[ViewVC] Diff of: cvs/libev/ev.3

Comparing libev/ev.3 (file contents):
Revision 1.27 by root, Tue Nov 27 20:15:01 2007 UTC vs.
Revision 1.49 by root, Wed Dec 12 04:53:58 2007 UTC

 .\}
 .rm #[ #] #H #V #F C
 .\" ========================================================================
 .\"
 .IX Title ""<STANDARD INPUT>" 1"
-.TH "<STANDARD INPUT>" 1 "2007-11-27" "perl v5.8.8" "User Contributed Perl Documentation"
+.TH "<STANDARD INPUT>" 1 "2007-12-12" "perl v5.8.8" "User Contributed Perl Documentation"
 .SH "NAME"
 libev \- a high performance full\-featured event loop written in C
 .SH "SYNOPSIS"
 .IX Header "SYNOPSIS"
+.Vb 1
+\&  #include <ev.h>
+.Ve
+.SH "EXAMPLE PROGRAM"
+.IX Header "EXAMPLE PROGRAM"
+.Vb 1
+\&  #include <ev.h>
+.Ve
+.PP
 .Vb 2
-\&  /* this is the only header you need */
-\&  #include <ev.h>
-.Ve
-.PP
-.Vb 3
-\&  /* what follows is a fully working example program */
 \&  ev_io stdin_watcher;
 \&  ev_timer timeout_watcher;
 .Ve
 .PP
 .Vb 8
 \&    return 0;
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .SH "DESCRIPTION"
 .IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
+The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
+web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
+time: <http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html>.
+.PP
 Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
 file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage
 these event sources and provide your program with events.
 .PP
 To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
 watchers\fR, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
 details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by \fIstarting\fR the
 watcher.
 .SH "FEATURES"
 .IX Header "FEATURES"
-Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific
+Libev supports \f(CW\*(C`select\*(C'\fR, \f(CW\*(C`poll\*(C'\fR, the Linux-specific \f(CW\*(C`epoll\*(C'\fR, the
-kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute
+BSD-specific \f(CW\*(C`kqueue\*(C'\fR and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
-timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change
+for file descriptor events (\f(CW\*(C`ev_io\*(C'\fR), the Linux \f(CW\*(C`inotify\*(C'\fR interface
-events (related to \s-1SIGCHLD\s0), and event watchers dealing with the event
+(for \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR), relative timers (\f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR), absolute timers
-loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite
+with customised rescheduling (\f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR), synchronous signals
-fast (see this benchmark comparing
+(\f(CW\*(C`ev_signal\*(C'\fR), process status change events (\f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR), and event
-it to libevent for example).
+watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (\f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR,
+\&\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
+file watchers (\f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR) and even limited support for fork events
+(\f(CW\*(C`ev_fork\*(C'\fR).
+.PP
+It also is quite fast (see this
+benchmark comparing it to libevent
+for example).
 .SH "CONVENTIONS"
 .IX Header "CONVENTIONS"
-Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration
+Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
-will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info
+be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
-about various configuration options please have a look at the file
+various configuration options please have a look at \fB\s-1EMBED\s0\fR section in
-\&\fI\s-1README\s0.embed\fR in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without
+this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
-support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial
+loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR
-argument of name \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR (which is always of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR)
+(which is always of type \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR) will not have this argument.
-will not have this argument.
 .SH "TIME REPRESENTATION"
 .IX Header "TIME REPRESENTATION"
 Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
 (fractional) number of seconds since the (\s-1POSIX\s0) epoch (somewhere near
 the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
 .IX Item "int ev_version_major ()"
 .PD 0
 .IP "int ev_version_minor ()" 4
 .IX Item "int ev_version_minor ()"
 .PD
-You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library
+You can find out the major and minor \s-1ABI\s0 version numbers of the library
 you linked against by calling the functions \f(CW\*(C`ev_version_major\*(C'\fR and
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_version_minor\*(C'\fR. If you want, you can compare against the global
 symbols \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MAJOR\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`EV_VERSION_MINOR\*(C'\fR, which specify the
 version of the library your program was compiled against.
 .Sp
+These version numbers refer to the \s-1ABI\s0 version of the library, not the
+release version.
+.Sp
 Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
-as this indicates an incompatible change.  Minor versions are usually
+as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
 compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
 not a problem.
 .Sp
-Example: make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
+Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
-version:
+version.
 .Sp
 .Vb 3
 \&  assert (("libev version mismatch",
 \&           ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
 \&           && ev_version_minor () >= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
 might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_embeddable_backends () & ev_supported_backends ()\*(C'\fR, likewise for
 recommended ones.
 .Sp
 See the description of \f(CW\*(C`ev_embed\*(C'\fR watchers for more info.
-.IP "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size))" 4
+.IP "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))" 4
-.IX Item "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size))"
+.IX Item "ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))"
-Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype and semantics are
+Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar \- the
-identical to the realloc C function). It is used to allocate and free
+semantics is identical \- to the realloc C function). It is used to
-memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory needs to be
+allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
-allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially destructive
+memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
-action. The default is your system realloc function.
+potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
+function.
 .Sp
 You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
 free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
 or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.
 .Sp
-Example: replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
+Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
-retries: better than mine).
+retries).
 .Sp
 .Vb 6
 \&   static void *
 \&   persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
 \&   {
 callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
 matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
 requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
 (such as abort).
 .Sp
-Example: do the same thing as libev does internally:
+Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.
 .Sp
 .Vb 6
 \&   static void
 \&   fatal_error (const char *msg)
 \&   {
 or setgid) then libev will \fInot\fR look at the environment variable
 \&\f(CW\*(C`LIBEV_FLAGS\*(C'\fR. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
 override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
 useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
 around bugs.
+.ie n .IP """EVFLAG_FORKCHECK""" 4
+.el .IP "\f(CWEVFLAG_FORKCHECK\fR" 4
+.IX Item "EVFLAG_FORKCHECK"
+Instead of calling \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR or \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_fork\*(C'\fR manually after
+a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
+enabling this flag.
+.Sp
+This works by calling \f(CW\*(C`getpid ()\*(C'\fR on every iteration of the loop,
+and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
+iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
+Linux system for example, \f(CW\*(C`getpid\*(C'\fR is actually a simple 5\-insn sequence
+without a syscall and thus \fIvery\fR fast, but my Linux system also has
+\&\f(CW\*(C`pthread_atfork\*(C'\fR which is even faster).
+.Sp
+The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
+forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
+flag.
+.Sp
+This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the \f(CW\*(C`LIBEV_FLAGS\*(C'\fR
+environment variable.
 .ie n .IP """EVBACKEND_SELECT""  (value 1, portable select backend)" 4
 .el .IP "\f(CWEVBACKEND_SELECT\fR  (value 1, portable select backend)" 4
 .IX Item "EVBACKEND_SELECT  (value 1, portable select backend)"
 This is your standard \fIselect\fR\|(2) backend. Not \fIcompletely\fR standard, as
 libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
 Similar to \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_loop\*(C'\fR, but always creates a new event loop that is
 always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
 handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
 undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).
 .Sp
-Example: try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
+Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.
 .Sp
 .Vb 3
 \&  struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
 \&  if (!epoller)
 \&    fatal ("no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair");
 .IP "ev_loop_fork (loop)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_loop_fork (loop)"
 Like \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_fork\*(C'\fR, but acts on an event loop created by
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_loop_new\*(C'\fR. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
 after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.
+.IP "unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)" 4
+.IX Item "unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)"
+Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
+the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at \f(CW0\fR and
+happily wraps around with enough iterations.
+.Sp
+This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
+\&\*(L"ticks\*(R" the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
+\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR calls.
 .IP "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)" 4
 .IX Item "unsigned int ev_backend (loop)"
 Returns one of the \f(CW\*(C`EVBACKEND_*\*(C'\fR flags indicating the event backend in
 use.
 .IP "ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)" 4
 libev watchers. However, a pair of \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR/\f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers is
 usually a better approach for this kind of thing.
 .Sp
 Here are the gory details of what \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR does:
 .Sp
-.Vb 18
+.Vb 19
+\&   - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
 \&   * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
-\&   - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
+\&   - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
 \&   - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
 \&   - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
 \&   - Update the "event loop time".
 \&   - Calculate for how long to block.
 \&   - Block the process, waiting for any events.
 \&     be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
 \&   - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
 \&     were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
 .Ve
 .Sp
-Example: queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
+Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
 anymore.
 .Sp
 .Vb 4
 \&   ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
 \&   ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
 visible to the libev user and should not keep \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR from exiting if
 no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
 way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
 libraries. Just remember to \fIunref after start\fR and \fIref before stop\fR.
 .Sp
-Example: create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR
+Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping \f(CW\*(C`ev_loop\*(C'\fR
 running when nothing else is active.
 .Sp
 .Vb 4
-\&  struct dv_signal exitsig;
+\&  struct ev_signal exitsig;
 \&  ev_signal_init (&exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
-\&  ev_signal_start (myloop, &exitsig);
+\&  ev_signal_start (loop, &exitsig);
-\&  evf_unref (myloop);
+\&  evf_unref (loop);
 .Ve
 .Sp
-Example: for some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
+Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.
 .Sp
 .Vb 2
-\&  ev_ref (myloop);
+\&  ev_ref (loop);
-\&  ev_signal_stop (myloop, &exitsig);
+\&  ev_signal_stop (loop, &exitsig);
 .Ve
 .SH "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER"
 .IX Header "ANATOMY OF A WATCHER"
 A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
 interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for \s-1STDIN\s0 to
 .IP "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
 .IX Item "bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
 Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
 events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
 is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
-\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR is safe) and you must make sure the watcher is available to
+\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
-libev (e.g. you cnanot \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR it).
+make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot \f(CW\*(C`free ()\*(C'\fR
+it).
