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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="Wed Dec 12 05:53:55 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>
33<ul><li><a href="#The_special_problem_of_disappearing_">The special problem of disappearing file descriptors</a></li>
34</ul>
35</li>
31<li><a href="#code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally recurring timeouts</a></li> 36<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> 37<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> 38<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> 39<li><a href="#code_ev_child_code_watch_out_for_pro"><code>ev_child</code> - watch out for process status changes</a></li>
40<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> 41<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> 42<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> 43<li><a href="#code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough...</a></li>
44<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> 45</ul>
39</li> 46</li>
40<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li> 47<li><a href="#OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</a></li>
41<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</a></li> 48<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</a></li>
42<li><a href="#C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</a></li> 49<li><a href="#C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</a></li>
50<li><a href="#MACRO_MAGIC">MACRO MAGIC</a></li>
51<li><a href="#EMBEDDING">EMBEDDING</a>
52<ul><li><a href="#FILESETS">FILESETS</a>
53<ul><li><a href="#CORE_EVENT_LOOP">CORE EVENT LOOP</a></li>
54<li><a href="#LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API">LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API</a></li>
55<li><a href="#AUTOCONF_SUPPORT">AUTOCONF SUPPORT</a></li>
56</ul>
57</li>
58<li><a href="#PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS">PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS</a></li>
59<li><a href="#EXAMPLES">EXAMPLES</a></li>
60</ul>
61</li>
62<li><a href="#COMPLEXITIES">COMPLEXITIES</a></li>
43<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a> 63<li><a href="#AUTHOR">AUTHOR</a>
44</li> 64</li>
45</ul><hr /> 65</ul><hr />
46<!-- INDEX END --> 66<!-- INDEX END -->
47 67
48<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 68<h1 id="NAME">NAME</h1>
49<div id="NAME_CONTENT"> 69<div id="NAME_CONTENT">
50<p>libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C</p> 70<p>libev - a high performance full-featured event loop written in C</p>
51 71
52</div> 72</div>
53<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 73<h1 id="SYNOPSIS">SYNOPSIS</h1>
54<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT"> 74<div id="SYNOPSIS_CONTENT">
55<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt; 75<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt;
56 76
57</pre> 77</pre>
58 78
59</div> 79</div>
60<h1 id="DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 80<h1 id="EXAMPLE_PROGRAM">EXAMPLE PROGRAM</h1>
81<div id="EXAMPLE_PROGRAM_CONTENT">
82<pre> #include &lt;ev.h&gt;
83
84 ev_io stdin_watcher;
85 ev_timer timeout_watcher;
86
87 /* called when data readable on stdin */
88 static void
89 stdin_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_io *w, int revents)
90 {
91 /* puts (&quot;stdin ready&quot;); */
92 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ w); /* just a syntax example */
93 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ALL); /* leave all loop calls */
94 }
95
96 static void
97 timeout_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
98 {
99 /* puts (&quot;timeout&quot;); */
100 ev_unloop (EV_A_ EVUNLOOP_ONE); /* leave one loop call */
101 }
102
103 int
104 main (void)
105 {
106 struct ev_loop *loop = ev_default_loop (0);
107
108 /* initialise an io watcher, then start it */
109 ev_io_init (&amp;stdin_watcher, stdin_cb, /*STDIN_FILENO*/ 0, EV_READ);
110 ev_io_start (loop, &amp;stdin_watcher);
111
112 /* simple non-repeating 5.5 second timeout */
113 ev_timer_init (&amp;timeout_watcher, timeout_cb, 5.5, 0.);
114 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;timeout_watcher);
115
116 /* loop till timeout or data ready */
117 ev_loop (loop, 0);
118
119 return 0;
120 }
121
122</pre>
123
124</div>
125<h1 id="DESCRIPTION">DESCRIPTION</h1>
61<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT"> 126<div id="DESCRIPTION_CONTENT">
127<p>The newest version of this document is also available as a html-formatted
128web page you might find easier to navigate when reading it for the first
129time: <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 130<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 131file descriptor being readable or a timeout occuring), and it will manage
64these event sources and provide your program with events.</p> 132these 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 133<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 134(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 137watchers</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 138details of the event, and then hand it over to libev by <i>starting</i> the
71watcher.</p> 139watcher.</p>
72 140
73</div> 141</div>
74<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 142<h1 id="FEATURES">FEATURES</h1>
75<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT"> 143<div id="FEATURES_CONTENT">
76<p>Libev supports select, poll, the linux-specific epoll and the bsd-specific 144<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 145BSD-specific <code>kqueue</code> and the Solaris-specific event port mechanisms
78timers with customised rescheduling, signal events, process status change 146for file descriptor events (<code>ev_io</code>), the Linux <code>inotify</code> interface
79events (related to SIGCHLD), and event watchers dealing with the event 147(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 148with customised rescheduling (<code>ev_periodic</code>), synchronous signals
149(<code>ev_signal</code>), process status change events (<code>ev_child</code>), and event
150watchers dealing with the event loop mechanism itself (<code>ev_idle</code>,
151<code>ev_embed</code>, <code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> watchers) as well as
152file watchers (<code>ev_stat</code>) and even limited support for fork events
153(<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
154<p>It also is quite fast (see this
81fast (see this <a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing 155<a href="http://libev.schmorp.de/bench.html">benchmark</a> comparing it to libevent
82it to libevent for example).</p> 156for example).</p>
83 157
84</div> 158</div>
85<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 159<h1 id="CONVENTIONS">CONVENTIONS</h1>
86<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT"> 160<div id="CONVENTIONS_CONTENT">
87<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration 161<p>Libev is very configurable. In this manual the default configuration will
88will be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info 162be described, which supports multiple event loops. For more info about
89about various configuration options please have a look at the file 163various 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 164this manual. If libev was configured without support for multiple event
91support for multiple event loops, then all functions taking an initial 165loops, 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>) 166(which is always of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>) will not have this argument.</p>
93will not have this argument.</p>
94 167
95</div> 168</div>
96<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 169<h1 id="TIME_REPRESENTATION">TIME REPRESENTATION</h1>
97<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT"> 170<div id="TIME_REPRESENTATION_CONTENT">
98<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the 171<p>Libev represents time as a single floating point number, representing the
99(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near 172(fractional) number of seconds since the (POSIX) epoch (somewhere near
100the beginning of 1970, details are complicated, don't ask). This type is 173the 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 174called <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 175to the <code>double</code> type in C, and when you need to do any calculations on
103it, you should treat it as such.</p> 176it, you should treat it as such.</p>
104 177
105
106
107
108
109</div> 178</div>
110<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 179<h1 id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS">GLOBAL FUNCTIONS</h1>
111<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 180<div id="GLOBAL_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
112<p>These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the 181<p>These functions can be called anytime, even before initialising the
113library in any way.</p> 182library in any way.</p>
114<dl> 183<dl>
115 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt> 184 <dt>ev_tstamp ev_time ()</dt>
119you actually want to know.</p> 188you actually want to know.</p>
120 </dd> 189 </dd>
121 <dt>int ev_version_major ()</dt> 190 <dt>int ev_version_major ()</dt>
122 <dt>int ev_version_minor ()</dt> 191 <dt>int ev_version_minor ()</dt>
123 <dd> 192 <dd>
124 <p>You can find out the major and minor version numbers of the library 193 <p>You can find out the major and minor ABI version numbers of the library
125you linked against by calling the functions <code>ev_version_major</code> and 194you linked against by calling the functions <code>ev_version_major</code> and
126<code>ev_version_minor</code>. If you want, you can compare against the global 195<code>ev_version_minor</code>. If you want, you can compare against the global
127symbols <code>EV_VERSION_MAJOR</code> and <code>EV_VERSION_MINOR</code>, which specify the 196symbols <code>EV_VERSION_MAJOR</code> and <code>EV_VERSION_MINOR</code>, which specify the
128version of the library your program was compiled against.</p> 197version of the library your program was compiled against.</p>
198 <p>These version numbers refer to the ABI version of the library, not the
199release version.</p>
129 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch, 200 <p>Usually, it's a good idea to terminate if the major versions mismatch,
130as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually 201as this indicates an incompatible change. Minor versions are usually
131compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually 202compatible to older versions, so a larger minor version alone is usually
132not a problem.</p> 203not a problem.</p>
133 <p>Example: make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong 204 <p>Example: Make sure we haven't accidentally been linked against the wrong
134version:</p> 205version.</p>
135<pre> assert ((&quot;libev version mismatch&quot;, 206<pre> assert ((&quot;libev version mismatch&quot;,
136 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR 207 ev_version_major () == EV_VERSION_MAJOR
137 &amp;&amp; ev_version_minor () &gt;= EV_VERSION_MINOR)); 208 &amp;&amp; ev_version_minor () &gt;= EV_VERSION_MINOR));
138 209
139</pre> 210</pre>
169recommended ones.</p> 240recommended ones.</p>
170 <p>See the description of <code>ev_embed</code> watchers for more info.</p> 241 <p>See the description of <code>ev_embed</code> watchers for more info.</p>
171 </dd> 242 </dd>
172 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))</dt> 243 <dt>ev_set_allocator (void *(*cb)(void *ptr, long size))</dt>
173 <dd> 244 <dd>
174 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar to the 245 <p>Sets the allocation function to use (the prototype is similar - the
175realloc C function, the semantics are identical). It is used to allocate 246semantics is identical - to the realloc C function). It is used to
176and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when memory 247allocate and free memory (no surprises here). If it returns zero when
177needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some potentially 248memory needs to be allocated, the library might abort or take some
178destructive action. The default is your system realloc function.</p> 249potentially destructive action. The default is your system realloc
250function.</p>
179 <p>You could override this function in high-availability programs to, say, 251 <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, 252free 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> 253or 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 254 <p>Example: Replace the libev allocator with one that waits a bit and then
183retries: better than mine).</p> 255retries).</p>
184<pre> static void * 256<pre> static void *
185 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, long size) 257 persistent_realloc (void *ptr, size_t size)
186 { 258 {
187 for (;;) 259 for (;;)
188 { 260 {
189 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size); 261 void *newptr = realloc (ptr, size);
190 262
207indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this 279indicating the system call or subsystem causing the problem. If this
208callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no 280callback is set, then libev will expect it to remedy the sitution, no
209matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the 281matter what, when it returns. That is, libev will generally retry the
210requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff 282requested operation, or, if the condition doesn't go away, do bad stuff
211(such as abort).</p> 283(such as abort).</p>
212 <p>Example: do the same thing as libev does internally:</p> 284 <p>Example: This is basically the same thing that libev does internally, too.</p>
213<pre> static void 285<pre> static void
214 fatal_error (const char *msg) 286 fatal_error (const char *msg)
215 { 287 {
216 perror (msg); 288 perror (msg);
217 abort (); 289 abort ();
223</pre> 295</pre>
224 </dd> 296 </dd>
225</dl> 297</dl>
226 298
227</div> 299</div>
228<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 300<h1 id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP">FUNCTIONS CONTROLLING THE EVENT LOOP</h1>
229<div id="FUNCTIONS_CONTROLLING_THE_EVENT_LOOP-2"> 301<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 302<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 303types of such loops, the <i>default</i> loop, which supports signals and child
232events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p> 304events, and dynamically created loops which do not.</p>
233<p>If you use threads, a common model is to run the default event loop 305<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 334<code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>. Otherwise (the default), this environment variable will
263override the flags completely if it is found in the environment. This is 335override 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 336useful to try out specific backends to test their performance, or to work
265around bugs.</p> 337around bugs.</p>
266 </dd> 338 </dd>
339 <dt><code>EVFLAG_FORKCHECK</code></dt>
340 <dd>
341 <p>Instead of calling <code>ev_default_fork</code> or <code>ev_loop_fork</code> manually after
342a fork, you can also make libev check for a fork in each iteration by
343enabling this flag.</p>
344 <p>This works by calling <code>getpid ()</code> on every iteration of the loop,
345and thus this might slow down your event loop if you do a lot of loop
346iterations and little real work, but is usually not noticeable (on my
347Linux system for example, <code>getpid</code> is actually a simple 5-insn sequence
348without a syscall and thus <i>very</i> fast, but my Linux system also has
349<code>pthread_atfork</code> which is even faster).</p>
350 <p>The big advantage of this flag is that you can forget about fork (and
351forget about forgetting to tell libev about forking) when you use this
352flag.</p>
353 <p>This flag setting cannot be overriden or specified in the <code>LIBEV_FLAGS</code>
354environment variable.</p>
355 </dd>
267 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> (value 1, portable select backend)</dt> 356 <dt><code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> (value 1, portable select backend)</dt>
268 <dd> 357 <dd>
269 <p>This is your standard select(2) backend. Not <i>completely</i> standard, as 358 <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, 359libev 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 360but if that fails, expect a fairly low limit on the number of fds when
353 <dd> 442 <dd>
354 <p>Similar to <code>ev_default_loop</code>, but always creates a new event loop that is 443 <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 444always 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 445handle signal and child watchers, and attempts to do so will be greeted by
