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4<head> 4<head>
5 <title>libev</title> 5 <title>libev</title>
6 <meta name="description" content="Pod documentation for libev" /> 6 <meta name="description" content="Pod documentation for libev" />
7 <meta name="inputfile" content="&lt;standard input&gt;" /> 7 <meta name="inputfile" content="&lt;standard input&gt;" />
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9 <meta name="created" content="Mon Nov 12 09:57:02 2007" /> 9 <meta name="created" content="Wed Nov 28 12:31:29 2007" />
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11<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://res.tst.eu/pod.css"/></head> 11<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://res.tst.eu/pod.css"/></head>
12<body> 12<body>
13<div class="pod"> 13<div class="pod">
14<!-- INDEX START --> 14<!-- INDEX START -->
15<h3 id="TOP">Index</h3> 15<h3 id="TOP">Index</h3>
16 16
17<ul><li><a href="#NAME">NAME</a></li> 17<ul><li><a href="#NAME">NAME</a></li>
18<li><a href="#SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</a></li> 18<li><a href="#SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</a></li>
19<li><a href="#EXAMPLE_PROGRAM">EXAMPLE PROGRAM</a></li>
19<li><a href="#DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</a></li> 20<li><a href="#DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</a></li>
20<li><a href="#FEATURES">FEATURES</a></li> 21<li><a href="#FEATURES">FEATURES</a></li>
21<li><a href="#CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</a></li> 22<li><a href="#CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</a></li>
22<li><a href="#TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</a></li> 23<li><a href="#TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</a></li>
23<li><a href="#GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</a></li> 24<li><a href="#GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</a></li>
24<li><a href="#FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</a></li> 25<li><a href="#FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</a></li>
25<li><a href="#ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</a> 26<li><a href="#ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</a>
27<ul><li><a href="#GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS">GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS</a></li>
26<ul><li><a href="#ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</a></li> 28<li><a href="#ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</a></li>
27</ul> 29</ul>
28</li> 30</li>
29<li><a href="#WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</a> 31<li><a href="#WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</a>
30<ul><li><a href="#code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable</a></li> 32<ul><li><a href="#code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?</a></li>
31<li><a href="#code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally recurring timeouts</a></li> 33<li><a href="#code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts</a></li>
32<li><a href="#code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron</a></li> 34<li><a href="#code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron?</a></li>
33<li><a href="#code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled</a></li> 35<li><a href="#code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!</a></li>
34<li><a href="#code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat"><code>ev_child</code> - wait for pid status changes</a></li> 36<li><a href="#code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro"><code>ev_child</code> - watch out for process status changes</a></li>
37<li><a href="#code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri"><code>ev_stat</code> - did the file attributes just change?</a></li>
35<li><a href="#code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do</a></li> 38<li><a href="#code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do...</a></li>
36<li><a href="#code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop</a></li> 39<li><a href="#code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop!</a></li>
40<li><a href="#code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough...</a></li>
41<li><a href="#code_ev_fork_code_the_audacity_to_re"><code>ev_fork</code> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork</a></li>
37</ul> 42</ul>
38</li> 43</li>
39<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li> 44<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li>
45<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</a></li>
46<li><a href="#C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</a></li>
47<li><a href="#MACRO_MAGIC">MACRO MAGIC</a></li>
48<li><a href="#EMBEDDING">EMBEDDING</a>
49<ul><li><a href="#FILESETS">FILESETS</a>
50<ul><li><a href="#CORE_EVENT_LOOP">CORE EVENT LOOP</a></li>
51<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API">LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API</a></li>
52<li><a href="#AUTOCONF_SUPPORT">AUTOCONF SUPPORT</a></li>
53</ul>
54</li>
55<li><a href="#PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS">PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS</a></li>
56<li><a href="#EXAMPLES">EXAMPLES</a></li>
57</ul>
58</li>
59<li><a href="#COMPLEXITIES">COMPLEXITIES</a></li>
40<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a> 60<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a>
41</li> 61</li>
42</ul><hr /> 62</ul><hr />
43<!-- INDEX END --> 63<!-- INDEX END -->
44 64
45<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 65<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1>
46<div id="NAME_CONTENT"> 66<div id="NAME_CONTENT">
47<p>libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C</p> 67<p>libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C</p>
48 68
49</div> 69</div>
50<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 70<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1>
51<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT"> 71<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT">
52<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt; 72<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt;
53 73
54</pre> 74</pre>
55 75
56</div> 76</div>
57<h1 id="DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 77<h1 id="EXAMPLE_PROGRAM">EXAMPLE PROGRAM</h1>
78<div id="EXAMPLE_PROGRAM_CONTENT">
79<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt;
80
81 ev_io stdin_watcher;
82 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
83
84 /* called when data readable on stdin */
85 static void
86 stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
87 {
88 /* puts (&quot;stdin ready&quot;); */
89 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */
90 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */
91 }
92
93 static void
94 timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
95 {
96 /* puts (&quot;timeout&quot;); */
97 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */
98 }
99
100 int
101 main (void)
102 {
103 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
104
105 /* initialise an io watcher, then start it */
106 ev_io_init (&amp;stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
107 ev_io_start (loop, &amp;stdin_watcher);
108
109 /* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */
110 ev_timer_init (&amp;timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
111 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;timeout_watcher);
112
113 /* loop till timeout or data ready */
114 ev_loop (loop, 0);
115
116 return 0;
117 }
118
119</pre>
120
121</div>
122<h1 id="DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</h1>
58<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT"> 123<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT">
59<p>Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 124<p>Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
60file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage 125file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage
61these event sources and provide your program with events.</p> 126these event sources and provide your program with events.</p>
62<p>To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process 127<p>To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
66watchers</i>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the 131watchers</i>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
67details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by <i>starting</i> the 132details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by <i>starting</i> the
68watcher.</p> 133watcher.</p>
69 134
70</div> 135</div>
71<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 136<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1>
72<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT"> 137<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT">
73<p>Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 138<p>Libev supports <code>select</code>, <code>poll</code>, the Linux-specific <code>epoll</code>, the
74kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute 139BSD-specific <code>kqueue</code> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
75timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 140for file descriptor events (<code>ev_io</code>), the Linux <code>inotify</code> interface
76events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event 141(for <code>ev_stat</code>), relative timers (<code>ev_timer</code>), absolute timers
77loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite 142with customised rescheduling (<code>ev_periodic</code>), synchronous signals
143(<code>ev_signal</code>), process status change events (<code>ev_child</code>), and event
144watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (<code>ev_idle</code>,
145<code>ev_embed</code>, <code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> watchers) as well as
146file watchers (<code>ev_stat</code>) and even limited support for fork events
147(<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
148<p>It also is quite fast (see this
78fast (see this <a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing 149<a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing it to libevent
79it to libevent for example).</p> 150for example).</p>
80 151
81</div> 152</div>
82<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 153<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1>
83<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT"> 154<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT">
84<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 155<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
85will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 156be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
86about various configuration options please have a look at the file 157various configuration options please have a look at <strong>EMBED</strong> section in
87<cite>README.embed</cite> in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without 158this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
88support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 159loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name <code>loop</code>
89argument of name <code>loop</code> (which is always of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>) 160(which is always of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>) will not have this argument.</p>
90will not have this argument.</p>
91 161
92</div> 162</div>
93<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 163<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1>
94<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT"> 164<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT">
95<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 165<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
96(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 166(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
97the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 167the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
98called <code>ev_tstamp</code>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases 168called <code>ev_tstamp</code>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
99to the double type in C.</p> 169to the <code>double</code> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
170it, you should treat it as such.</p>
100 171
101</div> 172</div>
102<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 173<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1>
103<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 174<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
175<p>These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
176library in any way.</p>
104<dl> 177<dl>
105 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt> 178 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt>
106 <dd> 179 <dd>
107 <p>Returns the current time as libev would use it.</p> 180 <p>Returns the current time as libev would use it. Please note that the
181<code>ev_now</code> function is usually faster and also often returns the timestamp
182you actually want to know.</p>
108 </dd> 183 </dd>
109 <dt>int ev_version_major ()</dt> 184 <dt>int ev_version_major ()</dt>
110 <dt>int ev_version_minor ()</dt> 185 <dt>int ev_version_minor ()</dt>
111 <dd> 186 <dd>
112 <p>You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 187 <p>You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library
116version of the library your program was compiled against.</p> 191version of the library your program was compiled against.</p>
117 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 192 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
118as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 193as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
119compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 194compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
120not a problem.</p> 195not a problem.</p>
196 <p>Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
197version.</p>
198<pre> assert ((&quot;libev version mismatch&quot;,
199 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
200 &amp;&amp; ev_version_minor () &gt;= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
201
202</pre>
203 </dd>
204 <dt>unsigned int ev_supported_backends ()</dt>
121 </dd> 205 <dd>
206 <p>Return the set of all backends (i.e. their corresponding <code>EV_BACKEND_*</code>
207value) compiled into this binary of libev (independent of their
208availability on the system you are running on). See <code>ev_default_loop</code> for
209a description of the set values.</p>
210 <p>Example: make sure we have the epoll method, because yeah this is cool and
211a must have and can we have a torrent of it please!!!11</p>
212<pre> assert ((&quot;sorry, no epoll, no sex&quot;,
213 ev_supported_backends () &amp; EVBACKEND_EPOLL));
214
215</pre>
216 </dd>
217 <dt>unsigned int ev_recommended_backends ()</dt>
218 <dd>
219 <p>Return the set of all backends compiled into this binary of libev and also
220recommended for this platform. This set is often smaller than the one
221returned by <code>ev_supported_backends</code>, as for example kqueue is broken on
222most BSDs and will not be autodetected unless you explicitly request it
223(assuming you know what you are doing). This is the set of backends that
224libev will probe for if you specify no backends explicitly.</p>
225 </dd>
226 <dt>unsigned int ev_embeddable_backends ()</dt>
227 <dd>
228 <p>Returns the set of backends that are embeddable in other event loops. This
229is the theoretical, all-platform, value. To find which backends
230might be supported on the current system, you would need to look at
231<code>ev_embeddable_backends () &amp; ev_supported_backends ()</code>, likewise for
232recommended ones.</p>
233 <p>See the description of <code>ev_embed</code> watchers for more info.</p>
234 </dd>
122 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))</dt> 235 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, size_t size))</dt>
123 <dd> 236 <dd>
124 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 237 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype and semantics are
125realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 238identical to the realloc C function). It is used to allocate and free
126and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 239memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory needs to be
127needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 240allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially destructive
128destructive action. The default is your system realloc function.</p> 241action. The default is your system realloc function.</p>
129 <p>You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 242 <p>You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
130free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 243free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
131or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.</p> 244or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.</p>
245 <p>Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
246retries).</p>
247<pre> static void *
248 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
249 {
250 for (;;)
251 {
252 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
253
254 if (newptr)
255 return newptr;
256
257 sleep (60);
258 }
259 }
260
261 ...