-.IP "callback = ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
+.IP "callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
-.IX Item "callback = ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
+.IX Item "callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
 Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.
 .IP "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)"
 Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
 (modulo threads).
+.IP "ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)" 4
+.IX Item "ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)"
+.PD 0
+.IP "int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
+.IX Item "int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)"
+.PD
+Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
+integer between \f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR (default: \f(CW2\fR) and \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR
+(default: \f(CW\*(C`\-2\*(C'\fR). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
+before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
+from being executed (except for \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watchers).
+.Sp
+This means that priorities are \fIonly\fR used for ordering callback
+invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
+example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
+watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.
+.Sp
+If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
+you need to look at \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watchers, which provide this functionality.
+.Sp
+You \fImust not\fR change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
+pending.
+.Sp
+The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
+always \f(CW0\fR, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).
+.Sp
+Setting a priority outside the range of \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR to \f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR is
+fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
+or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.
+.IP "ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)" 4
+.IX Item "ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)"
+Invoke the \f(CW\*(C`watcher\*(C'\fR with the given \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR. Neither
+\&\f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR nor \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
+can deal with that fact.
+.IP "int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)" 4
+.IX Item "int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)"
+If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
+and returns its \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
+watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns \f(CW0\fR.
 .Sh "\s-1ASSOCIATING\s0 \s-1CUSTOM\s0 \s-1DATA\s0 \s-1WITH\s0 A \s-1WATCHER\s0"
 .IX Subsection "ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER"
 Each watcher has, by default, a member \f(CW\*(C`void *data\*(C'\fR that you can change
 and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
 to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
 \&    struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
 \&    ...
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .PP
-More interesting and less C\-conformant ways of catsing your callback type
+More interesting and less C\-conformant ways of casting your callback type
-have been omitted....
+instead have been omitted.
+.PP
+Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
+watchers:
+.PP
+.Vb 6
+\&  struct my_biggy
+\&  {
+\&    int some_data;
+\&    ev_timer t1;
+\&    ev_timer t2;
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.PP
+In this case getting the pointer to \f(CW\*(C`my_biggy\*(C'\fR is a bit more complicated,
+you need to use \f(CW\*(C`offsetof\*(C'\fR:
+.PP
+.Vb 1
+\&  #include <stddef.h>
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 6
+\&  static void
+\&  t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
+\&  {
+\&    struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
+\&      (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 6
+\&  static void
+\&  t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
+\&  {
+\&    struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
+\&      (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
+\&  }
+.Ve
 .SH "WATCHER TYPES"
 .IX Header "WATCHER TYPES"
 This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
 information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
 functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.
 it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra \f(CW\*(C`read\*(C'\fR(2) returning
 \&\f(CW\*(C`EAGAIN\*(C'\fR is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.
 .PP
 If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
 play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
-wether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
+whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
 such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
 its own, so its quite safe to use).
+.PP
+\fIThe special problem of disappearing file descriptors\fR
+.IX Subsection "The special problem of disappearing file descriptors"
+.PP
+Some backends (e.g kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
+descriptor (either by calling \f(CW\*(C`close\*(C'\fR explicitly or by any other means,
+such as \f(CW\*(C`dup\*(C'\fR). The reason is that you register interest in some file
+descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
+this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
+registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
+fact, a different file descriptor.
+.PP
+To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
+the following policy:  Each time \f(CW\*(C`ev_io_set\*(C'\fR is being called, libev
+will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
+it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
+you \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
+descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.
+.PP
+This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
+the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
+optimisations to libev.
 .IP "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)"
 .PD 0
 .IP "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)"
 The file descriptor being watched.
 .IP "int events [read\-only]" 4
 .IX Item "int events [read-only]"
 The events being watched.
 .PP
-Example: call \f(CW\*(C`stdin_readable_cb\*(C'\fR when \s-1STDIN_FILENO\s0 has become, well
+Example: Call \f(CW\*(C`stdin_readable_cb\*(C'\fR when \s-1STDIN_FILENO\s0 has become, well
 readable, but only once. Since it is likely line\-buffered, you could
-attempt to read a whole line in the callback:
+attempt to read a whole line in the callback.
 .PP
 .Vb 6
 \&  static void
 \&  stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 .IP "ev_timer_again (loop)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_timer_again (loop)"
 This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
 repeating. The exact semantics are:
 .Sp
+If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.
+.Sp
-If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.
+If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).
 .Sp
-If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat
+If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
-value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.
+\&\f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value), or reset the running timer to the \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value.
 .Sp
 This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
-example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called
+example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
-idle timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been,
+timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
-say, 60 seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do
+seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
-this is to configure an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR with \f(CW\*(C`after\*(C'\fR=\f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR=\f(CW60\fR and calling
+configure an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR with a \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value of \f(CW60\fR and then call
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR each time you successfully read or write some data. If
 you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
-socket, you can stop the timer, and again will automatically restart it if
+socket, you can \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_stop\*(C'\fR the timer, and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR will
-need be.
+automatically restart it if need be.
