watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1792rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1793those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR, blocking,
1794\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1795called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.
1796.PP
1241Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and 1797Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
1242their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track 1798their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
1243variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a 1799variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1244coroutine library and lots more. 1800coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1801you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1802in X programs you might want to do an \f(CW\*(C`XFlush ()\*(C'\fR in an \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR
1803watcher).
1245.PP 1804.PP
1246This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1805This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
1247to be watched by the other library, registering \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watchers for 1806to be watched by the other library, registering \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR watchers for
1248them and starting an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR watcher for any timeouts (many libraries 1807them and starting an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
1249provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for 1808provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
1258are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines 1817are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1259with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine 1818with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1260of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event 1819of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1261loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping 1820loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1262low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks). 1821low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
1822.PP
1823It is recommended to give \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers highest (\f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR)
1824priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1825after the poll. Also, \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers (and \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watchers,
1826too) should not activate (\*(L"feed\*(R") events into libev. While libev fully
1827supports this, they will be called before other \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers
1828did their job. As \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers are often used to embed other
1829(non\-libev) event loops those other event loops might be in an unusable
1830state until their \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watcher ran (always remind yourself to
1831coexist peacefully with others).
1832.PP
1833\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
1834.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1263.IP "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)" 4 1835.IP "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)" 4
1264.IX Item "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)" 1836.IX Item "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)"
1265.PD 0 1837.PD 0
1266.IP "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)" 4 1838.IP "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)" 4
1267.IX Item "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)" 1839.IX Item "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)"
1268.PD 1840.PD
1269Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher \- they have no 1841Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher \- they have no
1270parameters of any kind. There are \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare_set\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check_set\*(C'\fR 1842parameters of any kind. There are \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare_set\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check_set\*(C'\fR
1271macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless. 1843macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
1272.PP 1844.PP
1273Example: *TODO*. 1845There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1846into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1847(there is a Perl module named \f(CW\*(C`EV::ADNS\*(C'\fR that does this, which you could
1848use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named \f(CW\*(C`EV::Glib\*(C'\fR
1849embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, \f(CW\*(C`Glib::EV\*(C'\fR embeds \s-1EV\s0
1850into the Glib event loop).
1851.PP
1852Method 1: Add \s-1IO\s0 watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1853and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1854is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1855priority for the check watcher or use \f(CW\*(C`ev_clear_pending\*(C'\fR explicitly, as
1856the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
1857.PP
1858.Vb 2
1859\& static ev_io iow [nfd];
1860\& static ev_timer tw;
1861.Ve
1862.PP
1863.Vb 4
1864\& static void
1865\& io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1866\& {
1867\& }
1868.Ve
1869.PP
1870.Vb 8
1871\& // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1872\& static void
1873\& adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1874\& {
1875\& int timeout = 3600000;
1876\& struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1877\& // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1878\& adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1879.Ve
1880.PP
1881.Vb 3
1882\& /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1883\& ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1884\& ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
1885.Ve
1886.PP
1887.Vb 6
1888\& // create one ev_io per pollfd
1889\& for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1890\& {
1891\& ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1892\& ((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1893\& | (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1894.Ve
1895.PP
1896.Vb 4
1897\& fds [i].revents = 0;
1898\& ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1899\& }
1900\& }
1901.Ve
1902.PP
1903.Vb 5
1904\& // stop all watchers after blocking
1905\& static void
1906\& adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1907\& {
1908\& ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
1909.Ve
1910.PP
1911.Vb 8
1912\& for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
1913\& {
1914\& // set the relevant poll flags
1915\& // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1916\& struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1917\& int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1918\& if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
1919\& if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
1920.Ve
1921.PP
1922.Vb 3
1923\& // now stop the watcher
1924\& ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1925\& }
1926.Ve
1927.PP
1928.Vb 2
1929\& adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1930\& }
1931.Ve
1932.PP
1933Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run \f(CW\*(C`adns_afterpoll\*(C'\fR
1934in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
1935.PP
1936Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1937notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1938callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
1939.PP
1940.Vb 5
1941\& static void
1942\& timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1943\& {
1944\& adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1945\& update_now (EV_A);
1946.Ve
1947.PP
1948.Vb 2
1949\& adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
1950\& }
1951.Ve
1952.PP
1953.Vb 5
1954\& static void
1955\& io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1956\& {
1957\& adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
1958\& update_now (EV_A);
1959.Ve
1960.PP
1961.Vb 3
1962\& if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1963\& if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
1964\& }
1965.Ve
1966.PP
1967.Vb 1
1968\& // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1969.Ve
1970.PP
1971Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1972want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1973their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1974loop is now no longer controllable by \s-1EV\s0. The \f(CW\*(C`Glib::EV\*(C'\fR module does
1975this.