357undefined behaviour (or a failed assertion if assertions are enabled).</p> 446undefined 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> 447 <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); 448<pre> struct ev_loop *epoller = ev_loop_new (EVBACKEND_EPOLL | EVFLAG_NOENV);
360 if (!epoller) 449 if (!epoller)
361 fatal (&quot;no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair&quot;); 450 fatal (&quot;no epoll found here, maybe it hides under your chair&quot;);
362 451
363</pre> 452</pre>
364 </dd> 453 </dd>
365 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt> 454 <dt>ev_default_destroy ()</dt>
366 <dd> 455 <dd>
367 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state 456 <p>Destroys the default loop again (frees all memory and kernel state
368etc.). This stops all registered event watchers (by not touching them in 457etc.). None of the active event watchers will be stopped in the normal
369any way whatsoever, although you cannot rely on this :).</p> 458sense, so e.g. <code>ev_is_active</code> might still return true. It is your
459responsibility to either stop all watchers cleanly yoursef <i>before</i>
460calling this function, or cope with the fact afterwards (which is usually
461the easiest thing, youc na just ignore the watchers and/or <code>free ()</code> them
462for example).</p>
370 </dd> 463 </dd>
371 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt> 464 <dt>ev_loop_destroy (loop)</dt>
372 <dd> 465 <dd>
373 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an 466 <p>Like <code>ev_default_destroy</code>, but destroys an event loop created by an
374earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p> 467earlier call to <code>ev_loop_new</code>.</p>
395 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt> 488 <dt>ev_loop_fork (loop)</dt>
396 <dd> 489 <dd>
397 <p>Like <code>ev_default_fork</code>, but acts on an event loop created by 490 <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 491<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> 492after fork, and how you do this is entirely your own problem.</p>
493 </dd>
494 <dt>unsigned int ev_loop_count (loop)</dt>
495 <dd>
496 <p>Returns the count of loop iterations for the loop, which is identical to
497the number of times libev did poll for new events. It starts at <code>0</code> and
498happily wraps around with enough iterations.</p>
499 <p>This value can sometimes be useful as a generation counter of sorts (it
500&quot;ticks&quot; the number of loop iterations), as it roughly corresponds with
501<code>ev_prepare</code> and <code>ev_check</code> calls.</p>
400 </dd> 502 </dd>
401 <dt>unsigned int ev_backend (loop)</dt> 503 <dt>unsigned int ev_backend (loop)</dt>
402 <dd> 504 <dd>
403 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVBACKEND_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in 505 <p>Returns one of the <code>EVBACKEND_*</code> flags indicating the event backend in
404use.</p> 506use.</p>
432one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some 534one iteration of the loop. This is useful if you are waiting for some
433external event in conjunction with something not expressible using other 535external 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 536libev 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> 537usually a better approach for this kind of thing.</p>
436 <p>Here are the gory details of what <code>ev_loop</code> does:</p> 538 <p>Here are the gory details of what <code>ev_loop</code> does:</p>
539<pre> - Before the first iteration, call any pending watchers.
437<pre> * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return. 540 * If there are no active watchers (reference count is zero), return.
438 - Queue prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers. 541 - Queue all prepare watchers and then call all outstanding watchers.
439 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state. 542 - If we have been forked, recreate the kernel state.
440 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes. 543 - Update the kernel state with all outstanding changes.
441 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot;. 544 - Update the &quot;event loop time&quot;.
442 - Calculate for how long to block. 545 - Calculate for how long to block.
443 - Block the process, waiting for any events. 546 - Block the process, waiting for any events.
452 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed. 555 be handled here by queueing them when their watcher gets executed.
453 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK 556 - If ev_unloop has been called or EVLOOP_ONESHOT or EVLOOP_NONBLOCK
454 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *. 557 were used, return, otherwise continue with step *.
455 558
456</pre> 559</pre>
457 <p>Example: queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding 560 <p>Example: Queue some jobs and then loop until no events are outsanding
458anymore.</p> 561anymore.</p>
459<pre> ... queue jobs here, make sure they register event watchers as long 562<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..) 563 ... as they still have work to do (even an idle watcher will do..)
461 ev_loop (my_loop, 0); 564 ev_loop (my_loop, 0);
462 ... jobs done. yeah! 565 ... jobs done. yeah!
481example, libev itself uses this for its internal signal pipe: It is not 584example, 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 585visible 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 586no 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 587way 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> 588libraries. 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> 589 <p>Example: Create a signal watcher, but keep it from keeping <code>ev_loop</code>
487running when nothing else is active.</p> 590running when nothing else is active.</p>
488<pre> struct dv_signal exitsig; 591<pre> struct ev_signal exitsig;
489 ev_signal_init (&amp;exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT); 592 ev_signal_init (&amp;exitsig, sig_cb, SIGINT);
490 ev_signal_start (myloop, &amp;exitsig); 593 ev_signal_start (loop, &amp;exitsig);
491 evf_unref (myloop); 594 evf_unref (loop);
492 595
493</pre> 596</pre>
494 <p>Example: for some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.</p> 597 <p>Example: For some weird reason, unregister the above signal handler again.</p>
495<pre> ev_ref (myloop); 598<pre> ev_ref (loop);
496 ev_signal_stop (myloop, &amp;exitsig); 599 ev_signal_stop (loop, &amp;exitsig);
497 600
498</pre> 601</pre>
499 </dd> 602 </dd>
500</dl> 603</dl>
501 604
605
606
607
608
502</div> 609</div>
503<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 610<h1 id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER">ANATOMY OF A WATCHER</h1>
504<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT"> 611<div id="ANATOMY_OF_A_WATCHER_CONTENT">
505<p>A watcher is a structure that you create and register to record your 612<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 613interest 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> 614become 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) 615<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 642with 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 643*)</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> 644corresponding 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 645<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 646must not touch the values stored in it. Most specifically you must never
540reinitialise it or call its set macro.</p> 647reinitialise 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 648<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 649registered watcher structure as second, and a bitset of received events as
547third argument.</p> 650third argument.</p>
548<p>The received events usually include a single bit per event type received 651<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 652(you can receive multiple events at the same time). The possible bit masks
569 </dd> 672 </dd>
570 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt> 673 <dt><code>EV_CHILD</code></dt>
571 <dd> 674 <dd>
572 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p> 675 <p>The pid specified in the <code>ev_child</code> watcher has received a status change.</p>
573 </dd> 676 </dd>
677 <dt><code>EV_STAT</code></dt>
678 <dd>
679 <p>The path specified in the <code>ev_stat</code> watcher changed its attributes somehow.</p>
680 </dd>
574 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt> 681 <dt><code>EV_IDLE</code></dt>
575 <dd> 682 <dd>
576 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p> 683 <p>The <code>ev_idle</code> watcher has determined that you have nothing better to do.</p>
577 </dd> 684 </dd>
578 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt> 685 <dt><code>EV_PREPARE</code></dt>
583<code>ev_loop</code> has gathered them, but before it invokes any callbacks for any 690<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 691received 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 692many 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 693(for example, a <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher might start an idle watcher to keep
587<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p> 694<code>ev_loop</code> from blocking).</p>
695 </dd>
696 <dt><code>EV_EMBED</code></dt>
697 <dd>
698 <p>The embedded event loop specified in the <code>ev_embed</code> watcher needs attention.</p>
699 </dd>
700 <dt><code>EV_FORK</code></dt>
701 <dd>
702 <p>The event loop has been resumed in the child process after fork (see
703<code>ev_fork</code>).</p>
588 </dd> 704 </dd>
589 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt> 705 <dt><code>EV_ERROR</code></dt>
590 <dd> 706 <dd>
591 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might 707 <p>An unspecified error has occured, the watcher has been stopped. This might
592happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev 708happen because the watcher could not be properly started because libev
600programs, though, so beware.</p> 716programs, though, so beware.</p>
601 </dd> 717 </dd>
602</dl> 718</dl>
603 719
604</div> 720</div>
721<h2 id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS">GENERIC WATCHER FUNCTIONS</h2>
722<div id="GENERIC_WATCHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
723<p>In the following description, <code>TYPE</code> stands for the watcher type,
724e.g. <code>timer</code> for <code>ev_timer</code> watchers and <code>io</code> for <code>ev_io</code> watchers.</p>
725<dl>
726 <dt><code>ev_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
727 <dd>
728 <p>This macro initialises the generic portion of a watcher. The contents
729of the watcher object can be arbitrary (so <code>malloc</code> will do). Only
730the generic parts of the watcher are initialised, you <i>need</i> to call
731the type-specific <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro afterwards to initialise the
732type-specific parts. For each type there is also a <code>ev_TYPE_init</code> macro
733which rolls both calls into one.</p>
734 <p>You can reinitialise a watcher at any time as long as it has been stopped
735(or never started) and there are no pending events outstanding.</p>
736 <p>The callback is always of type <code>void (*)(ev_loop *loop, ev_TYPE *watcher,
737int revents)</code>.</p>
738 </dd>
739 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_set</code> (ev_TYPE *, [args])</dt>
740 <dd>
741 <p>This macro initialises the type-specific parts of a watcher. You need to
742call <code>ev_init</code> at least once before you call this macro, but you can
743call <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> any number of times. You must not, however, call this
744macro on a watcher that is active (it can be pending, however, which is a
745difference to the <code>ev_init</code> macro).</p>
746 <p>Although some watcher types do not have type-specific arguments
747(e.g. <code>ev_prepare</code>) you still need to call its <code>set</code> macro.</p>
748 </dd>
749 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_init</code> (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback, [args])</dt>
750 <dd>
751 <p>This convinience macro rolls both <code>ev_init</code> and <code>ev_TYPE_set</code> macro
752calls into a single call. This is the most convinient method to initialise
753a watcher. The same limitations apply, of course.</p>
754 </dd>
755 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_start</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
756 <dd>
757 <p>Starts (activates) the given watcher. Only active watchers will receive
758events. If the watcher is already active nothing will happen.</p>
759 </dd>
760 <dt><code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> (loop *, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
761 <dd>
762 <p>Stops the given watcher again (if active) and clears the pending
763status. It is possible that stopped watchers are pending (for example,
764non-repeating timers are being stopped when they become pending), but
765<code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> ensures that the watcher is neither active nor pending. If
766you want to free or reuse the memory used by the watcher it is therefore a
767good idea to always call its <code>ev_TYPE_stop</code> function.</p>
768 </dd>
769 <dt>bool ev_is_active (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
770 <dd>
771 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is active (i.e. it has been started
772and not yet been stopped). As long as a watcher is active you must not modify
773it.</p>
774 </dd>
775 <dt>bool ev_is_pending (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
776 <dd>
777 <p>Returns a true value iff the watcher is pending, (i.e. it has outstanding
778events but its callback has not yet been invoked). As long as a watcher
779is pending (but not active) you must not call an init function on it (but
780<code>ev_TYPE_set</code> is safe), you must not change its priority, and you must
781make sure the watcher is available to libev (e.g. you cannot <code>free ()</code>
782it).</p>
783 </dd>
784 <dt>callback ev_cb (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
785 <dd>
786 <p>Returns the callback currently set on the watcher.</p>
787 </dd>
788 <dt>ev_cb_set (ev_TYPE *watcher, callback)</dt>
789 <dd>
790 <p>Change the callback. You can change the callback at virtually any time
791(modulo threads).</p>
792 </dd>
793 <dt>ev_set_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher, priority)</dt>
794 <dt>int ev_priority (ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
795 <dd>
796 <p>Set and query the priority of the watcher. The priority is a small
797integer between <code>EV_MAXPRI</code> (default: <code>2</code>) and <code>EV_MINPRI</code>
798(default: <code>-2</code>). Pending watchers with higher priority will be invoked
799before watchers with lower priority, but priority will not keep watchers
800from being executed (except for <code>ev_idle</code> watchers).</p>
801 <p>This means that priorities are <i>only</i> used for ordering callback
802invocation after new events have been received. This is useful, for
803example, to reduce latency after idling, or more often, to bind two
804watchers on the same event and make sure one is called first.</p>
805 <p>If you need to suppress invocation when higher priority events are pending
806you need to look at <code>ev_idle</code> watchers, which provide this functionality.</p>
807 <p>You <i>must not</i> change the priority of a watcher as long as it is active or
808pending.</p>
809 <p>The default priority used by watchers when no priority has been set is
810always <code>0</code>, which is supposed to not be too high and not be too low :).</p>
811 <p>Setting a priority outside the range of <code>EV_MINPRI</code> to <code>EV_MAXPRI</code> is
812fine, as long as you do not mind that the priority value you query might
813or might not have been adjusted to be within valid range.</p>
814 </dd>
815 <dt>ev_invoke (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher, int revents)</dt>
816 <dd>
817 <p>Invoke the <code>watcher</code> with the given <code>loop</code> and <code>revents</code>. Neither
818<code>loop</code> nor <code>revents</code> need to be valid as long as the watcher callback
819can deal with that fact.</p>
820 </dd>
821 <dt>int ev_clear_pending (loop, ev_TYPE *watcher)</dt>
822 <dd>
823 <p>If the watcher is pending, this function returns clears its pending status
824and returns its <code>revents</code> bitset (as if its callback was invoked). If the
825watcher isn't pending it does nothing and returns <code>0</code>.</p>
826 </dd>
827</dl>
828
829
830
831
832
833</div>
605<h2 id="ASSOCIATING_CUSTOM_DATA_WITH_A_WATCH">ASSOCIATING CUSTOM DATA WITH A WATCHER</h2> 834<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"> 835<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 836<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 837and 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 838to associate arbitrary data with your watcher. If you need more data and
626 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_; 855 struct my_io *w = (struct my_io *)w_;
627 ... 856 ...
