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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;" />
8 <meta name="outputfile" content="&lt;standard output&gt;" /> 8 <meta name="outputfile" content="&lt;standard output&gt;" />
9 <meta name="created" content="Sat Nov 24 05:58:35 2007" /> 9 <meta name="created" content="Sun Dec 9 20:30:11 2007" />
10 <meta name="generator" content="Pod::Xhtml 1.57" /> 10 <meta name="generator" content="Pod::Xhtml 1.57" />
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>
37<li><a href="#code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough</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>
38</ul> 42</ul>
39</li> 43</li>
40<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li> 44<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li>
41<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</a></li> 45<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</a></li>
42<li><a href="#C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</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>
43<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a> 60<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a>
44</li> 61</li>
45</ul><hr /> 62</ul><hr />
46<!-- INDEX END --> 63<!-- INDEX END -->
47 64
48<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 65<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1>
49<div id="NAME_CONTENT"> 66<div id="NAME_CONTENT">
50<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>
51 68
52</div> 69</div>
53<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 70<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1>
54<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT"> 71<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT">
55<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt; 72<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt;
56 73
57</pre> 74</pre>
58 75
59</div> 76</div>
60<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>
61<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT"> 123<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT">
124<p>The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
125web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
126time: <a href="http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html">http://cvs.schmorp.de/libev/ev.html</a>.</p>
62<p>Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a 127<p>Libev is an event loop: you register interest in certain events (such as a
63file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage 128file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage
64these event sources and provide your program with events.</p> 129these event sources and provide your program with events.</p>
65<p>To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process 130<p>To do this, it must take more or less complete control over your process
66(or thread) by executing the <i>event loop</i> handler, and will then 131(or thread) by executing the <i>event loop</i> handler, and will then
69watchers</i>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the 134watchers</i>, which are relatively small C structures you initialise with the
70details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by <i>starting</i> the 135details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by <i>starting</i> the
71watcher.</p> 136watcher.</p>
72 137
73</div> 138</div>
74<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 139<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1>
75<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT"> 140<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT">
76<p>Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 141<p>Libev supports <code>select</code>, <code>poll</code>, the Linux-specific <code>epoll</code>, the
77kqueue mechanisms for file descriptor events, relative timers, absolute 142BSD-specific <code>kqueue</code> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
78timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 143for file descriptor events (<code>ev_io</code>), the Linux <code>inotify</code> interface
79events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event 144(for <code>ev_stat</code>), relative timers (<code>ev_timer</code>), absolute timers
80loop mechanism itself (idle, prepare and check watchers). It also is quite 145with customised rescheduling (<code>ev_periodic</code>), synchronous signals
146(<code>ev_signal</code>), process status change events (<code>ev_child</code>), and event
147watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (<code>ev_idle</code>,
148<code>ev_embed</code>, <code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> watchers) as well as
149file watchers (<code>ev_stat</code>) and even limited support for fork events
150(<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
151<p>It also is quite fast (see this
81fast (see this <a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing 152<a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing it to libevent
82it to libevent for example).</p> 153for example).</p>
83 154
84</div> 155</div>
85<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 156<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1>
86<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT"> 157<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT">
87<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 158<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
88will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 159be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
89about various configuration options please have a look at the file 160various configuration options please have a look at <strong>EMBED</strong> section in
90<cite>README.embed</cite> in the libev distribution. If libev was configured without 161this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
91support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 162loops, then all functions taking an initial argument of name <code>loop</code>
92argument of name <code>loop</code> (which is always of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>) 163(which is always of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>) will not have this argument.</p>
93will not have this argument.</p>
94 164
95</div> 165</div>
96<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 166<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1>
97<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT"> 167<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT">
98<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 168<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 169(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
100the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 170the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is
101called <code>ev_tstamp</code>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases 171called <code>ev_tstamp</code>, which is what you should use too. It usually aliases
102to the <code>double</code> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on 172to the <code>double</code> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
103it, you should treat it as such.</p> 173it, you should treat it as such.</p>
104 174
105
106
107
108
109</div> 175</div>
110<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 176<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1>
111<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 177<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
112<p>These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the 178<p>These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
113library in any way.</p> 179library in any way.</p>
114<dl> 180<dl>
115 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt> 181 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt>
128version of the library your program was compiled against.</p> 194version of the library your program was compiled against.</p>
129 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 195 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
130as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 196as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
131compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 197compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
132not a problem.</p> 198not a problem.</p>
133 <p>Example: make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong 199 <p>Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
134version:</p> 200version.</p>
135<pre> assert ((&quot;libev version mismatch&quot;, 201<pre> assert ((&quot;libev version mismatch&quot;,
136 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR 202 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
137 &amp;&amp; ev_version_minor () &gt;= EV_VERSION_MINOR)); 203 &amp;&amp; ev_version_minor () &gt;= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
138 204
139</pre> 205</pre>
169recommended ones.</p> 235recommended ones.</p>
170 <p>See the description of <code>ev_embed</code> watchers for more info.</p> 236 <p>See the description of <code>ev_embed</code> watchers for more info.</p>
171 </dd> 237 </dd>
172 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))</dt> 238 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))</dt>
173 <dd> 239 <dd>
174 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 240 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
175realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 241semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to
176and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 242allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
177needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 243memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
178destructive action. The default is your system realloc function.</p> 244potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
245function.</p>
179 <p>You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 246 <p>You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say,
180free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator, 247free some memory if it cannot allocate memory, to use a special allocator,
181or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.</p> 248or even to sleep a while and retry until some memory is available.</p>
182 <p>Example: replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then 249 <p>Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
183retries: better than mine).</p> 250retries).</p>
184<pre> static void * 251<pre> static void *
185 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, long size) 252 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
186 { 253 {
187 for (;;) 254 for (;;)
188 { 255 {
189 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size); 256 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
190 257
207indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this 274indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
208callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 275callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
209matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 276matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
210requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 277requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
211(such as abort).</p> 278(such as abort).</p>
212 <p>Example: do the same thing as libev does internally:</p> 279 <p>Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.</p>
213<pre> static void 280<pre> static void
214 fatal_error (const char *msg) 281 fatal_error (const char *msg)
215 { 282 {
216 perror (msg); 283 perror (msg);
217 abort (); 284 abort ();
223</pre> 290</pre>
224 </dd> 291 </dd>
225</dl> 292</dl>
226 293
227</div> 294</div>
228<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 295<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1>
229<div id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP-2"> 296<div id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP-2">
230<p>An event loop is described by a <code>struct ev_loop *</code>. The library knows two 297<p>An event loop is described by a <code>struct ev_loop *</code>. The library knows two
231types of such loops, the <i>default</i> loop, which supports signals and child 298types of such loops, the <i>default</i> loop, which supports signals and child
232events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p> 299events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p>
233<p>If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop 300<p>If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop
262<code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will 329<code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
263override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 330override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is
264useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work 331useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
265around bugs.</p> 332around bugs.</p>
266 </dd> 333 </dd>
334 <dt><code>EVFLAG_FORKCHECK</code></dt>
335 <dd>
336 <p>Instead of calling <code>ev_default_fork</code> or <code>ev_loop_fork</code> manually after
337a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
338enabling this flag.</p>
339 <p>This works by calling <code>getpid ()</code> on every iteration of the loop,
340and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
341iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
342Linux system for example, <code>getpid</code> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
343without a syscall and thus <i>very</i> fast, but my Linux system also has
344<code>pthread_atfork</code> which is even faster).</p>
345 <p>The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
346forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
347flag.</p>
348 <p>This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the <code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>
349environment variable.</p>
350 </dd>
267 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> (value 1, portable select backend)</dt> 351 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> (value 1, portable select backend)</dt>
268 <dd> 352 <dd>
269 <p>This is your standard select(2) backend. Not <i>completely</i> standard, as 353 <p>This is your standard select(2) backend. Not <i>completely</i> standard, as
270libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds, 354libev tries to roll its own fd_set with no limits on the number of fds,
271but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when 355but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
353 <dd> 437 <dd>
354 <p>Similar to <code>ev_default_loop</code>, but always creates a new event loop that is 438 <p>Similar to <code>ev_default_loop</code>, but always creates a new event loop that is
355always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot 439always distinct from the default loop. Unlike the default loop, it cannot
356handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by 440handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
357undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).</p> 441undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).</p>
358 <p>Example: try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.</p> 442 <p>Example: Try to create a event loop that uses epoll and nothing else.</p>
359<pre> struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV); 443<pre> struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
360 if (!epoller) 444 if (!epoller)
361 fatal (&quot;no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair&quot;); 445 fatal (&quot;no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair&quot;);
362 446
363</pre> 447</pre>
364 </dd> 448 </dd>
365 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt> 449 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt>
366 <dd> 450 <dd>
367 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 451 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
368etc.). This stops all registered event watchers (by not touching them in 452etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
369any way whatsoever, although you cannot rely on this :).</p> 453sense, so e.g. <code>ev_is_active</code> might still return true. It is your
454responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef <i>before</i>
455calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
456the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or <code>free ()</code> them
457for example).</p>
370 </dd> 458 </dd>
371 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt> 459 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt>
372 <dd> 460 <dd>
373 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an 461 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an
374earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p> 462earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p>
395 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt> 483 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt>
396 <dd> 484 <dd>
397 <p>Like <code>ev_default_fork</code>, but acts on an event loop created by 485 <p>Like <code>ev_default_fork</code>, but acts on an event loop created by
398<code>ev_loop_new</code>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop 486<code>ev_loop_new</code>. Yes, you have to call this on every allocated event loop
399after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.</p> 487after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.</p>
488 </dd>
489 <dt>unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)</dt>
490 <dd>
491 <p>Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
492the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at <code>0</code> and
493happily wraps around with enough iterations.</p>
494 <p>This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
495&quot;ticks&quot; the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
496<code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> calls.</p>
400 </dd> 497 </dd>
401 <dt>unsigned int ev_backend (loop)</dt> 498 <dt>unsigned int ev_backend (loop)</dt>
402 <dd> 499 <dd>
403 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVBACKEND_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in 500 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVBACKEND_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in
404use.</p> 501use.</p>
432one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some 529one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
433external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other 530external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other
434libev watchers. However, a pair of <code>ev_prepare</code>/<code>ev_check</code> watchers is 531libev watchers. However, a pair of <code>ev_prepare</code>/<code>ev_check</code> watchers is
435usually a better approach for this kind of thing.</p> 532usually a better approach for this kind of thing.</p>
436 <p>Here are the gory details of what <code>ev_loop</code> does:</p> 533 <p>Here are the gory details of what <code>ev_loop</code> does:</p>
534<pre> - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
437<pre> * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return. 535 * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
438 - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers. 536 - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
439 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state. 537 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
440 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes. 538 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
441 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot;. 539 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot;.