1976.PP
1977.Vb 4
1978\& static gint
1979\& event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1980\& {
1981\& int got_events = 0;
1982.Ve
1983.PP
1984.Vb 2
1985\& for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
1986\& // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1987.Ve
1988.PP
1989.Vb 2
1990\& if (timeout >= 0)
1991\& // create/start timer
1992.Ve
1993.PP
1994.Vb 2
1995\& // poll
1996\& ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1997.Ve
1998.PP
1999.Vb 3
2000\& // stop timer again
2001\& if (timeout >= 0)
2002\& ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
2003.Ve
2004.PP
2005.Vb 3
2006\& // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
2007\& for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
2008\& ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
2009.Ve
2010.PP
2011.Vb 2
2012\& return got_events;
2013\& }
2014.Ve
1274.ie n .Sh """ev_embed"" \- when one backend isn't enough" 2015.ie n .Sh """ev_embed"" \- when one backend isn't enough..."
1275.el .Sh "\f(CWev_embed\fP \- when one backend isn't enough" 2016.el .Sh "\f(CWev_embed\fP \- when one backend isn't enough..."
1276.IX Subsection "ev_embed - when one backend isn't enough" 2017.IX Subsection "ev_embed - when one backend isn't enough..."
1277This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop 2018This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1278into another (currently only \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR events are supported in the embedded 2019into another (currently only \f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR events are supported in the embedded
1279loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect 2020loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1280fashion and must not be used). 2021fashion and must not be used).
1281.PP 2022.PP
1345\& ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed); 2086\& ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &embed);
1346\& } 2087\& }
1347\& else 2088\& else
1348\& loop_lo = loop_hi; 2089\& loop_lo = loop_hi;
1349.Ve 2090.Ve
2091.PP
2092\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
2093.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
1350.IP "ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 4 2094.IP "ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 4
1351.IX Item "ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 2095.IX Item "ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)"
1352.PD 0 2096.PD 0
1353.IP "ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 4 2097.IP "ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 4
1354.IX Item "ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)" 2098.IX Item "ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)"
1361.IP "ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)" 4 2105.IP "ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)" 4
1362.IX Item "ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)" 2106.IX Item "ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)"
1363Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works 2107Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1364similarly to \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)\*(C'\fR, but in the most 2108similarly to \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)\*(C'\fR, but in the most
1365apropriate way for embedded loops. 2109apropriate way for embedded loops.
2110.IP "struct ev_loop *other [read\-only]" 4
2111.IX Item "struct ev_loop *other [read-only]"
2112The embedded event loop.
2113.ie n .Sh """ev_fork"" \- the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork"
2114.el .Sh "\f(CWev_fork\fP \- the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork"
2115.IX Subsection "ev_fork - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork"
2116Fork watchers are called when a \f(CW\*(C`fork ()\*(C'\fR was detected (usually because
2117whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
2118\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_fork\*(C'\fR). The invocation is done before the
2119event loop blocks next and before \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers are being called,
2120and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
2121\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
2122handlers will be invoked, too, of course.
2123.PP
2124\fIWatcher-Specific Functions and Data Members\fR
2125.IX Subsection "Watcher-Specific Functions and Data Members"
2126.IP "ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)" 4
2127.IX Item "ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)"
2128Initialises and configures the fork watcher \- it has no parameters of any
2129kind. There is a \f(CW\*(C`ev_fork_set\*(C'\fR macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
2130believe me.
1366.SH "OTHER FUNCTIONS" 2131.SH "OTHER FUNCTIONS"
1367.IX Header "OTHER FUNCTIONS" 2132.IX Header "OTHER FUNCTIONS"
1368There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now. 2133There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.
1369.IP "ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)" 4 2134.IP "ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)" 4
1370.IX Item "ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)" 2135.IX Item "ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)"
1432.IP "* The libev emulation is \fInot\fR \s-1ABI\s0 compatible to libevent, you need to use the libev header file and library." 4 2197.IP "* The libev emulation is \fInot\fR \s-1ABI\s0 compatible to libevent, you need to use the libev header file and library." 4
1433.IX Item "The libev emulation is not ABI compatible to libevent, you need to use the libev header file and library." 2198.IX Item "The libev emulation is not ABI compatible to libevent, you need to use the libev header file and library."