628 } 857 }
629 858
630</pre> 859</pre>
631<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of catsing your callback type 860<p>More interesting and less C-conformant ways of casting your callback type
632have been omitted....</p> 861instead have been omitted.</p>
862<p>Another common scenario is having some data structure with multiple
863watchers:</p>
864<pre> struct my_biggy
865 {
866 int some_data;
867 ev_timer t1;
868 ev_timer t2;
869 }
633 870
871</pre>
872<p>In this case getting the pointer to <code>my_biggy</code> is a bit more complicated,
873you need to use <code>offsetof</code>:</p>
874<pre> #include &lt;stddef.h&gt;
634 875
876 static void
877 t1_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
878 {
879 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
880 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t1));
881 }
635 882
883 static void
884 t2_cb (EV_P_ struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
885 {
886 struct my_biggy big = (struct my_biggy *
887 (((char *)w) - offsetof (struct my_biggy, t2));
888 }
636 889
637 890
891
892
893</pre>
894
638</div> 895</div>
639<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 896<h1 id="WATCHER_TYPES">WATCHER TYPES</h1>
640<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT"> 897<div id="WATCHER_TYPES_CONTENT">
641<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat 898<p>This section describes each watcher in detail, but will not repeat
642information given in the last section.</p> 899information given in the last section. Any initialisation/set macros,
900functions and members specific to the watcher type are explained.</p>
901<p>Members are additionally marked with either <i>[read-only]</i>, meaning that,
902while the watcher is active, you can look at the member and expect some
903sensible content, but you must not modify it (you can modify it while the
904watcher is stopped to your hearts content), or <i>[read-write]</i>, which
905means you can expect it to have some sensible content while the watcher
906is active, but you can also modify it. Modifying it may not do something
907sensible or take immediate effect (or do anything at all), but libev will
908not crash or malfunction in any way.</p>
643 909
644 910
645 911
646 912
647 913
648</div> 914</div>
649<h2 id="code_ev_io_code_is_this_file_descrip"><code>ev_io</code> - is this file descriptor readable or writable</h2> 915<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"> 916<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 917<p>I/O watchers check whether a file descriptor is readable or writable
652in each iteration of the event loop (This behaviour is called 918in each iteration of the event loop, or, more precisely, when reading
653level-triggering because you keep receiving events as long as the 919would 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 920some data. This behaviour is called level-triggering because you keep
655act on the event and neither want to receive future events).</p> 921receiving events as long as the condition persists. Remember you can stop
922the watcher if you don't want to act on the event and neither want to
923receive future events.</p>
656<p>In general you can register as many read and/or write event watchers per 924<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 925fd 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 926descriptors to non-blocking mode is also usually a good idea (but not
659required if you know what you are doing).</p> 927required if you know what you are doing).</p>
660<p>You have to be careful with dup'ed file descriptors, though. Some backends 928<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 929(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 930descriptors correctly if you register interest in two or more fds pointing
663to the same underlying file/socket etc. description (that is, they share 931to the same underlying file/socket/etc. description (that is, they share
664the same underlying &quot;file open&quot;).</p> 932the 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 933<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 934(at the time of this writing, this includes only <code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> and
667<code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>).</p> 935<code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>).</p>
936<p>Another thing you have to watch out for is that it is quite easy to
937receive &quot;spurious&quot; readyness notifications, that is your callback might
938be called with <code>EV_READ</code> but a subsequent <code>read</code>(2) will actually block
939because there is no data. Not only are some backends known to create a
940lot of those (for example solaris ports), it is very easy to get into
941this situation even with a relatively standard program structure. Thus
942it is best to always use non-blocking I/O: An extra <code>read</code>(2) returning
943<code>EAGAIN</code> is far preferable to a program hanging until some data arrives.</p>
944<p>If you cannot run the fd in non-blocking mode (for example you should not
945play around with an Xlib connection), then you have to seperately re-test
946whether a file descriptor is really ready with a known-to-be good interface
947such as poll (fortunately in our Xlib example, Xlib already does this on
948its own, so its quite safe to use).</p>
949
950</div>
951<h3 id="The_special_problem_of_disappearing_">The special problem of disappearing file descriptors</h3>
952<div id="The_special_problem_of_disappearing_-2">
953<p>Some backends (e.g kqueue, epoll) need to be told about closing a file
954descriptor (either by calling <code>close</code> explicitly or by any other means,
955such as <code>dup</code>). The reason is that you register interest in some file
956descriptor, but when it goes away, the operating system will silently drop
957this interest. If another file descriptor with the same number then is
958registered with libev, there is no efficient way to see that this is, in
959fact, a different file descriptor.</p>
960<p>To avoid having to explicitly tell libev about such cases, libev follows
961the following policy: Each time <code>ev_io_set</code> is being called, libev
962will assume that this is potentially a new file descriptor, otherwise
963it is assumed that the file descriptor stays the same. That means that
964you <i>have</i> to call <code>ev_io_set</code> (or <code>ev_io_init</code>) when you change the
965descriptor even if the file descriptor number itself did not change.</p>
966<p>This is how one would do it normally anyway, the important point is that
967the libev application should not optimise around libev but should leave
968optimisations to libev.</p>
969
970
971
972
668<dl> 973<dl>
669 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt> 974 <dt>ev_io_init (ev_io *, callback, int fd, int events)</dt>
670 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt> 975 <dt>ev_io_set (ev_io *, int fd, int events)</dt>
671 <dd> 976 <dd>
672 <p>Configures an <code>ev_io</code> watcher. The fd is the file descriptor to rceeive 977 <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 | 978rceeive events for and events is either <code>EV_READ</code>, <code>EV_WRITE</code> or
674EV_WRITE</code> to receive the given events.</p> 979<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 980 </dd>
676epoll and solaris ports) can result in spurious readyness notifications 981 <dt>int fd [read-only]</dt>
677for file descriptors, so you practically need to use non-blocking I/O (and 982 <dd>
678treat callback invocation as hint only), or retest separately with a safe 983 <p>The file descriptor being watched.</p>
679interface before doing I/O (XLib can do this), or force the use of either 984 </dd>
680<code>EVBACKEND_SELECT</code> or <code>EVBACKEND_POLL</code>, which don't suffer from this 985 <dt>int events [read-only]</dt>
681problem. Also note that it is quite easy to have your callback invoked 986 <dd>
682when the readyness condition is no longer valid even when employing 987 <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> 988 </dd>
686</dl> 989</dl>
687<p>Example: call <code>stdin_readable_cb</code> when STDIN_FILENO has become, well 990<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 991readable, but only once. Since it is likely line-buffered, you could
689attempt to read a whole line in the callback:</p> 992attempt to read a whole line in the callback.</p>
690<pre> static void 993<pre> static void
691 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 994 stdin_readable_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
692 { 995 {
693 ev_io_stop (loop, w); 996 ev_io_stop (loop, w);
694 .. read from stdin here (or from w-&gt;fd) and haqndle any I/O errors 997 .. read from stdin here (or from w-&gt;fd) and haqndle any I/O errors
705 1008
706 1009
707</pre> 1010</pre>
708 1011
709</div> 1012</div>
710<h2 id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti"><code>ev_timer</code> - relative and optionally recurring timeouts</h2> 1013<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"> 1014<div id="code_ev_timer_code_relative_and_opti-2">
712<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a 1015<p>Timer watchers are simple relative timers that generate an event after a
713given time, and optionally repeating in regular intervals after that.</p> 1016given 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 1017<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 1018times out after an hour and you reset your system clock to last years
743 </dd> 1046 </dd>
744 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt> 1047 <dt>ev_timer_again (loop)</dt>
745 <dd> 1048 <dd>
746 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is 1049 <p>This will act as if the timer timed out and restart it again if it is
747repeating. The exact semantics are:</p> 1050repeating. The exact semantics are:</p>
1051 <p>If the timer is pending, its pending status is cleared.</p>
748 <p>If the timer is started but nonrepeating, stop it.</p> 1052 <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 1053 <p>If the timer is repeating, either start it if necessary (with the
750value), or reset the running timer to the repeat value.</p> 1054<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 1055 <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 1056example: 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 1057timeout, 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 1058seconds 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 1059configure 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 1060<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 1061you go into an idle state where you do not expect data to travel on the
1062socket, 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> 1063automatically restart it if need be.</p>
1064 <p>That means you can ignore the <code>after</code> value and <code>ev_timer_start</code>
1065altogether and only ever use the <code>repeat</code> value and <code>ev_timer_again</code>:</p>
1066<pre> ev_timer_init (timer, callback, 0., 5.);
1067 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1068 ...
1069 timer-&gt;again = 17.;
1070 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1071 ...