442 - Calculate for how long to block. 540 - Calculate for how long to block.
443 - Block the process, waiting for any events. 541 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
452 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed. 550 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
453 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK 551 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
454 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *. 552 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
455 553
456</pre> 554</pre>
457 <p>Example: queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding 555 <p>Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
458anymore.</p> 556anymore.</p>
459<pre> ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long 557<pre> ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long
460 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..) 558 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
461 ev_loop (my_loop, 0); 559 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
462 ... jobs done. yeah! 560 ... jobs done. yeah!
481example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not 579example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not
482visible to the libev user and should not keep <code>ev_loop</code> from exiting if 580visible to the libev user and should not keep <code>ev_loop</code> from exiting if
483no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent 581no event watchers registered by it are active. It is also an excellent
484way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party 582way to do this for generic recurring timers or from within third-party
485libraries. Just remember to <i>unref after start</i> and <i>ref before stop</i>.</p> 583libraries. Just remember to <i>unref after start</i> and <i>ref before stop</i>.</p>
486 <p>Example: create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping <code>ev_loop</code> 584 <p>Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping <code>ev_loop</code>
487running when nothing else is active.</p> 585running when nothing else is active.</p>
488<pre> struct dv_signal exitsig; 586<pre> struct ev_signal exitsig;
489 ev_signal_init (&amp;exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT); 587 ev_signal_init (&amp;exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
490 ev_signal_start (myloop, &amp;exitsig); 588 ev_signal_start (loop, &amp;exitsig);
491 evf_unref (myloop); 589 evf_unref (loop);
492 590
493</pre> 591</pre>
494 <p>Example: for some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.</p> 592 <p>Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.</p>
495<pre> ev_ref (myloop); 593<pre> ev_ref (loop);
496 ev_signal_stop (myloop, &amp;exitsig); 594 ev_signal_stop (loop, &amp;exitsig);
497 595
498</pre> 596</pre>
499 </dd> 597 </dd>
500</dl> 598</dl>
501 599
600
601
602
603
502</div> 604</div>
503<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 605<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1>
504<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT"> 606<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT">
505<p>A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 607<p>A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your
506interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to 608interest in some event. For instance, if you want to wait for STDIN to
507become readable, you would create an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for that:</p> 609become readable, you would create an <code>ev_io</code> watcher for that:</p>
508<pre> static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 610<pre> static void my_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
535with a watcher-specific start function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_start (loop, watcher 637with a watcher-specific start function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_start (loop, watcher
536*)</code>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the 638*)</code>), and you can stop watching for events at any time by calling the
537corresponding stop function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_stop (loop, watcher *)</code>.</p> 639corresponding stop function (<code>ev_&lt;type&gt;_stop (loop, watcher *)</code>.</p>
538<p>As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you 640<p>As long as your watcher is active (has been started but not stopped) you
539must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never 641must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
540reinitialise it or call its set macro.</p> 642reinitialise it or call its <code>set</code> macro.</p>
541<p>You can check whether an event is active by calling the <code>ev_is_active
542(watcher *)</code> macro. To see whether an event is outstanding (but the
543callback for it has not been called yet) you can use the <code>ev_is_pending
544(watcher *)</code> macro.</p>
545<p>Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the 643<p>Each and every callback receives the event loop pointer as first, the
546registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as 644registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
547third argument.</p> 645third argument.</p>
548<p>The received events usually include a single bit per event type received 646<p>The received events usually include a single bit per event type received
549(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks 647(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
569 </dd> 667 </dd>
570 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt> 668 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt>
571 <dd> 669 <dd>
572 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p> 670 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p>
573 </dd> 671 </dd>
672 <dt><code>EV_STAT</code></dt>
673 <dd>
674 <p>The path specified in the <code>ev_stat</code> watcher changed its attributes somehow.</p>
675 </dd>
574 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt> 676 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt>
575 <dd> 677 <dd>
576 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p> 678 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p>
577 </dd> 679 </dd>
578 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt> 680 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt>
583<code>ev_loop</code> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 685<code>ev_loop</code> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any
584received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as 686received events. Callbacks of both watcher types can start and stop as
585many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account 687many watchers as they want, and all of them will be taken into account
586(for example, a <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep 688(for example, a <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
587<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p> 689<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p>
690 </dd>
691 <dt><code>EV_EMBED</code></dt>
692 <dd>
693 <p>The embedded event loop specified in the <code>ev_embed</code> watcher needs attention.</p>
694 </dd>
695 <dt><code>EV_FORK</code></dt>
696 <dd>
697 <p>The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
698<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
588 </dd> 699 </dd>
589 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt> 700 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt>
590 <dd> 701 <dd>
591 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 702 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
592happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 703happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
600programs, though, so beware.</p> 711programs, though, so beware.</p>
601 </dd> 712 </dd>
602</dl> 713</dl>
603 714
604</div> 715</div>
716<h2 id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS">GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS</h2>
717<div id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
718<p>In the following description, <code>TYPE</code> stands for the watcher type,
719e.g. <code>timer</code> for <code>ev_timer</code> watchers and <code>io</code> for <code>ev_io</code> watchers.</p>
720<dl>
721 <dt><code>ev_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
722 <dd>
723 <p>This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
724of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so <code>malloc</code> will do). Only
725the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you <i>need</i> to call
726the type-specific <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro afterwards to initialise the
727type-specific parts. For each type there is also a <code>ev_TYPE_init</code> macro
728which rolls both calls into one.</p>
729 <p>You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
730(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.</p>
731 <p>The callback is always of type <code>void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
732int revents)</code>.</p>
733 </dd>
734 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_set</code> (ev_TYPE *, [args])</dt>
735 <dd>
736 <p>This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
737call <code>ev_init</code> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
738call <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
739macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
740difference to the <code>ev_init</code> macro).</p>
741 <p>Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
742(e.g. <code>ev_prepare</code>) you still need to call its <code>set</code> macro.</p>
743 </dd>
744 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])</dt>
745 <dd>
746 <p>This convinience macro rolls both <code>ev_init</code> and <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro
747calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
748a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.</p>
749 </dd>
750 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_start</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
751 <dd>
752 <p>Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
753events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.</p>
754 </dd>
755 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
756 <dd>
757 <p>Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
758status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
759non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
760<code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
761you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
762good idea to always call its <code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> function.</p>
763 </dd>
764 <dt>bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
765 <dd>
766 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
767and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
768it.</p>
769 </dd>
770 <dt>bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
771 <dd>
772 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
773events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
774is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
775<code>ev_TYPE_set</code> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
776make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot <code>free ()</code>
777it).</p>
778 </dd>
779 <dt>callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
780 <dd>
781 <p>Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.</p>
782 </dd>
783 <dt>ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
784 <dd>
785 <p>Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
786(modulo threads).</p>
787 </dd>
788 <dt>ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)</dt>
789 <dt>int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
790 <dd>
791 <p>Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
792integer between <code>EV_MAXPRI</code> (default: <code>2</code>) and <code>EV_MINPRI</code>
793(default: <code>-2</code>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
794before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
795from being executed (except for <code>ev_idle</code> watchers).</p>
796 <p>This means that priorities are <i>only</i> used for ordering callback
797invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
798example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
799watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.</p>
800 <p>If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
801you need to look at <code>ev_idle</code> watchers, which provide this functionality.</p>
802 <p>You <i>must not</i> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
803pending.</p>
804 <p>The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
805always <code>0</code>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).</p>
806 <p>Setting a priority outside the range of <code>EV_MINPRI</code> to <code>EV_MAXPRI</code> is
807fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
808or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.</p>
809 </dd>
810 <dt>ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)</dt>
811 <dd>
812 <p>Invoke the <code>watcher</code> with the given <code>loop</code> and <code>revents</code>. Neither
813<code>loop</code> nor <code>revents</code> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
814can deal with that fact.</p>
815 </dd>
816 <dt>int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
817 <dd>
818 <p>If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
819and returns its <code>revents</code> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
820watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns <code>0</code>.</p>
821 </dd>
822</dl>
823
824
825
826
827
828</div>
605<h2 id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</h2> 829<h2 id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</h2>
606<div id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH-2"> 830<div id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH-2">
607<p>Each watcher has, by default, a member <code>void *data</code> that you can change 831<p>Each watcher has, by default, a member <code>void *data</code> that you can change
608and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used 832and read at any time, libev will completely ignore it. This can be used
609to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and 833to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
626 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 850 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
627 ... 851 ...