 .Sp
-You can also ignore the \f(CW\*(C`after\*(C'\fR value and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_start\*(C'\fR altogether
+That means you can ignore the \f(CW\*(C`after\*(C'\fR value and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_start\*(C'\fR
-and only ever use the \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value:
+altogether and only ever use the \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value and \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR:
 .Sp
 .Vb 8
 \&   ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
 \&   ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
 \&   ...
 \&   ...
 \&   timer->again = 10.;
 \&   ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
 .Ve
 .Sp
-This is more efficient then stopping/starting the timer eahc time you want
+This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
-to modify its timeout value.
+you want to modify its timeout value.
 .IP "ev_tstamp repeat [read\-write]" 4
 .IX Item "ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]"
 The current \f(CW\*(C`repeat\*(C'\fR value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
 or \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer_again\*(C'\fR is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
 which is also when any modifications are taken into account.
 .PP
-Example: create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
+Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.
 .PP
 .Vb 5
 \&  static void
 \&  one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 \&  struct ev_timer mytimer;
 \&  ev_timer_init (&mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
 \&  ev_timer_start (loop, &mytimer);
 .Ve
 .PP
-Example: create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
+Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
 inactivity.
 .PP
 .Vb 5
 \&  static void
 \&  timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
 but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
 to trigger \*(L"at\*(R" some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
 periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. \f(CW\*(C`ev_now ()
 + 10.\*(C'\fR) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
 take a year to trigger the event (unlike an \f(CW\*(C`ev_timer\*(C'\fR, which would trigger
-roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time
+roughly 10 seconds later).
-again).
 .PP
 They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
-triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.
+triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
+rules.
 .PP
 As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
 time (\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
 during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.
 .IP "ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)"
 .PD
 Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
 operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:
 .RS 4
-.IP "* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
+.IP "* absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
-.IX Item "absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)"
+.IX Item "absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)"
 In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
 \&\f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
 that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
 system time reaches or surpasses this time.
-.IP "* non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
+.IP "* non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)" 4
-.IX Item "non-repeating interval timer (interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)"
+.IX Item "non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval > 0, reschedule_cb = 0)"
 In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
-\&\f(CW\*(C`at + N * interval\*(C'\fR time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless
+\&\f(CW\*(C`at + N * interval\*(C'\fR time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
-of any time jumps.
+and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.
 .Sp
 This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
 time:
 .Sp
 .Vb 1
 by 3600.
 .Sp
 Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic\*(C'\fR will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
 time where \f(CW\*(C`time = at (mod interval)\*(C'\fR, regardless of any time jumps.
+.Sp
+For numerical stability it is preferable that the \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR value is near
+\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_now ()\*(C'\fR (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
+this value.
-.IP "* manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)" 4
+.IP "* manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)" 4
-.IX Item "manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)"
+.IX Item "manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)"
 In this mode the values for \f(CW\*(C`interval\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR are both being
 ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
 reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
 current time as second argument.
 .Sp
 \&\s-1NOTE:\s0 \fIThis callback \s-1MUST\s0 \s-1NOT\s0 stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
 ever, or make any event loop modifications\fR. If you need to stop it,
 return \f(CW\*(C`now + 1e30\*(C'\fR (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
-starting a prepare watcher).
+starting an \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watcher, which is legal).
 .Sp
 Its prototype is \f(CW\*(C`ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
 ev_tstamp now)\*(C'\fR, e.g.:
 .Sp
 .Vb 4
 .IX Item "ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)"
 Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
 when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
 a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
 program when the crontabs have changed).
+.IP "ev_tstamp offset [read\-write]" 4
+.IX Item "ev_tstamp offset [read-write]"
+When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
+absolute point in time (the \f(CW\*(C`at\*(C'\fR value passed to \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_set\*(C'\fR).
+.Sp
+Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
+timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being called.
 .IP "ev_tstamp interval [read\-write]" 4
 .IX Item "ev_tstamp interval [read-write]"
 The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
 take effect when the periodic timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being
 called.
 .IX Item "ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]"
 The current reschedule callback, or \f(CW0\fR, if this functionality is
 switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
 the periodic timer fires or \f(CW\*(C`ev_periodic_again\*(C'\fR is being called.
 .PP
-Example: call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
+Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
 system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
 potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.
 .PP
 .Vb 5
 \&  static void
 \&  struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
 \&  ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
 \&  ev_periodic_start (loop, &hourly_tick);
 .Ve
 .PP
-Example: the same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
+Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:
 .PP
 .Vb 1
 \&  #include <math.h>
 .Ve
 .PP
 .PP
 .Vb 1
 \&  ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
 .Ve
 .PP
-Example: call a callback every hour, starting now:
+Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:
 .PP
 .Vb 4
 \&  struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
 \&  ev_periodic_init (&hourly_tick, clock_cb,
 \&                    fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
 .IP "int rstatus [read\-write]" 4
 .IX Item "int rstatus [read-write]"
 The process exit/trace status caused by \f(CW\*(C`rpid\*(C'\fR (see your systems
 \&\f(CW\*(C`waitpid\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`sys/wait.h\*(C'\fR documentation for details).