1072 timer-&gt;again = 10.;
1073 ev_timer_again (loop, timer);
1074
1075</pre>
1076 <p>This is more slightly efficient then stopping/starting the timer each time
1077you want to modify its timeout value.</p>
1078 </dd>
1079 <dt>ev_tstamp repeat [read-write]</dt>
1080 <dd>
1081 <p>The current <code>repeat</code> value. Will be used each time the watcher times out
1082or <code>ev_timer_again</code> is called and determines the next timeout (if any),
1083which is also when any modifications are taken into account.</p>
759 </dd> 1084 </dd>
760</dl> 1085</dl>
761<p>Example: create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.</p> 1086<p>Example: Create a timer that fires after 60 seconds.</p>
762<pre> static void 1087<pre> static void
763 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1088 one_minute_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
764 { 1089 {
765 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here 1090 .. one minute over, w is actually stopped right here
766 } 1091 }
768 struct ev_timer mytimer; 1093 struct ev_timer mytimer;
769 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.); 1094 ev_timer_init (&amp;mytimer, one_minute_cb, 60., 0.);
770 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;mytimer); 1095 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;mytimer);
771 1096
772</pre> 1097</pre>
773<p>Example: create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of 1098<p>Example: Create a timeout timer that times out after 10 seconds of
774inactivity.</p> 1099inactivity.</p>
775<pre> static void 1100<pre> static void
776 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents) 1101 timeout_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_timer *w, int revents)
777 { 1102 {
778 .. ten seconds without any activity 1103 .. ten seconds without any activity
791 1116
792 1117
793</pre> 1118</pre>
794 1119
795</div> 1120</div>
796<h2 id="code_ev_periodic_code_to_cron_or_not"><code>ev_periodic</code> - to cron or not to cron</h2> 1121<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"> 1122<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 1123<p>Periodic watchers are also timers of a kind, but they are very versatile
799(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p> 1124(and unfortunately a bit complex).</p>
800<p>Unlike <code>ev_timer</code>'s, they are not based on real time (or relative time) 1125<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 1126but 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 1127to 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 () 1128periodic 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 1129+ 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 1130take 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 1131roughly 10 seconds later).</p>
807again).</p>
808<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as 1132<p>They can also be used to implement vastly more complex timers, such as
809triggering an event on eahc midnight, local time.</p> 1133triggering an event on each midnight, local time or other, complicated,
1134rules.</p>
810<p>As with timers, the callback is guarenteed to be invoked only when the 1135<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 1136time (<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> 1137during the same loop iteration then order of execution is undefined.</p>
813<dl> 1138<dl>
814 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt> 1139 <dt>ev_periodic_init (ev_periodic *, callback, ev_tstamp at, ev_tstamp interval, reschedule_cb)</dt>
816 <dd> 1141 <dd>
817 <p>Lots of arguments, lets sort it out... There are basically three modes of 1142 <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> 1143operation, and we will explain them from simplest to complex:</p>
819 <p> 1144 <p>
820 <dl> 1145 <dl>
821 <dt>* absolute timer (interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt> 1146 <dt>* absolute timer (at = time, interval = reschedule_cb = 0)</dt>
822 <dd> 1147 <dd>
823 <p>In this configuration the watcher triggers an event at the wallclock time 1148 <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, 1149<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 1150that 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> 1151system time reaches or surpasses this time.</p>
827 </dd> 1152 </dd>
828 <dt>* non-repeating interval timer (interval &gt; 0, reschedule_cb = 0)</dt> 1153 <dt>* non-repeating interval timer (at = offset, interval &gt; 0, reschedule_cb = 0)</dt>
829 <dd> 1154 <dd>
830 <p>In this mode the watcher will always be scheduled to time out at the next 1155 <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 1156<code>at + N * interval</code> time (for some integer N, which can also be negative)
832of any time jumps.</p> 1157and 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 1158 <p>This can be used to create timers that do not drift with respect to system
834time:</p> 1159time:</p>
835<pre> ev_periodic_set (&amp;periodic, 0., 3600., 0); 1160<pre> ev_periodic_set (&amp;periodic, 0., 3600., 0);
836 1161
837</pre> 1162</pre>
840full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible 1165full hour (UTC), or more correctly, when the system time is evenly divisible
841by 3600.</p> 1166by 3600.</p>
842 <p>Another way to think about it (for the mathematically inclined) is that 1167 <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 1168<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> 1169time where <code>time = at (mod interval)</code>, regardless of any time jumps.</p>
1170 <p>For numerical stability it is preferable that the <code>at</code> value is near
1171<code>ev_now ()</code> (the current time), but there is no range requirement for
1172this value.</p>
845 </dd> 1173 </dd>
846 <dt>* manual reschedule mode (reschedule_cb = callback)</dt> 1174 <dt>* manual reschedule mode (at and interval ignored, reschedule_cb = callback)</dt>
847 <dd> 1175 <dd>
848 <p>In this mode the values for <code>interval</code> and <code>at</code> are both being 1176 <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 1177ignored. Instead, each time the periodic watcher gets scheduled, the
850reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the 1178reschedule callback will be called with the watcher as first, and the
851current time as second argument.</p> 1179current time as second argument.</p>
852 <p>NOTE: <i>This callback MUST NOT stop or destroy any periodic watcher, 1180 <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, 1181ever, 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 1182return <code>now + 1e30</code> (or so, fudge fudge) and stop it afterwards (e.g. by
855starting a prepare watcher).</p> 1183starting an <code>ev_prepare</code> watcher, which is legal).</p>
856 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, 1184 <p>Its prototype is <code>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w,
857ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p> 1185ev_tstamp now)</code>, e.g.:</p>
858<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1186<pre> static ev_tstamp my_rescheduler (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
859 { 1187 {
860 return now + 60.; 1188 return now + 60.;
881 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful 1209 <p>Simply stops and restarts the periodic watcher again. This is only useful
882when you changed some parameters or the reschedule callback would return 1210when 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 1211a different time than the last time it was called (e.g. in a crond like
884program when the crontabs have changed).</p> 1212program when the crontabs have changed).</p>
885 </dd> 1213 </dd>
1214 <dt>ev_tstamp offset [read-write]</dt>
1215 <dd>
1216 <p>When repeating, this contains the offset value, otherwise this is the
1217absolute point in time (the <code>at</code> value passed to <code>ev_periodic_set</code>).</p>
1218 <p>Can be modified any time, but changes only take effect when the periodic
1219timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being called.</p>
1220 </dd>
1221 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-write]</dt>
1222 <dd>
1223 <p>The current interval value. Can be modified any time, but changes only
1224take effect when the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being
1225called.</p>
1226 </dd>
1227 <dt>ev_tstamp (*reschedule_cb)(struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) [read-write]</dt>
1228 <dd>
1229 <p>The current reschedule callback, or <code>0</code>, if this functionality is
1230switched off. Can be changed any time, but changes only take effect when
1231the periodic timer fires or <code>ev_periodic_again</code> is being called.</p>
1232 </dd>
886</dl> 1233</dl>
887<p>Example: call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the 1234<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, or, more precisely, whenever the
888system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have 1235system clock is divisible by 3600. The callback invocation times have
889potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.</p> 1236potentially a lot of jittering, but good long-term stability.</p>
890<pre> static void 1237<pre> static void
891 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents) 1238 clock_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_io *w, int revents)
892 { 1239 {
896 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1243 struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
897 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0); 1244 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 3600., 0);
898 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick); 1245 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
899 1246
900</pre> 1247</pre>
901<p>Example: the same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:</p> 1248<p>Example: The same as above, but use a reschedule callback to do it:</p>
902<pre> #include &lt;math.h&gt; 1249<pre> #include &lt;math.h&gt;
903 1250
904 static ev_tstamp 1251 static ev_tstamp
905 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now) 1252 my_scheduler_cb (struct ev_periodic *w, ev_tstamp now)
906 { 1253 {
908 } 1255 }
909 1256
910 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb); 1257 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 0., 0., my_scheduler_cb);
911 1258
912</pre> 1259</pre>
913<p>Example: call a callback every hour, starting now:</p> 1260<p>Example: Call a callback every hour, starting now:</p>
914<pre> struct ev_periodic hourly_tick; 1261<pre> struct ev_periodic hourly_tick;
915 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb, 1262 ev_periodic_init (&amp;hourly_tick, clock_cb,
916 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0); 1263 fmod (ev_now (loop), 3600.), 3600., 0);
917 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick); 1264 ev_periodic_start (loop, &amp;hourly_tick);
918 1265
920 1267
921 1268
922</pre> 1269</pre>
923 1270
924</div> 1271</div>
925<h2 id="code_ev_signal_code_signal_me_when_a"><code>ev_signal</code> - signal me when a signal gets signalled</h2> 1272<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"> 1273<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 1274<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 1275signal 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 1276will try it's best to deliver signals synchronously, i.e. as part of the
930normal event processing, like any other event.</p> 1277normal event processing, like any other event.</p>
939 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt> 1286 <dt>ev_signal_set (ev_signal *, int signum)</dt>
940 <dd> 1287 <dd>
941 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one 1288 <p>Configures the watcher to trigger on the given signal number (usually one
942of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p> 1289of the <code>SIGxxx</code> constants).</p>
943 </dd> 1290 </dd>
1291 <dt>int signum [read-only]</dt>
1292 <dd>
1293 <p>The signal the watcher watches out for.</p>
1294 </dd>
944</dl> 1295</dl>
945 1296
946 1297
947 1298
948 1299
949 1300
950</div> 1301</div>
951<h2 id="code_ev_child_code_wait_for_pid_stat"><code>ev_child</code> - wait for pid status changes</h2> 1302<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"> 1303<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 1304<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> 1305some child status changes (most typically when a child of yours dies).</p>
955<dl> 1306<dl>
956 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt> 1307 <dt>ev_child_init (ev_child *, callback, int pid)</dt>
957 <dt>ev_child_set (ev_child *, int pid)</dt> 1308 <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 1312at 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 1313the 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 1314<code>waitpid</code> documentation). The <code>rpid</code> member contains the pid of the
964process causing the status change.</p> 1315process causing the status change.</p>
965 </dd> 1316 </dd>
1317 <dt>int pid [read-only]</dt>
1318 <dd>
1319 <p>The process id this watcher watches out for, or <code>0</code>, meaning any process id.</p>
1320 </dd>
1321 <dt>int rpid [read-write]</dt>
1322 <dd>
1323 <p>The process id that detected a status change.</p>
1324 </dd>
1325 <dt>int rstatus [read-write]</dt>
1326 <dd>
1327 <p>The process exit/trace status caused by <code>rpid</code> (see your systems
1328<code>waitpid</code> and <code>sys/wait.h</code> documentation for details).</p>
1329 </dd>
966</dl> 1330</dl>
967<p>Example: try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.</p> 1331<p>Example: Try to exit cleanly on SIGINT and SIGTERM.</p>
968<pre> static void 1332<pre> static void
969 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents) 1333 sigint_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_signal *w, int revents)
970 { 1334 {
971 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL); 1335 ev_unloop (loop, EVUNLOOP_ALL);
972 } 1336 }
979 1343
980 1344
981</pre> 1345</pre>
982 1346
983</div> 1347</div>
1348<h2 id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri"><code>ev_stat</code> - did the file attributes just change?</h2>
1349<div id="code_ev_stat_code_did_the_file_attri-2">
1350<p>This watches a filesystem path for attribute changes. That is, it calls
1351<code>stat</code> regularly (or when the OS says it changed) and sees if it changed
1352compared to the last time, invoking the callback if it did.</p>
1353<p>The path does not need to exist: changing from &quot;path exists&quot; to &quot;path does
1354not exist&quot; is a status change like any other. The condition &quot;path does
1355not exist&quot; is signified by the <code>st_nlink</code> field being zero (which is
1356otherwise always forced to be at least one) and all the other fields of
1357the stat buffer having unspecified contents.</p>
1358<p>The path <i>should</i> be absolute and <i>must not</i> end in a slash. If it is
1359relative and your working directory changes, the behaviour is undefined.</p>
1360<p>Since there is no standard to do this, the portable implementation simply
1361calls <code>stat (2)</code> regularly on the path to see if it changed somehow. You
1362can specify a recommended polling interval for this case. If you specify
1363a polling interval of <code>0</code> (highly recommended!) then a <i>suitable,
1364unspecified default</i> value will be used (which you can expect to be around
1365five seconds, although this might change dynamically). Libev will also
1366impose a minimum interval which is currently around <code>0.1</code>, but thats
1367usually overkill.</p>
1368<p>This watcher type is not meant for massive numbers of stat watchers,
1369as even with OS-supported change notifications, this can be
1370resource-intensive.</p>
1371<p>At the time of this writing, only the Linux inotify interface is
1372implemented (implementing kqueue support is left as an exercise for the
1373reader). Inotify will be used to give hints only and should not change the
1374semantics of <code>ev_stat</code> watchers, which means that libev sometimes needs
1375to fall back to regular polling again even with inotify, but changes are
1376usually detected immediately, and if the file exists there will be no
1377polling.</p>
1378<dl>
1379 <dt>ev_stat_init (ev_stat *, callback, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1380 <dt>ev_stat_set (ev_stat *, const char *path, ev_tstamp interval)</dt>
1381 <dd>
1382 <p>Configures the watcher to wait for status changes of the given
1383<code>path</code>. The <code>interval</code> is a hint on how quickly a change is expected to
1384be detected and should normally be specified as <code>0</code> to let libev choose
1385a suitable value. The memory pointed to by <code>path</code> must point to the same
1386path for as long as the watcher is active.</p>
1387 <p>The callback will be receive <code>EV_STAT</code> when a change was detected,
1388relative to the attributes at the time the watcher was started (or the
1389last change was detected).</p>
1390 </dd>
1391 <dt>ev_stat_stat (ev_stat *)</dt>
1392 <dd>
1393 <p>Updates the stat buffer immediately with new values. If you change the
1394watched path in your callback, you could call this fucntion to avoid
1395detecting this change (while introducing a race condition). Can also be
1396useful simply to find out the new values.</p>
1397 </dd>
1398 <dt>ev_statdata attr [read-only]</dt>
1399 <dd>
1400 <p>The most-recently detected attributes of the file. Although the type is of
1401<code>ev_statdata</code>, this is usually the (or one of the) <code>struct stat</code> types
1402suitable for your system. If the <code>st_nlink</code> member is <code>0</code>, then there
1403was some error while <code>stat</code>ing the file.</p>
1404 </dd>
1405 <dt>ev_statdata prev [read-only]</dt>
1406 <dd>
1407 <p>The previous attributes of the file. The callback gets invoked whenever
1408<code>prev</code> != <code>attr</code>.</p>
1409 </dd>
1410 <dt>ev_tstamp interval [read-only]</dt>
1411 <dd>
1412 <p>The specified interval.</p>
1413 </dd>
1414 <dt>const char *path [read-only]</dt>
1415 <dd>
1416 <p>The filesystem path that is being watched.</p>
1417 </dd>
1418</dl>
1419<p>Example: Watch <code>/etc/passwd</code> for attribute changes.</p>
1420<pre> static void
1421 passwd_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, ev_stat *w, int revents)
1422 {
1423 /* /etc/passwd changed in some way */
1424 if (w-&gt;attr.st_nlink)
1425 {
1426 printf (&quot;passwd current size %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_size);
1427 printf (&quot;passwd current atime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1428 printf (&quot;passwd current mtime %ld\n&quot;, (long)w-&gt;attr.st_mtime);
1429 }
1430 else
1431 /* you shalt not abuse printf for puts */
1432 puts (&quot;wow, /etc/passwd is not there, expect problems. &quot;
1433 &quot;if this is windows, they already arrived\n&quot;);
1434 }
1435
1436 ...