262 ev_set_allocator (persistent_realloc);
263
264</pre>
132 </dd> 265 </dd>
133 <dt>ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));</dt> 266 <dt>ev_set_syserr_cb (void (*cb)(const char *msg));</dt>
134 <dd> 267 <dd>
135 <p>Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such 268 <p>Set the callback function to call on a retryable syscall error (such
136as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string 269as failed select, poll, epoll_wait). The message is a printable string
137indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this 270indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
138callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 271callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
139matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 272matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
140requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 273requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
141(such as abort).</p> 274(such as abort).</p>
275 <p>Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.</p>
276<pre> static void
277 fatal_error (const char *msg)
278 {
279 perror (msg);
280 abort ();
281 }
282
283 ...
284 ev_set_syserr_cb (fatal_error);
285
286</pre>
142 </dd> 287 </dd>
143</dl> 288</dl>
144 289
145</div> 290</div>
146<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 291<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1>
147<div id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP-2"> 292<div id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP-2">
148<p>An event loop is described by a <code>struct ev_loop *</code>. The library knows two 293<p>An event loop is described by a <code>struct ev_loop *</code>. The library knows two
149types of such loops, the <i>default</i> loop, which supports signals and child 294types of such loops, the <i>default</i> loop, which supports signals and child
150events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p> 295events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p>
151<p>If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop 296<p>If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
158 <dt>struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)</dt> 303 <dt>struct ev_loop *ev_default_loop (unsigned int flags)</dt>
159 <dd> 304 <dd>
160 <p>This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised 305 <p>This will initialise the default event loop if it hasn't been initialised
161yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns 306yet and return it. If the default loop could not be initialised, returns
162false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the 307false. If it already was initialised it simply returns it (and ignores the
163flags).</p> 308flags. If that is troubling you, check <code>ev_backend ()</code> afterwards).</p>
164 <p>If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this 309 <p>If you don't know what event loop to use, use the one returned from this
165function.</p> 310function.</p>
166 <p>The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific 311 <p>The flags argument can be used to specify special behaviour or specific
167backends to use, and is usually specified as 0 (or EVFLAG_AUTO).</p> 312backends to use, and is usually specified as <code>0</code> (or <code>EVFLAG_AUTO</code>).</p>
168 <p>It supports the following flags:</p> 313 <p>The following flags are supported:</p>
169 <p> 314 <p>
170 <dl> 315 <dl>
171 <dt><code>EVFLAG_AUTO</code></dt> 316 <dt><code>EVFLAG_AUTO</code></dt>
172 <dd> 317 <dd>
173 <p>The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right 318 <p>The default flags value. Use this if you have no clue (it's the right
180<code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 325<code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
181override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 326override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
182useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 327useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
183around bugs.</p> 328around bugs.</p>
184 </dd> 329 </dd>
185 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_SELECT</code> (portable select backend)</dt> 330 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> (value 1, portable select backend)</dt>
186 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_POLL</code> (poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)</dt>
187 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_EPOLL</code> (linux only)</dt>
188 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_KQUEUE</code> (some bsds only)</dt>
189 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_DEVPOLL</code> (solaris 8 only)</dt>
190 <dt><code>EVMETHOD_PORT</code> (solaris 10 only)</dt>
191 <dd> 331 <dd>
192 <p>If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these 332 <p>This is your standard select(2) backend. Not <i>completely</i> standard, as
193backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If one are 333libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
194specified, any backend will do.</p> 334but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
335using this backend. It doesn't scale too well (O(highest_fd)), but its usually
336the fastest backend for a low number of fds.</p>
337 </dd>
338 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code> (value 2, poll backend, available everywhere except on windows)</dt>
339 <dd>
340 <p>And this is your standard poll(2) backend. It's more complicated than
341select, but handles sparse fds better and has no artificial limit on the
342number of fds you can use (except it will slow down considerably with a
343lot of inactive fds). It scales similarly to select, i.e. O(total_fds).</p>
344 </dd>
345 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_EPOLL</code> (value 4, Linux)</dt>
346 <dd>
347 <p>For few fds, this backend is a bit little slower than poll and select,
348but it scales phenomenally better. While poll and select usually scale like
349O(total_fds) where n is the total number of fds (or the highest fd), epoll scales
350either O(1) or O(active_fds).</p>
351 <p>While stopping and starting an I/O watcher in the same iteration will
352result in some caching, there is still a syscall per such incident
353(because the fd could point to a different file description now), so its
354best to avoid that. Also, dup()ed file descriptors might not work very
355well if you register events for both fds.</p>
356 <p>Please note that epoll sometimes generates spurious notifications, so you
357need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid blocking when no data
358(or space) is available.</p>
359 </dd>
360 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_KQUEUE</code> (value 8, most BSD clones)</dt>
361 <dd>
362 <p>Kqueue deserves special mention, as at the time of this writing, it
363was broken on all BSDs except NetBSD (usually it doesn't work with
364anything but sockets and pipes, except on Darwin, where of course its
365completely useless). For this reason its not being &quot;autodetected&quot;
366unless you explicitly specify it explicitly in the flags (i.e. using
367<code>EVBACKEND_KQUEUE</code>).</p>
368 <p>It scales in the same way as the epoll backend, but the interface to the
369kernel is more efficient (which says nothing about its actual speed, of
370course). While starting and stopping an I/O watcher does not cause an
371extra syscall as with epoll, it still adds up to four event changes per
372incident, so its best to avoid that.</p>
373 </dd>
374 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_DEVPOLL</code> (value 16, Solaris 8)</dt>
375 <dd>
376 <p>This is not implemented yet (and might never be).</p>
377 </dd>
378 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_PORT</code> (value 32, Solaris 10)</dt>
379 <dd>
380 <p>This uses the Solaris 10 port mechanism. As with everything on Solaris,
381it's really slow, but it still scales very well (O(active_fds)).</p>
382 <p>Please note that solaris ports can result in a lot of spurious
383notifications, so you need to use non-blocking I/O or other means to avoid
384blocking when no data (or space) is available.</p>
385 </dd>
386 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_ALL</code></dt>
387 <dd>
388 <p>Try all backends (even potentially broken ones that wouldn't be tried
389with <code>EVFLAG_AUTO</code>). Since this is a mask, you can do stuff such as
390<code>EVBACKEND_ALL &amp; ~EVBACKEND_KQUEUE</code>.</p>
195 </dd> 391 </dd>
196 </dl> 392 </dl>
197 </p> 393 </p>
394 <p>If one or more of these are ored into the flags value, then only these
395backends will be tried (in the reverse order as given here). If none are
396specified, most compiled-in backend will be tried, usually in reverse
397order of their flag values :)</p>
398 <p>The most typical usage is like this:</p>
399<pre> if (!ev_default_loop (0))
400 fatal (&quot;could not initialise libev, bad $LIBEV_FLAGS in environment?&quot;);
401
402</pre>
403 <p>Restrict libev to the select and poll backends, and do not allow
404environment settings to be taken into account:</p>
405<pre> ev_default_loop (EVBACKEND_POLL | EVBACKEND_SELECT | EVFLAG_NOENV);
406
407</pre>
408 <p>Use whatever libev has to offer, but make sure that kqueue is used if
409available (warning, breaks stuff, best use only with your own private
410event loop and only if you know the OS supports your types of fds):</p>
411<pre> ev_default_loop (ev_recommended_backends () | EVBACKEND_KQUEUE);
412
413</pre>
198 </dd> 414 </dd>
199 <dt>struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)</dt> 415 <dt>struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)</dt>
200 <dd> 416 <dd>
201 <p>Similar to <code>ev_default_loop</code>, but always creates a new event loop that is 417 <p>Similar to <code>ev_default_loop</code>, but always creates a new event loop that is
202always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 418always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
203handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 419handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
204undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).</p> 420undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).</p>
421 <p>Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.</p>
422<pre> struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
423 if (!epoller)
424 fatal (&quot;no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair&quot;);
425
426</pre>
205 </dd> 427 </dd>
206 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt> 428 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt>
207 <dd> 429 <dd>
208 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 430 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
209etc.). This stops all registered event watchers (by not touching them in 431etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
210any way whatsoever, although you cannot rely on this :).</p> 432sense, so e.g. <code>ev_is_active</code> might still return true. It is your
433responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef <i>before</i>
434calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
435the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or <code>free ()</code> them
436for example).</p>
211 </dd> 437 </dd>
212 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt> 438 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt>
213 <dd> 439 <dd>
214 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an 440 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an
215earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p> 441earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p>
218 <dd> 444 <dd>
219 <p>This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have 445 <p>This function reinitialises the kernel state for backends that have
220one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense 446one. Despite the name, you can call it anytime, but it makes most sense
221after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that 447after forking, in either the parent or child process (or both, but that
222again makes little sense).</p> 448again makes little sense).</p>
223 <p>You <i>must</i> call this function after forking if and only if you want to 449 <p>You <i>must</i> call this function in the child process after forking if and
224use the event library in both processes. If you just fork+exec, you don't 450only if you want to use the event library in both processes. If you just
225have to call it.</p> 451fork+exec, you don't have to call it.</p>
226 <p>The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call 452 <p>The function itself is quite fast and it's usually not a problem to call
227it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in 453it just in case after a fork. To make this easy, the function will fit in
228quite nicely into a call to <code>pthread_atfork</code>:</p> 454quite nicely into a call to <code>pthread_atfork</code>:</p>
229<pre> pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork); 455<pre> pthread_atfork (0, 0, ev_default_fork);
230 456
231</pre> 457</pre>
458 <p>At the moment, <code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> and <code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code> are safe to use
459without calling this function, so if you force one of those backends you
460do not need to care.</p>
232 </dd> 461 </dd>
233 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt> 462 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt>
234 <dd> 463 <dd>
235 <p>Like <code>ev_default_fork</code>, but acts on an event loop created by 464 <p>Like <code>ev_default_fork</code>, but acts on an event loop created by
236<code>ev_loop_new</code>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 465<code>ev_loop_new</code>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
237after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.</p> 466after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.</p>
238 </dd> 467 </dd>
239 <dt>unsigned int ev_method (loop)</dt> 468 <dt>unsigned int ev_backend (loop)</dt>
240 <dd> 469 <dd>
241 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVMETHOD_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in 470 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVBACKEND_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in
242use.</p> 471use.</p>
243 </dd> 472 </dd>
244 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)</dt> 473 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_now (loop)</dt>
245 <dd> 474 <dd>
246 <p>Returns the current &quot;event loop time&quot;, which is the time the event loop 475 <p>Returns the current &quot;event loop time&quot;, which is the time the event loop
247got events and started processing them. This timestamp does not change 476received events and started processing them. This timestamp does not
248as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base time 477change as long as callbacks are being processed, and this is also the base
249used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the event 478time used for relative timers. You can treat it as the timestamp of the
250occuring (or more correctly, the mainloop finding out about it).</p> 479event occuring (or more correctly, libev finding out about it).</p>
251 </dd> 480 </dd>
252 <dt>ev_loop (loop, int flags)</dt> 481 <dt>ev_loop (loop, int flags)</dt>
253 <dd> 482 <dd>
254 <p>Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called 483 <p>Finally, this is it, the event handler. This function usually is called