 .PP
-Example: try to exit cleanly on \s-1SIGINT\s0 and \s-1SIGTERM\s0.
+Example: Try to exit cleanly on \s-1SIGINT\s0 and \s-1SIGTERM\s0.
 .PP
 .Vb 5
 \&  static void
 \&  sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 not exist\*(R" is a status change like any other. The condition \*(L"path does
 not exist\*(R" is signified by the \f(CW\*(C`st_nlink\*(C'\fR field being zero (which is
 otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
 the stat buffer having unspecified contents.
 .PP
+The path \fIshould\fR be absolute and \fImust not\fR end in a slash. If it is
+relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.
+.PP
 Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
-calls \f(CW\*(C`stat (2)\*(C'\fR regulalry on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
+calls \f(CW\*(C`stat (2)\*(C'\fR regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
 can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
 a polling interval of \f(CW0\fR (highly recommended!) then a \fIsuitable,
 unspecified default\fR value will be used (which you can expect to be around
 five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
 impose a minimum interval which is currently around \f(CW0.1\fR, but thats
 .PP
 This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
 as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
 resource\-intensive.
 .PP
-At the time of this writing, no specific \s-1OS\s0 backends are implemented, but
+At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
-if demand increases, at least a kqueue and inotify backend will be added.
+implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
+reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
+semantics of \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
+to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
+usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
+polling.
 .IP "ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)"
 .PD 0
 .IP "ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)"
 \&  ev_stat_start (loop, &passwd);
 .Ve
 .ie n .Sh """ev_idle"" \- when you've got nothing better to do..."
 .el .Sh "\f(CWev_idle\fP \- when you've got nothing better to do..."
 .IX Subsection "ev_idle - when you've got nothing better to do..."
-Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending
+Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
-(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long
+priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
-as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals,
+count).
-imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle
+.PP
-watchers are being called again and again, once per event loop iteration \-
+That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
+(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
+triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
+are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
-until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes
+iteration \- until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
-busy.
+and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.
 .PP
 The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
 active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.
 .PP
 Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
 .IX Item "ev_idle_init (ev_signal *, callback)"
 Initialises and configures the idle watcher \- it has no parameters of any
 kind. There is a \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle_set\*(C'\fR macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
 believe me.
 .PP
-Example: dynamically allocate an \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR, start it, and in the
+Example: Dynamically allocate an \f(CW\*(C`ev_idle\*(C'\fR watcher, start it, and in the
-callback, free it. Alos, use no error checking, as usual.
+callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.
 .PP
 .Vb 7
 \&  static void
 \&  idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
 with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
 of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
 loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
 low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).
+.PP
+It is recommended to give \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers highest (\f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR)
+priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
+after the poll. Also, \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers (and \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare\*(C'\fR watchers,
+too) should not activate (\*(L"feed\*(R") events into libev. While libev fully
+supports this, they will be called before other \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers did
+their job. As \f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watchers are often used to embed other event
+loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
+\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_check\*(C'\fR watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
+others).
 .IP "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)"
 .PD 0
 .IP "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)" 4
 .IX Item "ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)"
 .PD
 Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher \- they have no
 parameters of any kind. There are \f(CW\*(C`ev_prepare_set\*(C'\fR and \f(CW\*(C`ev_check_set\*(C'\fR
 macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.
 .PP
-Example: To include a library such as adns, you would add \s-1IO\s0 watchers
+There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
-and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler, as required by libadns, and
+into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
+(there is a Perl module named \f(CW\*(C`EV::ADNS\*(C'\fR that does this, which you could
+use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named \f(CW\*(C`EV::Glib\*(C'\fR
+embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, \f(CW\*(C`Glib::EV\*(C'\fR embeds \s-1EV\s0
+into the Glib event loop).
+.PP
+Method 1: Add \s-1IO\s0 watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
-in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows is
+and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
-pseudo-code only of course:
+is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
+priority for the check watcher or use \f(CW\*(C`ev_clear_pending\*(C'\fR explicitly, as
+the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.