1437 ev_stat passwd;
1438
1439 ev_stat_init (&amp;passwd, passwd_cb, &quot;/etc/passwd&quot;);
1440 ev_stat_start (loop, &amp;passwd);
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445</pre>
1446
1447</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> 1448<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"> 1449<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 1450<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 1451priority are pending (prepare, check and other idle watchers do not
988as your process is busy handling sockets or timeouts (or even signals, 1452count).</p>
989imagine) it will not be triggered. But when your process is idle all idle 1453<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 - 1454(or even signals, imagine) of the same or higher priority it will not be
1455triggered. But when your process is idle (or only lower-priority watchers
1456are pending), the idle watchers are being called once per event loop
991until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events and becomes 1457iteration - until stopped, that is, or your process receives more events
992busy.</p> 1458and becomes busy again with higher priority stuff.</p>
993<p>The most noteworthy effect is that as long as any idle watchers are 1459<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> 1460active, the process will not block when waiting for new events.</p>
995<p>Apart from keeping your process non-blocking (which is a useful 1461<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 1462effect 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 1463&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 1468 <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, 1469kind. There is a <code>ev_idle_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1004believe me.</p> 1470believe me.</p>
1005 </dd> 1471 </dd>
1006</dl> 1472</dl>
1007<p>Example: dynamically allocate an <code>ev_idle</code>, start it, and in the 1473<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> 1474callback, free it. Also, use no error checking, as usual.</p>
1009<pre> static void 1475<pre> static void
1010 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents) 1476 idle_cb (struct ev_loop *loop, struct ev_idle *w, int revents)
1011 { 1477 {
1012 free (w); 1478 free (w);
1013 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has 1479 // now do something you wanted to do when the program has
1022 1488
1023 1489
1024</pre> 1490</pre>
1025 1491
1026</div> 1492</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> 1493<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"> 1494<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: 1495<p>Prepare and check watchers are usually (but not always) used in tandem:
1030prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers 1496prepare watchers get invoked before the process blocks and check watchers
1031afterwards.</p> 1497afterwards.</p>
1498<p>You <i>must not</i> call <code>ev_loop</code> or similar functions that enter
1499the current event loop from either <code>ev_prepare</code> or <code>ev_check</code>
1500watchers. Other loops than the current one are fine, however. The
1501rationale behind this is that you do not need to check for recursion in
1502those watchers, i.e. the sequence will always be <code>ev_prepare</code>, blocking,
1503<code>ev_check</code> so if you have one watcher of each kind they will always be
1504called in pairs bracketing the blocking call.</p>
1032<p>Their main purpose is to integrate other event mechanisms into libev and 1505<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 1506their use is somewhat advanced. This could be used, for example, to track
1034variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a 1507variable changes, implement your own watchers, integrate net-snmp or a
1035coroutine library and lots more.</p> 1508coroutine library and lots more. They are also occasionally useful if
1509you cache some data and want to flush it before blocking (for example,
1510in X programs you might want to do an <code>XFlush ()</code> in an <code>ev_prepare</code>
1511watcher).</p>
1036<p>This is done by examining in each prepare call which file descriptors need 1512<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 1513to 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 1514them 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 1515provide just this functionality). Then, in the check watcher you check for
1040any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers 1516any events that occured (by checking the pending status of all watchers
1047are ready to run (it's actually more complicated: it only runs coroutines 1523are 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 1524with 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 1525of lower priority, but only once, using idle watchers to keep the event
1050loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping 1526loop from blocking if lower-priority coroutines are active, thus mapping
1051low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).</p> 1527low-priority coroutines to idle/background tasks).</p>
1528<p>It is recommended to give <code>ev_check</code> watchers highest (<code>EV_MAXPRI</code>)
1529priority, to ensure that they are being run before any other watchers
1530after the poll. Also, <code>ev_check</code> watchers (and <code>ev_prepare</code> watchers,
1531too) should not activate (&quot;feed&quot;) events into libev. While libev fully
1532supports this, they will be called before other <code>ev_check</code> watchers did
1533their job. As <code>ev_check</code> watchers are often used to embed other event
1534loops those other event loops might be in an unusable state until their
1535<code>ev_check</code> watcher ran (always remind yourself to coexist peacefully with
1536others).</p>
1052<dl> 1537<dl>
1053 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt> 1538 <dt>ev_prepare_init (ev_prepare *, callback)</dt>
1054 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt> 1539 <dt>ev_check_init (ev_check *, callback)</dt>
1055 <dd> 1540 <dd>
1056 <p>Initialises and configures the prepare or check watcher - they have no 1541 <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> 1542parameters 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> 1543macros, but using them is utterly, utterly and completely pointless.</p>
1059 </dd> 1544 </dd>
1060</dl> 1545</dl>
1061<p>Example: *TODO*.</p> 1546<p>There are a number of principal ways to embed other event loops or modules
1547into libev. Here are some ideas on how to include libadns into libev
1548(there is a Perl module named <code>EV::ADNS</code> that does this, which you could
1549use for an actually working example. Another Perl module named <code>EV::Glib</code>
1550embeds a Glib main context into libev, and finally, <code>Glib::EV</code> embeds EV
1551into the Glib event loop).</p>
1552<p>Method 1: Add IO watchers and a timeout watcher in a prepare handler,
1553and in a check watcher, destroy them and call into libadns. What follows
1554is pseudo-code only of course. This requires you to either use a low
1555priority for the check watcher or use <code>ev_clear_pending</code> explicitly, as
1556the callbacks for the IO/timeout watchers might not have been called yet.</p>
1557<pre> static ev_io iow [nfd];
1558 static ev_timer tw;
1062 1559
1560 static void
1561 io_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_io *w, int revents)
1562 {
1563 }
1063 1564
1565 // create io watchers for each fd and a timer before blocking
1566 static void
1567 adns_prepare_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_prepare *w, int revents)
1568 {
1569 int timeout = 3600000;
1570 struct pollfd fds [nfd];
1571 // actual code will need to loop here and realloc etc.