1434.PD 2199.PD
1435.SH "\*(C+ SUPPORT" 2200.SH "\*(C+ SUPPORT"
1436.IX Header " SUPPORT" 2201.IX Header " SUPPORT"
1437\&\s-1TBD\s0. 2202Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for \*(C+ that mainly allow
2203you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
2204the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.
2205.PP
2206To use it,
2207.PP
2208.Vb 1
2209\& #include <ev++.h>
2210.Ve
2211.PP
2212This automatically includes \fIev.h\fR and puts all of its definitions (many
2213of them macros) into the global namespace. All \*(C+ specific things are
2214put into the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace. It should support all the same embedding
2215options as \fIev.h\fR, most notably \f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR.
2216.PP
2217Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the \*(C+
2218classes add (compared to plain C\-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
2219that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
2220you disable \f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR when embedding libev).
2221.PP
2222Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
2223used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
2224need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
2225types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
2226it).
2227.PP
2228Here is a list of things available in the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace:
2229.ie n .IP """ev::READ""\fR, \f(CW""ev::WRITE"" etc." 4
2230.el .IP "\f(CWev::READ\fR, \f(CWev::WRITE\fR etc." 4
2231.IX Item "ev::READ, ev::WRITE etc."
2232These are just enum values with the same values as the \f(CW\*(C`EV_READ\*(C'\fR etc.
2233macros from \fIev.h\fR.
2234.ie n .IP """ev::tstamp""\fR, \f(CW""ev::now""" 4
2235.el .IP "\f(CWev::tstamp\fR, \f(CWev::now\fR" 4
2236.IX Item "ev::tstamp, ev::now"
2237Aliases to the same types/functions as with the \f(CW\*(C`ev_\*(C'\fR prefix.
2238.ie n .IP """ev::io""\fR, \f(CW""ev::timer""\fR, \f(CW""ev::periodic""\fR, \f(CW""ev::idle""\fR, \f(CW""ev::sig"" etc." 4
2239.el .IP "\f(CWev::io\fR, \f(CWev::timer\fR, \f(CWev::periodic\fR, \f(CWev::idle\fR, \f(CWev::sig\fR etc." 4
2240.IX Item "ev::io, ev::timer, ev::periodic, ev::idle, ev::sig etc."
2241For each \f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE\*(C'\fR watcher in \fIev.h\fR there is a corresponding class of
2242the same name in the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace, with the exception of \f(CW\*(C`ev_signal\*(C'\fR
2243which is called \f(CW\*(C`ev::sig\*(C'\fR to avoid clashes with the \f(CW\*(C`signal\*(C'\fR macro
2244defines by many implementations.
2245.Sp
2246All of those classes have these methods:
2247.RS 4
2248.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE ()" 4
2249.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE ()"
2250.PD 0
2251.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)" 4
2252.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)"
2253.IP "ev::TYPE::~TYPE" 4
2254.IX Item "ev::TYPE::~TYPE"
2255.PD
2256The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
2257with. If it is omitted, it will use \f(CW\*(C`EV_DEFAULT\*(C'\fR.
2258.Sp
2259The constructor calls \f(CW\*(C`ev_init\*(C'\fR for you, which means you have to call the
2260\&\f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR method before starting it.
2261.Sp
2262It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated \f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR
2263method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
2264.Sp
2265(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in \*(C+ which does
2266not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
2267.Sp
2268The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
2269.IP "w\->set<class, &class::method> (object *)" 4
2270.IX Item "w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)"
2271This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
2272signature of \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)\*(C'\fR, it receives the watcher as
2273first argument and the \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR as second. The object must be given as
2274parameter and is stored in the \f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR member of the watcher.
2275.Sp
2276This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
2277the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
2278callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the \f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR call and
2279your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
2280thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
2281.Sp
2282Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
2283.Sp
2284.Vb 4
2285\& struct myclass
2286\& {
2287\& void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2288\& }
2289.Ve
2290.Sp
2291.Vb 3
2292\& myclass obj;
2293\& ev::io iow;
2294\& iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
2295.Ve
2296.IP "w\->set<function> (void *data = 0)" 4
2297.IX Item "w->set<function> (void *data = 0)"
2298Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
2299callback. The optional \f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR argument will be stored in the watcher's
2300\&\f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR member and is free for you to use.