 .PP
 .Vb 2
 \&  static ev_io iow [nfd];
 \&  static ev_timer tw;
 .Ve
 .PP
-.Vb 9
+.Vb 4
 \&  static void
 \&  io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
 \&  {
-\&    // set the relevant poll flags
-\&    // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
-\&    struct pollfd *fd = (struct pollfd *)w->data;
-\&    if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
-\&    if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .PP
-.Vb 7
+.Vb 8
 \&  // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
 \&  static void
 \&  adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
 \&  {
-\&    int timeout = 3600000;truct pollfd fds [nfd];
+\&    int timeout = 3600000;
+\&    struct pollfd fds [nfd];
 \&    // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
 \&    adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &nfd, &timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
 .Ve
 .PP
 .Vb 3
 \&    ev_timer_init (&tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
 \&    ev_timer_start (loop, &tw);
 .Ve
 .PP
 .Vb 6
-\&    // create on ev_io per pollfd
+\&    // create one ev_io per pollfd
 \&    for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
 \&      {
 \&        ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
 \&          ((fds [i].events & POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
 \&           | (fds [i].events & POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
 .Ve
 .PP
-.Vb 5
+.Vb 4
 \&        fds [i].revents = 0;
-\&        iow [i].data = fds + i;
 \&        ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
 \&      }
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .PP
 \&  adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 \&    ev_timer_stop (loop, &tw);
 .Ve
 .PP
-.Vb 2
+.Vb 8
 \&    for (int i = 0; i < nfd; ++i)
+\&      {
+\&        // set the relevant poll flags
+\&        // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
+\&        struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
+\&        int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
+\&        if (revents & EV_READ ) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLIN;
+\&        if (revents & EV_WRITE) fd->revents |= fd->events & POLLOUT;
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 3
+\&        // now stop the watcher
-\&      ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
+\&        ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
+\&      }
 .Ve
 .PP
 .Vb 2
 \&    adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.PP
+Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run \f(CW\*(C`adns_afterpoll\*(C'\fR
+in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.
+.PP
+Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
+notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
+callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.
+.PP
+.Vb 5
+\&  static void
+\&  timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
+\&  {
+\&    adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
+\&    update_now (EV_A);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
+\&    adns_processtimeouts (ads, &tv_now);
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 5
+\&  static void
+\&  io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
+\&  {
+\&    adns_state ads = (adns_state)w->data;
+\&    update_now (EV_A);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 3
+\&    if (revents & EV_READ ) adns_processreadable  (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
+\&    if (revents & EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w->fd, &tv_now);
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 1
+\&  // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
+.Ve
+.PP
+Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
+want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
+their poll function.  The drawback with this solution is that the main
+loop is now no longer controllable by \s-1EV\s0. The \f(CW\*(C`Glib::EV\*(C'\fR module does
+this.
+.PP
+.Vb 4
+\&  static gint
+\&  event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
+\&  {
+\&    int got_events = 0;
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
+\&    for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
+\&      // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
+\&    if (timeout >= 0)
+\&      // create/start timer
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
+\&    // poll
+\&    ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 3
+\&    // stop timer again
+\&    if (timeout >= 0)
+\&      ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &to);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 3
+\&    // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
+\&    for (n = 0; n < nfds; ++n)
+\&      ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
+\&    return got_events;
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .ie n .Sh """ev_embed"" \- when one backend isn't enough..."
 .el .Sh "\f(CWev_embed\fP \- when one backend isn't enough..."
 .IX Subsection "ev_embed - when one backend isn't enough..."
 .PP
 .Vb 1
 \&  #include <ev++.h>
 .Ve
 .PP
-(it is not installed by default). This automatically includes \fIev.h\fR
+This automatically includes \fIev.h\fR and puts all of its definitions (many
-and puts all of its definitions (many of them macros) into the global
+of them macros) into the global namespace. All \*(C+ specific things are
-namespace. All \*(C+ specific things are put into the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace.
+put into the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace. It should support all the same embedding
+options as \fIev.h\fR, most notably \f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR.
 .PP
-It should support all the same embedding options as \fIev.h\fR, most notably
+Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the \*(C+
-\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR.
+classes add (compared to plain C\-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
+that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
+you disable \f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR when embedding libev).
+.PP
+Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
+used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
+need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
+types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
+it).
 .PP
 Here is a list of things available in the \f(CW\*(C`ev\*(C'\fR namespace:
 .ie n .IP """ev::READ""\fR, \f(CW""ev::WRITE"" etc." 4
 .el .IP "\f(CWev::READ\fR, \f(CWev::WRITE\fR etc." 4
 .IX Item "ev::READ, ev::WRITE etc."
 which is called \f(CW\*(C`ev::sig\*(C'\fR to avoid clashes with the \f(CW\*(C`signal\*(C'\fR macro
 defines by many implementations.
 .Sp
 All of those classes have these methods:
 .RS 4
-.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *)" 4
+.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE ()" 4
-.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *)"
+.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE ()"
 .PD 0
-.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *, struct ev_loop *)" 4
+.IP "ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)" 4
-.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *, struct ev_loop *)"
+.IX Item "ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)"
 .IP "ev::TYPE::~TYPE" 4
 .IX Item "ev::TYPE::~TYPE"
 .PD
-The constructor takes a pointer to an object and a method pointer to
+The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
-the event handler callback to call in this class. The constructor calls
+with. If it is omitted, it will use \f(CW\*(C`EV_DEFAULT\*(C'\fR.
-\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_init\*(C'\fR for you, which means you have to call the \f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR method
+.Sp
-before starting it. If you do not specify a loop then the constructor
+The constructor calls \f(CW\*(C`ev_init\*(C'\fR for you, which means you have to call the
-automatically associates the default loop with this watcher.
+\&\f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR method before starting it.
+.Sp
+It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated \f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR
+method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.