628 } 852 }
629 853
630</pre> 854</pre>
631<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 855<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
632have been omitted....</p> 856instead have been omitted.</p>
857<p>Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
858watchers:</p>
859<pre> struct my_biggy
860 {
861 int some_data;
862 ev_timer t1;
863 ev_timer t2;
864 }
633 865
866</pre>
867<p>In this case getting the pointer to <code>my_biggy</code> is a bit more complicated,
868you need to use <code>offsetof</code>:</p>
869<pre> #include &lt;stddef.h&gt;
634 870
871 static void
872 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
873 {
874 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
875 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
876 }
635 877
878 static void
879 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
880 {
881 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
882 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
883 }
636 884
637 885
886
887
888</pre>
889
638</div> 890</div>
639<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 891<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1>
640<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT"> 892<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT">
641<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 893<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
642information given in the last section.</p> 894information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
895functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.</p>
896<p>Members are additionally marked with either <i>[read-only]</i>, meaning that,
897while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
898sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
899watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or <i>[read-write]</i>, which
900means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
901is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
902sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
903not crash or malfunction in any way.</p>
643 904
644 905
645 906
646 907
647 908
648</div> 909</div>
649<h2 id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable</h2> 910<h2 id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable?</h2>
650<div id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip-2"> 911<div id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip-2">
651<p>I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable 912<p>I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
652in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 913in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
653level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 914would not block the process and writing would at least be able to write
654condition persists. Remember you can stop the watcher if you don't want to 915some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
655act on the event and neither want to receive future events).</p> 916receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
917the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
918receive future events.</p>
656<p>In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per 919<p>In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per
657fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file 920fd as you want (as long as you don't confuse yourself). Setting all file
658descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not 921descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
659required if you know what you are doing).</p> 922required if you know what you are doing).</p>
660<p>You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends 923<p>You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends
661(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file 924(the linux epoll backend is a notable example) cannot handle dup'ed file
662descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing 925descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
663to the same underlying file/socket etc. description (that is, they share 926to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
664the same underlying &quot;file open&quot;).</p> 927the same underlying &quot;file open&quot;).</p>
665<p>If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend 928<p>If you must do this, then force the use of a known-to-be-good backend
666(at the time of this writing, this includes only <code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> and 929(at the time of this writing, this includes only <code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> and
667<code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>).</p> 930<code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>).</p>
931<p>Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
932receive &quot;spurious&quot; readyness notifications, that is your callback might
933be called with <code>EV_READ</code> but a subsequent <code>read</code>(2) will actually block
934because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
935lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
936this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
937it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra <code>read</code>(2) returning
938<code>EAGAIN</code> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.</p>
939<p>If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
940play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
941whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
942such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
943its own, so its quite safe to use).</p>
668<dl> 944<dl>
669 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt> 945 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt>
670 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt> 946 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt>
671 <dd> 947 <dd>
672 <p>Configures an <code>ev_io</code> watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 948 <p>Configures an <code>ev_io</code> watcher. The <code>fd</code> is the file descriptor to
673events for and events is either <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or <code>EV_READ | 949rceeive events for and events is either <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or
674EV_WRITE</code> to receive the given events.</p> 950<code>EV_READ | EV_WRITE</code> to receive the given events.</p>
675 <p>Please note that most of the more scalable backend mechanisms (for example 951 </dd>
676epoll and solaris ports) can result in spurious readyness notifications 952 <dt>int fd [read-only]</dt>
677for file descriptors, so you practically need to use non-blocking I/O (and 953 <dd>
678treat callback invocation as hint only), or retest separately with a safe 954 <p>The file descriptor being watched.</p>
679interface before doing I/O (XLib can do this), or force the use of either 955 </dd>
680<code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> or <code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>, which don't suffer from this 956 <dt>int events [read-only]</dt>
681problem. Also note that it is quite easy to have your callback invoked 957 <dd>
682when the readyness condition is no longer valid even when employing 958 <p>The events being watched.</p>
683typical ways of handling events, so its a good idea to use non-blocking
684I/O unconditionally.</p>
685 </dd> 959 </dd>
686</dl> 960</dl>
687<p>Example: call <code>stdin_readable_cb</code> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well 961<p>Example: Call <code>stdin_readable_cb</code> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well
688readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could 962readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
689attempt to read a whole line in the callback:</p> 963attempt to read a whole line in the callback.</p>
690<pre> static void 964<pre> static void
691 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 965 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
692 { 966 {
693 ev_io_stop (loop, w); 967 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
694 .. read from stdin here (or from w-&gt;fd) and haqndle any I/O errors 968 .. read from stdin here (or from w-&gt;fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
705 979
706 980
707</pre> 981</pre>
708 982
709</div> 983</div>
710<h2 id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally recurring timeouts</h2> 984<h2 id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally repeating timeouts</h2>
711<div id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti-2"> 985<div id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti-2">
712<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 986<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
713given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.</p> 987given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.</p>
714<p>The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that 988<p>The timers are based on real time, that is, if you register an event that
715times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years 989times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
743 </dd> 1017 </dd>
744 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt> 1018 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt>
745 <dd> 1019 <dd>
746 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1020 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
747repeating. The exact semantics are:</p> 1021repeating. The exact semantics are:</p>
1022 <p>If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.</p>
748 <p>If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.</p> 1023 <p>If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it (as if it timed out).</p>
749 <p>If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the repeat 1024 <p>If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
750value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.</p> 1025<code>repeat</code> value), or reset the running timer to the <code>repeat</code> value.</p>
751 <p>This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical 1026 <p>This sounds a bit complicated, but here is a useful and typical
752example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle 1027example: Imagine you have a tcp connection and you want a so-called idle
753timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60 1028timeout, that is, you want to be called when there have been, say, 60
754seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to 1029seconds of inactivity on the socket. The easiest way to do this is to
755configure an <code>ev_timer</code> with after=repeat=60 and calling ev_timer_again each 1030configure an <code>ev_timer</code> with a <code>repeat</code> value of <code>60</code> and then call
756time you successfully read or write some data. If you go into an idle 1031<code>ev_timer_again</code> each time you successfully read or write some data. If
757state where you do not expect data to travel on the socket, you can stop 1032you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
1033socket, you can <code>ev_timer_stop</code> the timer, and <code>ev_timer_again</code> will
758the timer, and again will automatically restart it if need be.</p> 1034automatically restart it if need be.</p>
1035 <p>That means you can ignore the <code>after</code> value and <code>ev_timer_start</code>
1036altogether and only ever use the <code>repeat</code> value and <code>ev_timer_again</code>:</p>
1037<pre> ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1038 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1039 ...
1040 timer-&gt;again = 17.;
1041 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1042 ...