2301.Sp
2302The prototype of the \f(CW\*(C`function\*(C'\fR must be \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)\*(C'\fR.
2303.Sp
2304See the method\-\f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR above for more details.
2305.Sp
2306Example:
2307.Sp
2308.Vb 2
2309\& static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
2310\& iow.set <io_cb> ();
2311.Ve
2312.IP "w\->set (struct ev_loop *)" 4
2313.IX Item "w->set (struct ev_loop *)"
2314Associates a different \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop\*(C'\fR with this watcher. You can only
2315do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
2316.IP "w\->set ([args])" 4
2317.IX Item "w->set ([args])"
2318Basically the same as \f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR, with the same args. Must be
2319called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
2320automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
2321method.
2322.IP "w\->start ()" 4
2323.IX Item "w->start ()"
2324Starts the watcher. Note that there is no \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR argument, as the
2325constructor already stores the event loop.
2326.IP "w\->stop ()" 4
2327.IX Item "w->stop ()"
2328Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR argument.
2329.ie n .IP "w\->again () (""ev::timer""\fR, \f(CW""ev::periodic"" only)" 4
2330.el .IP "w\->again () (\f(CWev::timer\fR, \f(CWev::periodic\fR only)" 4
2331.IX Item "w->again () (ev::timer, ev::periodic only)"
2332For \f(CW\*(C`ev::timer\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev::periodic\*(C'\fR, this invokes the corresponding
2333\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_again\*(C'\fR function.
2334.ie n .IP "w\->sweep () (""ev::embed"" only)" 4
2335.el .IP "w\->sweep () (\f(CWev::embed\fR only)" 4
2336.IX Item "w->sweep () (ev::embed only)"
2337Invokes \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed_sweep\*(C'\fR.
2338.ie n .IP "w\->update () (""ev::stat"" only)" 4
2339.el .IP "w\->update () (\f(CWev::stat\fR only)" 4
2340.IX Item "w->update () (ev::stat only)"
2341Invokes \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat_stat\*(C'\fR.
2342.RE
2343.RS 4
2344.RE
2345.PP
2346Example: Define a class with an \s-1IO\s0 and idle watcher, start one of them in
2347the constructor.
2348.PP
2349.Vb 4
2350\& class myclass
2351\& {
2352\& ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents);
2353\& ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &w, int revents);
2354.Ve
2355.PP
2356.Vb 2
2357\& myclass ();
2358\& }
2359.Ve
2360.PP
2361.Vb 4
2362\& myclass::myclass (int fd)
2363\& {
2364\& io .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb > (this);
2365\& idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
2366.Ve
2367.PP
2368.Vb 2
2369\& io.start (fd, ev::READ);
2370\& }
2371.Ve
2372.SH "MACRO MAGIC"
2373.IX Header "MACRO MAGIC"
2374Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundamantal
2375of which is \f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR. This option determines whether (most)
2376functions and callbacks have an initial \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR argument.
2377.PP
2378To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2379following macros are defined:
2380.ie n .IP """EV_A""\fR, \f(CW""EV_A_""" 4
2381.el .IP "\f(CWEV_A\fR, \f(CWEV_A_\fR" 4
2382.IX Item "EV_A, EV_A_"
2383This provides the loop \fIargument\fR for functions, if one is required (\*(L"ev
2384loop argument\*(R"). The \f(CW\*(C`EV_A\*(C'\fR form is used when this is the sole argument,
2385\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_A_\*(C'\fR is used when other arguments are following. Example:
2386.Sp
2387.Vb 3
2388\& ev_unref (EV_A);
2389\& ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2390\& ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2391.Ve
2392.Sp
2393It assumes the variable \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR is in scope,
2394which is often provided by the following macro.
2395.ie n .IP """EV_P""\fR, \f(CW""EV_P_""" 4
2396.el .IP "\f(CWEV_P\fR, \f(CWEV_P_\fR" 4
2397.IX Item "EV_P, EV_P_"
2398This provides the loop \fIparameter\fR for functions, if one is required (\*(L"ev
2399loop parameter\*(R"). The \f(CW\*(C`EV_P\*(C'\fR form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2400\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_P_\*(C'\fR is used when other parameters are following. Example:
2401.Sp
2402.Vb 2
2403\& // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2404\& static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2405.Ve
2406.Sp
2407.Vb 2
2408\& // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2409\& static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2410.Ve
2411.Sp
2412It declares a parameter \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR, quite
2413suitable for use with \f(CW\*(C`EV_A\*(C'\fR.