255after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling 484after you initialised all your watchers and you want to start handling
256events.</p> 485events.</p>
257 <p>If the flags argument is specified as 0, it will not return until either 486 <p>If the flags argument is specified as <code>0</code>, it will not return until
258no event watchers are active anymore or <code>ev_unloop</code> was called.</p> 487either no event watchers are active anymore or <code>ev_unloop</code> was called.</p>
488 <p>Please note that an explicit <code>ev_unloop</code> is usually better than
489relying on all watchers to be stopped when deciding when a program has
490finished (especially in interactive programs), but having a program that
491automatically loops as long as it has to and no longer by virtue of
492relying on its watchers stopping correctly is a thing of beauty.</p>
259 <p>A flags value of <code>EVLOOP_NONBLOCK</code> will look for new events, will handle 493 <p>A flags value of <code>EVLOOP_NONBLOCK</code> will look for new events, will handle
260those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in 494those events and any outstanding ones, but will not block your process in
261case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.</p> 495case there are no events and will return after one iteration of the loop.</p>
262 <p>A flags value of <code>EVLOOP_ONESHOT</code> will look for new events (waiting if 496 <p>A flags value of <code>EVLOOP_ONESHOT</code> will look for new events (waiting if
263neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block 497neccessary) and will handle those and any outstanding ones. It will block
264your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after 498your process until at least one new event arrives, and will return after
265one iteration of the loop.</p> 499one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
266 <p>This flags value could be used to implement alternative looping 500external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
267constructs, but the <code>prepare</code> and <code>check</code> watchers provide a better and 501libev watchers. However, a pair of <code>ev_prepare</code>/<code>ev_check</code> watchers is
268more generic mechanism.</p> 502usually a better approach for this kind of thing.</p>
503 <p>Here are the gory details of what <code>ev_loop</code> does:</p>
504<pre> * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
505 - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
506 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
507 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
508 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot;.
509 - Calculate for how long to block.
510 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
511 - Queue all outstanding I/O (fd) events.
512 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot; and do time jump handling.
513 - Queue all outstanding timers.
514 - Queue all outstanding periodics.
515 - If no events are pending now, queue all idle watchers.
516 - Queue all check watchers.
517 - Call all queued watchers in reverse order (i.e. check watchers first).
518 Signals and child watchers are implemented as I/O watchers, and will
519 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
520 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
521 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
522
523</pre>
524 <p>Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
525anymore.</p>
526<pre> ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
527 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
528 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
529 ... jobs done. yeah!
530
531</pre>
269 </dd> 532 </dd>
270 <dt>ev_unloop (loop, how)</dt> 533 <dt>ev_unloop (loop, how)</dt>
271 <dd> 534 <dd>
272 <p>Can be used to make a call to <code>ev_loop</code> return early (but only after it 535 <p>Can be used to make a call to <code>ev_loop</code> return early (but only after it
273has processed all outstanding events). The <code>how</code> argument must be either 536has processed all outstanding events). The <code>how</code> argument must be either
274<code>EVUNLOOP_ONCE</code>, which will make the innermost <code>ev_loop</code> call return, or 537<code>EVUNLOOP_ONE</code>, which will make the innermost <code>ev_loop</code> call return, or
275<code>EVUNLOOP_ALL</code>, which will make all nested <code>ev_loop</code> calls return.</p> 538<code>EVUNLOOP_ALL</code>, which will make all nested <code>ev_loop</code> calls return.</p>
276 </dd> 539 </dd>
277 <dt>ev_ref (loop)</dt> 540 <dt>ev_ref (loop)</dt>
278 <dt>ev_unref (loop)</dt> 541 <dt>ev_unref (loop)</dt>
279 <dd> 542 <dd>
285example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not 548example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
286visible to the libev user and should not keep <code>ev_loop</code> from exiting if 549visible to the libev user and should not keep <code>ev_loop</code> from exiting if
287no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent 550no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
288way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party 551way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
289libraries. Just remember to <i>unref after start</i> and <i>ref before stop</i>.</p> 552libraries. Just remember to <i>unref after start</i> and <i>ref before stop</i>.</p>
553 <p>Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping <code>ev_loop</code>
554running when nothing else is active.</p>
555<pre> struct ev_signal exitsig;
556 ev_signal_init (&amp;exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
557 ev_signal_start (loop, &amp;exitsig);
558 evf_unref (loop);
559
560</pre>
561 <p>Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.</p>
562<pre> ev_ref (loop);
563 ev_signal_stop (loop, &amp;exitsig);
564
565</pre>
290 </dd> 566 </dd>
291</dl> 567</dl>
292 568
569
570
571
572
293</div> 573</div>
294<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 574<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1>
295<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT"> 575<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT">
296<p>A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 576<p>A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
297interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to 577interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
298become readable, you would create an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for that:</p> 578become readable, you would create an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for that:</p>
299<pre> static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 579<pre> static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
326with a watcher-specific start function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_start (loop, watcher 606with a watcher-specific start function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_start (loop, watcher
327*)</code>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the 607*)</code>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
328corresponding stop function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_stop (loop, watcher *)</code>.</p> 608corresponding stop function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_stop (loop, watcher *)</code>.</p>
329<p>As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you 609<p>As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you
330must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never 610must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
331reinitialise it or call its set method.</p> 611reinitialise it or call its <code>set</code> macro.</p>
332<p>You can check whether an event is active by calling the <code>ev_is_active
333(watcher *)</code> macro. To see whether an event is outstanding (but the
334callback for it has not been called yet) you can use the <code>ev_is_pending
335(watcher *)</code> macro.</p>
336<p>Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the 612<p>Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
337registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as 613registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
338third argument.</p> 614third argument.</p>
339<p>The received events usually include a single bit per event type received 615<p>The received events usually include a single bit per event type received
340(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks 616(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
360 </dd> 636 </dd>
361 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt> 637 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt>
362 <dd> 638 <dd>
363 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p> 639 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p>
364 </dd> 640 </dd>
641 <dt><code>EV_STAT</code></dt>
642 <dd>
643 <p>The path specified in the <code>ev_stat</code> watcher changed its attributes somehow.</p>
644 </dd>
365 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt> 645 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt>
366 <dd> 646 <dd>
367 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p> 647 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p>
368 </dd> 648 </dd>
369 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt> 649 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt>
374<code>ev_loop</code> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 654<code>ev_loop</code> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
375received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as 655received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
376many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account 656many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
377(for example, a <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep 657(for example, a <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
378<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p> 658<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p>
659 </dd>
660 <dt><code>EV_EMBED</code></dt>
661 <dd>
662 <p>The embedded event loop specified in the <code>ev_embed</code> watcher needs attention.</p>
663 </dd>
664 <dt><code>EV_FORK</code></dt>
665 <dd>
666 <p>The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
667<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
379 </dd> 668 </dd>
380 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt> 669 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt>
381 <dd> 670 <dd>
382 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 671 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
383happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 672happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
391programs, though, so beware.</p> 680programs, though, so beware.</p>
392 </dd> 681 </dd>
393</dl> 682</dl>
394 683
395</div> 684</div>
685<h2 id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS">GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS</h2>
686<div id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
687<p>In the following description, <code>TYPE</code> stands for the watcher type,
688e.g. <code>timer</code> for <code>ev_timer</code> watchers and <code>io</code> for <code>ev_io</code> watchers.</p>
689<dl>
690 <dt><code>ev_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
691 <dd>
692 <p>This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
693of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so <code>malloc</code> will do). Only
694the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you <i>need</i> to call
695the type-specific <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro afterwards to initialise the
696type-specific parts. For each type there is also a <code>ev_TYPE_init</code> macro
697which rolls both calls into one.</p>
698 <p>You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
699(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.</p>
700 <p>The callback is always of type <code>void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
701int revents)</code>.</p>
702 </dd>
703 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_set</code> (ev_TYPE *, [args])</dt>
704 <dd>
705 <p>This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
706call <code>ev_init</code> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
707call <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
708macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
709difference to the <code>ev_init</code> macro).</p>
710 <p>Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
711(e.g. <code>ev_prepare</code>) you still need to call its <code>set</code> macro.</p>
712 </dd>
713 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])</dt>
714 <dd>
715 <p>This convinience macro rolls both <code>ev_init</code> and <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro
716calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
717a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.</p>
718 </dd>
719 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_start</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
720 <dd>
721 <p>Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
722events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.</p>
723 </dd>
724 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
725 <dd>
726 <p>Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
727status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
728non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
729<code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
730you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
731good idea to always call its <code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> function.</p>
732 </dd>
733 <dt>bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
734 <dd>
735 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
736and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
737it.</p>
738 </dd>
739 <dt>bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
740 <dd>
741 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
742events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
743is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
744<code>ev_TYPE_set</code> is safe) and you must make sure the watcher is available to
745libev (e.g. you cnanot <code>free ()</code> it).</p>
746 </dd>
747 <dt>callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
748 <dd>
749 <p>Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.</p>
750 </dd>
751 <dt>ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
752 <dd>
753 <p>Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
754(modulo threads).</p>
755 </dd>
756</dl>
757
758
759
760
761
762</div>
396<h2 id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</h2> 763<h2 id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</h2>
397<div id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH-2"> 764<div id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH-2">
398<p>Each watcher has, by default, a member <code>void *data</code> that you can change 765<p>Each watcher has, by default, a member <code>void *data</code> that you can change
399and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used 766and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
400to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and 767to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
417 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 784 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
418 ... 785 ...