1043 timer-&gt;again = 10.;
1044 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1045
1046</pre>
1047 <p>This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1048you want to modify its timeout value.</p>
1049 </dd>
1050 <dt>ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]</dt>
1051 <dd>
1052 <p>The current <code>repeat</code> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1053or <code>ev_timer_again</code> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1054which is also when any modifications are taken into account.</p>
759 </dd> 1055 </dd>
760</dl> 1056</dl>
761<p>Example: create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.</p> 1057<p>Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.</p>
762<pre> static void 1058<pre> static void
763 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1059 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
764 { 1060 {
765 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here 1061 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
766 } 1062 }
768 struct ev_timer mytimer; 1064 struct ev_timer mytimer;
769 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.); 1065 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
770 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;mytimer); 1066 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;mytimer);
771 1067
772</pre> 1068</pre>
773<p>Example: create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of 1069<p>Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
774inactivity.</p> 1070inactivity.</p>
775<pre> static void 1071<pre> static void
776 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1072 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
777 { 1073 {
778 .. ten seconds without any activity 1074 .. ten seconds without any activity
791 1087
792 1088
793</pre> 1089</pre>
794 1090
795</div> 1091</div>
796<h2 id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron</h2> 1092<h2 id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron?</h2>
797<div id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not-2"> 1093<div id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not-2">
798<p>Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile 1094<p>Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
799(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p> 1095(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p>
800<p>Unlike <code>ev_timer</code>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1096<p>Unlike <code>ev_timer</code>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time)
801but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher 1097but on wallclock time (absolute time). You can tell a periodic watcher
802to trigger &quot;at&quot; some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a 1098to trigger &quot;at&quot; some specific point in time. For example, if you tell a
803periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. c&lt;ev_now () 1099periodic watcher to trigger in 10 seconds (by specifiying e.g. <code>ev_now ()
804+ 10.&gt;) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will 1100+ 10.</code>) and then reset your system clock to the last year, then it will
805take a year to trigger the event (unlike an <code>ev_timer</code>, which would trigger 1101take a year to trigger the event (unlike an <code>ev_timer</code>, which would trigger
806roughly 10 seconds later and of course not if you reset your system time 1102roughly 10 seconds later).</p>
807again).</p>
808<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1103<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
809triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.</p> 1104triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1105rules.</p>
810<p>As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1106<p>As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the
811time (<code>at</code>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready 1107time (<code>at</code>) has been passed, but if multiple periodic timers become ready
812during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.</p> 1108during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.</p>
813<dl> 1109<dl>
814 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt> 1110 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt>
816 <dd> 1112 <dd>
817 <p>Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1113 <p>Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of
818operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:</p> 1114operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:</p>
819 <p> 1115 <p>
820 <dl> 1116 <dl>
821 <dt>* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt> 1117 <dt>* absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt>
822 <dd> 1118 <dd>
823 <p>In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1119 <p>In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time
824<code>at</code> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs, 1120<code>at</code> and doesn't repeat. It will not adjust when a time jump occurs,
825that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the 1121that is, if it is to be run at January 1st 2011 then it will run when the
826system time reaches or surpasses this time.</p> 1122system time reaches or surpasses this time.</p>
827 </dd> 1123 </dd>
828 <dt>* non-repeating interval timer (interval &gt; 0, reschedule_cb = 0)</dt> 1124 <dt>* non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval &gt; 0, reschedule_cb = 0)</dt>
829 <dd> 1125 <dd>
830 <p>In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1126 <p>In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next
831<code>at + N * interval</code> time (for some integer N) and then repeat, regardless 1127<code>at + N * interval</code> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
832of any time jumps.</p> 1128and then repeat, regardless of any time jumps.</p>
833 <p>This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system 1129 <p>This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
834time:</p> 1130time:</p>
835<pre> ev_periodic_set (&amp;periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1131<pre> ev_periodic_set (&amp;periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
836 1132
837</pre> 1133</pre>
840full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible 1136full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
841by 3600.</p> 1137by 3600.</p>
842 <p>Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1138 <p>Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that
843<code>ev_periodic</code> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible 1139<code>ev_periodic</code> will try to run the callback in this mode at the next possible
844time where <code>time = at (mod interval)</code>, regardless of any time jumps.</p> 1140time where <code>time = at (mod interval)</code>, regardless of any time jumps.</p>
1141 <p>For numerical stability it is preferable that the <code>at</code> value is near
1142<code>ev_now ()</code> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1143this value.</p>
845 </dd> 1144 </dd>
846 <dt>* manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)</dt> 1145 <dt>* manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)</dt>
847 <dd> 1146 <dd>
848 <p>In this mode the values for <code>interval</code> and <code>at</code> are both being 1147 <p>In this mode the values for <code>interval</code> and <code>at</code> are both being
849ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the 1148ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
850reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1149reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
851current time as second argument.</p> 1150current time as second argument.</p>
852 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher, 1151 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher,
853ever, or make any event loop modifications</i>. If you need to stop it, 1152ever, or make any event loop modifications</i>. If you need to stop it,
854return <code>now + 1e30</code> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by 1153return <code>now + 1e30</code> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
855starting a prepare watcher).</p> 1154starting an <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher, which is legal).</p>
856 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1155 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
857ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p> 1156ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p>
858<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1157<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
859 { 1158 {
860 return now + 60.; 1159 return now + 60.;
881 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1180 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
882when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1181when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return
883a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like 1182a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
884program when the crontabs have changed).</p> 1183program when the crontabs have changed).</p>
885 </dd> 1184 </dd>
1185 <dt>ev_tstamp offset [read-write]</dt>
1186 <dd>
1187 <p>When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1188absolute point in time (the <code>at</code> value passed to <code>ev_periodic_set</code>).</p>
1189 <p>Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1190timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being called.</p>
1191 </dd>
1192 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-write]</dt>
1193 <dd>
1194 <p>The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1195take effect when the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being
1196called.</p>
1197 </dd>
1198 <dt>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]</dt>
1199 <dd>
1200 <p>The current reschedule callback, or <code>0</code>, if this functionality is
1201switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1202the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being called.</p>
1203 </dd>
886</dl> 1204</dl>
887<p>Example: call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the 1205<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
888system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have 1206system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
889potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.</p> 1207potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.</p>
890<pre> static void 1208<pre> static void
891 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 1209 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
892 { 1210 {
896 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1214 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
897 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0); 1215 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
898 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick); 1216 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
899 1217
900</pre> 1218</pre>
901<p>Example: the same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:</p> 1219<p>Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:</p>
902<pre> #include &lt;math.h&gt; 1220<pre> #include &lt;math.h&gt;
903 1221
904 static ev_tstamp 1222 static ev_tstamp
905 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1223 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
906 { 1224 {
908 } 1226 }
909 1227
910 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb); 1228 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
911 1229
912</pre> 1230</pre>
913<p>Example: call a callback every hour, starting now:</p> 1231<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:</p>
914<pre> struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1232<pre> struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
915 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 1233 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb,
916 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0); 1234 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
917 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick); 1235 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
918 1236
920 1238
921 1239
922</pre> 1240</pre>
923 1241
924</div> 1242</div>
925<h2 id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled</h2> 1243<h2 id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled!</h2>
926<div id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a-2"> 1244<div id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a-2">
927<p>Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific 1245<p>Signal watchers will trigger an event when the process receives a specific
928signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev 1246signal one or more times. Even though signals are very asynchronous, libev
929will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the 1247will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
930normal event processing, like any other event.</p> 1248normal event processing, like any other event.</p>
939 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt> 1257 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt>
940 <dd> 1258 <dd>
941 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1259 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
942of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p> 1260of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p>
943 </dd> 1261 </dd>
1262 <dt>int signum [read-only]</dt>
1263 <dd>
1264 <p>The signal the watcher watches out for.</p>
1265 </dd>
944</dl> 1266</dl>
945 1267
946 1268
947 1269
948 1270
949 1271
950</div> 1272</div>
951<h2 id="code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat"><code>ev_child</code> - wait for pid status changes</h2> 1273<h2 id="code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro"><code>ev_child</code> - watch out for process status changes</h2>
952<div id="code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat-2"> 1274<div id="code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro-2">
953<p>Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to 1275<p>Child watchers trigger when your process receives a SIGCHLD in response to
954some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).</p> 1276some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).</p>
955<dl> 1277<dl>
956 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt> 1278 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt>