2414.ie n .IP """EV_DEFAULT""\fR, \f(CW""EV_DEFAULT_""" 4
2415.el .IP "\f(CWEV_DEFAULT\fR, \f(CWEV_DEFAULT_\fR" 4
2416.IX Item "EV_DEFAULT, EV_DEFAULT_"
2417Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2418loop, if multiple loops are supported (\*(L"ev loop default\*(R").
2419.PP
2420Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2421macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2422or not.
2423.PP
2424.Vb 5
2425\& static void
2426\& check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2427\& {
2428\& ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2429\& }
2430.Ve
2431.PP
2432.Vb 4
2433\& ev_check check;
2434\& ev_check_init (&check, check_cb);
2435\& ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &check);
2436\& ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2437.Ve
2438.SH "EMBEDDING"
2439.IX Header "EMBEDDING"
2440Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2441applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2442Game Server, the \s-1EV\s0 perl module, the \s-1GNU\s0 Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2443and rxvt\-unicode.
2444.PP
2445The goal is to enable you to just copy the necessary files into your
2446source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2447you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2448libev somewhere in your source tree).
2449.Sh "\s-1FILESETS\s0"
2450.IX Subsection "FILESETS"
2451Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2452in your app.
2453.PP
2454\fI\s-1CORE\s0 \s-1EVENT\s0 \s-1LOOP\s0\fR
2455.IX Subsection "CORE EVENT LOOP"
2456.PP
2457To include only the libev core (all the \f(CW\*(C`ev_*\*(C'\fR functions), with manual
2458configuration (no autoconf):
2459.PP
2460.Vb 2
2461\& #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2462\& #include "ev.c"
2463.Ve
2464.PP
2465This will automatically include \fIev.h\fR, too, and should be done in a
2466single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2467it, do the same for \fIev.h\fR in all files wishing to use this \s-1API\s0 (best
2468done by writing a wrapper around \fIev.h\fR that you can include instead and
2469where you can put other configuration options):
2470.PP
2471.Vb 2
2472\& #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2473\& #include "ev.h"
2474.Ve
2475.PP
2476Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a \*(C+
2477compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2478as a bug).
2479.PP
2480You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2481in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using \-Ilibev):
2482.PP
2483.Vb 4
2484\& ev.h
2485\& ev.c
2486\& ev_vars.h
2487\& ev_wrap.h
2488.Ve
2489.PP
2490.Vb 1
2491\& ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2492.Ve
2493.PP
2494.Vb 5
2495\& ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2496\& ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2497\& ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2498\& ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2499\& ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2500.Ve
2501.PP
2502\&\fIev.c\fR includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2503to compile this single file.
2504.PP
2505\fI\s-1LIBEVENT\s0 \s-1COMPATIBILITY\s0 \s-1API\s0\fR
2506.IX Subsection "LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API"
2507.PP
2508To include the libevent compatibility \s-1API\s0, also include:
2509.PP
2510.Vb 1
2511\& #include "event.c"
2512.Ve
2513.PP
2514in the file including \fIev.c\fR, and:
2515.PP
2516.Vb 1
2517\& #include "event.h"
2518.Ve
2519.PP
2520in the files that want to use the libevent \s-1API\s0. This also includes \fIev.h\fR.
2521.PP
2522You need the following additional files for this:
2523.PP
2524.Vb 2
2525\& event.h
2526\& event.c
2527.Ve
2528.PP
2529\fI\s-1AUTOCONF\s0 \s-1SUPPORT\s0\fR
2530.IX Subsection "AUTOCONF SUPPORT"
2531.PP
2532Instead of using \f(CW\*(C`EV_STANDALONE=1\*(C'\fR and providing your config in
2533whatever way you want, you can also \f(CW\*(C`m4_include([libev.m4])\*(C'\fR in your
2534\&\fIconfigure.ac\fR and leave \f(CW\*(C`EV_STANDALONE\*(C'\fR undefined. \fIev.c\fR will then
2535include \fIconfig.h\fR and configure itself accordingly.
2536.PP
2537For this of course you need the m4 file:
2538.PP
2539.Vb 1
2540\& libev.m4
2541.Ve
2542.Sh "\s-1PREPROCESSOR\s0 \s-1SYMBOLS/MACROS\s0"
2543.IX Subsection "PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS"
2544Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2545before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2546and only include the select backend.