419 } 786 }
420 787
421</pre> 788</pre>
422<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 789<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
423have been omitted....</p> 790instead have been omitted.</p>
791<p>Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
792watchers:</p>
793<pre> struct my_biggy
794 {
795 int some_data;
796 ev_timer t1;
797 ev_timer t2;
798 }
424 799
800</pre>
801<p>In this case getting the pointer to <code>my_biggy</code> is a bit more complicated,
802you need to use <code>offsetof</code>:</p>
803<pre> #include &lt;stddef.h&gt;
425 804
805 static void
806 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
807 {
808 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
809 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
810 }
426 811
812 static void
813 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
814 {
815 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
816 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
817 }
427 818
428 819
820
821
822</pre>
823
429</div> 824</div>
430<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 825<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1>
431<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT"> 826<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT">
432<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 827<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
433information given in the last section.</p> 828information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
829functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.</p>
830<p>Members are additionally marked with either <i>[read-only]</i>, meaning that,
831while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
832sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
833watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or <i>[read-write]</i>, which
834means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
835is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
836sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
837not crash or malfunction in any way.</p>
434 838
839
840
841
842
435</div> 843</div>
436<h2 id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable</h2> 844<h2 id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?</h2>
437<div id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip-2"> 845<div id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip-2">
438<p>I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 846<p>I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
439in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 847in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
440level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 848would not block the process and writing would at least be able to write
441condition persists. Remember you can stop the watcher if you don't want to 849some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
442act on the event and neither want to receive future events).</p> 850receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
851the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
852receive future events.</p>
443<p>In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers oer 853<p>In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
444fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 854fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
445descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 855descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
446required if you know what you are doing).</p> 856required if you know what you are doing).</p>
447<p>You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends 857<p>You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
448(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file 858(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
449descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing 859descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
450to the same file/socket etc. description.</p> 860to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
861the same underlying &quot;file open&quot;).</p>
451<p>If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend 862<p>If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
452(at the time of this writing, this includes only EVMETHOD_SELECT and 863(at the time of this writing, this includes only <code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> and
453EVMETHOD_POLL).</p> 864<code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>).</p>
865<p>Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
866receive &quot;spurious&quot; readyness notifications, that is your callback might
867be called with <code>EV_READ</code> but a subsequent <code>read</code>(2) will actually block
868because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
869lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
870this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
871it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra <code>read</code>(2) returning
872<code>EAGAIN</code> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.</p>
873<p>If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
874play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
875wether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
876such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
877its own, so its quite safe to use).</p>
454<dl> 878<dl>
455 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt> 879 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt>
456 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt> 880 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt>
457 <dd> 881 <dd>
458 <p>Configures an <code>ev_io</code> watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 882 <p>Configures an <code>ev_io</code> watcher. The <code>fd</code> is the file descriptor to
459events for and events is either <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or <code>EV_READ | 883rceeive events for and events is either <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or
460EV_WRITE</code> to receive the given events.</p> 884<code>EV_READ | EV_WRITE</code> to receive the given events.</p>
885 </dd>
886 <dt>int fd [read-only]</dt>
887 <dd>
888 <p>The file descriptor being watched.</p>
889 </dd>
890 <dt>int events [read-only]</dt>
891 <dd>
892 <p>The events being watched.</p>
461 </dd> 893 </dd>
462</dl> 894</dl>
895<p>Example: Call <code>stdin_readable_cb</code> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
896readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
897attempt to read a whole line in the callback.</p>
898<pre> static void
899 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
900 {
901 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
902 .. read from stdin here (or from w-&gt;fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
903 }
463 904
905 ...
906 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_init (0);
907 struct ev_io stdin_readable;
908 ev_io_init (&amp;stdin_readable, stdin_readable_cb, STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ);
909 ev_io_start (loop, &amp;stdin_readable);
910 ev_loop (loop, 0);
911
912
913
914
915</pre>
916
464</div> 917</div>
465<h2 id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally recurring timeouts</h2> 918<h2 id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts</h2>
466<div id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti-2"> 919<div id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti-2">
467<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 920<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
468given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.</p> 921given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.</p>
469<p>The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 922<p>The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
470times out after an hour and youreset your system clock to last years 923times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
471time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. &quot;Roughly&quot; because 924time, it will still time out after (roughly) and hour. &quot;Roughly&quot; because
472detecting time jumps is hard, and soem inaccuracies are unavoidable (the 925detecting time jumps is hard, and some inaccuracies are unavoidable (the
473monotonic clock option helps a lot here).</p> 926monotonic clock option helps a lot here).</p>
474<p>The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the <code>ev_now ()</code> 927<p>The relative timeouts are calculated relative to the <code>ev_now ()</code>
475time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time 928time. This is usually the right thing as this timestamp refers to the time
476of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If 929of the event triggering whatever timeout you are modifying/starting. If
477you suspect event processing to be delayed and you *need* to base the timeout 930you suspect event processing to be delayed and you <i>need</i> to base the timeout
478ion the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:</p> 931on the current time, use something like this to adjust for this:</p>
479<pre> ev_timer_set (&amp;timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.); 932<pre> ev_timer_set (&amp;timer, after + ev_now () - ev_time (), 0.);
480 933
481</pre> 934</pre>
935<p>The callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when its timeout has passed,
936but if multiple timers become ready during the same loop iteration then
937order of execution is undefined.</p>
482<dl> 938<dl>
483 <dt>ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)</dt> 939 <dt>ev_timer_init (ev_timer *, callback, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)</dt>
484 <dt>ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)</dt> 940 <dt>ev_timer_set (ev_timer *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat)</dt>
485 <dd> 941 <dd>
486 <p>Configure the timer to trigger after <code>after</code> seconds. If <code>repeat</code> is 942 <p>Configure the timer to trigger after <code>after</code> seconds. If <code>repeat</code> is
488timer will automatically be configured to trigger again <code>repeat</code> seconds 944timer will automatically be configured to trigger again <code>repeat</code> seconds
489later, again, and again, until stopped manually.</p> 945later, again, and again, until stopped manually.</p>
490 <p>The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you 946 <p>The timer itself will do a best-effort at avoiding drift, that is, if you
491configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at 947configure a timer to trigger every 10 seconds, then it will trigger at
492exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with 948exactly 10 second intervals. If, however, your program cannot keep up with
493the timer (ecause it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the 949the timer (because it takes longer than those 10 seconds to do stuff) the
494timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.</p> 950timer will not fire more than once per event loop iteration.</p>
495 </dd> 951 </dd>
496 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt> 952 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt>
497 <dd> 953 <dd>
498 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 954 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
499repeating. The exact semantics are:</p> 955repeating. The exact semantics are:</p>
500 <p>If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.</p> 956 <p>If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.</p>
501 <p>If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 957 <p>If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat
502value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.</p> 958value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.</p>
503 <p>This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 959 <p>This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
504example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle 960example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called
505timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60 961idle timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been,
506seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to 962say, 60 seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do
507configure an <code>ev_timer</code> with after=repeat=60 and calling ev_timer_again each 963this is to configure an <code>ev_timer</code> with <code>after</code>=<code>repeat</code>=<code>60</code> and calling
508time you successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle 964<code>ev_timer_again</code> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
509state where you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can stop 965you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
510the timer, and again will automatically restart it if need be.</p> 966socket, you can stop the timer, and again will automatically restart it if
967need be.</p>
968 <p>You can also ignore the <code>after</code> value and <code>ev_timer_start</code> altogether
969and only ever use the <code>repeat</code> value:</p>
970<pre> ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
971 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
972 ...
973 timer-&gt;again = 17.;
974 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
975 ...