957 <dt>ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)</dt> 1279 <dt>ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)</dt>
961at the <code>rstatus</code> member of the <code>ev_child</code> watcher structure to see 1283at the <code>rstatus</code> member of the <code>ev_child</code> watcher structure to see
962the status word (use the macros from <code>sys/wait.h</code> and see your systems 1284the status word (use the macros from <code>sys/wait.h</code> and see your systems
963<code>waitpid</code> documentation). The <code>rpid</code> member contains the pid of the 1285<code>waitpid</code> documentation). The <code>rpid</code> member contains the pid of the
964process causing the status change.</p> 1286process causing the status change.</p>
965 </dd> 1287 </dd>
1288 <dt>int pid [read-only]</dt>
1289 <dd>
1290 <p>The process id this watcher watches out for, or <code>0</code>, meaning any process id.</p>
1291 </dd>
1292 <dt>int rpid [read-write]</dt>
1293 <dd>
1294 <p>The process id that detected a status change.</p>
1295 </dd>
1296 <dt>int rstatus [read-write]</dt>
1297 <dd>
1298 <p>The process exit/trace status caused by <code>rpid</code> (see your systems
1299<code>waitpid</code> and <code>sys/wait.h</code> documentation for details).</p>
1300 </dd>
966</dl> 1301</dl>
967<p>Example: try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.</p> 1302<p>Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.</p>
968<pre> static void 1303<pre> static void
969 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents) 1304 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
970 { 1305 {
971 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 1306 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
972 } 1307 }
979 1314
980 1315
981</pre> 1316</pre>
982 1317
983</div> 1318</div>
1319<h2 id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri"><code>ev_stat</code> - did the file attributes just change?</h2>
1320<div id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri-2">
1321<p>This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1322<code>stat</code> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1323compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.</p>
1324<p>The path does not need to exist: changing from &quot;path exists&quot; to &quot;path does
1325not exist&quot; is a status change like any other. The condition &quot;path does
1326not exist&quot; is signified by the <code>st_nlink</code> field being zero (which is
1327otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1328the stat buffer having unspecified contents.</p>
1329<p>The path <i>should</i> be absolute and <i>must not</i> end in a slash. If it is
1330relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.</p>
1331<p>Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1332calls <code>stat (2)</code> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1333can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1334a polling interval of <code>0</code> (highly recommended!) then a <i>suitable,
1335unspecified default</i> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1336five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1337impose a minimum interval which is currently around <code>0.1</code>, but thats
1338usually overkill.</p>
1339<p>This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1340as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1341resource-intensive.</p>
1342<p>At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1343implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1344reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1345semantics of <code>ev_stat</code> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1346to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1347usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1348polling.</p>
1349<dl>
1350 <dt>ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1351 <dt>ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1352 <dd>
1353 <p>Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1354<code>path</code>. The <code>interval</code> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1355be detected and should normally be specified as <code>0</code> to let libev choose
1356a suitable value. The memory pointed to by <code>path</code> must point to the same
1357path for as long as the watcher is active.</p>
1358 <p>The callback will be receive <code>EV_STAT</code> when a change was detected,
1359relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1360last change was detected).</p>
1361 </dd>
1362 <dt>ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)</dt>
1363 <dd>
1364 <p>Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1365watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1366detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1367useful simply to find out the new values.</p>
1368 </dd>
1369 <dt>ev_statdata attr [read-only]</dt>
1370 <dd>
1371 <p>The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1372<code>ev_statdata</code>, this is usually the (or one of the) <code>struct stat</code> types
1373suitable for your system. If the <code>st_nlink</code> member is <code>0</code>, then there
1374was some error while <code>stat</code>ing the file.</p>
1375 </dd>
1376 <dt>ev_statdata prev [read-only]</dt>
1377 <dd>
1378 <p>The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1379<code>prev</code> != <code>attr</code>.</p>
1380 </dd>
1381 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-only]</dt>
1382 <dd>
1383 <p>The specified interval.</p>
1384 </dd>
1385 <dt>const char *path [read-only]</dt>
1386 <dd>
1387 <p>The filesystem path that is being watched.</p>
1388 </dd>
1389</dl>
1390<p>Example: Watch <code>/etc/passwd</code> for attribute changes.</p>
1391<pre> static void
1392 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1393 {
1394 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1395 if (w-&gt;attr.st_nlink)
1396 {
1397 printf (&quot;passwd current size %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_size);
1398 printf (&quot;passwd current atime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1399 printf (&quot;passwd current mtime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1400 }
1401 else
1402 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1403 puts (&quot;wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. &quot;
1404 &quot;if this is windows, they already arrived\n&quot;);
1405 }
1406
1407 ...
1408 ev_stat passwd;
1409
1410 ev_stat_init (&amp;passwd, passwd_cb, &quot;/etc/passwd&quot;);
1411 ev_stat_start (loop, &amp;passwd);
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416</pre>
1417
1418</div>
984<h2 id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do</h2> 1419<h2 id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no"><code>ev_idle</code> - when you've got nothing better to do...</h2>
985<div id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no-2"> 1420<div id="code_ev_idle_code_when_you_ve_got_no-2">
986<p>Idle watchers trigger events when there are no other events are pending 1421<p>Idle watchers trigger events when no other events of the same or higher
987(prepare, check and other idle watchers do not count). That is, as long 1422priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
988as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals, 1423count).</p>
989imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle 1424<p>That is, as long as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts
990watchers are being called again and again, once per event loop iteration - 1425(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1426triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1427are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
991until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes 1428iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
992busy.</p> 1429and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.</p>
993<p>The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1430<p>The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are
994active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.</p> 1431active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.</p>
995<p>Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1432<p>Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful
996effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do 1433effect on its own sometimes), idle watchers are a good place to do
997&quot;pseudo-background processing&quot;, or delay processing stuff to after the 1434&quot;pseudo-background processing&quot;, or delay processing stuff to after the
1002 <p>Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any 1439 <p>Initialises and configures the idle watcher - it has no parameters of any
1003kind. There is a <code>ev_idle_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless, 1440kind. There is a <code>ev_idle_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1004believe me.</p> 1441believe me.</p>
1005 </dd> 1442 </dd>
1006</dl> 1443</dl>
1007<p>Example: dynamically allocate an <code>ev_idle</code>, start it, and in the 1444<p>Example: Dynamically allocate an <code>ev_idle</code> watcher, start it, and in the
1008callback, free it. Alos, use no error checking, as usual.</p> 1445callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.</p>
1009<pre> static void 1446<pre> static void
1010 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents) 1447 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1011 { 1448 {
1012 free (w); 1449 free (w);
1013 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has 1450 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1022 1459
1023 1460
1024</pre> 1461</pre>
1025 1462
1026</div> 1463</div>
1027<h2 id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop</h2> 1464<h2 id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che"><code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> - customise your event loop!</h2>
1028<div id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che-2"> 1465<div id="code_ev_prepare_code_and_code_ev_che-2">
1029<p>Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem: 1466<p>Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
1030prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers 1467prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
1031afterwards.</p> 1468afterwards.</p>
1469<p>You <i>must not</i> call <code>ev_loop</code> or similar functions that enter
1470the current event loop from either <code>ev_prepare</code> or <code>ev_check</code>
1471watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1472rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1473those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be <code>ev_prepare</code>, blocking,
1474<code>ev_check</code> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1475called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.</p>
1032<p>Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and 1476<p>Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and
1033their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track 1477their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
1034variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a 1478variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1035coroutine library and lots more.</p> 1479coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1480you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1481in X programs you might want to do an <code>XFlush ()</code> in an <code>ev_prepare</code>
1482watcher).</p>
1036<p>This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1483<p>This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need
1037to be watched by the other library, registering <code>ev_io</code> watchers for 1484to be watched by the other library, registering <code>ev_io</code> watchers for
1038them and starting an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries 1485them and starting an <code>ev_timer</code> watcher for any timeouts (many libraries
1039provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for 1486provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
1040any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers 1487any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
1047are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines 1494are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines
1048with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine 1495with priority higher than or equal to the event loop and one coroutine
1049of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event 1496of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1050loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping 1497loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1051low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).</p> 1498low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).</p>
1499<p>It is recommended to give <code>ev_check</code> watchers highest (<code>EV_MAXPRI</code>)
1500priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1501after the poll. Also, <code>ev_check</code> watchers (and <code>ev_prepare</code> watchers,
1502too) should not activate (&quot;feed&quot;) events into libev. While libev fully
1503supports this, they will be called before other <code>ev_check</code> watchers did
1504their job. As <code>ev_check</code> watchers are often used to embed other event
1505loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
1506<code>ev_check</code> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
1507others).</p>
1052<dl> 1508<dl>
1053 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt> 1509 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt>
1054 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt> 1510 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt>
1055 <dd> 1511 <dd>
1056 <p>Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1512 <p>Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no
1057parameters of any kind. There are <code>ev_prepare_set</code> and <code>ev_check_set</code> 1513parameters of any kind. There are <code>ev_prepare_set</code> and <code>ev_check_set</code>
1058macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.</p> 1514macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.</p>
1059 </dd> 1515 </dd>
1060</dl> 1516</dl>
1061<p>Example: *TODO*.</p> 1517<p>There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1518into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1519(there is a Perl module named <code>EV::ADNS</code> that does this, which you could
1520use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named <code>EV::Glib</code>