1572 adns_beforepoll (ads, fds, &amp;nfd, &amp;timeout, timeval_from (ev_time ()));
1064 1573
1574 /* the callback is illegal, but won't be called as we stop during check */
1575 ev_timer_init (&amp;tw, 0, timeout * 1e-3);
1576 ev_timer_start (loop, &amp;tw);
1065 1577
1578 // create one ev_io per pollfd
1579 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1580 {
1581 ev_io_init (iow + i, io_cb, fds [i].fd,
1582 ((fds [i].events &amp; POLLIN ? EV_READ : 0)
1583 | (fds [i].events &amp; POLLOUT ? EV_WRITE : 0)));
1066 1584
1585 fds [i].revents = 0;
1586 ev_io_start (loop, iow + i);
1587 }
1588 }
1589
1590 // stop all watchers after blocking
1591 static void
1592 adns_check_cb (ev_loop *loop, ev_check *w, int revents)
1593 {
1594 ev_timer_stop (loop, &amp;tw);
1595
1596 for (int i = 0; i &lt; nfd; ++i)
1597 {
1598 // set the relevant poll flags
1599 // could also call adns_processreadable etc. here
1600 struct pollfd *fd = fds + i;
1601 int revents = ev_clear_pending (iow + i);
1602 if (revents &amp; EV_READ ) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLIN;
1603 if (revents &amp; EV_WRITE) fd-&gt;revents |= fd-&gt;events &amp; POLLOUT;
1604
1605 // now stop the watcher
1606 ev_io_stop (loop, iow + i);
1607 }
1608
1609 adns_afterpoll (adns, fds, nfd, timeval_from (ev_now (loop));
1610 }
1611
1612</pre>
1613<p>Method 2: This would be just like method 1, but you run <code>adns_afterpoll</code>
1614in the prepare watcher and would dispose of the check watcher.</p>
1615<p>Method 3: If the module to be embedded supports explicit event
1616notification (adns does), you can also make use of the actual watcher
1617callbacks, and only destroy/create the watchers in the prepare watcher.</p>
1618<pre> static void
1619 timer_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
1620 {
1621 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w-&gt;data;
1622 update_now (EV_A);
1623
1624 adns_processtimeouts (ads, &amp;tv_now);
1625 }
1626
1627 static void
1628 io_cb (EV_P_ ev_io *w, int revents)
1629 {
1630 adns_state ads = (adns_state)w-&gt;data;
1631 update_now (EV_A);
1632
1633 if (revents &amp; EV_READ ) adns_processreadable (ads, w-&gt;fd, &amp;tv_now);
1634 if (revents &amp; EV_WRITE) adns_processwriteable (ads, w-&gt;fd, &amp;tv_now);
1635 }
1636
1637 // do not ever call adns_afterpoll
1638
1639</pre>
1640<p>Method 4: Do not use a prepare or check watcher because the module you
1641want to embed is too inflexible to support it. Instead, youc na override
1642their poll function. The drawback with this solution is that the main
1643loop is now no longer controllable by EV. The <code>Glib::EV</code> module does
1644this.</p>
1645<pre> static gint
1646 event_poll_func (GPollFD *fds, guint nfds, gint timeout)
1647 {
1648 int got_events = 0;
1649
1650 for (n = 0; n &lt; nfds; ++n)
1651 // create/start io watcher that sets the relevant bits in fds[n] and increment got_events
1652
1653 if (timeout &gt;= 0)
1654 // create/start timer
1655
1656 // poll
1657 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
1658
1659 // stop timer again
1660 if (timeout &gt;= 0)
1661 ev_timer_stop (EV_A_ &amp;to);
1662
1663 // stop io watchers again - their callbacks should have set
1664 for (n = 0; n &lt; nfds; ++n)
1665 ev_io_stop (EV_A_ iow [n]);
1666
1667 return got_events;
1668 }
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673</pre>
1674
1067</div> 1675</div>
1068<h2 id="code_ev_embed_code_when_one_backend_"><code>ev_embed</code> - when one backend isn't enough</h2> 1676<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"> 1677<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 1678<p>This is a rather advanced watcher type that lets you embed one event loop
1071into another.</p> 1679into another (currently only <code>ev_io</code> events are supported in the embedded
1680loop, other types of watchers might be handled in a delayed or incorrect
1681fashion and must not be used).</p>
1072<p>There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and 1682<p>There are primarily two reasons you would want that: work around bugs and
1073prioritise I/O.</p> 1683prioritise I/O.</p>
1074<p>As an example for a bug workaround, the kqueue backend might only support 1684<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 1685sockets 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 1686still 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 1691<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 1692to be watched and handled very quickly (with low latency), and even
1083priorities and idle watchers might have too much overhead. In this case 1693priorities 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 1694you 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> 1695a second one, and embed the second one in the first.</p>
1696<p>As long as the watcher is active, the callback will be invoked every time
1697there might be events pending in the embedded loop. The callback must then
1698call <code>ev_embed_sweep (mainloop, watcher)</code> to make a single sweep and invoke
1699their callbacks (you could also start an idle watcher to give the embedded
1700loop strictly lower priority for example). You can also set the callback
1701to <code>0</code>, in which case the embed watcher will automatically execute the
1702embedded loop sweep.</p>
1086<p>As long as the watcher is started it will automatically handle events. The 1703<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 1704callback 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 1705set the callback to <code>0</code> to avoid having to specify one if you are not
1089interested in that.</p> 1706interested in that.</p>
1090<p>Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking: 1707<p>Also, there have not currently been made special provisions for forking:
1117 else 1734 else
1118 loop_lo = loop_hi; 1735 loop_lo = loop_hi;
1119 1736
1120</pre> 1737</pre>
1121<dl> 1738<dl>
1122 <dt>ev_embed_init (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *loop)</dt> 1739 <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> 1740 <dt>ev_embed_set (ev_embed *, callback, struct ev_loop *embedded_loop)</dt>
1741 <dd>
1742 <p>Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be
1743embeddable. If the callback is <code>0</code>, then <code>ev_embed_sweep</code> will be
1744invoked automatically, otherwise it is the responsibility of the callback
1745to invoke it (it will continue to be called until the sweep has been done,
1746if you do not want thta, you need to temporarily stop the embed watcher).</p>
1124 <dd> 1747 </dd>
1125 <p>Configures the watcher to embed the given loop, which must be embeddable.</p> 1748 <dt>ev_embed_sweep (loop, ev_embed *)</dt>
1749 <dd>
1750 <p>Make a single, non-blocking sweep over the embedded loop. This works
1751similarly to <code>ev_loop (embedded_loop, EVLOOP_NONBLOCK)</code>, but in the most
1752apropriate way for embedded loops.</p>
1753 </dd>
1754 <dt>struct ev_loop *loop [read-only]</dt>
1755 <dd>
1756 <p>The embedded event loop.</p>
1126 </dd> 1757 </dd>
1127</dl> 1758</dl>
1128 1759
1129 1760
1130 1761
1131 1762
1132 1763
1133</div> 1764</div>
1134<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1765<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>
1766<div id="code_ev_fork_code_the_audacity_to_re-2">
1767<p>Fork watchers are called when a <code>fork ()</code> was detected (usually because
1768whoever is a good citizen cared to tell libev about it by calling
1769<code>ev_default_fork</code> or <code>ev_loop_fork</code>). The invocation is done before the
1770event loop blocks next and before <code>ev_check</code> watchers are being called,
1771and only in the child after the fork. If whoever good citizen calling
1772<code>ev_default_fork</code> cheats and calls it in the wrong process, the fork
1773handlers will be invoked, too, of course.</p>
1774<dl>
1775 <dt>ev_fork_init (ev_signal *, callback)</dt>
1776 <dd>
1777 <p>Initialises and configures the fork watcher - it has no parameters of any
1778kind. There is a <code>ev_fork_set</code> macro, but using it is utterly pointless,
1779believe me.</p>
1780 </dd>
1781</dl>
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787</div>
1788<h1 id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS">OTHER FUNCTIONS</h1>
1135<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT"> 1789<div id="OTHER_FUNCTIONS_CONTENT">
1136<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p> 1790<p>There are some other functions of possible interest. Described. Here. Now.</p>
1137<dl> 1791<dl>
1138 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt> 1792 <dt>ev_once (loop, int fd, int events, ev_tstamp timeout, callback)</dt>
1139 <dd> 1793 <dd>
1163 1817
1164 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0); 1818 ev_once (STDIN_FILENO, EV_READ, 10., stdin_ready, 0);
1165 1819
1166</pre> 1820</pre>
1167 </dd> 1821 </dd>
1168 <dt>ev_feed_event (loop, watcher, int events)</dt> 1822 <dt>ev_feed_event (ev_loop *, watcher *, int revents)</dt>
1169 <dd> 1823 <dd>
1170 <p>Feeds the given event set into the event loop, as if the specified event 1824 <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 1825had happened for the specified watcher (which must be a pointer to an
1172initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p> 1826initialised but not necessarily started event watcher).</p>
1173 </dd> 1827 </dd>
1174 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (loop, int fd, int revents)</dt> 1828 <dt>ev_feed_fd_event (ev_loop *, int fd, int revents)</dt>
1175 <dd> 1829 <dd>
1176 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected 1830 <p>Feed an event on the given fd, as if a file descriptor backend detected
1177the given events it.</p> 1831the given events it.</p>
1178 </dd> 1832 </dd>
1179 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (loop, int signum)</dt> 1833 <dt>ev_feed_signal_event (ev_loop *loop, int signum)</dt>
1180 <dd> 1834 <dd>
1181 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (loop must be the default loop!).</p> 1835 <p>Feed an event as if the given signal occured (<code>loop</code> must be the default
1836loop!).</p>
1182 </dd> 1837 </dd>
1183</dl> 1838</dl>
1184 1839
1185 1840
1186 1841
1187 1842
1188 1843
1189</div> 1844</div>
1190<h1 id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1845<h1 id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION">LIBEVENT EMULATION</h1>
1191<div id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION_CONTENT"> 1846<div id="LIBEVENT_EMULATION_CONTENT">
1192<p>Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot 1847<p>Libev offers a compatibility emulation layer for libevent. It cannot
1193emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:</p> 1848emulate the internals of libevent, so here are some usage hints:</p>
1194<dl> 1849<dl>
1195 <dt>* Use it by including &lt;event.h&gt;, as usual.</dt> 1850 <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 1860 <dt>* The libev emulation is <i>not</i> ABI compatible to libevent, you need
1206to use the libev header file and library.</dt> 1861to use the libev header file and library.</dt>
1207</dl> 1862</dl>
1208 1863
1209</div> 1864</div>
1210<h1 id="C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 1865<h1 id="C_SUPPORT">C++ SUPPORT</h1>
1211<div id="C_SUPPORT_CONTENT"> 1866<div id="C_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
1212<p>TBD.</p> 1867<p>Libev comes with some simplistic wrapper classes for C++ that mainly allow
1868you to use some convinience methods to start/stop watchers and also change
1869the callback model to a model using method callbacks on objects.</p>
1870<p>To use it,</p>
1871<pre> #include &lt;ev++.h&gt;
1213 1872
1873</pre>
1874<p>This automatically includes <cite>ev.h</cite> and puts all of its definitions (many
1875of them macros) into the global namespace. All C++ specific things are
1876put into the <code>ev</code> namespace. It should support all the same embedding
1877options as <cite>ev.h</cite>, most notably <code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>.</p>
1878<p>Care has been taken to keep the overhead low. The only data member the C++
1879classes add (compared to plain C-style watchers) is the event loop pointer
1880that the watcher is associated with (or no additional members at all if
1881you disable <code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code> when embedding libev).</p>
1882<p>Currently, functions, and static and non-static member functions can be
1883used as callbacks. Other types should be easy to add as long as they only
1884need one additional pointer for context. If you need support for other
1885types of functors please contact the author (preferably after implementing
1886it).</p>
1887<p>Here is a list of things available in the <code>ev</code> namespace:</p>
1888<dl>
1889 <dt><code>ev::READ</code>, <code>ev::WRITE</code> etc.</dt>
1890 <dd>
1891 <p>These are just enum values with the same values as the <code>EV_READ</code> etc.