976 timer-&gt;again = 10.;
977 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
978
979</pre>
980 <p>This is more efficient then stopping/starting the timer eahc time you want
981to modify its timeout value.</p>
982 </dd>
983 <dt>ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]</dt>
984 <dd>
985 <p>The current <code>repeat</code> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
986or <code>ev_timer_again</code> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
987which is also when any modifications are taken into account.</p>
511 </dd> 988 </dd>
512</dl> 989</dl>
990<p>Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.</p>
991<pre> static void
992 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
993 {
994 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
995 }
513 996
997 struct ev_timer mytimer;
998 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
999 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;mytimer);
1000
1001</pre>
1002<p>Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
1003inactivity.</p>
1004<pre> static void
1005 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
1006 {
1007 .. ten seconds without any activity
1008 }
1009
1010 struct ev_timer mytimer;
1011 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, timeout_cb, 0., 10.); /* note, only repeat used */
1012 ev_timer_again (&amp;mytimer); /* start timer */
1013 ev_loop (loop, 0);
1014
1015 // and in some piece of code that gets executed on any &quot;activity&quot;:
1016 // reset the timeout to start ticking again at 10 seconds
1017 ev_timer_again (&amp;mytimer);
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022</pre>
1023
514</div> 1024</div>
515<h2 id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron</h2> 1025<h2 id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron?</h2>
516<div id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not-2"> 1026<div id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not-2">
517<p>Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1027<p>Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
518(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p> 1028(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p>
519<p>Unlike <code>ev_timer</code>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1029<p>Unlike <code>ev_timer</code>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
520but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1030but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
521to trigger &quot;at&quot; some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1031to trigger &quot;at&quot; some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
522periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. c&lt;ev_now () 1032periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. <code>ev_now ()
523+ 10.&gt;) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1033+ 10.</code>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
524take a year to trigger the event (unlike an <code>ev_timer</code>, which would trigger 1034take a year to trigger the event (unlike an <code>ev_timer</code>, which would trigger
525roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1035roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time
526again).</p> 1036again).</p>
527<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1037<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
528triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.</p> 1038triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.</p>
1039<p>As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
1040time (<code>at</code>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
1041during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.</p>
529<dl> 1042<dl>
530 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt> 1043 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt>
531 <dt>ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)</dt> 1044 <dt>ev_periodic_set (ev_periodic *, ev_tstamp after, ev_tstamp repeat, reschedule_cb)</dt>
532 <dd> 1045 <dd>
533 <p>Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1046 <p>Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
534operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:</p> 1047operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:</p>
535
536
537
538
539 <p> 1048 <p>
540 <dl> 1049 <dl>
541 <dt>* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt> 1050 <dt>* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt>
542 <dd> 1051 <dd>
543 <p>In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1052 <p>In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
567 <dd> 1076 <dd>
568 <p>In this mode the values for <code>interval</code> and <code>at</code> are both being 1077 <p>In this mode the values for <code>interval</code> and <code>at</code> are both being
569ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1078ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
570reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1079reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
571current time as second argument.</p> 1080current time as second argument.</p>
572 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy the periodic or any other 1081 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
573periodic watcher, ever, or make any event loop modifications</i>. If you need 1082ever, or make any event loop modifications</i>. If you need to stop it,
574to stop it, return <code>now + 1e30</code> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards.</p> 1083return <code>now + 1e30</code> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
575 <p>Also, <i>this callback must always return a time that is later than the 1084starting a prepare watcher).</p>
576passed <code>now</code> value</i>. Not even <code>now</code> itself will be ok.</p>
577 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1085 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
578ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p> 1086ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p>
579<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1087<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
580 { 1088 {
581 return now + 60.; 1089 return now + 60.;
584</pre> 1092</pre>
585 <p>It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value 1093 <p>It must return the next time to trigger, based on the passed time value
586(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It 1094(that is, the lowest time value larger than to the second argument). It
587will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but 1095will usually be called just before the callback will be triggered, but
588might be called at other times, too.</p> 1096might be called at other times, too.</p>
1097 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback must always return a time that is later than the
1098passed <code>now</code> value</i>. Not even <code>now</code> itself will do, it <i>must</i> be larger.</p>
589 <p>This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that 1099 <p>This can be used to create very complex timers, such as a timer that
590triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the 1100triggers on each midnight, local time. To do this, you would calculate the
591next midnight after <code>now</code> and return the timestamp value for this. How you do this 1101next midnight after <code>now</code> and return the timestamp value for this. How
592is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial).</p> 1102you do this is, again, up to you (but it is not trivial, which is the main
1103reason I omitted it as an example).</p>
593 </dd> 1104 </dd>
594 </dl> 1105 </dl>
595 </p> 1106 </p>
596 </dd> 1107 </dd>
597 <dt>ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)</dt> 1108 <dt>ev_periodic_again (loop, ev_periodic *)</dt>
599 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1110 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
600when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1111when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
601a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1112a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
602program when the crontabs have changed).</p> 1113program when the crontabs have changed).</p>
603 </dd> 1114 </dd>
1115 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-write]</dt>
1116 <dd>
1117 <p>The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1118take effect when the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being
1119called.</p>
1120 </dd>
1121 <dt>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]</dt>
1122 <dd>
1123 <p>The current reschedule callback, or <code>0</code>, if this functionality is
1124switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1125the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being called.</p>
1126 </dd>
604</dl> 1127</dl>
1128<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
1129system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
1130potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.</p>
1131<pre> static void
1132 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
1133 {
1134 ... its now a full hour (UTC, or TAI or whatever your clock follows)
1135 }
605 1136
1137 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1138 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
1139 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
1140
1141</pre>
1142<p>Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:</p>
1143<pre> #include &lt;math.h&gt;
1144
1145 static ev_tstamp
1146 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
1147 {
1148 return fmod (now, 3600.) + 3600.;
1149 }
1150
1151 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
1152
1153</pre>
1154<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:</p>
1155<pre> struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
1156 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb,
1157 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
1158 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163</pre>
1164
606</div> 1165</div>
607<h2 id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled</h2> 1166<h2 id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!</h2>
608<div id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a-2"> 1167<div id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a-2">
609<p>Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1168<p>Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
610signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1169signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
611will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 1170will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
612normal event processing, like any other event.</p> 1171normal event processing, like any other event.</p>
621 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt> 1180 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt>
622 <dd> 1181 <dd>
623 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1182 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
624of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p> 1183of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p>
625 </dd> 1184 </dd>
1185 <dt>int signum [read-only]</dt>
1186 <dd>
1187 <p>The signal the watcher watches out for.</p>
1188 </dd>
626</dl> 1189</dl>
627 1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
628</div> 1195</div>
629<h2 id="code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat"><code>ev_child</code> - wait for pid status changes</h2> 1196<h2 id="code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro"><code>ev_child</code> - watch out for process status changes</h2>
630<div id="code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat-2"> 1197<div id="code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro-2">
631<p>Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1198<p>Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
632some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).</p> 1199some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).</p>
633<dl> 1200<dl>
634 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt> 1201 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt>
635 <dt>ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)</dt> 1202 <dt>ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)</dt>
639at the <code>rstatus</code> member of the <code>ev_child</code> watcher structure to see 1206at the <code>rstatus</code> member of the <code>ev_child</code> watcher structure to see
640the status word (use the macros from <code>sys/wait.h</code> and see your systems 1207the status word (use the macros from <code>sys/wait.h</code> and see your systems
641<code>waitpid</code> documentation). The <code>rpid</code> member contains the pid of the 1208<code>waitpid</code> documentation). The <code>rpid</code> member contains the pid of the
642process causing the status change.</p> 1209process causing the status change.</p>
643 </dd> 1210 </dd>
1211 <dt>int pid [read-only]</dt>
1212 <dd>
1213 <p>The process id this watcher watches out for, or <code>0</code>, meaning any process id.</p>
1214 </dd>
1215 <dt>int rpid [read-write]</dt>
1216 <dd>
1217 <p>The process id that detected a status change.</p>
1218 </dd>
1219 <dt>int rstatus [read-write]</dt>
1220 <dd>
1221 <p>The process exit/trace status caused by <code>rpid</code> (see your systems
1222<code>waitpid</code> and <code>sys/wait.h</code> documentation for details).</p>
1223 </dd>
644</dl> 1224</dl>
1225<p>Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.</p>
1226<pre> static void
1227 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
1228 {
1229 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
1230 }
645 1231
1232 struct ev_signal signal_watcher;
1233 ev_signal_init (&amp;signal_watcher, sigint_cb, SIGINT);
1234 ev_signal_start (loop, &amp;sigint_cb);
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239</pre>
1240
646</div> 1241</div>
1242<h2 id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri"><code>ev_stat</code> - did the file attributes just change?</h2>
1243<div id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri-2">
1244<p>This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1245<code>stat</code> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1246compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.</p>
1247<p>The path does not need to exist: changing from &quot;path exists&quot; to &quot;path does
1248not exist&quot; is a status change like any other. The condition &quot;path does
1249not exist&quot; is signified by the <code>st_nlink</code> field being zero (which is
1250otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1251the stat buffer having unspecified contents.</p>
1252<p>Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1253calls <code>stat (2)</code> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1254can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1255a polling interval of <code>0</code> (highly recommended!) then a <i>suitable,
1256unspecified default</i> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1257five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1258impose a minimum interval which is currently around <code>0.1</code>, but thats
1259usually overkill.</p>
1260<p>This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1261as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1262resource-intensive.</p>
1263<p>At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1264implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1265reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1266semantics of <code>ev_stat</code> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1267to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1268usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1269polling.</p>
1270<dl>
1271 <dt>ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1272 <dt>ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1273 <dd>
1274 <p>Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1275<code>path</code>. The <code>interval</code> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1276be detected and should normally be specified as <code>0</code> to let libev choose
1277a suitable value. The memory pointed to by <code>path</code> must point to the same
1278path for as long as the watcher is active.</p>
1279 <p>The callback will be receive <code>EV_STAT</code> when a change was detected,
1280relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1281last change was detected).</p>
1282 </dd>
1283 <dt>ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)</dt>
1284 <dd>
1285 <p>Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1286watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1287detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1288useful simply to find out the new values.</p>
1289 </dd>
1290 <dt>ev_statdata attr [read-only]</dt>
1291 <dd>
1292 <p>The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1293<code>ev_statdata</code>, this is usually the (or one of the) <code>struct stat</code> types
1294suitable for your system. If the <code>st_nlink</code> member is <code>0</code>, then there
1295was some error while <code>stat</code>ing the file.</p>
1296 </dd>
1297 <dt>ev_statdata prev [read-only]</dt>
1298 <dd>
1299 <p>The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1300<code>prev</code> != <code>attr</code>.</p>
1301 </dd>
1302 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-only]</dt>
1303 <dd>
1304 <p>The specified interval.</p>
1305 </dd>
1306 <dt>const char *path [read-only]</dt>
1307 <dd>
1308 <p>The filesystem path that is being watched.</p>
1309 </dd>
1310</dl>
1311<p>Example: Watch <code>/etc/passwd</code> for attribute changes.</p>
1312<pre> static void
1313 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1314 {
1315 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1316 if (w-&gt;attr.st_nlink)
1317 {
1318 printf (&quot;passwd current size %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_size);
1319 printf (&quot;passwd current atime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1320 printf (&quot;passwd current mtime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1321 }
1322 else
1323 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1324 puts (&quot;wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. &quot;
1325 &quot;if this is windows, they already arrived\n&quot;);
1326 }
1327
1328 ...