1521embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, <code>Glib::EV</code> embeds EV
1522into the Glib event loop).</p>
1523<p>Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1524and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1525is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1526priority for the check watcher or use <code>ev_clear_pending</code> explicitly, as
1527the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.</p>
1528<pre> static ev_io iow [nfd];
1529 static ev_timer tw;
1062 1530
1531 static void
1532 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1533 {
1534 }
1063 1535
1536 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1537 static void
1538 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1539 {
1540 int timeout = 3600000;
1541 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1542 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1543 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &amp;nfd, &amp;timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1064 1544
1545 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1546 ev_timer_init (&amp;tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1547 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;tw);
1065 1548
1549 // create one ev_io per pollfd
1550 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1551 {
1552 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1553 ((fds [i].events &amp; POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1554 | (fds [i].events &amp; POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1066 1555
1556 fds [i].revents = 0;
1557 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1558 }
1559 }
1560
1561 // stop all watchers after blocking
1562 static void
1563 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1564 {
1565 ev_timer_stop (loop, &amp;tw);
1566
1567 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1568 {
1569 // set the relevant poll flags
1570 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1571 struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1572 int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1573 if (revents &amp; EV_READ ) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLIN;
1574 if (revents &amp; EV_WRITE) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLOUT;
1575
1576 // now stop the watcher
1577 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1578 }
1579
1580 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1581 }
1582
1583</pre>
1584<p>Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run <code>adns_afterpoll</code>
1585in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.</p>
1586<p>Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1587notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1588callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.</p>
1589<pre> static void
1590 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1591 {
1592 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w-&gt;data;
1593 update_now (EV_A);
1594
1595 adns_processtimeouts (ads, &amp;tv_now);
1596 }
1597
1598 static void
1599 io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1600 {
1601 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w-&gt;data;
1602 update_now (EV_A);
1603
1604 if (revents &amp; EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w-&gt;fd, &amp;tv_now);
1605 if (revents &amp; EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w-&gt;fd, &amp;tv_now);
1606 }
1607
1608 // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1609
1610</pre>
1611<p>Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1612want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1613their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1614loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The <code>Glib::EV</code> module does
1615this.</p>
1616<pre> static gint
1617 event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1618 {
1619 int got_events = 0;
1620
1621 for (n = 0; n &lt; nfds; ++n)
1622 // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1623
1624 if (timeout &gt;= 0)
1625 // create/start timer
1626
1627 // poll
1628 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1629
1630 // stop timer again
1631 if (timeout &gt;= 0)
1632 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &amp;to);
1633
1634 // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1635 for (n = 0; n &lt; nfds; ++n)
1636 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1637
1638 return got_events;
1639 }
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644</pre>
1645
1067</div> 1646</div>
1068<h2 id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough</h2> 1647<h2 id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough...</h2>
1069<div id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_-2"> 1648<div id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_-2">
1070<p>This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop 1649<p>This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1071into another.</p> 1650into another (currently only <code>ev_io</code> events are supported in the embedded
1651loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1652fashion and must not be used).</p>
1072<p>There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and 1653<p>There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1073prioritise I/O.</p> 1654prioritise I/O.</p>
1074<p>As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support 1655<p>As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support
1075sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you 1656sockets on some platform, so it is unusable as generic backend, but you
1076still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales 1657still want to make use of it because you have many sockets and it scales
1081<p>As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have 1662<p>As for prioritising I/O: rarely you have the case where some fds have
1082to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even 1663to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1083priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case 1664priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case
1084you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in 1665you would put all the high priority stuff in one loop and all the rest in
1085a second one, and embed the second one in the first.</p> 1666a second one, and embed the second one in the first.</p>
1667<p>As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1668there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1669call <code>ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)</code> to make a single sweep and invoke
1670their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1671loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1672to <code>0</code>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1673embedded loop sweep.</p>
1086<p>As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The 1674<p>As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The
1087callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can 1675callback will be invoked whenever some events have been handled. You can
1088set the callback to <code>0</code> to avoid having to specify one if you are not 1676set the callback to <code>0</code> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1089interested in that.</p> 1677interested in that.</p>
1090<p>Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking: 1678<p>Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1117 else 1705 else
1118 loop_lo = loop_hi; 1706 loop_lo = loop_hi;
1119 1707
1120</pre> 1708</pre>
1121<dl> 1709<dl>
1122 <dt>ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *loop)</dt> 1710 <dt>ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)</dt>
1123 <dt>ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *loop)</dt> 1711 <dt>ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)</dt>
1712 <dd>
1713 <p>Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1714embeddable. If the callback is <code>0</code>, then <code>ev_embed_sweep</code> will be
1715invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1716to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1717if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).</p>
1124 <dd> 1718 </dd>
1125 <p>Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be embeddable.</p> 1719 <dt>ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)</dt>
1720 <dd>
1721 <p>Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1722similarly to <code>ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)</code>, but in the most
1723apropriate way for embedded loops.</p>
1724 </dd>
1725 <dt>struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]</dt>
1726 <dd>
1727 <p>The embedded event loop.</p>
1126 </dd> 1728 </dd>
1127</dl> 1729</dl>
1128 1730
1129 1731
1130 1732
1131 1733
1132 1734
1133</div> 1735</div>
1134<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1736<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>
1737<div id="code_ev_fork_code_the_audacity_to_re-2">
1738<p>Fork watchers are called when a <code>fork ()</code> was detected (usually because
1739whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
1740<code>ev_default_fork</code> or <code>ev_loop_fork</code>). The invocation is done before the
1741event loop blocks next and before <code>ev_check</code> watchers are being called,
1742and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1743<code>ev_default_fork</code> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1744handlers will be invoked, too, of course.</p>
1745<dl>
1746 <dt>ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)</dt>
1747 <dd>
1748 <p>Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1749kind. There is a <code>ev_fork_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1750believe me.</p>
1751 </dd>
1752</dl>
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758</div>
1759<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1>
1135<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 1760<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
1136<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p> 1761<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p>
1137<dl> 1762<dl>
1138 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt> 1763 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt>
1139 <dd> 1764 <dd>
1163 1788
1164 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0); 1789 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
1165 1790
1166</pre> 1791</pre>
1167 </dd> 1792 </dd>
1168 <dt>ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events)</dt> 1793 <dt>ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)</dt>
1169 <dd> 1794 <dd>
1170 <p>Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 1795 <p>Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event
1171had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an 1796had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
1172initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p> 1797initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p>
1173 </dd> 1798 </dd>
1174 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)</dt> 1799 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)</dt>
1175 <dd> 1800 <dd>
1176 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected 1801 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1177the given events it.</p> 1802the given events it.</p>
1178 </dd> 1803 </dd>
1179 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)</dt> 1804 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)</dt>
1180 <dd> 1805 <dd>
1181 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!).</p> 1806 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (<code>loop</code> must be the default
1807loop!).</p>
1182 </dd> 1808 </dd>
1183</dl> 1809</dl>
1184 1810
1185 1811
1186 1812
1187 1813
1188 1814
1189</div> 1815</div>
1190<h1 id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1816<h1 id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</h1>
1191<div id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION_CONTENT"> 1817<div id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION_CONTENT">
1192<p>Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot 1818<p>Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
1193emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:</p> 1819emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:</p>
1194<dl> 1820<dl>
1195 <dt>* Use it by including &lt;event.h&gt;, as usual.</dt> 1821 <dt>* Use it by including &lt;event.h&gt;, as usual.</dt>
1205 <dt>* The libev emulation is <i>not</i> ABI compatible to libevent, you need 1831 <dt>* The libev emulation is <i>not</i> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1206to use the libev header file and library.</dt> 1832to use the libev header file and library.</dt>
1207</dl> 1833</dl>
1208 1834
1209</div> 1835</div>
1210<h1 id="C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1836<h1 id="C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</h1>
1211<div id="C_SUPPORT_CONTENT"> 1837<div id="C_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
1212<p>TBD.</p> 1838<p>Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1839you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1840the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.</p>
1841<p>To use it,</p>
1842<pre> #include &lt;ev++.h&gt;
1213 1843
1844</pre>
1845<p>This automatically includes <cite>ev.h</cite> and puts all of its definitions (many
1846of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
1847put into the <code>ev</code> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
1848options as <cite>ev.h</cite>, most notably <code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>.</p>
1849<p>Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
1850classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
1851that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
1852you disable <code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code> when embedding libev).</p>
1853<p>Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
1854used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
1855need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
1856types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
1857it).</p>
1858<p>Here is a list of things available in the <code>ev</code> namespace:</p>
1859<dl>
1860 <dt><code>ev::READ</code>, <code>ev::WRITE</code> etc.</dt>
1861 <dd>
1862 <p>These are just enum values with the same values as the <code>EV_READ</code> etc.