1892macros from <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
1893 </dd>
1894 <dt><code>ev::tstamp</code>, <code>ev::now</code></dt>
1895 <dd>
1896 <p>Aliases to the same types/functions as with the <code>ev_</code> prefix.</p>
1897 </dd>
1898 <dt><code>ev::io</code>, <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code>, <code>ev::idle</code>, <code>ev::sig</code> etc.</dt>
1899 <dd>
1900 <p>For each <code>ev_TYPE</code> watcher in <cite>ev.h</cite> there is a corresponding class of
1901the same name in the <code>ev</code> namespace, with the exception of <code>ev_signal</code>
1902which is called <code>ev::sig</code> to avoid clashes with the <code>signal</code> macro
1903defines by many implementations.</p>
1904 <p>All of those classes have these methods:</p>
1905 <p>
1906 <dl>
1907 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE ()</dt>
1908 <dt>ev::TYPE::TYPE (struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1909 <dt>ev::TYPE::~TYPE</dt>
1910 <dd>
1911 <p>The constructor (optionally) takes an event loop to associate the watcher
1912with. If it is omitted, it will use <code>EV_DEFAULT</code>.</p>
1913 <p>The constructor calls <code>ev_init</code> for you, which means you have to call the
1914<code>set</code> method before starting it.</p>
1915 <p>It will not set a callback, however: You have to call the templated <code>set</code>
1916method to set a callback before you can start the watcher.</p>
1917 <p>(The reason why you have to use a method is a limitation in C++ which does
1918not allow explicit template arguments for constructors).</p>
1919 <p>The destructor automatically stops the watcher if it is active.</p>
1920 </dd>
1921 <dt>w-&gt;set&lt;class, &amp;class::method&gt; (object *)</dt>
1922 <dd>
1923 <p>This method sets the callback method to call. The method has to have a
1924signature of <code>void (*)(ev_TYPE &amp;, int)</code>, it receives the watcher as
1925first argument and the <code>revents</code> as second. The object must be given as
1926parameter and is stored in the <code>data</code> member of the watcher.</p>
1927 <p>This method synthesizes efficient thunking code to call your method from
1928the C callback that libev requires. If your compiler can inline your
1929callback (i.e. it is visible to it at the place of the <code>set</code> call and
1930your compiler is good :), then the method will be fully inlined into the
1931thunking function, making it as fast as a direct C callback.</p>
1932 <p>Example: simple class declaration and watcher initialisation</p>
1933<pre> struct myclass
1934 {
1935 void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents) { }
1936 }
1937
1938 myclass obj;
1939 ev::io iow;
1940 iow.set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::io_cb&gt; (&amp;obj);
1941
1942</pre>
1943 </dd>
1944 <dt>w-&gt;set&lt;function&gt; (void *data = 0)</dt>
1945 <dd>
1946 <p>Also sets a callback, but uses a static method or plain function as
1947callback. The optional <code>data</code> argument will be stored in the watcher's
1948<code>data</code> member and is free for you to use.</p>
1949 <p>The prototype of the <code>function</code> must be <code>void (*)(ev::TYPE &amp;w, int)</code>.</p>
1950 <p>See the method-<code>set</code> above for more details.</p>
1951 <p>Example:</p>
1952<pre> static void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents) { }
1953 iow.set &lt;io_cb&gt; ();
1954
1955</pre>
1956 </dd>
1957 <dt>w-&gt;set (struct ev_loop *)</dt>
1958 <dd>
1959 <p>Associates a different <code>struct ev_loop</code> with this watcher. You can only
1960do this when the watcher is inactive (and not pending either).</p>
1961 </dd>
1962 <dt>w-&gt;set ([args])</dt>
1963 <dd>
1964 <p>Basically the same as <code>ev_TYPE_set</code>, with the same args. Must be
1965called at least once. Unlike the C counterpart, an active watcher gets
1966automatically stopped and restarted when reconfiguring it with this
1967method.</p>
1968 </dd>
1969 <dt>w-&gt;start ()</dt>
1970 <dd>
1971 <p>Starts the watcher. Note that there is no <code>loop</code> argument, as the
1972constructor already stores the event loop.</p>
1973 </dd>
1974 <dt>w-&gt;stop ()</dt>
1975 <dd>
1976 <p>Stops the watcher if it is active. Again, no <code>loop</code> argument.</p>
1977 </dd>
1978 <dt>w-&gt;again () <code>ev::timer</code>, <code>ev::periodic</code> only</dt>
1979 <dd>
1980 <p>For <code>ev::timer</code> and <code>ev::periodic</code>, this invokes the corresponding
1981<code>ev_TYPE_again</code> function.</p>
1982 </dd>
1983 <dt>w-&gt;sweep () <code>ev::embed</code> only</dt>
1984 <dd>
1985 <p>Invokes <code>ev_embed_sweep</code>.</p>
1986 </dd>
1987 <dt>w-&gt;update () <code>ev::stat</code> only</dt>
1988 <dd>
1989 <p>Invokes <code>ev_stat_stat</code>.</p>
1990 </dd>
1991 </dl>
1992 </p>
1993 </dd>
1994</dl>
1995<p>Example: Define a class with an IO and idle watcher, start one of them in
1996the constructor.</p>
1997<pre> class myclass
1998 {
1999 ev_io io; void io_cb (ev::io &amp;w, int revents);
2000 ev_idle idle void idle_cb (ev::idle &amp;w, int revents);
2001
2002 myclass ();
2003 }
2004
2005 myclass::myclass (int fd)
2006 {
2007 io .set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::io_cb &gt; (this);
2008 idle.set &lt;myclass, &amp;myclass::idle_cb&gt; (this);
2009
2010 io.start (fd, ev::READ);
2011 }
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016</pre>
2017
1214</div> 2018</div>
1215<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1><p><a href="#TOP" class="toplink">Top</a></p> 2019<h1 id="MACRO_MAGIC">MACRO MAGIC</h1>
2020<div id="MACRO_MAGIC_CONTENT">
2021<p>Libev can be compiled with a variety of options, the most fundemantal is
2022<code>EV_MULTIPLICITY</code>. This option determines whether (most) functions and
2023callbacks have an initial <code>struct ev_loop *</code> argument.</p>
2024<p>To make it easier to write programs that cope with either variant, the
2025following macros are defined:</p>
2026<dl>
2027 <dt><code>EV_A</code>, <code>EV_A_</code></dt>
2028 <dd>
2029 <p>This provides the loop <i>argument</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
2030loop argument&quot;). The <code>EV_A</code> form is used when this is the sole argument,
2031<code>EV_A_</code> is used when other arguments are following. Example:</p>
2032<pre> ev_unref (EV_A);
2033 ev_timer_add (EV_A_ watcher);
2034 ev_loop (EV_A_ 0);
2035
2036</pre>
2037 <p>It assumes the variable <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code> is in scope,
2038which is often provided by the following macro.</p>
2039 </dd>
2040 <dt><code>EV_P</code>, <code>EV_P_</code></dt>
2041 <dd>
2042 <p>This provides the loop <i>parameter</i> for functions, if one is required (&quot;ev
2043loop parameter&quot;). The <code>EV_P</code> form is used when this is the sole parameter,
2044<code>EV_P_</code> is used when other parameters are following. Example:</p>
2045<pre> // this is how ev_unref is being declared
2046 static void ev_unref (EV_P);
2047
2048 // this is how you can declare your typical callback
2049 static void cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2050
2051</pre>
2052 <p>It declares a parameter <code>loop</code> of type <code>struct ev_loop *</code>, quite
2053suitable for use with <code>EV_A</code>.</p>
2054 </dd>
2055 <dt><code>EV_DEFAULT</code>, <code>EV_DEFAULT_</code></dt>
2056 <dd>
2057 <p>Similar to the other two macros, this gives you the value of the default
2058loop, if multiple loops are supported (&quot;ev loop default&quot;).</p>
2059 </dd>
2060</dl>
2061<p>Example: Declare and initialise a check watcher, utilising the above
2062macros so it will work regardless of whether multiple loops are supported
2063or not.</p>
2064<pre> static void
2065 check_cb (EV_P_ ev_timer *w, int revents)
2066 {
2067 ev_check_stop (EV_A_ w);
2068 }
2069
2070 ev_check check;
2071 ev_check_init (&amp;check, check_cb);
2072 ev_check_start (EV_DEFAULT_ &amp;check);
2073 ev_loop (EV_DEFAULT_ 0);
2074
2075</pre>
2076
2077</div>
2078<h1 id="EMBEDDING">EMBEDDING</h1>
2079<div id="EMBEDDING_CONTENT">
2080<p>Libev can (and often is) directly embedded into host
2081applications. Examples of applications that embed it include the Deliantra
2082Game Server, the EV perl module, the GNU Virtual Private Ethernet (gvpe)
2083and rxvt-unicode.</p>
2084<p>The goal is to enable you to just copy the neecssary files into your
2085source directory without having to change even a single line in them, so
2086you can easily upgrade by simply copying (or having a checked-out copy of
2087libev somewhere in your source tree).</p>
2088
2089</div>
2090<h2 id="FILESETS">FILESETS</h2>
2091<div id="FILESETS_CONTENT">
2092<p>Depending on what features you need you need to include one or more sets of files
2093in your app.</p>
2094
2095</div>
2096<h3 id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP">CORE EVENT LOOP</h3>
2097<div id="CORE_EVENT_LOOP_CONTENT">
2098<p>To include only the libev core (all the <code>ev_*</code> functions), with manual
2099configuration (no autoconf):</p>
2100<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2101 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
2102
2103</pre>
2104<p>This will automatically include <cite>ev.h</cite>, too, and should be done in a
2105single C source file only to provide the function implementations. To use
2106it, do the same for <cite>ev.h</cite> in all files wishing to use this API (best
2107done by writing a wrapper around <cite>ev.h</cite> that you can include instead and
2108where you can put other configuration options):</p>
2109<pre> #define EV_STANDALONE 1
2110 #include &quot;ev.h&quot;
2111
2112</pre>
2113<p>Both header files and implementation files can be compiled with a C++
2114compiler (at least, thats a stated goal, and breakage will be treated
2115as a bug).</p>
2116<p>You need the following files in your source tree, or in a directory
2117in your include path (e.g. in libev/ when using -Ilibev):</p>
2118<pre> ev.h
2119 ev.c
2120 ev_vars.h
2121 ev_wrap.h
2122
2123 ev_win32.c required on win32 platforms only
2124
2125 ev_select.c only when select backend is enabled (which is enabled by default)
2126 ev_poll.c only when poll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2127 ev_epoll.c only when the epoll backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2128 ev_kqueue.c only when the kqueue backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2129 ev_port.c only when the solaris port backend is enabled (disabled by default)
2130
2131</pre>
2132<p><cite>ev.c</cite> includes the backend files directly when enabled, so you only need
2133to compile this single file.</p>
2134
2135</div>
2136<h3 id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API">LIBEVENT COMPATIBILITY API</h3>
2137<div id="LIBEVENT_COMPATIBILITY_API_CONTENT">
2138<p>To include the libevent compatibility API, also include:</p>
2139<pre> #include &quot;event.c&quot;
2140
2141</pre>
2142<p>in the file including <cite>ev.c</cite>, and:</p>
2143<pre> #include &quot;event.h&quot;
2144
2145</pre>
2146<p>in the files that want to use the libevent API. This also includes <cite>ev.h</cite>.</p>
2147<p>You need the following additional files for this:</p>
2148<pre> event.h
2149 event.c
2150
2151</pre>
2152
2153</div>
2154<h3 id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT">AUTOCONF SUPPORT</h3>
2155<div id="AUTOCONF_SUPPORT_CONTENT">
2156<p>Instead of using <code>EV_STANDALONE=1</code> and providing your config in
2157whatever way you want, you can also <code>m4_include([libev.m4])</code> in your
2158<cite>configure.ac</cite> and leave <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> undefined. <cite>ev.c</cite> will then
2159include <cite>config.h</cite> and configure itself accordingly.</p>
2160<p>For this of course you need the m4 file:</p>
2161<pre> libev.m4
2162
2163</pre>
2164
2165</div>
2166<h2 id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS">PREPROCESSOR SYMBOLS/MACROS</h2>
2167<div id="PREPROCESSOR_SYMBOLS_MACROS_CONTENT">
2168<p>Libev can be configured via a variety of preprocessor symbols you have to define
2169before including any of its files. The default is not to build for multiplicity
2170and only include the select backend.</p>
2171<dl>
2172 <dt>EV_STANDALONE</dt>
2173 <dd>
2174 <p>Must always be <code>1</code> if you do not use autoconf configuration, which
2175keeps libev from including <cite>config.h</cite>, and it also defines dummy
2176implementations for some libevent functions (such as logging, which is not
2177supported). It will also not define any of the structs usually found in
2178<cite>event.h</cite> that are not directly supported by the libev core alone.</p>
2179 </dd>
2180 <dt>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</dt>
2181 <dd>
2182 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2183monotonic clock option at both compiletime and runtime. Otherwise no use
2184of the monotonic clock option will be attempted. If you enable this, you
2185usually have to link against librt or something similar. Enabling it when
2186the functionality isn't available is safe, though, althoguh you have
2187to make sure you link against any libraries where the <code>clock_gettime</code>
2188function is hiding in (often <cite>-lrt</cite>).</p>
2189 </dd>
2190 <dt>EV_USE_REALTIME</dt>
2191 <dd>
2192 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will try to detect the availability of the
2193realtime clock option at compiletime (and assume its availability at
2194runtime if successful). Otherwise no use of the realtime clock option will
2195be attempted. This effectively replaces <code>gettimeofday</code> by <code>clock_get