+.Sp
+(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in \*(C+ which does
+not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).
 .Sp
 The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.
+.IP "w\->set<class, &class::method> (object *)" 4
+.IX Item "w->set<class, &class::method> (object *)"
+This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
+signature of \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev_TYPE &, int)\*(C'\fR, it receives the watcher as
+first argument and the \f(CW\*(C`revents\*(C'\fR as second. The object must be given as
+parameter and is stored in the \f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR member of the watcher.
+.Sp
+This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
+the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
+callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the \f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR call and
+your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
+thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.
+.Sp
+Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation
+.Sp
+.Vb 4
+\&  struct myclass
+\&  {
+\&    void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
+\&  }
+.Ve
+.Sp
+.Vb 3
+\&  myclass obj;
+\&  ev::io iow;
+\&  iow.set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb> (&obj);
+.Ve
+.IP "w\->set<function> (void *data = 0)" 4
+.IX Item "w->set<function> (void *data = 0)"
+Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
+callback. The optional \f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR argument will be stored in the watcher's
+\&\f(CW\*(C`data\*(C'\fR member and is free for you to use.
+.Sp
+The prototype of the \f(CW\*(C`function\*(C'\fR must be \f(CW\*(C`void (*)(ev::TYPE &w, int)\*(C'\fR.
+.Sp
+See the method\-\f(CW\*(C`set\*(C'\fR above for more details.
+.Sp
+Example:
+.Sp
+.Vb 2
+\&  static void io_cb (ev::io &w, int revents) { }
+\&  iow.set <io_cb> ();
+.Ve
 .IP "w\->set (struct ev_loop *)" 4
 .IX Item "w->set (struct ev_loop *)"
 Associates a different \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop\*(C'\fR with this watcher. You can only
 do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).
 .IP "w\->set ([args])" 4
 .IX Item "w->set ([args])"
 Basically the same as \f(CW\*(C`ev_TYPE_set\*(C'\fR, with the same args. Must be
-called at least once.  Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
+called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
-automatically stopped and restarted.
+automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
+method.
 .IP "w\->start ()" 4
 .IX Item "w->start ()"
-Starts the watcher. Note that there is no \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR argument as the
+Starts the watcher. Note that there is no \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR argument, as the
-constructor already takes the loop.
+constructor already stores the event loop.
 .IP "w\->stop ()" 4
 .IX Item "w->stop ()"
 Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no \f(CW\*(C`loop\*(C'\fR argument.
 .ie n .IP "w\->again ()       ""ev::timer""\fR, \f(CW""ev::periodic"" only" 4
 .el .IP "w\->again ()       \f(CWev::timer\fR, \f(CWev::periodic\fR only" 4
 .Vb 2
 \&    myclass ();
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .PP
-.Vb 6
+.Vb 4
 \&  myclass::myclass (int fd)
-\&  : io   (this, &myclass::io_cb),
-\&    idle (this, &myclass::idle_cb)
 \&  {
+\&    io  .set <myclass, &myclass::io_cb  > (this);
+\&    idle.set <myclass, &myclass::idle_cb> (this);
+.Ve
+.PP
+.Vb 2
 \&    io.start (fd, ev::READ);
 \&  }
 .Ve
 .SH "MACRO MAGIC"
 .IX Header "MACRO MAGIC"
 Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is
-\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR. This option determines wether (most) functions and
+\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_MULTIPLICITY\*(C'\fR. This option determines whether (most) functions and
 callbacks have an initial \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR argument.
 .PP
 To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
 following macros are defined:
 .ie n .IP """EV_A""\fR, \f(CW""EV_A_""" 4
 .el .IP "\f(CWEV_DEFAULT\fR, \f(CWEV_DEFAULT_\fR" 4
 .IX Item "EV_DEFAULT, EV_DEFAULT_"
 Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
 loop, if multiple loops are supported (\*(L"ev loop default\*(R").
 .PP
-Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, working regardless of
+Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
-wether multiple loops are supported or not.
+macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
+or not.
 .PP
 .Vb 5
 \&  static void
 \&  check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
 \&  {
 .Vb 1
 \&  ev_win32.c      required on win32 platforms only
 .Ve
 .PP
 .Vb 5
-\&  ev_select.c     only when select backend is enabled (which is by default)
+\&  ev_select.c     only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
 \&  ev_poll.c       only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
 \&  ev_epoll.c      only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
 \&  ev_kqueue.c     only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
 \&  ev_port.c       only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
 .Ve
 otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
 backend for Solaris 10 systems.
 .IP "\s-1EV_USE_DEVPOLL\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_USE_DEVPOLL"
 reserved for future expansion, works like the \s-1USE\s0 symbols above.
+.IP "\s-1EV_USE_INOTIFY\s0" 4
+.IX Item "EV_USE_INOTIFY"
+If defined to be \f(CW1\fR, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
+interface to speed up \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR watchers. Its actual availability will
+be detected at runtime.