1329 ev_stat passwd;
1330
1331 ev_stat_init (&amp;passwd, passwd_cb, &quot;/etc/passwd&quot;);
1332 ev_stat_start (loop, &amp;passwd);
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337</pre>
1338
1339</div>
647<h2 id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do</h2> 1340<h2 id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do...</h2>
648<div id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no-2"> 1341<div id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no-2">
649<p>Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending 1342<p>Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending
650(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long 1343(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long
651as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals, 1344as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals,
652imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle 1345imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle
665 <p>Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1358 <p>Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
666kind. There is a <code>ev_idle_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 1359kind. There is a <code>ev_idle_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
667believe me.</p> 1360believe me.</p>
668 </dd> 1361 </dd>
669</dl> 1362</dl>
1363<p>Example: Dynamically allocate an <code>ev_idle</code> watcher, start it, and in the
1364callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.</p>
1365<pre> static void
1366 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1367 {
1368 free (w);
1369 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1370 // no longer asnything immediate to do.
1371 }
670 1372
1373 struct ev_idle *idle_watcher = malloc (sizeof (struct ev_idle));
1374 ev_idle_init (idle_watcher, idle_cb);
1375 ev_idle_start (loop, idle_cb);
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380</pre>
1381
671</div> 1382</div>
672<h2 id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop</h2> 1383<h2 id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop!</h2>
673<div id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che-2"> 1384<div id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che-2">
674<p>Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem: 1385<p>Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
675Prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers 1386prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
676afterwards.</p> 1387afterwards.</p>
1388<p>You <i>must not</i> call <code>ev_loop</code> or similar functions that enter
1389the current event loop from either <code>ev_prepare</code> or <code>ev_check</code>
1390watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1391rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1392those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be <code>ev_prepare</code>, blocking,
1393<code>ev_check</code> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1394called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.</p>
677<p>Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev. This 1395<p>Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
678could be used, for example, to track variable changes, implement your own 1396their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
679watchers, integrate net-snmp or a coroutine library and lots more.</p> 1397variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1398coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1399you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1400in X programs you might want to do an <code>XFlush ()</code> in an <code>ev_prepare</code>
1401watcher).</p>
680<p>This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1402<p>This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
681to be watched by the other library, registering <code>ev_io</code> watchers for 1403to be watched by the other library, registering <code>ev_io</code> watchers for
682them and starting an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries 1404them and starting an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
683provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for 1405provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
684any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers 1406any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
685and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer 1407and stopping them) and call back into the library. The I/O and timer
686callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid neverthelles, 1408callbacks will never actually be called (but must be valid nevertheless,
687because you never know, you know?).</p> 1409because you never know, you know?).</p>
688<p>As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate 1410<p>As another example, the Perl Coro module uses these hooks to integrate
689coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines 1411coroutines into libev programs, by yielding to other active coroutines
690during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines 1412during each prepare and only letting the process block if no coroutines
691are ready to run (its actually more complicated, it only runs coroutines 1413are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
692with priority higher than the event loop and one lower priority once, 1414with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
693using idle watchers to keep the event loop from blocking if lower-priority 1415of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
694coroutines exist, thus mapping low-priority coroutines to idle/background 1416loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
695tasks).</p> 1417low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).</p>
696<dl> 1418<dl>
697 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt> 1419 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt>
698 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt> 1420 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt>
699 <dd> 1421 <dd>
700 <p>Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1422 <p>Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
701parameters of any kind. There are <code>ev_prepare_set</code> and <code>ev_check_set</code> 1423parameters of any kind. There are <code>ev_prepare_set</code> and <code>ev_check_set</code>
702macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.</p> 1424macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.</p>
703 </dd> 1425 </dd>
704</dl> 1426</dl>
1427<p>Example: To include a library such as adns, you would add IO watchers
1428and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler, as required by libadns, and
1429in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows is
1430pseudo-code only of course:</p>
1431<pre> static ev_io iow [nfd];
1432 static ev_timer tw;
705 1433
1434 static void
1435 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1436 {
1437 // set the relevant poll flags
1438 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1439 struct pollfd *fd = (struct pollfd *)w-&gt;data;
1440 if (revents &amp; EV_READ ) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLIN;
1441 if (revents &amp; EV_WRITE) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLOUT;
1442 }
1443
1444 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1445 static void
1446 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1447 {
1448 int timeout = 3600000;truct pollfd fds [nfd];
1449 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1450 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &amp;nfd, &amp;timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1451
1452 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1453 ev_timer_init (&amp;tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1454 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;tw);
1455
1456 // create on ev_io per pollfd
1457 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1458 {
1459 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1460 ((fds [i].events &amp; POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1461 | (fds [i].events &amp; POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1462
1463 fds [i].revents = 0;
1464 iow [i].data = fds + i;
1465 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1466 }
1467 }
1468
1469 // stop all watchers after blocking
1470 static void
1471 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1472 {
1473 ev_timer_stop (loop, &amp;tw);
1474
1475 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1476 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1477
1478 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1479 }
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484</pre>
1485
706</div> 1486</div>
707<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1487<h2 id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough...</h2>
1488<div id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_-2">
1489<p>This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1490into another (currently only <code>ev_io</code> events are supported in the embedded
1491loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1492fashion and must not be used).</p>
1493<p>There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1494prioritise I/O.</p>
1495<p>As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1496sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1497still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1498so nicely. In this case, you would create a kqueue-based loop and embed it
1499into your default loop (which might use e.g. poll). Overall operation will
1500be a bit slower because first libev has to poll and then call kevent, but
1501at least you can use both at what they are best.</p>
1502<p>As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have
1503to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1504priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case
1505you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in
1506a second one, and embed the second one in the first.</p>
1507<p>As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1508there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1509call <code>ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)</code> to make a single sweep and invoke
1510their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1511loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1512to <code>0</code>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1513embedded loop sweep.</p>
1514<p>As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The
1515callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can
1516set the callback to <code>0</code> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1517interested in that.</p>
1518<p>Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1519when you fork, you not only have to call <code>ev_loop_fork</code> on both loops,
1520but you will also have to stop and restart any <code>ev_embed</code> watchers
1521yourself.</p>
1522<p>Unfortunately, not all backends are embeddable, only the ones returned by
1523<code>ev_embeddable_backends</code> are, which, unfortunately, does not include any
1524portable one.</p>
1525<p>So when you want to use this feature you will always have to be prepared
1526that you cannot get an embeddable loop. The recommended way to get around
1527this is to have a separate variables for your embeddable loop, try to
1528create it, and if that fails, use the normal loop for everything:</p>
1529<pre> struct ev_loop *loop_hi = ev_default_init (0);
1530 struct ev_loop *loop_lo = 0;
1531 struct ev_embed embed;
1532
1533 // see if there is a chance of getting one that works
1534 // (remember that a flags value of 0 means autodetection)
1535 loop_lo = ev_embeddable_backends () &amp; ev_recommended_backends ()
1536 ? ev_loop_new (ev_embeddable_backends () &amp; ev_recommended_backends ())
1537 : 0;
1538
1539 // if we got one, then embed it, otherwise default to loop_hi
1540 if (loop_lo)
1541 {
1542 ev_embed_init (&amp;embed, 0, loop_lo);
1543 ev_embed_start (loop_hi, &amp;embed);
1544 }
1545 else
1546 loop_lo = loop_hi;
1547
1548</pre>
1549<dl>
1550 <dt>ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)</dt>
1551 <dt>ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)</dt>
1552 <dd>
1553 <p>Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1554embeddable. If the callback is <code>0</code>, then <code>ev_embed_sweep</code> will be
1555invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1556to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1557if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).</p>
1558 </dd>
1559 <dt>ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)</dt>
1560 <dd>
1561 <p>Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1562similarly to <code>ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)</code>, but in the most
1563apropriate way for embedded loops.</p>
1564 </dd>
1565 <dt>struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]</dt>
1566 <dd>
1567 <p>The embedded event loop.</p>
1568 </dd>
1569</dl>
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575</div>
1576<h2 id="code_ev_fork_code_the_audacity_to_re"><code>ev_fork</code> - the audacity to resume the event loop after a fork</h2>
1577<div id="code_ev_fork_code_the_audacity_to_re-2">
1578<p>Fork watchers are called when a <code>fork ()</code> was detected (usually because
1579whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
1580<code>ev_default_fork</code> or <code>ev_loop_fork</code>). The invocation is done before the
1581event loop blocks next and before <code>ev_check</code> watchers are being called,
1582and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1583<code>ev_default_fork</code> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1584handlers will be invoked, too, of course.</p>
1585<dl>
1586 <dt>ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)</dt>
1587 <dd>
1588 <p>Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1589kind. There is a <code>ev_fork_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1590believe me.</p>
1591 </dd>
1592</dl>
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598</div>
1599<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1>