2547.IP "\s-1EV_STANDALONE\s0" 4
2548.IX Item "EV_STANDALONE"
2549Must always be \f(CW1\fR if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2550keeps libev from including \fIconfig.h\fR, and it also defines dummy
2551implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2552supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2553\&\fIevent.h\fR that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.
2554.IP "\s-1EV_USE_MONOTONIC\s0" 4
2555.IX Item "EV_USE_MONOTONIC"
2556If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2557monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2558of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2559usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2560the functionality isn't available is safe, though, although you have
2561to make sure you link against any libraries where the \f(CW\*(C`clock_gettime\*(C'\fR
2562function is hiding in (often \fI\-lrt\fR).
2563.IP "\s-1EV_USE_REALTIME\s0" 4
2564.IX Item "EV_USE_REALTIME"
2565If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2566realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2567runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2568be attempted. This effectively replaces \f(CW\*(C`gettimeofday\*(C'\fR by \f(CW\*(C`clock_get
2569(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)\*(C'\fR and will not normally affect correctness. See the
2570note about libraries in the description of \f(CW\*(C`EV_USE_MONOTONIC\*(C'\fR, though.
2571.IP "\s-1EV_USE_NANOSLEEP\s0" 4
2572.IX Item "EV_USE_NANOSLEEP"
2573If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will assume that \f(CW\*(C`nanosleep ()\*(C'\fR is available
2574and will use it for delays. Otherwise it will use \f(CW\*(C`select ()\*(C'\fR.
2575.IP "\s-1EV_USE_SELECT\s0" 4
2576.IX Item "EV_USE_SELECT"
2577If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the
2578\&\f(CW\*(C`select\*(C'\fR(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2579other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2580will not be compiled in.
2581.IP "\s-1EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET\s0" 4
2582.IX Item "EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET"
2583If defined to \f(CW1\fR, then the select backend will use the system \f(CW\*(C`fd_set\*(C'\fR
2584structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2585\&\f(CW\*(C`NFDBITS\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`fd_mask\*(C'\fR definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2586exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2587low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2588allows 64 sockets). The \f(CW\*(C`FD_SETSIZE\*(C'\fR macro, set before compilation, might
2589influence the size of the \f(CW\*(C`fd_set\*(C'\fR used.
2590.IP "\s-1EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET\s0" 4
2591.IX Item "EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET"
2592When defined to \f(CW1\fR, the select backend will assume that
2593select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2594wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2595be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2596\&\f(CW\*(C`_get_osfhandle\*(C'\fR on the fd to convert it to an \s-1OS\s0 handle. Otherwise,
2597it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2598on win32. Should not be defined on non\-win32 platforms.
2599.IP "\s-1EV_USE_POLL\s0" 4
2600.IX Item "EV_USE_POLL"
2601If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the \f(CW\*(C`poll\*(C'\fR(2)
2602backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non\-win32 platforms. It
2603takes precedence over select.
2604.IP "\s-1EV_USE_EPOLL\s0" 4
2605.IX Item "EV_USE_EPOLL"
2606If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2607\&\f(CW\*(C`epoll\*(C'\fR(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2608otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2609preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.
2610.IP "\s-1EV_USE_KQUEUE\s0" 4
2611.IX Item "EV_USE_KQUEUE"
2612If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the \s-1BSD\s0 style
2613\&\f(CW\*(C`kqueue\*(C'\fR(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2614otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2615backend for \s-1BSD\s0 and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2616supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2617supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2618not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2619out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2620kqueue loop.
2621.IP "\s-1EV_USE_PORT\s0" 4
2622.IX Item "EV_USE_PORT"
2623If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
262410 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2625otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2626backend for Solaris 10 systems.
2627.IP "\s-1EV_USE_DEVPOLL\s0" 4
2628.IX Item "EV_USE_DEVPOLL"
2629reserved for future expansion, works like the \s-1USE\s0 symbols above.
2630.IP "\s-1EV_USE_INOTIFY\s0" 4
2631.IX Item "EV_USE_INOTIFY"
2632If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2633interface to speed up \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR watchers. Its actual availability will
2634be detected at runtime.