1863macros from <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
1864 </dd>
1865 <dt><code>ev::tstamp</code>, <code>ev::now</code></dt>
1866 <dd>
1867 <p>Aliases to the same types/functions as with the <code>ev_</code> prefix.</p>
1868 </dd>
1869 <dt><code>ev::io</code>, <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code>, <code>ev::idle</code>, <code>ev::sig</code> etc.</dt>
1870 <dd>
1871 <p>For each <code>ev_TYPE</code> watcher in <cite>ev.h</cite> there is a corresponding class of
1872the same name in the <code>ev</code> namespace, with the exception of <code>ev_signal</code>
1873which is called <code>ev::sig</code> to avoid clashes with the <code>signal</code> macro
1874defines by many implementations.</p>
1875 <p>All of those classes have these methods:</p>
1876 <p>
1877 <dl>
1878 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE ()</dt>
1879 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1880 <dt>ev::TYPE::~TYPE</dt>
1881 <dd>
1882 <p>The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
1883with. If it is omitted, it will use <code>EV_DEFAULT</code>.</p>
1884 <p>The constructor calls <code>ev_init</code> for you, which means you have to call the
1885<code>set</code> method before starting it.</p>
1886 <p>It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated <code>set</code>
1887method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.</p>
1888 <p>(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
1889not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).</p>
1890 <p>The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.</p>
1891 </dd>
1892 <dt>w-&gt;set&lt;class, &amp;class::method&gt; (object *)</dt>
1893 <dd>
1894 <p>This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
1895signature of <code>void (*)(ev_TYPE &amp;, int)</code>, it receives the watcher as
1896first argument and the <code>revents</code> as second. The object must be given as
1897parameter and is stored in the <code>data</code> member of the watcher.</p>
1898 <p>This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
1899the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
1900callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the <code>set</code> call and
1901your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
1902thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.</p>
1903 <p>Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation</p>
1904<pre> struct myclass
1905 {
1906 void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents) { }
1907 }
1908
1909 myclass obj;
1910 ev::io iow;
1911 iow.set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::io_cb&gt; (&amp;obj);
1912
1913</pre>
1914 </dd>
1915 <dt>w-&gt;set&lt;function&gt; (void *data = 0)</dt>
1916 <dd>
1917 <p>Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
1918callback. The optional <code>data</code> argument will be stored in the watcher's
1919<code>data</code> member and is free for you to use.</p>
1920 <p>The prototype of the <code>function</code> must be <code>void (*)(ev::TYPE &amp;w, int)</code>.</p>
1921 <p>See the method-<code>set</code> above for more details.</p>
1922 <p>Example:</p>
1923<pre> static void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents) { }
1924 iow.set &lt;io_cb&gt; ();
1925
1926</pre>
1927 </dd>
1928 <dt>w-&gt;set (struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1929 <dd>
1930 <p>Associates a different <code>struct ev_loop</code> with this watcher. You can only
1931do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).</p>
1932 </dd>
1933 <dt>w-&gt;set ([args])</dt>
1934 <dd>
1935 <p>Basically the same as <code>ev_TYPE_set</code>, with the same args. Must be
1936called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1937automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
1938method.</p>
1939 </dd>
1940 <dt>w-&gt;start ()</dt>
1941 <dd>
1942 <p>Starts the watcher. Note that there is no <code>loop</code> argument, as the
1943constructor already stores the event loop.</p>
1944 </dd>
1945 <dt>w-&gt;stop ()</dt>
1946 <dd>
1947 <p>Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no <code>loop</code> argument.</p>
1948 </dd>
1949 <dt>w-&gt;again () <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code> only</dt>
1950 <dd>
1951 <p>For <code>ev::timer</code> and <code>ev::periodic</code>, this invokes the corresponding
1952<code>ev_TYPE_again</code> function.</p>
1953 </dd>
1954 <dt>w-&gt;sweep () <code>ev::embed</code> only</dt>
1955 <dd>
1956 <p>Invokes <code>ev_embed_sweep</code>.</p>
1957 </dd>
1958 <dt>w-&gt;update () <code>ev::stat</code> only</dt>
1959 <dd>
1960 <p>Invokes <code>ev_stat_stat</code>.</p>
1961 </dd>
1962 </dl>
1963 </p>
1964 </dd>
1965</dl>
1966<p>Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1967the constructor.</p>
1968<pre> class myclass
1969 {
1970 ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents);
1971 ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &amp;w, int revents);
1972
1973 myclass ();
1974 }
1975
1976 myclass::myclass (int fd)
1977 {
1978 io .set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::io_cb &gt; (this);
1979 idle.set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::idle_cb&gt; (this);
1980
1981 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
1982 }
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987</pre>
1988
1214</div> 1989</div>
1215<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1990<h1 id="MACRO_MAGIC">MACRO MAGIC</h1>
1991<div id="MACRO_MAGIC_CONTENT">
1992<p>Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is
1993<code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>. This option determines whether (most) functions and
1994callbacks have an initial <code>struct ev_loop *</code> argument.</p>
1995<p>To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
1996following macros are defined:</p>
1997<dl>
1998 <dt><code>EV_A</code>, <code>EV_A_</code></dt>
1999 <dd>
2000 <p>This provides the loop <i>argument</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
2001loop argument&quot;). The <code>EV_A</code> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2002<code>EV_A_</code> is used when other arguments are following. Example:</p>
2003<pre> ev_unref (EV_A);
2004 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2005 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2006
2007</pre>
2008 <p>It assumes the variable <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code> is in scope,
2009which is often provided by the following macro.</p>
2010 </dd>
2011 <dt><code>EV_P</code>, <code>EV_P_</code></dt>
2012 <dd>
2013 <p>This provides the loop <i>parameter</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
2014loop parameter&quot;). The <code>EV_P</code> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2015<code>EV_P_</code> is used when other parameters are following. Example:</p>
2016<pre> // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2017 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2018
2019 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2020 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2021
2022</pre>
2023 <p>It declares a parameter <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>, quite
2024suitable for use with <code>EV_A</code>.</p>
2025 </dd>
2026 <dt><code>EV_DEFAULT</code>, <code>EV_DEFAULT_</code></dt>
2027 <dd>
2028 <p>Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2029loop, if multiple loops are supported (&quot;ev loop default&quot;).</p>
2030 </dd>
2031</dl>
2032<p>Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2033macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2034or not.</p>
2035<pre> static void
2036 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2037 {
2038 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2039 }
2040
2041 ev_check check;
2042 ev_check_init (&amp;check, check_cb);
2043 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &amp;check);
2044 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2045
2046</pre>
2047
2048</div>
2049<h1 id="EMBEDDING">EMBEDDING</h1>
2050<div id="EMBEDDING_CONTENT">
2051<p>Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2052applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2053Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2054and rxvt-unicode.</p>
2055<p>The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your
2056source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2057you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2058libev somewhere in your source tree).</p>
2059
2060</div>
2061<h2 id="FILESETS">FILESETS</h2>
2062<div id="FILESETS_CONTENT">
2063<p>Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2064in your app.</p>
2065
2066</div>
2067<h3 id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP">CORE EVENT LOOP</h3>
2068<div id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP_CONTENT">
2069<p>To include only the libev core (all the <code>ev_*</code> functions), with manual
2070configuration (no autoconf):</p>
2071<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2072 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
2073
2074</pre>
2075<p>This will automatically include <cite>ev.h</cite>, too, and should be done in a
2076single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2077it, do the same for <cite>ev.h</cite> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2078done by writing a wrapper around <cite>ev.h</cite> that you can include instead and
2079where you can put other configuration options):</p>
2080<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2081 #include &quot;ev.h&quot;
2082
2083</pre>
2084<p>Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2085compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2086as a bug).</p>
2087<p>You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2088in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):</p>
2089<pre> ev.h
2090 ev.c
2091 ev_vars.h
2092 ev_wrap.h
2093
2094 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2095
2096 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2097 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2098 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2099 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2100 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2101
2102</pre>
2103<p><cite>ev.c</cite> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2104to compile this single file.</p>
2105
2106</div>
2107<h3 id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API">LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API</h3>
2108<div id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API_CONTENT">
2109<p>To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:</p>
2110<pre> #include &quot;event.c&quot;
2111
2112</pre>
2113<p>in the file including <cite>ev.c</cite>, and:</p>
2114<pre> #include &quot;event.h&quot;
2115
2116</pre>
2117<p>in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
2118<p>You need the following additional files for this:</p>
2119<pre> event.h
2120 event.c
2121
2122</pre>
2123
2124</div>
2125<h3 id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT">AUTOCONF SUPPORT</h3>
2126<div id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
2127<p>Instead of using <code>EV_STANDALONE=1</code> and providing your config in
2128whatever way you want, you can also <code>m4_include([libev.m4])</code> in your
2129<cite>configure.ac</cite> and leave <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> undefined. <cite>ev.c</cite> will then
2130include <cite>config.h</cite> and configure itself accordingly.</p>
2131<p>For this of course you need the m4 file:</p>
2132<pre> libev.m4
2133
2134</pre>
2135
2136</div>
2137<h2 id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS">PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS</h2>
2138<div id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS_CONTENT">
2139<p>Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2140before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2141and only include the select backend.</p>
2142<dl>
2143 <dt>EV_STANDALONE</dt>
2144 <dd>
2145 <p>Must always be <code>1</code> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2146keeps libev from including <cite>config.h</cite>, and it also defines dummy
2147implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2148supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2149<cite>event.h</cite> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.</p>
2150 </dd>
2151 <dt>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</dt>
2152 <dd>
2153 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2154monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2155of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2156usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2157the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have
2158to make sure you link against any libraries where the <code>clock_gettime</code>
2159function is hiding in (often <cite>-lrt</cite>).</p>
2160 </dd>
2161 <dt>EV_USE_REALTIME</dt>
2162 <dd>