 .IP "\s-1EV_H\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_H"
 The name of the \fIev.h\fR header file used to include it. The default if
 undefined is \f(CW\*(C`<ev.h>\*(C'\fR in \fIevent.h\fR and \f(CW"ev.h"\fR in \fIev.c\fR. This
 can be used to virtually rename the \fIev.h\fR header file in case of conflicts.
 If undefined or defined to \f(CW1\fR, then all event-loop-specific functions
 will have the \f(CW\*(C`struct ev_loop *\*(C'\fR as first argument, and you can create
 additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
 for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
 argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.
+.IP "\s-1EV_MINPRI\s0" 4
+.IX Item "EV_MINPRI"
+.PD 0
+.IP "\s-1EV_MAXPRI\s0" 4
+.IX Item "EV_MAXPRI"
+.PD
+The range of allowed priorities. \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINPRI\*(C'\fR must be smaller or equal to
+\&\f(CW\*(C`EV_MAXPRI\*(C'\fR, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
+provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
+to be \f(CW\*(C`\-2\*(C'\fR and \f(CW2\fR, respectively).
+.Sp
+When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
+all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
+and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (\-2 .. +2) is usually
+fine.
+.Sp
+If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
+\&\f(CW0\fR will save some memory and cpu.
 .IP "\s-1EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE"
 If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then periodic timers are supported. If
+defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
+code.
+.IP "\s-1EV_IDLE_ENABLE\s0" 4
+.IX Item "EV_IDLE_ENABLE"
+If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then idle watchers are supported. If
 defined to be \f(CW0\fR, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
 code.
 .IP "\s-1EV_EMBED_ENABLE\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_EMBED_ENABLE"
 If undefined or defined to be \f(CW1\fR, then embed watchers are supported. If
 .IP "\s-1EV_PID_HASHSIZE\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_PID_HASHSIZE"
 \&\f(CW\*(C`ev_child\*(C'\fR watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
 pid. The default size is \f(CW16\fR (or \f(CW1\fR with \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINIMAL\*(C'\fR), usually more
 than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
-increase this value.
+increase this value (\fImust\fR be a power of two).
+.IP "\s-1EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE\s0" 4
+.IX Item "EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE"
+\&\f(CW\*(C`ev_staz\*(C'\fR watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
+inotify watch id. The default size is \f(CW16\fR (or \f(CW1\fR with \f(CW\*(C`EV_MINIMAL\*(C'\fR),
+usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of \f(CW\*(C`ev_stat\*(C'\fR
+watchers you might want to increase this value (\fImust\fR be a power of
+two).
 .IP "\s-1EV_COMMON\s0" 4
 .IX Item "EV_COMMON"
 By default, all watchers have a \f(CW\*(C`void *data\*(C'\fR member. By redefining
 this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
 members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
 interface) and \fI\s-1EV\s0.xs\fR (implementation) files. Only the \fI\s-1EV\s0.xs\fR file
 will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
 file.
 .Sp
 The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a \fIev_cpp.h\fR header file
-that everybody includes and which overrides some autoconf choices:
+that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:
 .Sp
-.Vb 4
+.Vb 9
+\&  #define EV_MINIMAL 1
 \&  #define EV_USE_POLL 0
 \&  #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
-\&  #define EV_PERIODICS 0
+\&  #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
+\&  #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
+\&  #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
 \&  #define EV_CONFIG_H <config.h>
+\&  #define EV_MINPRI 0
+\&  #define EV_MAXPRI 0
 .Ve
 .Sp
 .Vb 1
 \&  #include "ev++.h"
 .Ve
 .SH "COMPLEXITIES"
 .IX Header "COMPLEXITIES"
 In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
 libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
 documentation for \f(CW\*(C`ev_default_init\*(C'\fR.
+.Sp
+All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
+extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
+happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
+mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
+it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.
 .RS 4
 .IP "Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)" 4
 .IX Item "Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)"
-.PD 0
+This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
+there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
+have to skip those 100 watchers.
 .IP "Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)" 4
 .IX Item "Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)"
+That means that for changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
+as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.
 .IP "Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)" 4
 .IX Item "Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)"
-.IP "Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)" 4
+These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
-.IX Item "Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)"
+=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)
-.IP "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % 16))" 4
+.IP "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % \s-1EV_PID_HASHSIZE\s0))" 4
-.IX Item "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % 16))"
+.IX Item "Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))"
+These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
+correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
+have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).
 .IP "Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)" 4
 .IX Item "Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)"
+.PD 0
 .IP "Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)" 4
 .IX Item "Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)"
+.PD
+A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
+libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel).
 .IP "Activating one watcher: O(1)" 4
 .IX Item "Activating one watcher: O(1)"
+.PD 0
+.IP "Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)" 4
+.IX Item "Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)"
+.PD
+Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
+priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
+linearly search all the priorities.
 .RE
 .RS 4
-.PD
 .SH "AUTHOR"
 .IX Header "AUTHOR"
 Marc Lehmann <libev@schmorp.de>.

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Revision 1.49 by root, Wed Dec 12 04:53:58 2007 UTC