2635.IP "\s-1EV_H\s0" 4
2636.IX Item "EV_H"
2637The name of the \fIev.h\fR header file used to include it. The default if
2638undefined is \f(CW\*(C`<ev.h>\*(C'\fR in \fIevent.h\fR and \f(CW"ev.h"\fR in \fIev.c\fR. This
2639can be used to virtually rename the \fIev.h\fR header file in case of conflicts.
2640.IP "\s-1EV_CONFIG_H\s0" 4
2641.IX Item "EV_CONFIG_H"
2642If \f(CW\*(C`EV_STANDALONE\*(C'\fR isn't \f(CW1\fR, this variable can be used to override
2643\&\fIev.c\fR's idea of where to find the \fIconfig.h\fR file, similarly to
2644\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_H\*(C'\fR, above.
2645.IP "\s-1EV_EVENT_H\s0" 4
2646.IX Item "EV_EVENT_H"
2647Similarly to \f(CW\*(C`EV_H\*(C'\fR, this macro can be used to override \fIevent.c\fR's idea
2648of how the \fIevent.h\fR header can be found.
2649.IP "\s-1EV_PROTOTYPES\s0" 4
2650.IX Item "EV_PROTOTYPES"
2651If defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then \fIev.h\fR will not define any function
2652prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2653occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2654around libev functions.
2655.IP "\s-1EV_MULTIPLICITY\s0" 4
2656.IX Item "EV_MULTIPLICITY"
2657If undefined or defined to \f(CW1\fR, then all event-loop-specific functions
2658will have the \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR as first argument, and you can create
2659additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2660for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2661argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
2662.IP "\s-1EV_MINPRI\s0" 4
2663.IX Item "EV_MINPRI"
2664.PD 0
2665.IP "\s-1EV_MAXPRI\s0" 4
2666.IX Item "EV_MAXPRI"
2667.PD
2668The range of allowed priorities. \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR must be smaller or equal to
2669\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2670provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2671to be \f(CW\*(C`\-2\*(C'\fR and \f(CW2\fR, respectively).
2672.Sp
2673When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2674all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2675and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (\-2 .. +2) is usually
2676fine.
2677.Sp
2678If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2679\&\f(CW0\fR will save some memory and cpu.
2680.IP "\s-1EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE\s0" 4
2681.IX Item "EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE"
2682If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then periodic timers are supported. If
2683defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2684code.
2685.IP "\s-1EV_IDLE_ENABLE\s0" 4
2686.IX Item "EV_IDLE_ENABLE"
2687If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then idle watchers are supported. If
2688defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2689code.
2690.IP "\s-1EV_EMBED_ENABLE\s0" 4
2691.IX Item "EV_EMBED_ENABLE"
2692If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then embed watchers are supported. If
2693defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not.
2694.IP "\s-1EV_STAT_ENABLE\s0" 4
2695.IX Item "EV_STAT_ENABLE"
2696If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then stat watchers are supported. If
2697defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not.
2698.IP "\s-1EV_FORK_ENABLE\s0" 4
2699.IX Item "EV_FORK_ENABLE"
2700If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then fork watchers are supported. If
2701defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not.
2702.IP "\s-1EV_MINIMAL\s0" 4
2703.IX Item "EV_MINIMAL"
2704If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2705speed, define this symbol to \f(CW1\fR. Currently only used for gcc to override
2706some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.
2707.IP "\s-1EV_PID_HASHSIZE\s0" 4
2708.IX Item "EV_PID_HASHSIZE"
2709\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2710pid. The default size is \f(CW16\fR (or \f(CW1\fR with \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINIMAL\*(C'\fR), usually more
2711than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2712increase this value (\fImust\fR be a power of two).
2713.IP "\s-1EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE\s0" 4
2714.IX Item "EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE"
2715\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_staz\*(C'\fR watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2716inotify watch id. The default size is \f(CW16\fR (or \f(CW1\fR with \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINIMAL\*(C'\fR),
2717usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR
2718watchers you might want to increase this value (\fImust\fR be a power of
2719two).
2720.IP "\s-1EV_COMMON\s0" 4
2721.IX Item "EV_COMMON"
2722By default, all watchers have a \f(CW\*(C`void *data\*(C'\fR member. By redefining
2723this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2724members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2725though, and it must be identical each time.