708<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 1600<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
709<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p> 1601<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p>
710<dl> 1602<dl>
711 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt> 1603 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt>
712 <dd> 1604 <dd>
713 <p>This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your 1605 <p>This function combines a simple timer and an I/O watcher, calls your
714callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both 1606callback on whichever event happens first and automatically stop both
715watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd 1607watchers. This is useful if you want to wait for a single event on an fd
716or timeout without havign to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or 1608or timeout without having to allocate/configure/start/stop/free one or
717more watchers yourself.</p> 1609more watchers yourself.</p>
718 <p>If <code>fd</code> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events 1610 <p>If <code>fd</code> is less than 0, then no I/O watcher will be started and events
719is being ignored. Otherwise, an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for the given <code>fd</code> and 1611is being ignored. Otherwise, an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for the given <code>fd</code> and
720<code>events</code> set will be craeted and started.</p> 1612<code>events</code> set will be craeted and started.</p>
721 <p>If <code>timeout</code> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be 1613 <p>If <code>timeout</code> is less than 0, then no timeout watcher will be
722started. Otherwise an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher with after = <code>timeout</code> (and 1614started. Otherwise an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher with after = <code>timeout</code> (and
723repeat = 0) will be started. While <code>0</code> is a valid timeout, it is of 1615repeat = 0) will be started. While <code>0</code> is a valid timeout, it is of
724dubious value.</p> 1616dubious value.</p>
725 <p>The callback has the type <code>void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)</code> and gets 1617 <p>The callback has the type <code>void (*cb)(int revents, void *arg)</code> and gets
726passed an events set like normal event callbacks (with a combination of 1618passed an <code>revents</code> set like normal event callbacks (a combination of
727<code>EV_ERROR</code>, <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or <code>EV_TIMEOUT</code>) and the <code>arg</code> 1619<code>EV_ERROR</code>, <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or <code>EV_TIMEOUT</code>) and the <code>arg</code>
728value passed to <code>ev_once</code>:</p> 1620value passed to <code>ev_once</code>:</p>
729<pre> static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg) 1621<pre> static void stdin_ready (int revents, void *arg)
730 { 1622 {
731 if (revents &amp; EV_TIMEOUT) 1623 if (revents &amp; EV_TIMEOUT)
736 1628
737 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0); 1629 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
738 1630
739</pre> 1631</pre>
740 </dd> 1632 </dd>
741 <dt>ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events)</dt> 1633 <dt>ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)</dt>
742 <dd> 1634 <dd>
743 <p>Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 1635 <p>Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
744had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an 1636had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
745initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p> 1637initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p>
746 </dd> 1638 </dd>
747 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)</dt> 1639 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)</dt>
748 <dd> 1640 <dd>
749 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected 1641 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
750the given events it.</p> 1642the given events it.</p>
751 </dd> 1643 </dd>
752 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)</dt> 1644 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)</dt>
753 <dd> 1645 <dd>
754 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!).</p> 1646 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (<code>loop</code> must be the default
1647loop!).</p>
755 </dd> 1648 </dd>
756</dl> 1649</dl>
757 1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
758</div> 1655</div>
759<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1656<h1 id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</h1>
1657<div id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION_CONTENT">
1658<p>Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
1659emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:</p>
1660<dl>
1661 <dt>* Use it by including &lt;event.h&gt;, as usual.</dt>
1662 <dt>* The following members are fully supported: ev_base, ev_callback,
1663ev_arg, ev_fd, ev_res, ev_events.</dt>
1664 <dt>* Avoid using ev_flags and the EVLIST_*-macros, while it is
1665maintained by libev, it does not work exactly the same way as in libevent (consider
1666it a private API).</dt>
1667 <dt>* Priorities are not currently supported. Initialising priorities
1668will fail and all watchers will have the same priority, even though there
1669is an ev_pri field.</dt>
1670 <dt>* Other members are not supported.</dt>
1671 <dt>* The libev emulation is <i>not</i> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1672to use the libev header file and library.</dt>
1673</dl>
1674
1675</div>
1676<h1 id="C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</h1>
1677<div id="C_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
1678<p>Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1679you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1680the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.</p>
1681<p>To use it,</p>
1682<pre> #include &lt;ev++.h&gt;
1683
1684</pre>
1685<p>(it is not installed by default). This automatically includes <cite>ev.h</cite>
1686and puts all of its definitions (many of them macros) into the global
1687namespace. All C++ specific things are put into the <code>ev</code> namespace.</p>
1688<p>It should support all the same embedding options as <cite>ev.h</cite>, most notably
1689<code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>.</p>
1690<p>Here is a list of things available in the <code>ev</code> namespace:</p>
1691<dl>
1692 <dt><code>ev::READ</code>, <code>ev::WRITE</code> etc.</dt>
1693 <dd>
1694 <p>These are just enum values with the same values as the <code>EV_READ</code> etc.
1695macros from <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
1696 </dd>
1697 <dt><code>ev::tstamp</code>, <code>ev::now</code></dt>
1698 <dd>
1699 <p>Aliases to the same types/functions as with the <code>ev_</code> prefix.</p>
1700 </dd>
1701 <dt><code>ev::io</code>, <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code>, <code>ev::idle</code>, <code>ev::sig</code> etc.</dt>
1702 <dd>
1703 <p>For each <code>ev_TYPE</code> watcher in <cite>ev.h</cite> there is a corresponding class of
1704the same name in the <code>ev</code> namespace, with the exception of <code>ev_signal</code>
1705which is called <code>ev::sig</code> to avoid clashes with the <code>signal</code> macro
1706defines by many implementations.</p>
1707 <p>All of those classes have these methods:</p>
1708 <p>
1709 <dl>
1710 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *)</dt>
1711 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE (object *, object::method *, struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1712 <dt>ev::TYPE::~TYPE</dt>
1713 <dd>
1714 <p>The constructor takes a pointer to an object and a method pointer to
1715the event handler callback to call in this class. The constructor calls
1716<code>ev_init</code> for you, which means you have to call the <code>set</code> method
1717before starting it. If you do not specify a loop then the constructor
1718automatically associates the default loop with this watcher.</p>
1719 <p>The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.</p>
1720 </dd>
1721 <dt>w-&gt;set (struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1722 <dd>
1723 <p>Associates a different <code>struct ev_loop</code> with this watcher. You can only
1724do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).</p>
1725 </dd>
1726 <dt>w-&gt;set ([args])</dt>
1727 <dd>
1728 <p>Basically the same as <code>ev_TYPE_set</code>, with the same args. Must be
1729called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1730automatically stopped and restarted.</p>
1731 </dd>
1732 <dt>w-&gt;start ()</dt>
1733 <dd>
1734 <p>Starts the watcher. Note that there is no <code>loop</code> argument as the
1735constructor already takes the loop.</p>
1736 </dd>
1737 <dt>w-&gt;stop ()</dt>
1738 <dd>
1739 <p>Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no <code>loop</code> argument.</p>
1740 </dd>
1741 <dt>w-&gt;again () <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code> only</dt>
1742 <dd>
1743 <p>For <code>ev::timer</code> and <code>ev::periodic</code>, this invokes the corresponding
1744<code>ev_TYPE_again</code> function.</p>
1745 </dd>
1746 <dt>w-&gt;sweep () <code>ev::embed</code> only</dt>
1747 <dd>
1748 <p>Invokes <code>ev_embed_sweep</code>.</p>
1749 </dd>
1750 <dt>w-&gt;update () <code>ev::stat</code> only</dt>
1751 <dd>
1752 <p>Invokes <code>ev_stat_stat</code>.</p>
1753 </dd>
1754 </dl>
1755 </p>
1756 </dd>
1757</dl>
1758<p>Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1759the constructor.</p>
1760<pre> class myclass
1761 {
1762 ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents);
1763 ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &amp;w, int revents);
1764
1765 myclass ();
1766 }
1767
1768 myclass::myclass (int fd)
1769 : io (this, &amp;myclass::io_cb),
1770 idle (this, &amp;myclass::idle_cb)
1771 {
1772 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
1773 }
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778</pre>
1779
1780</div>
1781<h1 id="MACRO_MAGIC">MACRO MAGIC</h1>
1782<div id="MACRO_MAGIC_CONTENT">
1783<p>Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is
1784<code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>. This option determines wether (most) functions and
1785callbacks have an initial <code>struct ev_loop *</code> argument.</p>
1786<p>To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
1787following macros are defined:</p>
1788<dl>
1789 <dt><code>EV_A</code>, <code>EV_A_</code></dt>
1790 <dd>
1791 <p>This provides the loop <i>argument</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
1792loop argument&quot;). The <code>EV_A</code> form is used when this is the sole argument,
1793<code>EV_A_</code> is used when other arguments are following. Example:</p>
1794<pre> ev_unref (EV_A);
1795 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
1796 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1797
1798</pre>
1799 <p>It assumes the variable <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code> is in scope,
1800which is often provided by the following macro.</p>
1801 </dd>
1802 <dt><code>EV_P</code>, <code>EV_P_</code></dt>
1803 <dd>
1804 <p>This provides the loop <i>parameter</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
1805loop parameter&quot;). The <code>EV_P</code> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
1806<code>EV_P_</code> is used when other parameters are following. Example:</p>
1807<pre> // this is how ev_unref is being declared
1808 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
1809
1810 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
1811 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1812
1813</pre>
1814 <p>It declares a parameter <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>, quite
1815suitable for use with <code>EV_A</code>.</p>
1816 </dd>
1817 <dt><code>EV_DEFAULT</code>, <code>EV_DEFAULT_</code></dt>
1818 <dd>
1819 <p>Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
1820loop, if multiple loops are supported (&quot;ev loop default&quot;).</p>
1821 </dd>
1822</dl>
1823<p>Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, working regardless of
1824wether multiple loops are supported or not.</p>
1825<pre> static void
1826 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1827 {
1828 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
1829 }
1830
1831 ev_check check;
1832 ev_check_init (&amp;check, check_cb);
1833 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &amp;check);
1834 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839</pre>
1840
1841</div>
1842<h1 id="EMBEDDING">EMBEDDING</h1>
1843<div id="EMBEDDING_CONTENT">
1844<p>Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
1845applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
1846Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
1847and rxvt-unicode.</p>
1848<p>The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your
1849source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
1850you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
1851libev somewhere in your source tree).</p>
1852
1853</div>
1854<h2 id="FILESETS">FILESETS</h2>
1855<div id="FILESETS_CONTENT">
1856<p>Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
1857in your app.</p>
1858
1859</div>
1860<h3 id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP">CORE EVENT LOOP</h3>
1861<div id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP_CONTENT">
1862<p>To include only the libev core (all the <code>ev_*</code> functions), with manual
1863configuration (no autoconf):</p>
1864<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
1865 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
1866
1867</pre>
1868<p>This will automatically include <cite>ev.h</cite>, too, and should be done in a
1869single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
1870it, do the same for <cite>ev.h</cite> in all files wishing to use this API (best
1871done by writing a wrapper around <cite>ev.h</cite> that you can include instead and
1872where you can put other configuration options):</p>