2163 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2164realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2165runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2166be attempted. This effectively replaces <code>gettimeofday</code> by <code>clock_get
2167(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)</code> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries
2168in the description of <code>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</code>, though.</p>
2169 </dd>
2170 <dt>EV_USE_SELECT</dt>
2171 <dd>
2172 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the
2173<code>select</code>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2174other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2175will not be compiled in.</p>
2176 </dd>
2177 <dt>EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET</dt>
2178 <dd>
2179 <p>If defined to <code>1</code>, then the select backend will use the system <code>fd_set</code>
2180structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2181<code>NFDBITS</code> or <code>fd_mask</code> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2182exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2183low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2184allows 64 sockets). The <code>FD_SETSIZE</code> macro, set before compilation, might
2185influence the size of the <code>fd_set</code> used.</p>
2186 </dd>
2187 <dt>EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET</dt>
2188 <dd>
2189 <p>When defined to <code>1</code>, the select backend will assume that
2190select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2191wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2192be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2193<code>_get_osfhandle</code> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2194it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2195on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.</p>
2196 </dd>
2197 <dt>EV_USE_POLL</dt>
2198 <dd>
2199 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the <code>poll</code>(2)
2200backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2201takes precedence over select.</p>
2202 </dd>
2203 <dt>EV_USE_EPOLL</dt>
2204 <dd>
2205 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2206<code>epoll</code>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2207otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2208preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.</p>
2209 </dd>
2210 <dt>EV_USE_KQUEUE</dt>
2211 <dd>
2212 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2213<code>kqueue</code>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2214otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2215backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2216supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2217supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2218not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2219out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2220kqueue loop.</p>
2221 </dd>
2222 <dt>EV_USE_PORT</dt>
2223 <dd>
2224 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
222510 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2226otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2227backend for Solaris 10 systems.</p>
2228 </dd>
2229 <dt>EV_USE_DEVPOLL</dt>
2230 <dd>
2231 <p>reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.</p>
2232 </dd>
2233 <dt>EV_USE_INOTIFY</dt>
2234 <dd>
2235 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2236interface to speed up <code>ev_stat</code> watchers. Its actual availability will
2237be detected at runtime.</p>
2238 </dd>
2239 <dt>EV_H</dt>
2240 <dd>
2241 <p>The name of the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file used to include it. The default if
2242undefined 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
2243can be used to virtually rename the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file in case of conflicts.</p>
2244 </dd>
2245 <dt>EV_CONFIG_H</dt>
2246 <dd>
2247 <p>If <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> isn't <code>1</code>, this variable can be used to override
2248<cite>ev.c</cite>'s idea of where to find the <cite>config.h</cite> file, similarly to
2249<code>EV_H</code>, above.</p>
2250 </dd>
2251 <dt>EV_EVENT_H</dt>
2252 <dd>
2253 <p>Similarly to <code>EV_H</code>, this macro can be used to override <cite>event.c</cite>'s idea
2254of how the <cite>event.h</cite> header can be found.</p>
2255 </dd>
2256 <dt>EV_PROTOTYPES</dt>
2257 <dd>
2258 <p>If defined to be <code>0</code>, then <cite>ev.h</cite> will not define any function
2259prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2260occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2261around libev functions.</p>
2262 </dd>
2263 <dt>EV_MULTIPLICITY</dt>
2264 <dd>
2265 <p>If undefined or defined to <code>1</code>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2266will have the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument, and you can create
2267additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2268for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2269argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.</p>
2270 </dd>
2271 <dt>EV_MINPRI</dt>
2272 <dt>EV_MAXPRI</dt>
2273 <dd>
2274 <p>The range of allowed priorities. <code>EV_MINPRI</code> must be smaller or equal to
2275<code>EV_MAXPRI</code>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2276provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2277to be <code>-2</code> and <code>2</code>, respectively).</p>
2278 <p>When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2279all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2280and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2281fine.</p>
2282 <p>If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2283<code>0</code> will save some memory and cpu.</p>
2284 </dd>
2285 <dt>EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE</dt>
2286 <dd>
2287 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2288defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2289code.</p>
2290 </dd>
2291 <dt>EV_IDLE_ENABLE</dt>
2292 <dd>
2293 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2294defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2295code.</p>
2296 </dd>
2297 <dt>EV_EMBED_ENABLE</dt>
2298 <dd>
2299 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2300defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2301 </dd>
2302 <dt>EV_STAT_ENABLE</dt>
2303 <dd>
2304 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2305defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2306 </dd>
2307 <dt>EV_FORK_ENABLE</dt>
2308 <dd>
2309 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2310defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2311 </dd>
2312 <dt>EV_MINIMAL</dt>
2313 <dd>
2314 <p>If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2315speed, define this symbol to <code>1</code>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2316some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.</p>
2317 </dd>
2318 <dt>EV_PID_HASHSIZE</dt>
2319 <dd>
2320 <p><code>ev_child</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2321pid. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>), usually more
2322than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2323increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of two).</p>
2324 </dd>
2325 <dt>EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE</dt>
2326 <dd>
2327 <p><code>ev_staz</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2328inotify watch id. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>),
2329usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of <code>ev_stat</code>
2330watchers you might want to increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of
2331two).</p>
2332 </dd>
2333 <dt>EV_COMMON</dt>
2334 <dd>
2335 <p>By default, all watchers have a <code>void *data</code> member. By redefining
2336this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2337members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2338though, and it must be identical each time.</p>
2339 <p>For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:</p>
2340<pre> #define EV_COMMON \
2341 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2342 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing &quot;;&quot; */
2343
2344</pre>
2345 </dd>
2346 <dt>EV_CB_DECLARE (type)</dt>
2347 <dt>EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)</dt>
2348 <dt>ev_set_cb (ev, cb)</dt>
2349 <dd>
2350 <p>Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2351and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2352definition and a statement, respectively. See the <cite>ev.v</cite> header file for
2353their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2354avoid the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2355method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.</p>
2356
2357</div>
2358<h2 id="EXAMPLES">EXAMPLES</h2>
2359<div id="EXAMPLES_CONTENT">
2360 <p>For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2361verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2362(<a href="http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html">http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html</a>). It has the libev files in
2363the <cite>libev/</cite> subdirectory and includes them in the <cite>EV/EVAPI.h</cite> (public
2364interface) and <cite>EV.xs</cite> (implementation) files. Only the <cite>EV.xs</cite> file
2365will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2366file.</p>
2367 <p>The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a <cite>ev_cpp.h</cite> header file
2368that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:</p>
2369<pre> #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2370 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2371 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2372 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2373 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2374 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2375 #define EV_CONFIG_H &lt;config.h&gt;
2376 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2377 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2378
2379 #include &quot;ev++.h&quot;
2380
2381</pre>
2382 <p>And a <cite>ev_cpp.C</cite> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:</p>
2383<pre> #include &quot;ev_cpp.h&quot;
2384 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389</pre>
2390
2391</div>
2392<h1 id="COMPLEXITIES">COMPLEXITIES</h1>
2393<div id="COMPLEXITIES_CONTENT">
2394 <p>In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2395libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2396documentation for <code>ev_default_init</code>.</p>
2397 <p>All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2398extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2399happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2400mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2401it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.</p>
2402 <p>
2403 <dl>
2404 <dt>Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2405 <dd>
2406 <p>This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2407there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2408have to skip those 100 watchers.</p>
2409 </dd>
2410 <dt>Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2411 <dd>
2412 <p>That means that for changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2413as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.</p>
2414 </dd>
2415 <dt>Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)</dt>
2416 <dd>
2417 <p>These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2418=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)</p>
2419 </dd>
2420 <dt>Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))</dt>
2421 <dd>
2422 <p>These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2423correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2424have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).</p>
2425 </dd>
2426 <dt>Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)</dt>
2427 <dt>Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)</dt>
2428 <dd>
2429 <p>A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2430libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel).</p>
2431 </dd>
2432 <dt>Activating one watcher: O(1)</dt>
2433 <dt>Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)</dt>
2434 <dd>
2435 <p>Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2436priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2437linearly search all the priorities.</p>
2438 </dd>
2439 </dl>
2440 </p>
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446</div>
2447<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1>
1216<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT"> 2448<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT">
1217<p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p> 2449 <p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p>
1218 2450
1219</div> 2451</div>
1220</div></body> 2452</div></body>
1221</html> 2453</html>

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