2726.Sp
2727For example, the perl \s-1EV\s0 module uses something like this:
2728.Sp
2729.Vb 3
2730\& #define EV_COMMON \e
2731\& SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \e
2732\& SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing ";" */
2733.Ve
2734.IP "\s-1EV_CB_DECLARE\s0 (type)" 4
2735.IX Item "EV_CB_DECLARE (type)"
2736.PD 0
2737.IP "\s-1EV_CB_INVOKE\s0 (watcher, revents)" 4
2738.IX Item "EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)"
2739.IP "ev_set_cb (ev, cb)" 4
2740.IX Item "ev_set_cb (ev, cb)"
2741.PD
2742Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2743and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2744definition and a statement, respectively. See the \fIev.h\fR header file for
2745their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2746avoid the \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR as first argument in all cases, or to use
2747method calls instead of plain function calls in \*(C+.
2748.Sh "\s-1EXPORTED\s0 \s-1API\s0 \s-1SYMBOLS\s0"
2749.IX Subsection "EXPORTED API SYMBOLS"
2750If you need to re-export the \s-1API\s0 (e.g. via a dll) and you need a list of
2751exported symbols, you can use the provided \fISymbol.*\fR files which list
2752all public symbols, one per line:
2753.Sp
2754.Vb 2
2755\& Symbols.ev for libev proper
2756\& Symbols.event for the libevent emulation
2757.Ve
2758.Sp
2759This can also be used to rename all public symbols to avoid clashes with
2760multiple versions of libev linked together (which is obviously bad in
2761itself, but sometimes it is inconvinient to avoid this).
2762.Sp
2763A sed command like this will create wrapper \f(CW\*(C`#define\*(C'\fR's that you need to
2764include before including \fIev.h\fR:
2765.Sp
2766.Vb 1
2767\& <Symbols.ev sed -e "s/.*/#define & myprefix_&/" >wrap.h
2768.Ve
2769.Sp
2770This would create a file \fIwrap.h\fR which essentially looks like this:
2771.Sp
2772.Vb 4
2773\& #define ev_backend myprefix_ev_backend
2774\& #define ev_check_start myprefix_ev_check_start
2775\& #define ev_check_stop myprefix_ev_check_stop
2776\& ...
2777.Ve
2778.Sh "\s-1EXAMPLES\s0"
2779.IX Subsection "EXAMPLES"
2780For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2781verbatim, you can have a look at the \s-1EV\s0 perl module
2782(<http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html>). It has the libev files in
2783the \fIlibev/\fR subdirectory and includes them in the \fI\s-1EV/EVAPI\s0.h\fR (public
2784interface) and \fI\s-1EV\s0.xs\fR (implementation) files. Only the \fI\s-1EV\s0.xs\fR file
2785will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2786file.
2787.Sp
2788The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a \fIev_cpp.h\fR header file
2789that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
2790.Sp
2791.Vb 9
2792\& #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2793\& #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2794\& #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2795\& #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2796\& #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2797\& #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2798\& #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
2799\& #define EV_MINPRI 0
2800\& #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2801.Ve
2802.Sp
2803.Vb 1
2804\& #include "ev++.h"
2805.Ve
2806.Sp
2807And a \fIev_cpp.C\fR implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:
2808.Sp
2809.Vb 2
2810\& #include "ev_cpp.h"
2811\& #include "ev.c"
2812.Ve
2813.SH "COMPLEXITIES"
2814.IX Header "COMPLEXITIES"
2815In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2816libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2817documentation for \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_init\*(C'\fR.
2818.Sp
2819All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2820extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2821happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2822mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2823it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
2824.RS 4
2825.IP "Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)" 4
2826.IX Item "Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)"
2827This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2828there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2829have to skip those 100 watchers.
2830.IP "Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)" 4
2831.IX Item "Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)"
2832That means that for changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2833as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
2834.IP "Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)" 4
2835.IX Item "Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)"
2836These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2837=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)
2838.IP "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % \s-1EV_PID_HASHSIZE\s0))" 4
2839.IX Item "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))"
2840These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2841correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2842have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
2843.IP "Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)" 4
2844.IX Item "Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)"
2845.PD 0
2846.IP "Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)" 4
2847.IX Item "Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)"
2848.PD
2849A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2850libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel).
2851.IP "Activating one watcher: O(1)" 4
2852.IX Item "Activating one watcher: O(1)"
2853.PD 0
2854.IP "Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)" 4
2855.IX Item "Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)"
2856.PD
2857Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2858priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2859linearly search all the priorities.
2860.RE
2861.RS 4
1438.SH "AUTHOR" 2862.SH "AUTHOR"
1439.IX Header "AUTHOR" 2863.IX Header "AUTHOR"
1440Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>. 2864Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.

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