1873<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
1874 #include &quot;ev.h&quot;
1875
1876</pre>
1877<p>Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
1878compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
1879as a bug).</p>
1880<p>You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
1881in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):</p>
1882<pre> ev.h
1883 ev.c
1884 ev_vars.h
1885 ev_wrap.h
1886
1887 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
1888
1889 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is by default)
1890 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1891 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1892 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1893 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
1894
1895</pre>
1896<p><cite>ev.c</cite> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
1897to compile this single file.</p>
1898
1899</div>
1900<h3 id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API">LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API</h3>
1901<div id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API_CONTENT">
1902<p>To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:</p>
1903<pre> #include &quot;event.c&quot;
1904
1905</pre>
1906<p>in the file including <cite>ev.c</cite>, and:</p>
1907<pre> #include &quot;event.h&quot;
1908
1909</pre>
1910<p>in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
1911<p>You need the following additional files for this:</p>
1912<pre> event.h
1913 event.c
1914
1915</pre>
1916
1917</div>
1918<h3 id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT">AUTOCONF SUPPORT</h3>
1919<div id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
1920<p>Instead of using <code>EV_STANDALONE=1</code> and providing your config in
1921whatever way you want, you can also <code>m4_include([libev.m4])</code> in your
1922<cite>configure.ac</cite> and leave <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> undefined. <cite>ev.c</cite> will then
1923include <cite>config.h</cite> and configure itself accordingly.</p>
1924<p>For this of course you need the m4 file:</p>
1925<pre> libev.m4
1926
1927</pre>
1928
1929</div>
1930<h2 id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS">PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS</h2>
1931<div id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS_CONTENT">
1932<p>Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
1933before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
1934and only include the select backend.</p>
1935<dl>
1936 <dt>EV_STANDALONE</dt>
1937 <dd>
1938 <p>Must always be <code>1</code> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
1939keeps libev from including <cite>config.h</cite>, and it also defines dummy
1940implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
1941supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
1942<cite>event.h</cite> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.</p>
1943 </dd>
1944 <dt>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</dt>
1945 <dd>
1946 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1947monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
1948of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
1949usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
1950the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have
1951to make sure you link against any libraries where the <code>clock_gettime</code>
1952function is hiding in (often <cite>-lrt</cite>).</p>
1953 </dd>
1954 <dt>EV_USE_REALTIME</dt>
1955 <dd>
1956 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
1957realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
1958runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
1959be attempted. This effectively replaces <code>gettimeofday</code> by <code>clock_get
1960(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)</code> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries
1961in the description of <code>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</code>, though.</p>
1962 </dd>
1963 <dt>EV_USE_SELECT</dt>
1964 <dd>
1965 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the
1966<code>select</code>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
1967other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
1968will not be compiled in.</p>
1969 </dd>
1970 <dt>EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET</dt>
1971 <dd>
1972 <p>If defined to <code>1</code>, then the select backend will use the system <code>fd_set</code>
1973structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
1974<code>NFDBITS</code> or <code>fd_mask</code> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
1975exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
1976low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
1977allows 64 sockets). The <code>FD_SETSIZE</code> macro, set before compilation, might
1978influence the size of the <code>fd_set</code> used.</p>
1979 </dd>
1980 <dt>EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET</dt>
1981 <dd>
1982 <p>When defined to <code>1</code>, the select backend will assume that
1983select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
1984wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
1985be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
1986<code>_get_osfhandle</code> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
1987it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
1988on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.</p>
1989 </dd>
1990 <dt>EV_USE_POLL</dt>
1991 <dd>
1992 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the <code>poll</code>(2)
1993backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
1994takes precedence over select.</p>
1995 </dd>
1996 <dt>EV_USE_EPOLL</dt>
1997 <dd>
1998 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
1999<code>epoll</code>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2000otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2001preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.</p>
2002 </dd>
2003 <dt>EV_USE_KQUEUE</dt>
2004 <dd>
2005 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2006<code>kqueue</code>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2007otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2008backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2009supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2010supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2011not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2012out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2013kqueue loop.</p>
2014 </dd>
2015 <dt>EV_USE_PORT</dt>
2016 <dd>
2017 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
201810 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2019otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2020backend for Solaris 10 systems.</p>
2021 </dd>
2022 <dt>EV_USE_DEVPOLL</dt>
2023 <dd>
2024 <p>reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.</p>
2025 </dd>
2026 <dt>EV_USE_INOTIFY</dt>
2027 <dd>
2028 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2029interface to speed up <code>ev_stat</code> watchers. Its actual availability will
2030be detected at runtime.</p>
2031 </dd>
2032 <dt>EV_H</dt>
2033 <dd>
2034 <p>The name of the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file used to include it. The default if
2035undefined is <code>&lt;ev.h&gt;</code> in <cite>event.h</cite> and <code>&quot;ev.h&quot;</code> in <cite>ev.c</cite>. This
2036can be used to virtually rename the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file in case of conflicts.</p>
2037 </dd>
2038 <dt>EV_CONFIG_H</dt>
2039 <dd>
2040 <p>If <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> isn't <code>1</code>, this variable can be used to override
2041<cite>ev.c</cite>'s idea of where to find the <cite>config.h</cite> file, similarly to
2042<code>EV_H</code>, above.</p>
2043 </dd>
2044 <dt>EV_EVENT_H</dt>
2045 <dd>
2046 <p>Similarly to <code>EV_H</code>, this macro can be used to override <cite>event.c</cite>'s idea
2047of how the <cite>event.h</cite> header can be found.</p>
2048 </dd>
2049 <dt>EV_PROTOTYPES</dt>
2050 <dd>
2051 <p>If defined to be <code>0</code>, then <cite>ev.h</cite> will not define any function
2052prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2053occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2054around libev functions.</p>
2055 </dd>
2056 <dt>EV_MULTIPLICITY</dt>
2057 <dd>
2058 <p>If undefined or defined to <code>1</code>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2059will have the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument, and you can create
2060additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2061for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2062argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.</p>
2063 </dd>
2064 <dt>EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE</dt>
2065 <dd>
2066 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2067defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2068code.</p>
2069 </dd>
2070 <dt>EV_EMBED_ENABLE</dt>
2071 <dd>
2072 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2073defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2074 </dd>
2075 <dt>EV_STAT_ENABLE</dt>
2076 <dd>
2077 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2078defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2079 </dd>
2080 <dt>EV_FORK_ENABLE</dt>
2081 <dd>
2082 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2083defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2084 </dd>
2085 <dt>EV_MINIMAL</dt>
2086 <dd>
2087 <p>If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2088speed, define this symbol to <code>1</code>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2089some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.</p>
2090 </dd>
2091 <dt>EV_PID_HASHSIZE</dt>
2092 <dd>
2093 <p><code>ev_child</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2094pid. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>), usually more
2095than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2096increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of two).</p>
2097 </dd>
2098 <dt>EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE</dt>
2099 <dd>
2100 <p><code>ev_staz</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2101inotify watch id. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>),
2102usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of <code>ev_stat</code>
2103watchers you might want to increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of
2104two).</p>
2105 </dd>
2106 <dt>EV_COMMON</dt>
2107 <dd>
2108 <p>By default, all watchers have a <code>void *data</code> member. By redefining
2109this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2110members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2111though, and it must be identical each time.</p>
2112 <p>For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:</p>
2113<pre> #define EV_COMMON \
2114 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2115 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing &quot;;&quot; */
2116
2117</pre>
2118 </dd>
2119 <dt>EV_CB_DECLARE (type)</dt>
2120 <dt>EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)</dt>
2121 <dt>ev_set_cb (ev, cb)</dt>
2122 <dd>
2123 <p>Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2124and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2125definition and a statement, respectively. See the <cite>ev.v</cite> header file for
2126their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2127avoid the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2128method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.</p>
2129
2130</div>
2131<h2 id="EXAMPLES">EXAMPLES</h2>
2132<div id="EXAMPLES_CONTENT">
2133 <p>For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2134verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2135(<a href="http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html">http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html</a>). It has the libev files in
2136the <cite>libev/</cite> subdirectory and includes them in the <cite>EV/EVAPI.h</cite> (public
2137interface) and <cite>EV.xs</cite> (implementation) files. Only the <cite>EV.xs</cite> file
2138will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2139file.</p>
2140 <p>The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a <cite>ev_cpp.h</cite> header file
2141that everybody includes and which overrides some autoconf choices:</p>
2142<pre> #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2143 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2144 #define EV_PERIODICS 0
2145 #define EV_CONFIG_H &lt;config.h&gt;
2146
2147 #include &quot;ev++.h&quot;
2148
2149</pre>
2150 <p>And a <cite>ev_cpp.C</cite> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:</p>
2151<pre> #include &quot;ev_cpp.h&quot;
2152 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157</pre>
2158
2159</div>
2160<h1 id="COMPLEXITIES">COMPLEXITIES</h1>
2161<div id="COMPLEXITIES_CONTENT">
2162 <p>In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2163libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2164documentation for <code>ev_default_init</code>.</p>
2165 <p>
2166 <dl>
2167 <dt>Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2168 <dt>Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2169 <dt>Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)</dt>
2170 <dt>Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)</dt>
2171 <dt>Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))</dt>
2172 <dt>Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)</dt>
2173 <dt>Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)</dt>
2174 <dt>Activating one watcher: O(1)</dt>
2175 </dl>
2176 </p>
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182</div>
2183<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1>
760<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT"> 2184<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT">
761<p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p> 2185 <p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p>
762 2186
763</div> 2187</div>
764</div></body> 2188</div></body>
765</html> 2189</html>

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