2196(CLOCK_REALTIME, ...)</code> and will not normally affect correctness. See tzhe note about libraries
2197in the description of <code>EV_USE_MONOTONIC</code>, though.</p>
2198 </dd>
2199 <dt>EV_USE_SELECT</dt>
2200 <dd>
2201 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the
2202<code>select</code>(2) backend. No attempt at autodetection will be done: if no
2203other method takes over, select will be it. Otherwise the select backend
2204will not be compiled in.</p>
2205 </dd>
2206 <dt>EV_SELECT_USE_FD_SET</dt>
2207 <dd>
2208 <p>If defined to <code>1</code>, then the select backend will use the system <code>fd_set</code>
2209structure. This is useful if libev doesn't compile due to a missing
2210<code>NFDBITS</code> or <code>fd_mask</code> definition or it misguesses the bitset layout on
2211exotic systems. This usually limits the range of file descriptors to some
2212low limit such as 1024 or might have other limitations (winsocket only
2213allows 64 sockets). The <code>FD_SETSIZE</code> macro, set before compilation, might
2214influence the size of the <code>fd_set</code> used.</p>
2215 </dd>
2216 <dt>EV_SELECT_IS_WINSOCKET</dt>
2217 <dd>
2218 <p>When defined to <code>1</code>, the select backend will assume that
2219select/socket/connect etc. don't understand file descriptors but
2220wants osf handles on win32 (this is the case when the select to
2221be used is the winsock select). This means that it will call
2222<code>_get_osfhandle</code> on the fd to convert it to an OS handle. Otherwise,
2223it is assumed that all these functions actually work on fds, even
2224on win32. Should not be defined on non-win32 platforms.</p>
2225 </dd>
2226 <dt>EV_USE_POLL</dt>
2227 <dd>
2228 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the <code>poll</code>(2)
2229backend. Otherwise it will be enabled on non-win32 platforms. It
2230takes precedence over select.</p>
2231 </dd>
2232 <dt>EV_USE_EPOLL</dt>
2233 <dd>
2234 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux
2235<code>epoll</code>(7) backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2236otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the
2237preferred backend for GNU/Linux systems.</p>
2238 </dd>
2239 <dt>EV_USE_KQUEUE</dt>
2240 <dd>
2241 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the BSD style
2242<code>kqueue</code>(2) backend. Its actual availability will be detected at runtime,
2243otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2244backend for BSD and BSD-like systems, although on most BSDs kqueue only
2245supports some types of fds correctly (the only platform we found that
2246supports ptys for example was NetBSD), so kqueue might be compiled in, but
2247not be used unless explicitly requested. The best way to use it is to find
2248out whether kqueue supports your type of fd properly and use an embedded
2249kqueue loop.</p>
2250 </dd>
2251 <dt>EV_USE_PORT</dt>
2252 <dd>
2253 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Solaris
225410 port style backend. Its availability will be detected at runtime,
2255otherwise another method will be used as fallback. This is the preferred
2256backend for Solaris 10 systems.</p>
2257 </dd>
2258 <dt>EV_USE_DEVPOLL</dt>
2259 <dd>
2260 <p>reserved for future expansion, works like the USE symbols above.</p>
2261 </dd>
2262 <dt>EV_USE_INOTIFY</dt>
2263 <dd>
2264 <p>If defined to be <code>1</code>, libev will compile in support for the Linux inotify
2265interface to speed up <code>ev_stat</code> watchers. Its actual availability will
2266be detected at runtime.</p>
2267 </dd>
2268 <dt>EV_H</dt>
2269 <dd>
2270 <p>The name of the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file used to include it. The default if
2271undefined 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
2272can be used to virtually rename the <cite>ev.h</cite> header file in case of conflicts.</p>
2273 </dd>
2274 <dt>EV_CONFIG_H</dt>
2275 <dd>
2276 <p>If <code>EV_STANDALONE</code> isn't <code>1</code>, this variable can be used to override
2277<cite>ev.c</cite>'s idea of where to find the <cite>config.h</cite> file, similarly to
2278<code>EV_H</code>, above.</p>
2279 </dd>
2280 <dt>EV_EVENT_H</dt>
2281 <dd>
2282 <p>Similarly to <code>EV_H</code>, this macro can be used to override <cite>event.c</cite>'s idea
2283of how the <cite>event.h</cite> header can be found.</p>
2284 </dd>
2285 <dt>EV_PROTOTYPES</dt>
2286 <dd>
2287 <p>If defined to be <code>0</code>, then <cite>ev.h</cite> will not define any function
2288prototypes, but still define all the structs and other symbols. This is
2289occasionally useful if you want to provide your own wrapper functions
2290around libev functions.</p>
2291 </dd>
2292 <dt>EV_MULTIPLICITY</dt>
2293 <dd>
2294 <p>If undefined or defined to <code>1</code>, then all event-loop-specific functions
2295will have the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument, and you can create
2296additional independent event loops. Otherwise there will be no support
2297for multiple event loops and there is no first event loop pointer
2298argument. Instead, all functions act on the single default loop.</p>
2299 </dd>
2300 <dt>EV_MINPRI</dt>
2301 <dt>EV_MAXPRI</dt>
2302 <dd>
2303 <p>The range of allowed priorities. <code>EV_MINPRI</code> must be smaller or equal to
2304<code>EV_MAXPRI</code>, but otherwise there are no non-obvious limitations. You can
2305provide for more priorities by overriding those symbols (usually defined
2306to be <code>-2</code> and <code>2</code>, respectively).</p>
2307 <p>When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to linearly search
2308all the priorities, so having many of them (hundreds) uses a lot of space
2309and time, so using the defaults of five priorities (-2 .. +2) is usually
2310fine.</p>
2311 <p>If your embedding app does not need any priorities, defining these both to
2312<code>0</code> will save some memory and cpu.</p>
2313 </dd>
2314 <dt>EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE</dt>
2315 <dd>
2316 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then periodic timers are supported. If
2317defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2318code.</p>
2319 </dd>
2320 <dt>EV_IDLE_ENABLE</dt>
2321 <dd>
2322 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then idle watchers are supported. If
2323defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not. Disabling them saves a few kB of
2324code.</p>
2325 </dd>
2326 <dt>EV_EMBED_ENABLE</dt>
2327 <dd>
2328 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then embed watchers are supported. If
2329defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2330 </dd>
2331 <dt>EV_STAT_ENABLE</dt>
2332 <dd>
2333 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then stat watchers are supported. If
2334defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2335 </dd>
2336 <dt>EV_FORK_ENABLE</dt>
2337 <dd>
2338 <p>If undefined or defined to be <code>1</code>, then fork watchers are supported. If
2339defined to be <code>0</code>, then they are not.</p>
2340 </dd>
2341 <dt>EV_MINIMAL</dt>
2342 <dd>
2343 <p>If you need to shave off some kilobytes of code at the expense of some
2344speed, define this symbol to <code>1</code>. Currently only used for gcc to override
2345some inlining decisions, saves roughly 30% codesize of amd64.</p>
2346 </dd>
2347 <dt>EV_PID_HASHSIZE</dt>
2348 <dd>
2349 <p><code>ev_child</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2350pid. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>), usually more
2351than enough. If you need to manage thousands of children you might want to
2352increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of two).</p>
2353 </dd>
2354 <dt>EV_INOTIFY_HASHSIZE</dt>
2355 <dd>
2356 <p><code>ev_staz</code> watchers use a small hash table to distribute workload by
2357inotify watch id. The default size is <code>16</code> (or <code>1</code> with <code>EV_MINIMAL</code>),
2358usually more than enough. If you need to manage thousands of <code>ev_stat</code>
2359watchers you might want to increase this value (<i>must</i> be a power of
2360two).</p>
2361 </dd>
2362 <dt>EV_COMMON</dt>
2363 <dd>
2364 <p>By default, all watchers have a <code>void *data</code> member. By redefining
2365this macro to a something else you can include more and other types of
2366members. You have to define it each time you include one of the files,
2367though, and it must be identical each time.</p>
2368 <p>For example, the perl EV module uses something like this:</p>
2369<pre> #define EV_COMMON \
2370 SV *self; /* contains this struct */ \
2371 SV *cb_sv, *fh /* note no trailing &quot;;&quot; */
2372
2373</pre>
2374 </dd>
2375 <dt>EV_CB_DECLARE (type)</dt>
2376 <dt>EV_CB_INVOKE (watcher, revents)</dt>
2377 <dt>ev_set_cb (ev, cb)</dt>
2378 <dd>
2379 <p>Can be used to change the callback member declaration in each watcher,
2380and the way callbacks are invoked and set. Must expand to a struct member
2381definition and a statement, respectively. See the <cite>ev.v</cite> header file for
2382their default definitions. One possible use for overriding these is to
2383avoid the <code>struct ev_loop *</code> as first argument in all cases, or to use
2384method calls instead of plain function calls in C++.</p>
2385
2386</div>
2387<h2 id="EXAMPLES">EXAMPLES</h2>
2388<div id="EXAMPLES_CONTENT">
2389 <p>For a real-world example of a program the includes libev
2390verbatim, you can have a look at the EV perl module
2391(<a href="http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html">http://software.schmorp.de/pkg/EV.html</a>). It has the libev files in
2392the <cite>libev/</cite> subdirectory and includes them in the <cite>EV/EVAPI.h</cite> (public
2393interface) and <cite>EV.xs</cite> (implementation) files. Only the <cite>EV.xs</cite> file
2394will be compiled. It is pretty complex because it provides its own header
2395file.</p>
2396 <p>The usage in rxvt-unicode is simpler. It has a <cite>ev_cpp.h</cite> header file
2397that everybody includes and which overrides some configure choices:</p>
2398<pre> #define EV_MINIMAL 1
2399 #define EV_USE_POLL 0
2400 #define EV_MULTIPLICITY 0
2401 #define EV_PERIODIC_ENABLE 0
2402 #define EV_STAT_ENABLE 0
2403 #define EV_FORK_ENABLE 0
2404 #define EV_CONFIG_H &lt;config.h&gt;
2405 #define EV_MINPRI 0
2406 #define EV_MAXPRI 0
2407
2408 #include &quot;ev++.h&quot;
2409
2410</pre>
2411 <p>And a <cite>ev_cpp.C</cite> implementation file that contains libev proper and is compiled:</p>
2412<pre> #include &quot;ev_cpp.h&quot;
2413 #include &quot;ev.c&quot;
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418</pre>
2419
2420</div>
2421<h1 id="COMPLEXITIES">COMPLEXITIES</h1>
2422<div id="COMPLEXITIES_CONTENT">
2423 <p>In this section the complexities of (many of) the algorithms used inside
2424libev will be explained. For complexity discussions about backends see the
2425documentation for <code>ev_default_init</code>.</p>
2426 <p>All of the following are about amortised time: If an array needs to be
2427extended, libev needs to realloc and move the whole array, but this
2428happens asymptotically never with higher number of elements, so O(1) might
2429mean it might do a lengthy realloc operation in rare cases, but on average
2430it is much faster and asymptotically approaches constant time.</p>
2431 <p>
2432 <dl>
2433 <dt>Starting and stopping timer/periodic watchers: O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2434 <dd>
2435 <p>This means that, when you have a watcher that triggers in one hour and
2436there are 100 watchers that would trigger before that then inserting will
2437have to skip those 100 watchers.</p>
2438 </dd>
2439 <dt>Changing timer/periodic watchers (by autorepeat, again): O(log skipped_other_timers)</dt>
2440 <dd>
2441 <p>That means that for changing a timer costs less than removing/adding them
2442as only the relative motion in the event queue has to be paid for.</p>
2443 </dd>
2444 <dt>Starting io/check/prepare/idle/signal/child watchers: O(1)</dt>
2445 <dd>
2446 <p>These just add the watcher into an array or at the head of a list.
2447=item Stopping check/prepare/idle watchers: O(1)</p>
2448 </dd>
2449 <dt>Stopping an io/signal/child watcher: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_(fd/signal/pid % EV_PID_HASHSIZE))</dt>
2450 <dd>
2451 <p>These watchers are stored in lists then need to be walked to find the
2452correct watcher to remove. The lists are usually short (you don't usually
2453have many watchers waiting for the same fd or signal).</p>
2454 </dd>
2455 <dt>Finding the next timer per loop iteration: O(1)</dt>
2456 <dt>Each change on a file descriptor per loop iteration: O(number_of_watchers_for_this_fd)</dt>
2457 <dd>
2458 <p>A change means an I/O watcher gets started or stopped, which requires
2459libev to recalculate its status (and possibly tell the kernel).</p>
2460 </dd>
2461 <dt>Activating one watcher: O(1)</dt>
2462 <dt>Priority handling: O(number_of_priorities)</dt>
2463 <dd>
2464 <p>Priorities are implemented by allocating some space for each
2465priority. When doing priority-based operations, libev usually has to
2466linearly search all the priorities.</p>
2467 </dd>
2468 </dl>
2469 </p>
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475</div>
2476<h1 id="AUTHOR">AUTHOR</h1>
1216<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT"> 2477<div id="AUTHOR_CONTENT">
1217<p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p> 2478 <p>Marc Lehmann &lt;libev@schmorp.de&gt;.</p>
1218 2479
1219</div> 2480</div>
1220</div></body> 2481</div></body>
1221</html> 2482</html>

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